Beyond Kenya Safaris

Lewa House

Lewa Downs Wildlife Conservancy Kenya
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Lewa House Overview

Located at the very heart of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the house is set on top of a hill with extensive views over gentle rolling hills with Mount Kenya to the south and the rugged Mathews Range and the sacred mountain of Ol Olokwe to the north.Lewa House features three family cottages (two adjoining ensuite rooms – one double and one twin, not interconnected) and four individual Earthpods with ensuite bathrooms. A maximum of 18 guests are on property, and children of all ages are welcome.

Accommodation

The accommodation at Lewa House comprises of three thatched family cottages and four single cottages. The family cottages each have a double and a twin bedroom with ensuite bathrooms and a shared verandah. The four individual cottages are built with sustainable, ecological prin- ciples in mind whilst still being exceptionally comfortable and spacious, with wonderful views across the surrounding landscape

Family Cottage

If you’re traveling as a family and want to be close to each other, a thatched, family cottage is perfect for you. These charming cottages are part of the original house. They are built using the traditional Lewa architecture of rough stone walls and thatched roofs and are furnished with beautiful rough-hewn hardwood furniture. The cottages consist of a double and twin room, each with an en-suite bathroom. Adjoining the two bedrooms is a large verandah where a family can sit and enjoy.

Earthpods Rooms

The latest additions to Lewa House are four rooms (or earth pods). Their novel architecture is designed to disappear into the landscape, collect and store rainwater and maintain an even temperature. They have a simple, elegant décor that compliments their views over the Northern Frontier of Kenya.
  • Room Amenities: Mosquito nets, pure cotton linen, dressing gowns, room safe, square pin plug sockets, torch, drinking water
  • Bathroom Amenities: Shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, soap, laundry detergent (for under garments), towels, make-up mirror
  • Bathroom Family Cottages – all have indoor showers 3 Earthpods – indoor showers and outdoor bathtubs 1 Earthpod – indoor shower and bathtub
  • Hairdryers    Provided upon request

Safari Activities & Experiences

Activities and experiences include: day and night shared game drives, guided walks, pre-historic site visits, bush breakfasts, picnic lunches, sundowners, visit to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy HQ, visits to Il’Ngwesi cultural boma (entrance fees extra and payable direct), a visit to Ngare Ndare forest with canopy walkway and swim in the waterfalls. Horse rides and camel treks are subject to availablity.
  • Day & Night Games Drives
  • Game walks
  • Conservancy activities – guests can also visit the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy headquarters to find out more about their pioneering conservation and community work such as a visit to the anti-poaching tracker dogs or a visit to the LWC sponsored local school or other community project.
  • Horse riding
  • Camel rides (optional extra)
  • Cultural trips
  • Scenic biplane flights
  • Scenic swimming pool overlooking the waterhole

Location-Lewa Downs Wildlife Conservancy

Established as a cattle ranch in 1922 by the Douglas family, Lewa Downs as the ranch was called, was home to an extraordinary amount of wildlife. “Make room for the wildlife” was Sophie’s great grandfathers proviso when he handed the ranch over to David and Delia Craig. With this in mind Lewa Downs was thoughtfully managed with wildlife and cattle mutually co-existing for over 50 years.

In the early 1980’s ivory and rhino horn poaching was rampant across much of East Africa and it was uncertain that any rhinos would survive in northern Kenya. In 1983 the Craigs and Anna Merz created a fenced rhino sanctuary on the ranch which was stocked with the remnants of northern Kenya’s Black Rhinos together with White Rhino from South Africa. In 1995 the Rhino Sanctuary was extended to cover the whole ranch and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, (a non-profit organisation), was formed.

Over time, the Conservancy broadened it’s focus, initiating outreach programmes on neighbouring communities and catalysing the community conservation concept across Northern Kenya. Work with other endangered wildlife commenced, including the Grevy’s zebra.  Lewa was instrumental in securing and protecting the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve on the southern boundary. Deservedly, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013. 
 
In 2014 the fence dividing the Lewa Wildlife and Borana Conservancies was removed, creating one of Kenya’s most important rhino sanctuaries of  92,000 acres. With over 100 Black Rhino in the ‘Lewa-Borana landscape’ – this population is now the third ‘Key 1 population’ in East Africa. A Key 1 population is a rating from the IUCN’s African Rhino specialist group which identifies a stable and increasing Rhino population which has achieved continental importance.

Sample Safari Itineraries

To Lewa House

Lewa House Rates

Non Resident Rates in US$ Per person per night
BoardRegularPremium
PP Sharing8201,160
SRO8201,380
Child550780

Resident rates available on Request

Conservancy:-Fee:Adult US$ 126 Child US$ 63 

 Notes

  • PP-Adult Sharing Room
  • No Single supplement in Regular season. In Premium Season one single room per booking – single supplement will be waived.

Lewa House-Special Offer

Stay 5 pay 4 (valid in regular season only).Conservation fees payable on 5th night

Seasons:

  • Regular:6-Jan-31-Mar,1-May-30-June,16-Sept-31-Oct,& 1-19-Dec
  • Premium:Jul,Aug,1-15 Sept & 20-Dec-5 Jan
  • Closed: April & November

Rates include:

  • Full board accommodation,soft drinks, beer, non-premium wine and spirits,laundryandlocal airstrip transfers (ex Lewa Airstrip):   
  • Activities Included in the Rates:Game
    drives – day and night,Guided walks-.Pre-historic site visits,Bush
    Breakfasts,picnic lunches,sundowners,Visit to the Lewa Wildlife
    Conservancy HQ (educational talks, school or project visits and much
    more),Visits to Il’Ngwesi cultural boma (entrance fees extra and payable
    direct),One Horse or Camel Trek included in a three night stay (Subject to
    availability),Visit to aerial walkway in the Ngare Ndare Forest (entrance
    fees extra and payable direct),Vat and service charge  

Excluded:

  • Champagne, premium
    spirits, cellar wines,
  • Lewa Wildlife
    Conservancy fees,
  • additional horse
    riding (US$80 per person – subject to a.aiIabiIity),
  • camel treks (US$50 per
    person – subject to availability),
  • extra Ngare Ndare
    forest visit US$47 per person (subject to change),
  • II’Ngwesi visit
    entrance fees,
  • exclusive use of
    vehicle and helicopter trips
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