Laikipia Plateau

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is situated about 15km southwest of Isiolo and offers dramatic views of snow-capped Mt Kenya to the south, and the arid lands of Tassia and Il Ngwesi to the north. Lewa showcases a range of wild habitats from highland forests, wide-open grasslands, melt-water mountain springs and acacia woodland. It is one of Kenya’s major private concession successes and has been the Craig family home since 1924 when the Craig grandparents came from England and began ranching cattle here.

With fewer than 3,000 Grevy zebra remaining worldwide, Lewa represents the single largest population of Grevy zebra in the world with over 20% of these beautiful animals residing here. The conservancy, in addition to The Big Five, is also a sanctuary for a diverse array of wildlife. It supports a myriad of plains game species all perfectly adapted for the semi desert environment and the Reticulated Giraffe are common.

In addition, the lance-like horned Beisa Oryx and the rare Greater Kudu are seasonal visitors and the Guenther’s Dikdik, the giraffe-necked Gerenuk and the beautiful blue-legged Somali Ostrich are resident all year round. Birdlife is equally rich with numerous species of Bustard, Plover, Coursers and birds of prey. At night, leopard are frequently encountered along with bush-babies, aardvarks, bat-eared foxes, caracal and various mongooses, genets and civets.

As this is a private wildlife area and so all game viewing activities here are private to the guests of the lodges.