The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, often referred to as Lewa Downs, is nestled in the northern part of Kenya. Established in 1995, this wildlife haven spans over 62,000 acres (around 250 square kilometers) and works hand in hand with the nearby Ngare Ndare Forest. It is a sanctuary for a diverse array of animals, including rare species like the endangered black rhino, the endangered Grevy’s zebra, and sitatungas. The conservancy is also home to elephant herds, lions, buffalo, rhinos’ giraffes, wild dogs, and over 400 bird species. This is one of the highest wildlife densities in Kenya. More so, the Conservancy is famously known for hosting 12% of Kenyan’s eastern black rhino population and the largest single population of Grevy’s zebras in the world
In addition to its conservation efforts, Lewa runs an educational program aimed at enhancing schools and supporting students in the area. The conservancy is situated in Meru County, strategically located south of Isiolo town and just north of Mount Kenya.
HISTORY
Turning back to its roots, the land that Lewa occupies was granted to the Craig-Douglas family by the British colonial government in 1922. For over fifty years, they operated it as a cattle ranch. In 1983, the Craig family, along with Anna Merz, who helped fund the initiative, established the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary on the western side of Lewa Downs, which was designed to protect rhinos. A decade later, the sanctuary was expanded to encompass the entire ranch, and by 1994, the adjoining Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve was also included, creating a significant wildlife refuge of 66,000 acres (26,700 hectares). In 2001, Lewa formed a partnership with Gerald Chamales, renaming his company Rhinotek Computer Products, turning part of its annual profits toward supporting the conservancy.
Wildlife
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is one of the few places in Kenya where one can see all five of the following Northern specialty species: the reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich, the Beisa oryx, the gerenuk, and the Grevy’s zebra. Other animals found here include black and white rhinos, elephants, buffalo, leopards, wild dogs, eland, impala and defassa waterbuck, and many more. the forest is also home to the black and white colobus monkeys and a few hippos
The bird life of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a premier birding destination, particularly noted for its northern Kenya specialties, such as the Somali ostrich, vulturine guineafowl, and the stunning golden-breasted starling. With over 400 bird species recorded, Lewa is a fantastic place for bird enthusiasts. Some of the bird species found here include Somali ostrich, Egyptian goose, helmeted guineafowl, black-winged kite, white-rumped shrike, northern anteater-chat, white-browed sparrow-weaver, African harrier-hawk, black-chested snake-eagle, African black duck, yellow-billed duck, red-billed duck, crested francolin, yellow-necked spurfowl, mourning collared-dove, white-browed coucal, ring-necked dove, Village sunbird, pale flycatcher, red-winged lark, variable sunbird, fan-tailed raven, African pipit, black-backed puff back, dusky turtle dove, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, pygmy falcon, African scops-owl, klaas’s cuckoo, greater honeyguide, scaly-throated honeyguide, black-throated barbet, red-fronted barbet, Verreaux’s eagle owl, African hawk-eagle, lesser spotted eagle, black-capped social weaver, gray-capped social weaver, common waxbill, and gray wren-warbler among others.
AMAZING ACTIVITIES TO DO AT LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY
Game drives
Game drives in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy are one of the best ways to explore the hidden gem of this stunning Conservancy. The sanctuary has had open game drive vehicles, these game drives offer you remarkable opportunities to spot plentiful, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, the rare Grevy Zebra, and resident predators, to a backdrop of beautiful views of snow-capped Mount Kenya.
Cultural visit
Cultural visits to local Maasai villages 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 tip well and purchase souvenirs.
Bird watching
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is one of the best birdwatching destinations in Kenya, the sanctuary is home to over 400 bird species. While on your bird-watching excursions, you’ll have the opportunity to spot different colorful bird species such as white stork, pied crow, augur buzzard, common buzzard, little bee-eater, red-throated crag-martin, Ethiopian swallow, Abyssinian thrush, African gray flycatcher, red-cheeked Cordon bleu, red-billed firefinch, African paradise-flycatcher, green-backed camaroptera, yellow-billed oxpecker, African gray hornbill among others.
BEST TIME TO VISIT LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY
The best time to visit Lewa Conservancy really depends on what you want to experience. The area has two main seasons: wet and dry. The wet season runs from October to May when you might encounter heavy rains, particularly in November and April. During these months, the Conservancy often shuts its gates because the roads can get too muddy and difficult to drive on.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for clear skies and great wildlife sightings, the dry season from June to September is ideal. During this time, the weather is sunny and warm, and the vegetation is not as thick, making it easier to spot animals in their natural habitat.
ACCOMMODATION SAFARIS IN LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has got affordable accommodations that cater for a large group of individuals. The accommodation facilities range from Budget, mid-range to luxury levels. Some of these include Borana Lodge, Elewana Kifaru House, Elewana Lewa Safari Camp, Lewa Wilderness, Laragia House, Lewa House, Sirikoi Lodge, Sarai House, Arijiju and Lengishu among others.
HOW TO GET LEWA CONSERVANCY
Getting to Lewa Conservancy is quite manageable. It’s situated in northeastern Kenya and can be reached either by road or by air. If you choose to drive, expect a journey of about five hours from Nairobi, the country’s capital. However, the quickest and most convenient way to arrive is by flying. There are daily flights from Wilson Airport directly to Lewa Airport, which makes planning your trip a lot easier.
