Lewa - Masai Camel Treck & Il Ngwesi

11 nights - $5950 Per Person (min 2 guests)

This safari encompasses the spirit of safari. Staying at Lewa Safari Camp and Il Ngwesi Masai lodge, traveling between on a fly camping safari, trek (or ride) with Masai Moran and armed guides across Lewa and beyond to the Mukokodo Hills.

On arrival at Nairobi you will be met and transfered to Wilson airport for a flight directly to Lewa's own airstrip. You will be met by a guide from Lewa safari camp, immediately you will see game as you drive to camp where you will be settled into your luxury safari tent for the next 5 nights, before meeting your guides and their camels to set off for a three night journey you will never forget! Travelling through areas of stunning natural beauty away from civilization, this is a unique and wonderful experience. Arriving then at Il Ng’wesi where you will stay for 2 nights The lodge has just a few en suite Banda's (small lodges) furnished with colorful Maasai materials, open fronted each has a private verandah raised up on stilted legs perched on a dramatic hill side looking out over miles and miles of bush. Finally driving back to Lewa air strip, to take your return flight to Nairobi and your onward connection.

Lewa is a wildlife enthusiasts dream, spotting and photographing rare and magnificent game in these quite beautiful surroundings from very comfortable open safari land rovers, to guided bush walks with local trackers. Horse back safaris are quite fantastic, suitable for all, they enable you to get nearer to wildlife than you could ever expect. If you prefer to leave camp early for a bush breakfast and sit quietly in a viewing blind as the game comes to you then no problem. During the safari guests are introduced to the key personnel at 'Lewa Wildlife Conservancy' and invited to visit and learn about the on going conservation projects and may also meet some of Lewa's younger rescued animals or visit local community projects and schools supported by Lewa.
The staff at Lewa Safari Camp will be pleased to hear about your passions be it photography, walking, bird spotting, etc. and will endeavor to tailor your stay around your preferences or just enjoy the whole experience. Accommodation in camp is first class, with well appointed private tents with steamy showers and comfy beds, not to mention wonderful meals in a beautiful setting. There can be few better places for a wildlife enthusiast to spend a week or two.

To walk with the Maasai is a privilege and it is possible to incorporate a walking safari between Lewa and Il Ngwesi, accompanied by Maasai Moran and their camels, establishing comfortable fly camps on route as you cross the Northern frontier district. A walking safari is the best way to really get in touch with the environment and to walk in the company of armed rangers and Maasai Moran). The going is really quite easy and not too strenuous, following game trails and dry sand rivers until the midday heat calls an end to the days walking and camp is established usually in the shade of Acacias. Canvas bucket showers of hot water are strung from trees and sundowners taken before great suppers. Supper is made on the open fire by expert cooks, this all before retiring to your canvas safari tents, each with good Mozi net protection and surprisingly comfortable camp beds. The Camels on first sight are imposing and a little intimidating, however you become attached to their dignified faces and vocal expressions.

Safaris can be from just a short day to a complete week, although we recommend at least three nights as this enables you to see a variety of eco systems and allows you to become immersed in the experience. Learn at leisure, the tracking skills and bush craft of the Maasai will let you into another world, understanding about their culture and traditions, whilst encountering and learning about the behavior of insects and wildlife along the way.

Il Ngwesi Maasai community lodge is a truly unique place to safari. The lodge was constructed with the help of the Lewa conservancy to enable the Laikipia Maasai people of this area to benefit from the wildlife that shares their home land and in doing so encouraging the care and conservation of the bush and consequently the wildlife. As such Il ngwesi is constructed from local materials and designed to blend in to the environment as much as possible. The lodge has just a few en suite Bandas (small lodges) each has its own private verandahand is furnished with colorful Maasai materials, the Bandas are raised up on stilted legs perched on a dramatic hill side looking out over miles and miles of Acacia trees and semi arid bush. It is possible to roll the beds out on to the verandah so guest can sleep under the stars. Just below camp is a dry river bed and water hole which draws in game during the day and night.

The lodge has a unique infinity swimming pool to cool off in and enjoy a drink during the hotter part of the day. There is a central dinning / lounge Banda where evening meals are eaten, and where you can relax on big cushions with an evening drink. There is a large raised platform on which guests enjoy leisurely breakfasts usually after a bush walk or game drive early in the morning.

The staff of Moran (young warriors) manage the lodge fantastically well, providing a great customer care and service, the camp staff are striking in their traditional red Shukas and are very warm and interesting hosts. The staff will also be your guides on fascinating bush walks and game drives. The wildlife is prolific, although the bush can hide quite a lot it is not uncommon to encounter Lion , Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe and Kudu as well as a variety of other wildlife and birds. In recent years The Lewa conservancy have reintroduced Black Rhino to the area which are closly monitored and can often be found close to camp, near by is a habituated troop of Baboons which can be visited (camp staff charge a nominal amount for this). Lodge is accessed from Lewa either by Land Rover or at the end of a Camel walking safari.