Lewa Wilderness
Lewa Wilderness
Lewa Wilderness is one of Kenya’s pioneering private safari experiences. For fifty years, guests have visited this extraordinary region to embark on unparalleled adventures. Over the decades, this passion has been lovingly maintained by the Craig family, who continue to operate Lewa Wilderness today.
As one of the original family homes, Lewa Wilderness remains the residence of Will and Emma Craig. Guests can unwind by the fire in the cosy sitting room or enjoy meals around a long banquet table in the open-air dining room. Skilled chefs transform natural springs, home-raised livestock, and produce from a 5-acre organic garden into healthy, delicious, and incredible dishes.
The accommodation includes nine comfortable thatched cottages, each featuring spacious ensuite bathrooms, fireplaces in the sitting areas, and verandahs.
As the sun begins to rise, enjoy your morning tea or coffee on your cottage verandah while listening to the river’s soothing sounds and watching giraffes and zebras graze peacefully in the valley below.
Choose from various escorted excursions, such as game drives, bush walks, or horseback riding. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy spans over 60,000 acres of diverse terrain, including open plains, rolling hills, valleys, escarpments, and rivers, all set against the snow-capped backdrop of Mount Kenya. There’s a great chance to see all of the “Big Five,” and Lewa is one of the few game parks where visitors are almost guaranteed to encounter endangered black and white rhinos. Additionally, it is home to 20% of the world’s critically endangered Grevy’s zebras. As a private game reserve, guests can enjoy these rich wildlife sightings without the crowds.
Horseback riding offers an intimate way to get close to the plains game, often bringing you just a few feet away from grazing giraffes, zebras, and elands. This experience has delighted many, even those who have never ridden before. The tranquillity is remarkable, with only the sound of the horses’ hooves and birdsong. Just when you start feeling ready for breakfast, you’ll round a corner to find a beautiful breakfast spread set up under the shade of an acacia tree.
After a delightful bush breakfast, options include a camel ride to take in the stunning scenery from a high vantage point, a game drive to watch animals drinking at the river, or a visit to the farm to see where much of the delicious food is sourced. For those seeking a more relaxed pace, lounging by the infinity pool with a good book is hard to beat.
Lunch in our open-sided dining room is a lavish buffet featuring fresh vegetables from our garden. The opposite hillside provides fantastic game viewing opportunities, with all of the “Big Five” having been spotted from our dining room.
After afternoon tea on the verandah of the Craig family home, embark on another game viewing excursion with our experienced driver-guides. Enjoy sundowner drinks while taking in the stunning vistas that Lewa offers, then return to the lodge for pre-dinner drinks around the cozy sitting room fire. After dinner, sit out on the deck to marvel at the millions of bright stars twinkling in the clear African skies and reflect on a fabulous day in the bush.