Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
5
About
Set amidst 62,000 acres of sprawling savannah, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy boasts some of the most spectacular views in northern Kenya. With one of the highest wildlife densities in Kenya including 10% and 14% of the country’s black and white rhinos respectively, the Conservancy is also home to the world's single largest population of Grevy's zebras. It is also the best place to spot herds of elephants and buffalo, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, more than 400 species of birds and if lucky, a pack of wild dogs!
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and nearby attractions

Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.

The area

Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • Stuart B
    44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Rhinos, Lions, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes - even horses to ride, and Camels.
    The wildlife viewing was outstanding, and the Lewa House was perfect for our family of seven in three cottages. Highly recommend it. Very friendly staff as well. The rhino recovery effort is especially impressive.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 17, 2024
  • Lucy G
    Saint Louis, Missouri4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Q truly amazing gem
    This was an amazing conservation area we visited that has amazing animals and you need not to go far away to see the animals. I really enjoyed the my visit here, I can highly recommend visiting this place.. unbelievable!!
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 8, 2024
  • Cynthia L
    Granite Bay, California29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Big five in one day
    This amazing site truly deserves UNESCO status. This carefully managed pristine wilderness offers a trip back in time to observe animal behavior free from human interference. Black rhinos, a herd of 100 plus elephants, Somali ostriches, Grevys zebras, lions, leopards, cheetahs and more. Observed lions hunting and enjoying their hartebeast dinner. We are grateful to had the opportunity to visit this place. And if you are a runner, the Lewa marathon (full and half) is offered in June along the dirt roads of the conservancy
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 7, 2024
  • happyholidaysoxford
    Oxford, United Kingdom99 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wildlife conservancy offering exceptional Safari experience with world-class sustainability and community engagement.
    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, combined with Ngara Ndara forest, is a 250 square kilometres wildlife sanctuary in northern Kenya established in 1995. It specializes in protecting northern white rhino and Grevy's zebra but also contains a very large number of other large mammals and birds. We visited (as a family of 4 adults) and stayed at Lewa House, one of a few different options for accommodation in the conservancy. The options for wildlife sightings were superb, all groups are in individual land cruisers and there are only ever 3 looking at a particular group of wildlife as careful restrictions apply, and the animals are often 5-10 metres away. (Lions, cheetah, leopard, elephant, buffalo, white and black zebra, giraffe, monkeys, and many more in a 3 day trip). The organization also provides an amazing monitoring system to track individual animals across the whole country, which you can see in action. There is also a lot of community support and involvement so that local people are fully on board and involved with the conservation work, and supported with provision of healthcare, education provision and specific initiatives eg women's finance projects.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 29, 2024
  • Suzie A
    Exeter, United Kingdom45 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the best comps in Kenya
    Wonderful camp with fabulous mud hut to rival any mud hut (earth pod). Fabulous architecture in Gaudi style. Our hosts Sarah and Jonti were brilliant ..nothing was too much for them . We were lucky to have some great other guests who added to a really enjoyable 3 days. The food is communal style and was really good. I recommend you get there early as the canapés and drinks were great. The wild life was breath taking with Mount Kenya as a backdrop. The northern Kenyan animals were so special ..the white rhinos, zebras , giraffes, ostriches…and a lion kill and leopard thrown in as well.
    Visited October 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 29, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles84 reviews
Excellent
80
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Isabelleb9999
18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
We spent 2 days in Lewa and had the chance of getting some exposure to the remarkable work that is conducted in this conservancy. Their approach to the community is highly commendable and done thoughtfully and efficiently. Truly a place to visit to learn about great practices in animal protection.
Written August 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Max Shiffman
Cambridge, Canada4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We were able to see lots of animals during our two day safari at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy including several rhinos, grevy zebras and reticulated giraffes. The conservancy is doing great work for the local community and protection of animals. There is a three-vehicle rule for the viewing of animals and the game drives never felt intrusive to the animals. The roads within the conservancy are in good condition.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mercy827
Nairobi, Kenya14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019 • Friends
You have not seen anything of the world if you haven't visited Lewa Conservancy. It boasts of being a home to 12% of Kenya's critically endangered black rhino population. Lewa is adjacent to the Ngare Ndare forest which truly is a paradise on Earth. It has awesome waterfalls and natural springs. The experience is something I cannot put in to words. In there you will find awesome people who go out of their way to make you comfortable. The experience was out of this world.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kelgroove1
Portsmouth, NH53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Lewa is simply stunning - gorgeous vistas and landscape at every turn and quiet enough to really savor your time with the animals (not nearly as many vehicles as other places) which were plentiful. Everything about our experience there was just perfect. Don't miss it!!!
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Priti Shah
70 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Family
Family Safari with grandson. Everything for Everyone, enjoyed a dip in the swimming pool while watching elephants at near by water hole.Sundowner cocktails in the wild and sunrise with hot chocolate with game drive. Bush dinner was exquisite, they could have served better just mashed potatoe and stew didn't do justice.The cook was excellent in presenting delicious starters all freshly picked salad and vegetables from their own organic garden. Friendly staff and personalised service, clean cottage rooms very cosy.
Written February 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Olivia
18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
We were able to see many black and white rhinos including a baby that was about 24 hours old with the umbilical cord still visible. We saw all the “Big Five” during our time there but the real highlight are the rhinos. They are everywhere and absolutely incredible to see so close.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

robmurrow
Escondido, CA19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Family
Lewa is with out a doubt the best camp in all of East Africa. We have been on two safaris that lasted nearly a month each. You will not be disappointed if you go to Lewa Downs. The property is Eco friendly growing much of its own food. This is an all inclusive camp. Camp is a loose term, this is luxury in the African savanna. When you arrive you are met by at least one Massi Warrior who will be your guide while you are there. He eats with you and goes on game drives.
Written December 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelnVet
Larkspur, CO41 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2014 • Couples
My husband and I visited Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in September 2014. As a veterinarian I was very impressed with the work and the research they are doing here. It was very interesting to contrast the highly "hand on" management of Lewa with the more "laisse-faire" approach of the conservancy in Masai Mara. Both provide the visitor with wonderful but different wildlife experiences. What you will get at Lewa that you will be hard pressed to see elsewhere are the numbers of rhinos, especially black, and the Grevy's Zebras. And you get to experience it all without the crowds that you encounter in most of the national parks.

We plan to return to Lewa when we visit Kenya again, and next time we will stay longer.
Written March 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sophiecampbell
Inver Grove Heights, MN7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2013 • Family
Visited in Dec 2013 with my sister and our four kids, we had a wonderful time. Our guide Laban was very knowledgeable and patient with our kids who are all young. The overall service was awesome and we will back very soon.
Written March 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RichardVUK
United Kingdom846 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2013 • Couples
We came here a bit by chance, on the recommendation of the travel agents. It is fantastic! Although Lewa is quite a small private reserve it is stuffed with game. I did not miss, at all, the over-touristed Masai Mara, which although it is a much bigger area has far too many people. In Lewa if you want to see game you have to spot it yourselves (Or your guide) as you will seldom, if ever, see a collection of many jeeps and vans surrounding a hapless pride of lions or a lone cheetah. The animals feel truly wild and some detection is required, helped by local knowledge! We stayed in Sirikoi (See separate review) which is a superb base to explore from. The Conservancy is justifiably proud of its rhino herds (over 120 black & white rhino) and if you saw David Attenborough's Africa series you cannot have forgotten the blind baby rhino in the last episode, and he is resident in Lewa and you can see him! All the big five are present in numbers and we saw plenty! They have a thriving herd of Grevy's Zebra which are critically endangered along with Somali Ostrich, and Jackson's Hartebeest which are also quite rare, I believe. Alongside these are all the usual suspects, especially numerous giraffe, and an unbelievably abundant selection of birdlife.There is plenty to do as well as game viewing including horse riding, forest walks and waterfall swimming / jumping, visits to a Masai village / cultural centre and, if you are feeling flush, Willy Craig will take you for an "Out of Africa" flight in his Waco Biplane. Really cool. I would strongly recommend this over the Mara any day. It is not as isolated or unpopulated as some of the private concessions in Botswana which I would still rate most highly in my safari experience, but it is a far better overall experience than the Mara. I just hope they don't spoil it by allowing any more development.
Written November 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 81
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

RestaurantsFlightsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars