Northern Africa and the Middle East - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 133

SAfArI lodgES In kEnyA

Kenya is the safari capital of East Africa. Elephants, buffalo and wildebeest roam across
vast plains, flamingos in their thousands wade in lake shallows, lions doze on sun-
baked savannahs and herds of hippos graze by river banks. Yet in the scramble to see
the country's wildlife, local culture often gets overlooked and tribal people have been
marginalized from the financial benefits of their land's natural riches. Happily, there is
now a new breed of lodges where the local tribes manage the camp, train as guides and
receive a share of the profits, which go towards environmental and wildlife conservation.
Below are five of these progressive lodges where local guides will take you on some of
the best safaris in Africa.

Relax among the branches
at the secluded Lewa Safari
camp; Guests at Lewa can
go on a Maasai-led camel-
trekking safari

165 lewa Safari Camp
Chances are you'll tick off the Big Five while
on safari in the 250-square-kilometre Lewa
Conservancy in the foothills of Mount Kenya.
Primarily a sanctuary for endangered animals,
Lewa is home to all the big game, including about
ten percent of Kenya's black rhinos (about 45),
twenty percent of its white rhinos (about 35) and
25 percent of the world's Grévy's zebras (about
500). As well as the usual game drives, there are
bush walks and camel-trekking safaris led by local
Maasai. All profits from Lewa Safari Camp go to
the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy ( W www.lewa.org),
which funds education
and medical clinics in the
communities adjacent to
the conservancy.

Need to know The
camp is closed in April
and November. Lewa is
approximately five hours'
drive from Nairobi. For
directions and more
information about the
camp see W www.
lewasafaricamp.com.
Prices and bookings are
administered by Nairobi-
based travel company
Bush and Beyond: W www.
bush-and-beyond.com.