Lewa Wildlife Conservancy: Rhinos, Grevy’s Zebra and Where to Stay

Entice Africa October 26, 2026Destinations, Experiences & East Africa Travel

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a 62,000-acre private reserve on the northern edge of the Laikipia plateau, north of Mount Kenya, about a four-hour drive from Nairobi or a scheduled flight from Wilson Airport to the Lewa Downs airstrip. It is known for rhinos, with more than 280 across the Lewa-Borana landscape by Lewa’s own count, and for Grevy’s zebra, a species with about 3,000 animals left worldwide. Lewa belongs to the wider story of the Laikipia conservancies, and a Lewa safari works well as one stop on a longer Kenya route.

Whether Lewa counts as Laikipia depends on the source. Its postal address is Isiolo, some references place it in Meru County and others in Laikipia, because it sits where the three meet. If you are building a northern route, look at our 9 Days Untamed Safari to the Hidden Northern Kenya Circuit and ask us to include Lewa.

Planning this trip? Get a free quote in 6 hours →

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy at a glance

Rhinos, Grevy’s zebra and the conservation story

The land was a cattle ranch. The Craig-Douglas family received it in 1922 and farmed it for more than 50 years. A rhino sanctuary, Ngare Sergoi, began there in 1983, and the conservancy was formed in 1995. Today the Lewa conservancy and its neighbour Borana run as one connected landscape of 93,000 acres of contiguous rhino range.

Rhinos

Lewa says its rhino numbers grew from 15 animals at the start to more than 280 today, counting the Lewa-Borana landscape. Its home page puts 14 percent of Kenya’s rhino population on the conservancy, reports no rhino poaching incidents since 2019, and says more than 70 rhinos have been translocated to other conservancies. The Kenya Wildlife Service reported 46 rhinos ear-notched across Lewa and Borana in 2024, four of them fitted with transmitters. Both black and white rhinos live in the landscape. Sightings are never certain, but rhinos are the main reason to come.

Grevy’s zebra

Lewa’s own page counts 264 Grevy’s zebra across the Lewa-Borana landscape, the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust area and the Mount Kenya Elephant Corridor, and gives the world population as 3,042. Look for narrower stripes and rounder ears than the plains zebra you see in the Masai Mara. Lewa’s site also lists elephant, lion, giraffe and wild dog, and more than 490 bird species.

A World Heritage landscape

In 2013 the World Heritage Committee extended the Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest site, first listed in 1997, to include Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve. A 9.8 km elephant corridor links the two components.

Where to stay at Lewa

Lewa’s own lodge list has six entries: Elewana Kifaru House, Elewana Lewa Safari Camp, Sirikoi Lodge, Lewa House, Lewa Wilderness and the Borana lodges. Lewa and Borana together house nine tourism properties. The descriptions below follow the wording of the Expert Africa directory and Lewa’s list.

We do not quote nightly lodge rates here because each lodge sets its own and they change by season. Your quote from us itemises them for your dates. For scale, next door Borana Lodge publishes 2026 inclusive rates of USD 1,025 per adult per night in its standard season and USD 1,320 in peak season. Read more in our guide to Borana Conservancy, its rhinos, horse riding and Mount Kenya views.

Fees and what you can do

The conservation fee

Lewa’s own site publishes no fee. Lodge pages and Borana’s 2026 rate card point to about USD 165 to 183 per non-resident adult per day, and Borana lists USD 183 per adult and USD 92 per child for a Lewa visit in 2026, rising to USD 200 and USD 100 in 2027. The fee varies by property, season and residency, and it is either included in a lodge rate or added on top, so check which when you compare quotes. Fees last verified: October 2026.

Activities and what they cost

Elewana Lewa Safari Camp’s 2026 rate card shows the kind of activities on offer and what they cost as extras. Other lodges package them differently.

Getting to Lewa

By road

Lewa says it is only a four-hour drive from Nairobi. The route runs north on Thika Road through Thika, Makuyu, Karatina and Nyeri (Lewa’s directions turn right about 16 km before Nyeri town), then Naro Moru, Nanyuki and Timau. About 15 km after Timau, turn left at the Meru/Isiolo junction. The main entrance is about 3 km further on. Not all vehicles are allowed in, so your lodge may meet you at the gate.

By air

Safarilink and Air Kenya both run daily direct flights from Wilson Airport to Lewa Downs. Safarilink gives USD 5 to Lewa for each passenger flying in or out. Private charters are accepted, and Lewa lists Tropic Air, Boskovic Air Charters, East African Air Charters and Yellow Wings.

Distances and times other than Lewa’s own are route-planner estimates, so treat them as approximate.

Combining Lewa with the Mara

Lewa Downs also appears on air circuits that continue to the Masai Mara. A 2025 Air Kenya schedule listed a Wilson to Lewa Downs flight followed by a Lewa Downs to Masai Mara flight. Schedules change, so we check them when we price a trip. Our 8 Days Ol Pejeta Masai Mara Amboseli Luxury Kenya Safari links Laikipia with the Mara and Amboseli, and our Masai Mara safari guide covers the Mara side.

Best time to visit Lewa

Rhinos and Grevy’s zebra live on Lewa all year, so no single month decides whether you see them. Lewa says days are usually hot and dry and nights cool. The calendar below is Elewana Lewa Safari Camp’s, and other lodges use their own dates.

The Lewa Safari Marathon

The Lewa Safari Marathon was first held in 2000. The 25th edition was on 28 June 2025 and the 2026 edition on 27 June 2026, with a full marathon (42.195 km), a half marathon, a 10K and a children’s race. Lewa’s CEO said the 2025 edition drew more than 1,400 runners and raised about USD 228,000. We have not seen dates for 2027, so check Lewa’s website before you book flights.

Lewa or Ol Pejeta?

Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu, and charges a daily entry fee of USD 110 for non-resident adults. Lewa’s fee is bundled into lodge rates or added to them, and Lewa is the place for Grevy’s zebra and for walking and riding. For more detail, see Ol Pejeta vs Lewa, which Laikipia conservancy to visit.

Practical details and what to pack

• Weather: at 1,400 to 2,000 m, nights are cool. Bring a warm layer for early drives and evenings, plus a hat and sunscreen for the day.
• Health: Lewa reports a low malaria risk and has a clinic with nurses on site 24 hours. Talk to a travel clinic before you go.
• Power: electricity runs on 220 V generators with British three-pin sockets, so pack an adapter.
• Clothing: neutral colours, comfortable shoes if you plan to walk, and binoculars for birds and distant rhinos.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Lewa Wildlife Conservancy?

On the northern edge of the Laikipia plateau, north of Mount Kenya and south of Isiolo town. The gate is on the Isiolo road about 15 km after Timau, plus about 3 km more. Sources assign it to different counties, so use the road directions above rather than a county name.

How far is Lewa from Nairobi?

Lewa says four hours by road, and a route planner gives about 240 km and 4 hours 13 minutes. Daily flights from Wilson Airport to Lewa Downs are the alternative.

How much does it cost to visit Lewa?

The conservation fee is about USD 165 to 183 per non-resident adult per day in 2026, and it is either included in the lodge rate or charged on top. Lodge rates are set by each lodge and change by season. Fees last verified: October 2026.

Can you see rhinos and Grevy’s zebra at Lewa?

Both live on the conservancy all year, and Lewa counts more than 280 rhinos and 264 Grevy’s zebra across the wider landscape. Wild animals move, so no sighting is certain.

When is the best time to visit Lewa?

Any month can work because the key animals are resident. July to October is the busiest stretch, April and May are the green season, and the Lewa Safari Marathon falls in late June.

Is Lewa a World Heritage Site?

Yes, as part of Mount Kenya. In 2013 the World Heritage Committee extended the Mount Kenya site, first listed in 1997, to include Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve.

Can I walk or ride at Lewa?

Some lodges offer it. Elewana Lewa Safari Camp lists guided walks, a night game drive and a guided horse or camel safari for ages 12 and over as extras.

Photo: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy by Waterwaveke90, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons