Get to Know Laikipia, Lewa and Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Lewa, Ol Pejeta and Matthews Range together preserve more endangered wildlife than anywhere else in East Africa
The economic viability of wildlife tourism – as opposed to cattle farming – became apparent in the 1990s, when farmers, cattle ranchers and local tribes partnered to create wildlife conservation areas that now comprise 800,000 hectares of the central Kenyan plateau plains, including Ol Pejeta, Lewa and Matthews Range in the greater Laikipia county. The area preserves more endangered wildlife mammals than any other in East Africa, including the more famous Masai Mara and Serengeti ecosystem. Half of the endangered rhino population is to be found on private conservancy land. This is the only area in Kenya where wildlife numbers have increased in the last 25 years.
