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About Elewana Kifaru House Lewa

A visit to Elewana Kifaru House is to plunge into the timeless tranquility of Africa. Located within the world-famous Lewa Conservancy, home to East Africa’s healthiest black and white rhino populations, this bijou property appropriately takes its name from the Swahili word for rhino.

A haven of luxury in the bush, guests will immediately feel at home on arrival, warmly welcomed by the friendly and attentive staff.  The comfortable sitting room with a well-stocked bar and elegant dining area extends out to a large, comfortably furnished terrace. Here, guests can enjoy a sunny breakfast al fresco and watch the busy goings-on at the waterhole below, or they can choose to relax by the picturesque infinity pool and enjoy the magnificent views over the distant plains.

The property luxuriates in total exclusivity with five charming thatched cottages tucked away in an oasis of vibrant lawns, filled with birdsong. All have well-appointed bedrooms, with sumptuous four-poster beds and generous en-suite bathrooms.

With an excellent library and log fires in the lounge and dining rooms, guests can truly sink into delicious, cozy comfort during the cool evenings, and luxuriate in the peace and serenity of the African night.

The Conservancy

The conservancy covers 65,000 acres, a vast wilderness. Lewa has dramatic views to the south of snow-capped Mt. Kenya, and to the north down to the arid lands of Tassia and Il Ngwesi. It has many diverse habitats from the pristine forest, fertile grasslands, extensive springs, and acacia woodland.

Registered as a rhino conservancy in 1983, the conservancy is famous for its successful rhino and Grevy zebra breeding, two endangered species; Lewa is home to 10% of Kenya’s rhino, and 20% of the world’s population of Grevy zebra. The whole conservancy is fenced, and the conservancy employs over 150 rangers. The conservancy does extensive outreach work in the surrounding communities with its Community Development Program, including healthcare, education, micro-finance, and water projects – in order to share with the community the benefits of wildlife. With over 70 recorded mammal species within the conservancy, for guests, the wildlife experience is unrivaled.

Guiding & Activities

Most of the Elewana Kifaru House guides are from neighboring communities and all have an intimate understanding and exhaustive knowledge of their own ‘backyard’, which they delight in sharing with their guests.

All Kifaru House guides have been certified Bronze or Silver level by the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association, and they are all passionate about their land and the wildlife that they share it with. As well as the botany, paleontology, and history of Lewa, they also have an intimate knowledge of the individual rhino, cheetah, and lion families that have made the Conservancy their home range.

The walking guides are trained armed rangers from the Conservancy.

Activities

Game Drives

The current fleet of game drive vehicles at Elewana Kifaru House are 4×4 open-sided Land Rovers. They are custom-designed for comfort, optimum game viewing, and photography. With open sides, the three rows of seats are equipped with camera stands and charging sockets.

Game drives are shared by guests, but exclusive use of a game drive vehicle can be arranged at an extra charge.

There are strict limits on the number of tourists allowed in the Conservancy at one time, which allows guests to enjoy an almost private game viewing experience. Within the protected area the wildlife is abundant and game viewing is outstanding. With one of the biggest rhino populations in Kenya, the Big 5, the rare Grevy’s zebra, and plentiful sightings of lion, cheetah, and all the plains game set against the magnificent backdrop of snow-capped Mt. Kenya, a game drive from Kifaru House is one of the most spectacular in Kenya.

Guided Walks

For the more adventurous, exploring the Conservancy’s diversity on foot is also an option. Accompanied by trained Samburu rangers with a sweeping knowledge of the local flora and fauna, tracks, micro-ecosystems, history, and culture of the area, as well as hands-on knowledge of rhino conservation, a bush walk from Kifaro House is an informative as well as an exhilarating experience.

Ngare Ndare Forest

Another chance to leave the car behind is to visit Ngare Ndare Forest Conservancy for the day. Located south of Lewa guests can experience the rich diversity of this beautiful montane forest at eye-level with the monkeys and dozens of bird species high up on the Canopy Walk. Guests will have a sumptuous picnic by the river where they can relax and play. There are usually elephants in the forest, so guests will be escorted by a Lewa Guide. There is an extra cost to visit Ngare Ndare Forest only to cover the separate Conservation Fee.

Horse and Camel Riding

And for those who like to expend less energy and enjoy a loftier view getting closer to the game, horseback or camel walks are also available.

Elewana Kifaru House offers evening horse rides where guests can get up close to the plains game as they graze, indifferent and untroubled by the presence of other four-legged creatures. Although Kifaru horses are well-schooled and completely at home in the bush, riding is for experienced riders only and subject to availability. There is an additional charge and riders will be requested to fill out a questionnaire to ascertain their competency.

Elewana Kifaru House also offers evening camel rides for those without riding skills. Led by experienced Samburu handlers, camel riders can enjoy a scenic walk through the wilderness and experience the gentle, rolling pace of traditional Samburu transport. Camel riding is subject to availability and there is an additional charge.

Swimming Pool

Elewana Kifaru House guests can relax by the picturesque, infinity swimming pool that looks out over the vast grasslands below teeming with wildlife and the spectacular snow-capped Mount Kenya. Sunbeds and a shaded lounge area make it a perfect place to read and relax during the day.

Bush Breakfast and Sundowners

Few places have such dramatic sunrises as Africa. From Kifaru House guests can watch the splendid dawn break and enjoy a hearty breakfast al fresco, in the middle of the plains, surrounded by wildlife. Feel part of the wilderness with the spectacular views, the scents, the colors, and the pageant of wildlife all around. “Sundowners” are a safari tradition – after a day in the wilderness stop and watch the huge red equatorial sun sink below the horizon and savor the moments with a gin and tonic or glass of champagne.

Cultural Village Visit

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy borders the Samburu communities of Tassia and Il Ngwesi in the arid lowlands of the north, and many of the Conservancy and Lodge staff are recruited from this area. Elewana Kifaru House offers visits to neighboring local Samburu homesteads (manyattas). For an additional fee, the Samburu families will be delighted to show you around their traditional homes, built by the women from cattle dung and grass, and share their way of life with you and sell their traditional handicrafts.

Conservancy Visit

For a small donation to the Lewa Education Programme guests can visit the local schools during term time. They can also have a tour of
the Conservancy offices and participate in Conservation work such as the training of the anti-poaching tracker dogs.

Honeymoons

The wilderness, the luxury, and the closeness with nature make a safari with Elewana the most romantic of holidays. Watching the crimson sun rise over a landscape unchanged since the beginning of time, driving amongst the wild game, watching the sun sink on the equator at sundown, indulging in romantic al fresco dining under the immense African skies drowning in stars. It has to be shared. And who better to share it with than the love of your life?

The beautiful setting at Elewana Kifaru House is ideal for that very special romantic holiday and we often have special offers and upgrades for honeymooners.

Weddings

In the magical, private grounds of Elewana Kifaru House, we have hosted many beautiful weddings, blessings, and renewals 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. Options include legal marriages conducted by the local commissioner or religious minister, or a Blessing by the chief of the local tribal community.

Whatever your preference, Kifaru House will create an unforgettable occasion and memories that you can cherish forever.