Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya, Africa

Basic Facts - Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Covering over 61,000 acres, Lewa is a wildlife sanctuary in northern Kenya South of Isiolo Town in Meru County and North of Mount Kenya. It is home to some of the world’s critically endangered species - the black rhino and Grevy's zebra - that also serve as the flagship species. Lewa has one of the highest wildlife densities in Kenya that includes 11% and 14% of the country’s black and white rhino respectively and the world’s single largest population of Grevy’s zebras. It is also home to herds of elephants and buffalo, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, more than 400 species of birds and if lucky, a pack of the very rare wild dogs! The Conservancy is also a World Heritage Site, designated in June 2013 by UNESCO as an extension to the Mount Kenya World Heritage Site.

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More About Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is situated within a 62,000 acre ranch and wildlife sanctuary. It is has been home to the Craig family since 1924 who by initially setting aside 5000 acres of their ranch in 1983, were instrumental in setting up a sanctuary to protect black rhinos. Fortunately, this was so successful that in 1995 they dedicated their entire ranch to conservation and it now homes over 10% of Kenya’s entire black rhino population and 14% of their white rhino population, making it the perfect choice for your next safari if you want to catch the big 5, namely rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo all of which make their home at Lewa.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is located south of Isiolo town and North of Mount Kenya. The snow-capped peaks dominate the views to the south, where the southern boundary rises to an altitude of some 6500ft above sea level and to the north, the terrain drops away with breathtaking views of Samburu, Ololokwe and the Mathews’ range beyond. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is the place where the Craig family, close friends of Prince William, provided the prince with the setting and privacy in October 2010 for him to propose to his girlfriend Kate Middleton. Prince William is a keen conservationist and has visited the area on numerous occasions and therefore it seemed the natural choice for him when it came to choosing the ideal location for his marriage proposal. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, in addition to The Big Five, is also a sanctuary for a diverse array of wildlife. It supports a myriad of plains game species all perfectly adapted for the semi desert environment and Grevy’s Zebra and the Reticulated Giraffe are common.

Additionally, the lance-like horned Beisa Oryx and the rare Greater Kudu are seasonal visitors and the Guenther’s Dikdik, the giraffe-necked Gerenuk and the beautiful blue-legged Somali Ostrich are resident all year round. The swamp has become a sanctuary in itself for the rare and fascinating semi-aquatic Sitatunga Antelope and its primary predator, the Leopard. Birdlife is equally rich with numerous species of Bustard, Plover, Coursers and birds of prey. At night, leopard are frequently encountered along with bush-babies, aardvarks, bat-eared foxes, caracal and various mongooses, genets and civets – given all this a few days in Lewa will give you a unique combination of hospitality, spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife.

Every year for the past 14 years, Lewa has hosted the Safaricom marathon, a unique fund-raising event organized by Tusk Trust that attracts participants from all over the world. From professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts, amateurs and spectators, this annual race brings the world to Lewa and helps raise money that is ploughed back to various conservation and community development programmes. Declared one of the toughest races on earth, this marathon is definitely a challenging but rewarding adventure! The funds realised helps support 19 schools with over 6,100 children through infrastructural development, provision of bursaries, feeding programmes and curriculum development. Lewa's Education Programme also runs an adult literacy class twice a week.

The Conservancy has also implemented irrigation programmes in six communities and supports 10 water projects, improving living standards for over 15,000 people. In adddition, Lewa’s three clinics are the closest medical centres to thousands and shoulders up to 90% of the needs of staff and communities and finally, the Conservancy runs a women's micro-credit programme that boasts eight groups with 800 participants. What a good way to support the local communities! No one does it better than Lewa Wildlife Conservancy!. For more information regarding this topic, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy offers a handful of privately owned luxury safari camps, lodges and private houses, making it an exclusive destination, without any mass market hotels. Lewa Safari Camp, Lewa Wilderness, Lewa House are fantastic camps with great guides and offer high end accommodation whilst retaining a homely feel. Sirikoi and Kifaru House (only taken on an exclusive basis) are two of the best lodges in Africa and are truly 5 star destinations. Please Contact Usfor bookings.

All the camps in Lewa work very closely with the local communities. Lewa Downs is a pioneer of conservation initiatives, and HQ of the Northern Rangelands Trust and Tusk Trust Kenya. A must visit for those with a passion for community and wildlife conservation. Bordering Lewa Downs is the Borana Conservancy, situated on the edge of an escarpment overlooking a waterhole, often frequented by large herds of elephants! It offers some fantastic accommodation including Borana Lodge and Laragai House, which can be a used as an alternative to staying in Lewa itself, whilst still having the opportunity to explore Lewa Downs.

AfriChoice operates a wide range of carefully designed tours and safaris to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy by providing transport and booking a hotel for you. Our safari consultants will always be at your assistance should you need a tailor-made holiday to this unique destination. NB: For more information regarding Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.