Naibunga Conservancy is located in the Mukogodo Division of Laikipia County and is composed of 9 group ranches (let me breathe deep as I rattle of them off) Koija, Il Motiok, Tiemamut, Kijabe, Nkiloriti, Musul, Il Polei, Munishoi and Morupusi. These different Maasai group ranches came together in 2004, a commendable feat, in order to jointly manage and conserve over 50’000 hectares of rangelands with tourism being one of the income generating activities. It’s yet another of the conservancies in Northern Kenya under The Northern Rangelands Trust umbrella.
The community is majorly pastoralist in livelihood and lives side by side with wild animals.
The wildlife here includes elephant, eland, oryx, giraffe, gerenuk, lion, cheetah, wild dog, Grevy’s zebra, common zebra, buffalo.
From Nanyuki town take the road marked for Dol Dol up to IL Polei. Here you can have a stop over and visit our lovely partners at Twala Tenebo. Https://adventureandexpeditions.blogspot.com/2023/01/meet-these-wonderful-ladies-of-twala.html
You turn off in Il Polei to Kamunji. The layers upon layers of rolling hills, the numerous kopje’s is a landscape you have never seen before.
There are two things that really stand out on this visit. First, this conservancy was almost built for motorbikes and 4WD lovers. Most of the tracks in the conservancy are smooth and the sandy luggas give just enough of an adventure even for amateurs.
Secondly to see how young the people associated with the conservancy were. Educated, energetic Maasai just raring to go and put Naibunga on the map, you cant help but be infected by the positive vibrations they have for their part of Kenya and you will love the untouched nature here.
Lewaso is not far from Ewaso Center. It´s a small camp started by Paul Lebeneyo.
Paul Lebeneiyo is not your average Maasai warrior. He grew up in the village of Koija where he lived in a traditional home. He had a happy traditional childhood and completed the rituals, tasks, and challenges to become Maasai warrior. His father managed a nearby Ranch/Safari camp and felt that education was important and saw to it that Paul went to school and eventually attend College. His college education earned him a Bronze Level Guide Certificate, which in addition to his experience, makes him one of the best guides in the area. Paul spent many years working at some of Kenya’s most prestigious safari camps and lodges, but all the while thinking of his people and his dream of a different life for them.
Maasai traditionally herded cattle and goats for sustenance and traded with other tribes. This is how the Maasai lived for hundreds of years. The world has changed and Paul sees that his people must change with it. Maasai graze cattle on historical tribal land. But over time, ranchers and safari camps were permitted buy up nearby land. This leaves the Maasai in an untenable position, with less land, poor quality grassland and losses due to droughts. The Maasai cannot continue to thrive and it will soon be impossible for his people to support themselves as they have done in the past.
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It was Paul’s dream to build Lewaso Cottages on tribal land because he wanted to provide a different model for the children of his village. Grazing hundreds of heads of cattle is now not sustainable. Paul knows that the overgrazing is not good for the environment, as evidenced by the damage from the rains in recent years, and is not sustainable. He hopes his camp will be an inspiration project to the younger generation. Rather than leave the area to earn money in the cities or other safari camps, some can work at Lewaso and stay within their community and pass down their rich traditions to their children. In addition to directly employing local Maasai, the profits from his camp will go to a trust to promote education for less fortunate families within the community.
This explains why we at Adventure Expeditions are now working more closely with Lewaso. It fits in with our sustainability principles and also with our efforts to give visitors to Kenya a real safari and Kenyan experience. Here in Laikipia on the border to Isiolo you hardly ever find other travelers. The locals are friendly and you can learn a lot about their traditions and way of life. The Singing Wells are located here. Maasai warriors who dig wells to water the herds of cows and sing about it. Elders read the weather in the sky and nature provides medicinal plants that the inhabitants know how to use. When you travel here, you are in harmony with nature and let yourself be carried away by the tranquillity.
Our guests can spot animals here on foot and in the 4 wheeler. It is home to the big cats of prey, including the 3 well-known black leopards, wild dogs and many elephants. The landscape is unique and if you really want to say you have experienced Kenya, then Lewaso Camp should not be left out of your safari.
Activities we offer here:
- Game drives & walking safaris
- Wildlife training – learning how to read tracks and live in the bush
- walking safaris
- Visit to a traditional Maasai market as an observer
- Observing the Singing Wells
- Visit to the Maasai Children’s Wildlife School – practice early if you want to become a ranger
- Bush walks to get to know the medicinal plants
- Visit to a traditional healer or seer
- Stargazing with an elder
- Learn to play the traditional Maasai guitar
- Sundowner against an unforgettable backdrop
- Sundowner around the campfire with the Maasai of the surrounding area
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