Lewa Wilderness

Habitat & Wildlife

Lewa Wilderness is located within the Lewa-Borana Conservancies, a 93,000-acre landscape including Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and neighbouring Borana Conservancy, which together create an important wildlife corridor between Mount Kenya and the northern wilderness.

Lewa Wilderness is on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy which comprises around 48,000 acres of private land (predominantly owned by the Craig family who have been in the area since 1924), and 14,000 acres of national forest. It lies on the transitional zone between the Mount Kenya highlands and the semi-arid savannah to the north at an altitude of between 4,500 and 6,000ft above sea level. Although most of the conservancy is set aside for wildlife, some horticulture, stud cattle and dairy farming practises are still carried out, and furniture making (from local acacia woods) and rug weaving businesses create further employment for the local people. There is a Conservation Centre which is worthwhile visiting.

The habitat is extremely diverse with open grassland interspersed with acacia forests, riverine woodland, rocky gorges and ravines, montane forest and the Lewa swampland. Mount Kenya provides a scenic backdrop to the south.

The history of the Lewa-Borana Conservancies starts at Lewa at the height of the rhino and elephant poaching in the mid-1980s when Anna Mertz asked the Craig family to set aside an area for use as a rhino sanctuary. In 2013 a founding population of 21 black rhinos was introduced to the neighbouring Borana Conservancy. Once they were established, the fence between Borana and Lewa was dropped, forming one landscape which today hosts a thriving population of over 240 rhino (both black and white), making this one of East Africa’s largest continuous rhino habitats. In 2013 Lewa also gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is one of only 40 wildlife areas worldwide on the IUCN Green List for well managed conservancies with good governance. While Lewa and Borana remain independent entities, and activities for guests will be on the conservancy where their lodge is located, conservation and community efforts are approached jointly and they are increasingly referred to as the ‘Lewa-Borana Landscape’.

In addition to healthy populations of both black and white rhino, the Lewa-Borana Conservancies are home to around 90% of the world’s population of the rare Grevy’s zebra whilst other animals to be seen include elephant, reticulated giraffe, eland, lion, leopard, cheetah, the Burchell’s zebra, hartebeest, greater kudu, Grant’s gazelle, impala, bushbuck, dik dik, oryx and within the swamp area, the sitatunga. You might also be lucky enough to see the rarer gerenuk. After dark lookout for nocturnally active species such as aardvark, caracal, bat-eared fox, honey badger, porcupine, galago, and white-tailed mongoose. The birdlife is superb with over 440 species recorded – from the ridges, it’s possible to photograph vultures and eagles soaring within a few feet.

Activities

There is a wide range of activities to choose from including game drives (day and night) on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, guided walks, horse riding and camel walks. Tours of the two-acre organic farm (a hand-picked freshly cooked lunch at the farm can be arranged at extra cost), pre historic site visits, a visit to the Lewa headquarters to meet the rangers and learn about day to day operations, and visits to local schools or the orphanage supported by Lewa can all be arranged also. At additional cost, you can also enjoy a cultural boma experience at the local community of Il Ngwesi, scenic flights (to/around Mount Kenya and the north of Kenya), and excursions to the Ngare Ndare Forest where there is a canopy walkway and platform which offer wonderful birding opportunities, and waterfalls to swim in and enjoy. Fly-camping is also available, offering the opportunity to spend a night out under the stars – you can drive, walk or horse ride from the lodge to the camp site.

Seasons

Lewa Wilderness is open all year round, however April, May & November are rainy months.

Lewa Wilderness is an excellent family option, especially if you are looking to combine wonderful game viewing with a fun lodge environment where there is plenty to do in between activities. The Two Bedroom Garden Cottages are ideal for children of all ages and larger families, while the Two Bedroomed Hillside Cottage is perhaps ideal for families with older children (due to there being no barriers to a significant drop from the outside area). Lewa Wilderness does not offer any specific ‘kids club’ attractions, but there is a swimming pool, tennis court, lawns for them to run about on and the enthusiastic guides and staff will interact with children both on activities and whilst in camp. The pool in particular at Lewa Wilderness is certainly a good place to spend time relaxing!