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About Lewa Safari Camp

Sprawling over the rolling plains north of Mt Kenya, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a prolific wildlife conservancy that is popular with celebrities, conservationists, writers, and photographers. Lewa found recent media attention with stories of a Royal romance and the fairytale engagement that followed.

Visitors to Lewa are privy to some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing that Kenya has to offer: lion, leopard, and jackal thrive on the rich diversity of prey that inhabits the area. The Wildlife Conservancy is home to the largest concentration of Grevy’s zebra in the world, and its range of habitats attracts diverse birdlife and hosts over 200 Black and White rhino.
Featuring large tented bedrooms with verandahs and full en-suite bathrooms, Lewa Safari camp offers authentic comfort for its visitors; cozy log fires in the sitting room are perfect for relaxing after a day in the Conservancy. This unique and exclusive retreat offers privileged access to 65,000 acres of private protected wilderness.

Underpinning the glamorous magnetism of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a serious mission: a pioneering and pragmatic approach to conservation, founded in the 1970s, that has developed into a thriving and globally recognized rhino conservation habitat.
Lewa Safari Camp is the only tourist facility within the Conservancy that is owned by the Conservancy. Profits and conservancy fees generated by the camp are reinvested directly into the conservation and community efforts of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Accommodation

TENTS

• 11 ensuite safari tents, all of which can be laid out as doubles or twins. Three of the tents can accommodate triples for children under 16 only.
• Each thatch-covered tent consists of the main bedroom, en-suite bathroom, and a spacious verandah. Let us know if you require twin beds or a double bed.
• 2 Family Tent suites – each family suite consists of two ensuite safari tents (one double, one twin) with a shared verandah

FAMILY SUITES

Lewa Safari Camp’s two new Family Tents are the ideal accommodation for families with children. Under a thatched roof, the spacious canvas tents each comprise an en-suite master bedroom and an en-suite twin room, which are joined together by a private veranda/sitting area with stunning views over the Lewa plains. The en-suite bathrooms have flush toilets and hot water showers. An extra bed for a third child under 16 years can be accommodated in one of the Family Tents to accommodate a family of 5.

Guiding & Activities

Lewa Safari Camp Guides

The Lewa Safari Camp guides are based in camp within Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and are some of the best guides in the country. Most are from neighboring communities and have been guiding within the Conservancy for many years, some for over 15 years, they know the botany of the area, paleontology history of the Lewa, as well as an intimate knowledge of the rhinos, cheetah, and lion families. The guides are Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, and they also receive training directly from the Conservancy to the “Lewa Standard”.  The walking guides are trained armed rangers from the Conservancy.

Activities

Game Drives

The Lewa Safari Camp guides are based in camp within Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Most are from the neighboring communities and have been guiding within the Conservancy for many years, some for over 15 years. All the guides are first class, with Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certification, and they also receive training directly from the Conservancy to the “Lewa Standard”.

Lewa Safari Camp has open game drive vehicles. The current fleet is specially fitted, 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers. The vehicles are unrivaled with feature enhancements specifically designed for comfort and photography – open-sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets. Clients will share game drives unless “exclusive use of the vehicle” has been prebooked at an extra charge.

With the whole of the eastern half of the Conservancy to itself, and with strict limits on tourism numbers with the Conservancy, guests can enjoy an almost private game viewing experience. Although a vast area, the Conservancy is fenced, (fencing of wildlife areas is very unusual in Kenya), specifically to protect the rhino. The game driving is outstanding with plentiful, rhino, elephant, buffalo, the rare Grevy Zebra, and resident predators, to a backdrop of beautiful views of snow-capped Mt. Kenya.

Guided Walks

Lewa Safari Camp’s walking guides are trained wildlife rangers from the Conservancy. Apart from their knowledge of rhino conservation, they are also knowledgeable about the tracks, botany; and most walks leave from camp. Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – tracks, dung beetles, micro-ecosystems.

Ngare Ndare Forest

Another walking option is to visit Ngare Ndare forest conservancy. This is a community conservancy to the south of Lewa. There is a canopy walk, and a river to play in. There are usually elephants in the forest, so you will be escorted by the Lewa walking guide. This is a full day out from camp with a picnic, and there is an extra cost only to cover the separate conservation fee.

Swimming Pool

Enjoy the cool waters in the heat of the day! Within the lush green gardens, the giraffe design pool has bar service and board games as well as table tennis. There are sunbeds and a shaded lounge area, perfect for reading and relaxing during the day.

Bush Breakfast and Sundowners

Take a moment to sit back, enjoy the spectacular views, the smells, the colors, and the gentle breeze. Bush breakfasts are a chance to enjoy a full breakfast, alfresco, in the middle of the plains, surrounded by wildlife. “Sundowners” are a safari tradition – after a day of safari; stop, watch the spectacular sunset; traditionally with a gin and tonic in hand!

Horse and Camel Riding

Lewa Safari Camp offers evening horse rides – you can get very close to the plains game as they see you as one of their own! Horse riding is for experienced riders only, as although it is a gentle walk on very well-behaved horses, you are in the wild, and need to be able to bring a situation under control when horses are spooked. Horse riding is subject to availability and there is an additional charge. Riders will be requested to fill out a questionnaire to ascertain their competency.

Lewa Safari Camp also offers evening camel rides – less elegant than horseriding, but suitable for those without riding skills, the camels are led by Samburu handlers and it is a picturesque experience. Camel riding is subject to availability and there is an additional charge. There are only three riding camels available.

Cultural and Conservation Visits

Cultural village visits

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy borders the Samburu community conservancies of Tassia and Il Ngwesi in the arid lowlands of the north, and many of the staff at Lewa Safari Camp come from this area. Lewa Safari Camp offers visits to neighboring local Samburu homesteads. The Samburu live in semi-permanent huts known as Manyattas and it is the role of the wife to construct the hut from cattle dung and grass. The families will show you around their home for a fee (payable separately, ask reception for details), and will want to take the opportunity to sell their traditional handicrafts – bargain hard!

Conservancy visits

as part of our get involved program, guests who are making donations to the Lewa Education Program can visit schools during term time. For a small donation, guests can also visit and/or participate in Conservation work, eg training of tracker dogs, having a tour of the Conservancy offices.

Weddings and Honeymoons

Honeymoons

There is nothing more romantic than a safari! Already an unforgettable, once in a lifetime and pampered experience; safaris offer incredible sunsets, romantic tents with spectacular views, and relaxed al fresco dinners. The beautiful setting at Lewa Safari Camp is ideal for that very special romantic holiday. Being a very special holiday, we often have special offers and upgrades for honeymooners.

Weddings

Over the years, we have hosted many beautiful weddings, blessings, and renewal of vows for our guests. From small simple ceremonies involving merely a glass of champagne at the end of a game drive; to elaborate three-day events, with over 30 guests taking over the whole property. Options include legal marriages conducted by the local commissioner or religious minister, or Blessing by the chief of the local tribal community. Discuss your ideas with your travel agent, or contact us for more information.

Getting there

Lewa Main Airstrip is a 1hr flight from Wilson Airport and a 40-minute drive from camp

• Once-daily scheduled Air Kenya flight departing Nairobi Wilson
• Once-daily scheduled Safarilink flight departing Nairobi Wilson
• Private Charters from anywhere
• Note – Lewa Conservancy has very strict vehicle rules and only authorized vehicles are allowed within the Conservancy. Visitors arriving by road have to be collected from the Conservancy headquarters
• Road transfer in Elewana vehicle to/from any of Elewana’s other Northern properties or Nanyuki (travel times between 2 and 5 hours)