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Getting to Mpala from Nairobi and Nanyuki

By Road

Mpala is located about 250 km north of Nairobi, and about 50 km north-west of Nanyuki. Here is a map showing directions to Mpala from Nairobi and Nanyuki. If you have your own vehicle you may also use a standard Kenyan road map.

Vehicle hire (only in Nairobi): Try Rasul’s Ltd (phone +254-20-558234, +254-20-530018 email: rasulscarhire@yahoo.com). Their cheapest is a Suzuki at (approximately) KSh. 1500 per day, plus KSh. 700 per day insurance, plus KSh. 15 per km, plus 16% VAT (minus 10% for weekly hire; please view the current exchange rates from Central Bank of Kenya). Concorde Car Hire is another option Tel: +254-20-3743316 or 3743304 email safaris@concorde.co.ke

Public Transport:

Vehicle from Nairobi to Nanyuki: Mpala does not recommend using public transport in the form of speed taxis or matatus from Nairobi to Nanyuki. Visitors in the past have safely used a private driver named Thiongo who will pick you up anywhere in Nairobi and drive you in his private taxi to Nanyuki for KSh. 7000. (phone: 0720 750840). For safety reasons, one should hire a private driver like Thiongo or fly (see below). Should you choose to take a Peugeot taxi (“Speed Taxi”) from Nairobi to Nanyuki, catch them at the Tea Room at the junction of River Road and Accra Road. The fare is about KSh. 400 per seat, and you might like to buy more than one seat for yourself and your luggage – or hire the entire taxi (for about KSh.3500). River Road is a very insecure part of Nairobi, so hang on to your belongings, and be wary of all strangers who approach you.

From Nanyuki: Either take a taxi to Mpala (about Ksh. 2000-4000) or liaise beforehand with one of the Mpala vehicles (by email: admin@mpala.org; phone: 062 32758).

By Air: Air Kenya operates a daily flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Nanyuki (call for reservations at Nairobi 020-601727 or 020-601734). The flight leaves at 9.15 am, with check in at 8.45 am. There is no taxi service at Nanyuki airstrip, so you should arrange to liaise with an Mpala vehicle (by email: admin@mpala.org; phone: 062 32758). Charter flights can be arranged to the Mpala Research Centre airstrip (single engine), or Mpala Ranch airstrip (twin). An option is Safari Link Tel: 020-600777

Mpala News

Dr. Margaret Kinnaird is the new MRC Director.

Giles Davies joins the MWF board.

Upcoming Events

Tropical Field Ecology and Behavior Course January 3-18, 2008 Instructors: Dustin Rubenstein and Irby Lovette. This course will offer a group of 18 Cornell University students the opportunity to study animal behavior and ecology and in the wildlife-rich savannas of Africa focusing on Laikipia, Kenya. Students will spend approximately three weeks immersed in an intensive field course designed to give participants a broad understanding of tropical ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology. Some of the learning goals are to: (1) integrate important concepts in ecology, evolution, and behavioral ecology; (2) gain hands-on experience with experimental design, data collection, and statistical analysis; (3) learn to interpret and evaluate papers from the primary scientific literature; (4) and last but not least, have a lot of fun while encountering an amazing diversity of wildlife.