North of Mount Kenya
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) · checked 1 Nov 2026
UNESCO describes Lewa and Ngare Ndare as the northern part of the Mount Kenya World Heritage property; it doesn't name the county.
About Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
A wildlife conservancy on the arid plains north of Mount Kenya. With Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve it is part of the Mount Kenya World Heritage property, linked to the mountain by an elephant corridor.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) · checked 1 Nov 2026
Highlights
- Home to the world's largest resident population of Grévy's zebra, with Ngare Ndare (UNESCO)
- A traditional dry-season feeding area for elephants, on their migration route
- A 9.8 km elephant corridor to Mount Kenya
- Part of the Mount Kenya World Heritage property
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) · checked 1 Nov 2026
Suggested time
At least 2 days
KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
Confirm before booking
- Conservancy fees and whether day visits are allowed — Lewa is not a KWS national park
- What your lodge or package includes
- Road or airstrip access, and transfer times
KenyaPlus does not yet hold verified data for these.
When to go
Rain affects travel in Kenya, especially on unpaved roads. Here is the yearly pattern and the current forecast for Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, both from the Kenya Meteorological Department.
- January: between the rains.
- February: between the rains.
- March: long rains.
- April: long rains, expected peak.
- May: long rains.
- June: between the rains.
- July: between the rains.
- August: between the rains.
- September: between the rains.
- October: short rains.
- November: short rains.
- December: short rains.
- Long rains
- Short rains
- Between the rains
- Expected peak (2026 outlook)
A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet.
Forecast: October–December 2026
For Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 2nd to 3rd week of October and continuing into January.
Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
Kenya's rainy seasons
March to May is the main rainfall season — the “long rains” — over most parts of Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSources: Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2026 season (KMD/FCST/01-2026/SO/01) (opens in a new tab); Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2025 season (KMD/FCST/01-2025/SO/01) (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
For the 2026 long rains, the Kenya Meteorological Department expected the peak in April over most regions, and in May along the coast.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
October to December brings the “short rains”, a major rainfall season in Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
More in our guide: Best time to visit Kenya.
Where next from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Close by
Photo: Lengai101 · CC BY 3.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Ol Pejeta Conservancyabout 1½ h by road (estimate)
Photo: Galkey · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Mount Kenyaabout 2 h by road (estimate)
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Samburuabout 2½ h by road (estimate)
If you like Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Photo: Nina R · CC BY 2.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Meru National ParkAlso good for safari, wildlife
Photo: Matteo Frigo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Aberdare National ParkAlso good for wildlife, safari
Photo: Syllabub · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Lake NakuruAlso good for safari, wildlife
Driving times from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to every destination
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Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) — Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest — World Heritage List (includes Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve) (checked 1 Nov 2026)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us — we check corrections against the source before changing anything.