← Lewa Safari Marathon·1 night

A Night on Lewa: Behind the Scenes at the Conservancy

One extra night at a Lewa lodge, a prebooked conservation experience, and a departure without repacking in a hurry.

Duration1 night
TransitLodge vehicle; flights or road transfer from Lewa Downs
DepartsLewa Downs airstrip

After the Lewa Safari Marathon: A Night on the Conservancy

The Route: Lewa lodge → Conservation experience → Lewa Downs → Wilson Airport, Nairobi Logistics: Lodge vehicle on the conservancy, then a scheduled or chartered flight from Lewa Downs to Wilson Airport (about an hour). Marathon Month: May Duration: 1 night

Lewa lodge ──(vehicle)──> Conservation experience ──> Lodge (night)
                                                         │
Wilson Airport, Nairobi ◄──(about 1 hr flight)── Lewa Downs

The Lewa Safari Marathon finishes in the event village inside the conservancy, and the simplest way to avoid a hurried departure is to stay a second night where you already are. It also allows a conservation experience the day after, when the roads are clear.

May in Lewa: the rains of April and May can affect the dirt roads and the airstrip schedule, so check the plan the evening before. Mornings are cool at about 1,700 metres.

The conservancy lists behind-the-scenes activities, including anti-poaching work and community visits. These depend on operational permission and must be booked through your lodge; they are not walk-in attractions. Ask the lodge what is on offer and what the physical demand is.

Night One: Lewa

Choose a seated activity for the first outing, such as a briefing and a vehicle visit to a ranger post or a community clinic. Photography may be restricted, so ask your host. Keep the afternoon quiet.

The lodges listed on the conservancy's visitor page are Elewana Lewa Safari Camp, Elewana Kifaru House, Lewa House, Lewa Wilderness and Sirikoi. Rates vary by season, so ask each for a written quote and luggage allowance, particularly if you plan to fly out in a light aircraft with a soft-bag limit.

Getting Home

Ask your lodge to arrange the transfer to Lewa Downs and the flight to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, then a road transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Allow plenty of time for Nairobi traffic. The alternative is a road transfer of four to five hours from the conservancy, which is a long ride after a marathon.