Lewa Safari Camp







Lewa Safari Camp: Our View
Lewa Safari Camp is part of the Elewana group,which is one of the best value luxury operators in East Africa and hascamps throughout Kenya and Tanzania. Lewa Safari Camp is located in the impressive Lewa Conservancy which offers some of the finest game viewing in the Laikipia region. Although it is managed by Elewana, it is the only camp in Lewa which is actually owned by the Conservancy and all profits are reinvested back into the conservation and community projects that Lewa is well known for. Much loved by celebrities and the British royal family - this is where Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton (!) - Lewa is probably one of the most prestigious reserves in Kenya. But underlying this glamourous image is a serious mission. In a region that is famous for its wildlife conservation, Lewa has been at the forefront - and one of its most significant contributions has been in rhino preservation. This dates back to the 1980’s when the Craig family, who owned the ranch, started converting land to wildlife conservation and introduced rhino. Protected by some of the most formidable anti-poaching teams in Africa, they have flourished and now around 10% of the rhino in Kenya are found in the Lewa Conservancy!
With 13 rooms, Lewa Safari Camp is an intimate and homely camp at which to stay in Lewa Conservancy and offers a wide range of activities. It may not be quite as luxurious as Elewana’s other camps in Laikipia but it is still a high quality camp with superb guiding. And prices are very good value indeed compared to other camps in Lewa. Elewana’s extensive network of camps in East Africa is also an advantage for clients who want to do longer trips combining different areas in Kenya - they also have camps in the Masai Mara, Amboseli and Meru. This makes it possible for clients to do multi night stays in Elewana camps and enjoy special offers and discounts that they often have, making them even better value.
Lewa Safari Camp: Quick Facts
- 13 spacious tented rooms including 2 family suites with ensuite bathroom with indoor shower
- Superb location in the Lewa Conservancy, one of the best private conservancies in Laikipia
- Diverse activities offered including game drives and walking safaris included in cost
- Horse & camel riding, Ngare Ndare Forest, cultural & conservation visits at additional cost
- Children of all ages welcome although generally recommended for children 6+
- Good facilities including swimming pool and WiFi and massage treatments (additional cost)
- Access is usually by scheduled flight into Lewa airstrip
Lewa Safari Camp: The Details
The 13 tented rooms at Lewa Safari Camp are spacious and simply but stylishly furnished. A large thatch roof covers each room and the outside veranda provides shade. The rooms have canvas walls that can be fully opened up which again helpsto keep them cool in hot weather. They are well spaced apart to give lots of privacy and each room has wonderful views of the wild bush of the Lewa Conservancy. All rooms have an ensuite bathroom with whitewashed stone rather than canvas walls, with flush toilet and indoor shower. Eleven of the rooms are twin/double rooms and 2 rooms are family units. These consist of 2 separate ensuite rooms on a shared decking. So they provide lots of privacy and space for families with children or could even be used for 2 couples travelling together.
The main communal area with lounge, dining and bar area is a stone building which has the feel of a colonial farmhouse with its earthy red walls on the exterior and cream coloured walls and exposed wooden beams on the inside. It is very cosy and romantic indeed with a fireplace, wooden floors,and comfortable sofas. It can get very cold here in the winter months, so the fire inside will be especially appreciated during that time. Other onsite facilities to enjoy are a waterhole with hide and swimming pool. The whole property is fenced, which helps to keep bigger game away from the immediate vicinity of the camp.
The major attraction of this camp though is its location in the superb Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Lewa has a long history of conservation. The original owners of the ranch began setting land aside exclusively for wildlife in the 1980’s when rhino was introduced. This was so successful that they eventually dedicated the whole reserve to this endavour and in 1995 the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy was created - a vast 65,000 acres of pristine wilderness with spectacular views of snow-capped Mount Kenya. Since then the fences with the neighbouring Borana Conservancy have been removed to create an even bigger area for animals to roam freely. The game viewing here is spectacular! The high numbers of rhino, which you are sure to see, are a real highlight, but there are also lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo and giraffe, as well as plentiful plains game, including the rare Grevy’s zebra. A stay here ensures a very exclusive safari experience. There are just a few small lodges in Lewa which have sole access to this area, so it is never crowded - and Lewa Safari Camp is in the far west of the conservancy by itself. So you will often not even see vehicles from the other lodges on your game drives!
Activities at Lewa Safari Camp focus on game drives (both day and night drives) and walking safaris,which are both included in the price. But there are many other activities available at a small additional cost. You can do horse riding and camel treks - although they are subject to availability as they are operated by another lodge - Lewa Wilderness Lodge. You can also do cultural visits to local Samburu villages and a guided trip to Ngare Ndare Forest. The latter is not really a game viewing experience but there are often elephants in the forest. You would therefor be accompanied by a walking guide from the lodge - it is a fun experience to go on the canopy walk way and swim in the river there!