Lewa–Borana Landscape Safaris

Lewa-Borana’s birdlife is very impressive as well. There are various different habitats for the birds to nest in – and with over 350 species in the conservancy, this really is a birder’s paradise. They include grebes, pelicans, cormorants, herons and egrets, storks, ibises and spoonbills, flamingo, ducks and geese, lots of raptors, quails and francolins, guineafowls, rails, bustards, stilts and avocets, plovers, sandpipers, doves and pigeons. Certainly a list worth packing your binoculars for!

The green season is technically the best time for birding, so if you’re an avid birder then enjoy low-season rates to see your favorites. The wet season is also the best time of year for photography, as the green foliage produces a better backdrop to your pictures.

Classic game drives are of course possible in Lewa-Borana, but we definitely recommend interspersing them with the fantastic variety of ways you can experience this park. Drives take place during early morning, and then late afternoon into evening. The safari vehicles can cover a lot of ground, making for plenty of sightings of the region’s wildlife. As well as rhino, big game highlights include lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – that’s all the Big Five!

Other predators to watch out for are cheetah and wild dog. Lewa-Borana is also home to a group described as the ‘Northern Five’ – Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and gerenuk. These are fun to find while you’re out on a vehicle and walking safari.

Head out into the bush with an experienced guide on foot, and you will learn so much more about your surroundings. The little creatures that often get missed from a vehicle suddenly come to the fore. Your guide will teach you all about plants, insects, dung, and some basic tracking. Walking safaris can be as long as you want them to be. They often take place in the early morning, when the day is coolest. However, it’s possible to arrange a late afternoon outing and arrive at a particular spot for sundowners in a stunning location. There is great flexibility with activities in Lewa-Borana, and you decide the evening before what you’d like to do the next day.

Kenya is the home of the horse-riding safari, and this is arguably the best place to do it. Various lodges have amazing stables that can cater to all levels of ability. The terrain in Lewa-Borana, with its gently undulating slopes, is a stunning setting. Getting a fresh perspective on safari can be a glorious thing, and being in the saddle opens up new possibilities. You’ll be able to get in amongst the plains herds, for some thrillingly close encounters.

The reason for this, and one of the real highlights of being with horses, is that the wildlife views them as part of the landscape. African wildlife is less skittish around them. From a 4×4 you can only get so close, but from the saddle it’s like having a backstage pass.

Walking alongside camels and Maasai guides brings you even closer to nature. This offers a slower pace of safari, learning about the ecosystem from a new perspective. Animals like the Grevy’s zebra, ostriches, and giraffes will feel more comfortable (and be much more approachable) when you are in the company of camels. For anyone a little nervous about walking safaris, the camel provides the perfect companion!

You can ride the camels too, for shorter scenic trips of 1–2 hours. These can occur in the morning or afternoon, often ending in a beautiful location for sundowners. For the adventurous, it is possible to arrange multi-day camel treks. If you are interested in this, please chat to your Kenya expert.

Spend a morning or afternoon visiting a local community and learning about their way of life. Trips to a local school are possible here, and the kids will be very happy to see you! The Maasai culture has been unchanged for many generations, and their fascinating history is one we always recommend you take time to learn about. You can see at first hand how crafts are made, join in with the tribal dances, and meet the people who call this beautiful land their home. The villages are often located on the borders of the park, so chat to your guide about how best to incorporate this into a safari day.

This region is at the forefront of conservation operations in Kenya. The Lewa-Borana merger, and removal of the border between the two areas, was performed partly to give the rhino an enormous swathe of land from which to rehabilitate its population. This successful project has seen a steady rise in the species’ numbers.

There are plenty of opportunities to go behind the scenes in Lewa-Borana and participate in some of the region’s commendable conservation work. You could observe a tracker dog demonstration, learn about security operations, visit the elephant underpass, or take part in a health outreach programme. If you’d like to engage with the conservation efforts, it is often good to book in advance.