Laikipia and Lewa are home to several parks and conservancies that are vital for wildlife conservation and offer unforgettable safari experiences. These neighboring regions in northern Kenya offer a unique blend of adventure, luxury, and cultural immersion. In Laikipia you have the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Borana Conservancy, Loldaiga Hills Conservancy, Mpala Research Centre, Segera Retreat, Ol Jogi Conservancy and Lekurruki Conservancy. While Lewa has the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Ngare Ndare forest. Both regions emphasize conservation and community involvement, offering travelers an opportunity to witness the results of sustainable tourism.
What’s unique about Lewa and Laikipia?
Conservation success stories
Their lands were traditionally used for cattle ranching before they were turned into wildlife conservation areas. In the past, both areas were for livestock grazing and overtime it led to environmental degradation due to overgrazing. Therefore a movement to convert the ranches into wildlife conservation areas began to take root.
A lot of the land in Laikipia and Lewa is privately owned, which provided an opportunity to implement conservation practices without the political or bureaucratic challenges that can occur on government-managed land. For the conversation to be successful close collaboration with local communities was greatly done in terms of employment and education. The shift in mindset was crucial to the success of the areas.
Presence of rare and endangered wildlife
Both regions are among the few places where you can see Grevy’s zebras and reticulated giraffes in significant numbers. They are also well renowned for their black rhino populations due to their intensive anti-poaching efforts such as rhino notching and rhino translocation.
What are they? Rhino notching is a process in which a unique mark is cut into the ear of a rhino. Usually in a specific pattern so that the animal can be easily recognized and tracked in the wild. While rhino translocation means to the relocate rhinos from one area to another, often from regions where they are at high risk of poaching to safer, more secure areas.
Both are just but a section of critical parts of a multi-pronged approach to combat poaching, conserve rhino populations, and ensure their survival in the wild. There is also community engagement and law enforcement monitoring.
Fewer crowds and exclusive experiences
Both regions have embraced sustainable tourism practices to balance conservation and tourism while offering guests a unique and intimate encounter with nature. Both Laikipia and Lewa are primarily private conservancies, meaning they limit the number of visitors allowed.
What this means is you can enjoy private game drives or walking safaris led by expert guides who can personalize the experience to suit specific interests, such as bird watching, photography, or learning about conservation.
Both Laikipia and Lewa offer what you’d call exclusive behind-the-scenes tours that take visitors into the heart of conservation work. This could involve learning about the efforts to protect endangered species, like rhinos, or getting involved in specific conservation programs.
Cultural Interactions
In both Laikipia and Lewa, cultural interactions enrich the tourism experience by offering visitors the chance to connect with the local communities in meaningful ways. Whether its through engaging in traditional rituals, learning about local customs, or seeing how communities participate in conservation efforts.
In Lewa, visitors can engage with the Samburu people, learning about their rich traditions, colorful attire, and unique way of life. The Samburu community, closely related to the Maasai, also lives in and around the Lewa Conservancy. Lewa offers cultural safaris, this combines wildlife viewing with community interactions. These safaris include visits to Samburu villages, where you can participate in traditional ceremonies, observe local rituals, or simply spend time with the people to understand their connection to the land and wildlife.
Laikipia is home to diverse communities, which include the Samburu, Pokot, Maasai, and Kikuyu, who offer authentic cultural experiences through dances, storytelling, and village visits. The Maasai, in particular, are a key cultural group in Laikipia. Many of the conservancies and lodges offer cultural exchange programs, where you can participate in or observe traditional activities. These might include learning to cook local dishes, joining in ceremonies like weddings or rites of passage, or simply chatting with elders and community leaders to learn more about their history, worldview, and traditions.
Wildlife
When it comes to wildlife, both Laikipia and Lewa are incredibly rich in biodiversity and have become renowned for their efforts to protect endangered species while providing extraordinary experiences.
Wildlife in Laikipia
Laikipia has a variety of ecosystems starting with its grasslands and savannahs to its riverine forests which make it a home to various wildlife.
Laikipia is home to a large population of elephants, they freely roam across the conservancies and are usually in large herds, Both white and black rhinos are found. Commonly seen are Lions, Cheetahs and leopards as the open plains offer great grounds for them to hunt their prey. Also present are reticulated giraffes which are distinct for there intricate, white lined pattern. They face severe threats by habitat loss but the areas conservations have efforts in place to help protect them. The area also has African wild dogs, which are critically endangered. Their birdlife boasts over 300 bird species which include vultures, raptors and bustards.
The Laikipia ecosystem is recognized as one of the most successful areas for community-based wildlife conservation in Kenya. Local landowners, communities, and conservancies work together to maintain wildlife corridors, fight poaching, and manage human-wildlife conflict. Conservation programs often focus on the endangered species like rhinos, African wild dogs, and Grevy’s zebras, ensuring these species have the space to roam freely and breed.
Wildlife in Lewa
Lewa conservancy is internationally recognized for its successful rhino conservation program. Being one of the key areas where white and black rhinos are protected with the conservancy having over 100 rhinos.
Just like Laikipia, Lewa also has significant elephant populations which also roam freely around. This free roam is crucial to the lands ecological balance as they help in controlling vegetation by dispersing seeds and maintaining wildlife corridors.
Lions are also found in Lewa, along with smaller predators like cheetahs and leopards. The area’s wildlife is regularly monitored through tracking and conservation programs, so as to help ensure that the predator-prey balance is maintained.
Lewa is home to numerous bird species, including vultures, waders, and hornbills. The birdlife in Lewa is as diverse as its mammal population, providing great opportunities for birdwatchers. In addition to elephants and Grevy’s zebras, there are large populations of giraffes, buffalo, baboons, and antelopes such as the Grant’s gazelle and oribi.
How to Get There
Reaching Laikipia and Lewa is relatively easy, whether you’re traveling from Nairobi or other parts of Kenya.
By Air
Wilson Airport in Nairobi serves as the main hub for flights to both Laikipia and Lewa. If heading to Laikipia there are charter flights from Wilson Airport to Nanyuki Airstrip and other private airstrips near various conservancies, such as Ol Pejeta, Loisaba, or Segera. If to Lewa conservancy, direct charter flights to Lewa Downs Airstrip from Wilson Airport are available, making it a quick 45 minute flight from Nairobi.
By Road
To Laikipia you would drive to Nanyuki, from Nairobi its a 3 to 4 hours drive (190 km) From Nanyuki you continue for another 1 to 2 hours to the various conservancies. To Lewa Conservancy from Nairobi takes about 4 to 5 hours mostly along paved roads. The route takes you through Nanyuki from where its another 30 minute drive to Lewa. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended for both especially during the rainy season and if you plan to explore the conservancy’s more remote areas.
Weather and Seasons
Both Laikipia and Lewa experience two distinct seasons. The dry season that’s from June to October and January to February and the wet season from March to May and November to December.
During the dry season, the weather is sunny and clear, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C, and cooler nights, especially in higher-altitude areas. This season is ideal for wildlife viewing, as animals gather around water sources, and the roads are more accessible for safaris.
The wet season is categorized by afternoon thunderstorms and moderate rainfall, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 28°C. While it’s a quieter time for tourism, it offers great birdwatching opportunities, and fewer crowds. The wet season can make roads more challenging, so a 4×4 vehicle is recommended.
Both regions have a similar climate, making them accessible year-round, but the dry season is better for safaris and outdoor activities, while the wet season is perfect for those seeking solitude and natural beauty.
Activities
Both Laikipia and Lewa offer a range of activities. From game drives that are the most popular activity in both areas, with opportunities to see big cats, rhinos, elephants, and various bird species. Laikipia however, offers more diverse options, with activities like horseback safaris, night game drives, and even camel rides. Visitors can also enjoy guided walks and cultural visits to interact with local communities, particularly the Maasai and Samburu peoples, who are deeply involved in conservation efforts.
In Lewa, activities include traditional game drives, as well as walking safaris led by expert guides. The conservancy is also famous for its rhino tracking programs, where you can join guides in tracking both black and white rhinos in the wild. For a more luxurious experience, there are opportunities for helicopter-safaris, offering aerial views of the wildlife-rich landscape. Both regions offer birdwatching, especially during the wet season when migratory species are abundant, and photography tours to capture the breathtaking scenery and wildlife.
Whether you choose to explore on foot, horseback, or vehicle, both Laikipia and Lewa for sure provide you with unique and immersive experiences that connect visitors with nature while supporting conservation efforts.
Accommodations
Both Laikipia and Lewa offer a wide range of accommodation options, catering to various budgets and preferences. From luxury lodges and tented camps. Such as;
Elewana Loisaba Star Beds
Elewana Loisaba Star Beds features 4 poster wooden beds that sit on raised wooden platforms. A team of traditional Samburu and Laikipiak Maasai warriors welcome you once you get to the camp.
Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp
Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp is perched on the edge of an escarpment and is designed to capitalize on unobstructed views across the Laikipia landscape all the way to Mt Kenya. The camp is rooted on African themed style and sophistication. Its tents are spacious and airy with custom built large floor to ceiling doors and windows, high ceilings and polished wood floors.
Sopa Lodge Samburu
Samburu Sopa Lodge in Laikipia offers a comfortable and accessible stay with stunning views of the surrounding wilderness, situated on the edge of Samburu National Reserve. The lodge is designed to provide guests with a balance of relaxation and adventure.
Contact Cheetah Safaris to plan your Laikipia and Lewa adventure
We have an abundance of safari packages where you can visit the Laikipia and Lewa, just simply visit our Kenya Safaris and find a package that best suits you.
Planning a safari can take time and effort, so let us take the hard part off you! Call us today at +254 704 274 590 and we can help you plan your perfect, bespoke safari, catering to your budget and requirements.
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