Friends,

Amidst the unprecedented challenges that beset Lewa’s neighbouring landscapes of northern Kenya and Laikipia in 2017, we took steady strides to protect wildlife and improve the standard of living for the communities we serve.

A generous supporter recognised the strength of Lewa’s operations and committed to a $200,000 matching grant for all new and increased donations. Now is the time to double your impact with a gift that will enable matching funds to go to our critical areas of operation. By contributing to Lewa, you are investing in a vision of hope - one where communities coexist with wildlife. 

Here are some of our greatest accomplishments in 2017. Thank you for your continued support.

Happy New Year!

Mike Watson, 

CEO, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

The Highlights

The leaders and elders of Il Ngwesi, a community conservancy that adjoins Lewa to the north, reached out to us with the proposal to bring 
its 22,000 acres of land into a rhino conservation partnership. Combined with Lewa-Borana, this landscape is expected to hold at least 150 black rhinos. Protecting the threatened rhino population creates ripples of impact—a safer habitat for all wildlife, a more secure landscape for people and sustainable tourism opportunities.

The Lewa-Borana landscape continues to successfully protect rhinos from poaching. Some, such as Solio and Ibong, died recently of old age, having lived their full lifespans. Ibong was one of Lewa's founder black rhinos and was hugely popular with rangers and guests alike. Artist Camilla Le May has now honoured Lewa's 'Mighty Old Man' with a limited edition bronze sculpture, which you can purchase HERE, with 50% of the proceeds benefitting our conservation work. 

Laikipia, the neighbouring region to the west of Lewa-Borana, was rocked by waves of instability. Fuelled by persistent droughts and politics, conflict ensued throughout the region, leading to loss of lives and thousands of displaced residents. The countrywide drought also led to intertribal conflict across northern Kenya, leading to further loss of lives and property.

Lewa and Borana immediately offered critical support to the affected people living in the region. We worked with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Police to carry out joint patrols, participated in peace meetings in partnership with Northern Rangelands Trust and provided emergency grazing to over 5,000 head of community livestock.

The Lewa Micro-Credit Programme empowers rural women to access sustainable sources of livelihood.

Two partnerships, one with the Women’s Microfinance Initiative (WMI) and the other with KIVA, are helping us provide more loans to the women in our programme. WMI’s investment has expanded our loan portfolio and supported infrastructure development. KIVA is providing a platform for an initial 100 women to receive micro-loans, with plans to increase over time. 

We were pleased to welcome more guests to Lewa this year. Thanks to all who visited, stayed with us at the lodges and participated in our conservation activities. Tourism is intricately linked to our efforts, contributing at least a third of our revenue annually, and is the best way to enjoy the beauty of what we are working hard to protect. ​ 

Huge thanks to all who supported our two education campaigns this year – on Giving Tuesday for bursaries and The Big Give for Conservation Education. We managed to beat our target for both campaigns! The amount raised during Giving Tuesday will enable 50 students to attend their first year of secondary school in 2018, while the matching funds will support our core operations. The Big Give donations will facilitate 10 school groups of 50 children each to visit Lewa for a conservation experience.  

Thank you for believing in Lewa’s mission and investing in communities to help protect threatened wildlife.