Travel Guide Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

The beautiful Laikipia Plateau stretches northwest of Mount Kenya, covering several thousand square kilometers. It is there, on these foothills, that a new type of tourism is developing, one that could be described as more "equitable". Unesco has understood this since the organization's committee extended the Mount Kenya World Heritage Area to the Lewa area in June 2013. This is recognition of the extensive conservation work undertaken for decades in the beautiful Lewa Downs Reserve, which is owned by the Graig family.Following a meeting with rhino specialist Anna Merz, Ian Craig decided in the early 1980s to turn part of the family ranch into a wildlife sanctuary dedicated specifically to the protection of rhinos. The results were very promising and in 1995 the family decided that the entire ranch would be dedicated to the protection of the animals. The means used were considerable and, above all, the Craigs had the good and generous idea of closely associating the local populations with their project. The success was immediate, the fauna proliferated peacefully, the tourists came and the ranch became very quickly the first employer of the region. But this reserve does not have for only objective the preservation of the environment. It also contributes to the promotion and financing of all kinds of actions in favor of local communities, especially in the fields of education (school supplies, scholarships...) and health.In order to provide wildlife with a protected area that is truly adapted to their needs, particularly in terms of migration, the ranch's managers succeeded in convincing some of the region's communities to launch similar projects in the early 1990s. Several reserves have already been established around Lewa Downs, and others are hoped for. The ultimate goal is to secure the entire elephant migration corridor that stretches from the Laikipia Plateau in the south to Matthew's Mountain in the north.Among these new reserves are the Il N'Gwesi Group Ranch, the Lekurruki Community Conservation Group Ranch and the Namuniak Wildlife Conservation Trust. All these entities are managed directly by local communities (Maasai, Laikipiak, Samburu). In order to provide favorable conditions for the preservation and development of wildlife, they have had to accept a reduction in their only source of income, namely their livestock. For the moment, everyone seems to benefit: the animals are protected, the tourists are happy and the local populations are satisfied. The profits generated compensate for the loss of livestock and are entirely and directly transferred to the populations or devoted to community actions.This new type of tourism makes it possible to discover the wildlife in exceptional and original conditions. The only "hitch" in the enchanting picture concerns the rates. These lodges are indeed reserved for a very, very wealthy clientele. Authenticity has a price.