LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a private wildlife reserve located in northern Kenya. It covers an area of over 62,000 acres and is situated at the foothills of Mount Kenya. The conservancy was established in 1995 by the Craig family with the aim of promoting conservation and community development.

Beyond the wildlife, Lewa places huge importance on community-related projects and has spearheaded a number of initiatives to support education, water improvements, and healthcare in the local community.

The conservancy is home to the Big Five and has extraordinary diversity. It is famous for having one of the highest populations of rhinos in the world.Lewa is renowned for its successful conservation efforts, particularly in the protection of endangered species such as black rhinos. The conservancy is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes,wild dogs, zebras, and a range of birdlife species.Over 90% of all Grevy zebras found outside captivity can be found at Lewa as well as reticulated giraffes.

Lewa Conservancy activities.

There are many activities within Lewa, from those based in the camps to horse riding, camel riding, and hot air balloon trips at dawn. Most camps will also offer walking safaris, night drives, bush breakfasts, and sundowners in magical spots. Further afield, there are also waterfalls and walking in Ngare Ngare forest.

Cultural visits to local Maasai villages are also available. These are fascinating and enable you to see how the tribes live - you'll usually be greeted with a welcome ceremony including a dance (participation is often encouraged). Although it can feel a touch voyeuristic, the villagers enjoy showing off their homes and the visits provide much-needed income for them, so please remember to purchase souvenirs.

When to visit Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Traditionally, the best times to visit Lewa Conservancy is from June to September, and again from December to March. However, with climate change, the seasons have shifted and are less reliable so as long as the camps are open, there is likely to be good viewing.

The unpredictable weather patterns during the main wet season are from April to June. This means that excursions might be cancelled at the last minute. The ‘short rains’ which occur between October and December can sometimes disrupt a safari, but generally are short and only last a few hours.

Again after your long day of excursion in the conservancy,Lewa wildlife conservancy provides you with best places you can ease off your exsaution in various affordable campsites; Lewa house, Lewa wilderness, Elewana Lewa safari camp and Elewana Kifaru house.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy serves as a model for the integration of wildlife conservation and sustainable development, demonstrating how protecting natural resources can benefit both the environment and local communities.