After the Lewa Safari Marathon: A Game Drive on the Conservancy

The Route: Lodge → Morning game drive → Lunch → Lodge Logistics: The lodge arranges the vehicle and driver. You do not walk or drive yourself anywhere inside the reserve. Marathon Month: May Duration: Day trip

Lodge ──(vehicle, 2 to 3 hrs)──> Game drive loop ──(vehicle)──> Lodge lunch

The Lewa Safari Marathon runs two loops of rough dirt road through a working wildlife conservancy, and the afternoon after the finish is the best time to see the same ground from a vehicle. The race route is closed to independent walking or cycling, and rangers decide where visitors can go, so a lodge game drive is the sensible way to see more.

May in Lewa: the lodges describe April and May as a rainy period, so roads can be wet and some tracks may be closed. Mornings at about 1,700 metres are cool, so wear a fleece on the vehicle. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the vegetation in the wet season can be thicker.

Book the drive through your lodge and ask for a seated, unhurried schedule. A morning drive of two to three hours with a stop for tea is plenty. The vehicle is open-sided at some camps, so ask about a blanket and a hat.

The Drive

The conservancy is known for its rhinos and for Grevy's zebra, and it is a managed reserve, so your guide will follow current ranger advice. Do not ask to get out of the vehicle for photographs. The road surface is rough, and bumpy riding can tire stiff legs, so tell the driver if you want to cut it short.

Lunch and Rest

Return for a long lunch at your lodge. Elewana Lewa Safari Camp, Lewa House, Lewa Wilderness, Elewana Kifaru House and Sirikoi are all listed on the conservancy's visitor page; ask your lodge about meal times and whether non-resident guests can join. Keep the afternoon free for sleep.