Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

A thriving conservancy that protects rhino and many of Kenya's other endangered mammals

Lewa is a privately-run, non-profit conservancy in northern Kenya, set up in 1983 by cattle ranch owners dedicated to wildlife conservation. It’s first and foremost a black, and white, rhino sanctuary and numbers here are simply staggering – I saw several of each species in a single afternoon’s game drive. Plus I spotted plenty of elephant in the yellow fever tree woodlands, herds of the endangered Grevy's zebra on the grassy plains, and watched a female lion and her two cubs drinking on the edge of a reedy swamp at the same time as a pair of brave sitatunga waded in the shallows. But the highlight for me was my incredibly informative Maasai guide, who not only knew about the animals but proudly told me about the conservancy’s success – today’s Lewa is considered a leading example of sustainable tourism, re-investing all profits back into projects that support wildlife and community development. There are five expertly hosted places to stay, and along with day and night drives, horse-riding and walking, Lewa offers the full package for wildlife and conservation-lovers.