Lewa Downs

Lewa Downs Safari Trips & Tours

Lewa Downs

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Lewa Downs Safari Trips & Tours

The original wildlife sanctuary home to pioneering conservation projects and top-notch game viewing.

Lewa’s story begins in 1977 with a man called Ian Craig and a small cattle farm where wildlife roamed free. In the 1980s, as a result of rampant poaching, 5,000 acres was dedicated as a rhino sanctuary, soon increasing to 10,000, before the entire 45,000 acre farm was turned into Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in 1995. Today, the conservancy is a critical part of Kenya’s conservation efforts and the pretty landscapes of gently undulating hills, savannah and patches of swampy papyrus hide an abundance of animals, including some of the rarer Northern species. And if it’s good enough for a royal proposal…

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Half of Lewa’s allure is the neverending, peaceful scenery where hills roll into savannah grasslands and swamps. The other half is its long-standing reputation as a wildlife haven. The area showcases conservation at its pioneering best and is home to rare northern species including oryx, reticulated giraffe and one of the largest populations of Grevy’s zebra in the world. There is ample chance to explore the conservancy including safari staples like morning and evening game drives to spot Lewa’s big cats, or more unusual horse or camel-back safari, where you’ll get unbelievably close to zebra and giraffe. Join an expert guide for a morning of rhino tracking, or enjoy the privilege of visiting a local Samburu village to learn about traditions and skills passed down across generations.

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