Solio Game Reserve was the first rhino sanctuary in the world, named after a Maasai chief. In 1970 Courtland Parfet, the owner of Solio, then a cattle ranch, set aside some of his land for conservation, imported five rhinos and started breeding rhinos. As populations of rhinos the world over have been decimated by poaching, Solio’s rhino population has not only increased, but has restocked other reserves and produced founding families for new sanctuaries.
As well as white and black rhino, the reserve has plenty of other species of wildlife such as buffalo, eland, oryx and waterbuck. Mt Kenya towers over the reserve on one side and the Aberdare Mountains on the other, giving lovely views of both from many locations around the sanctuary. Game drives are rewarding here as visitors can often see large numbers of rhinos as well as other game and birdlife. Horse riding, game walking, mountain biking and fishing are also on offer here.
