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Record elephant and rhino births set to entice safari-going travellers back to Kenya
By Tempus | 17 April 2021 | Culture, Travel
Boutique lodging company Elewana celebrates wildlife boom as tourists eye up the East African plains once again
Two regions in Kenya have reported record birth rates for rhino and elephants in 2020, leading to optimism for spectacular safari experiences in 2021 and beyond. These positive figures coupled with value-for-money deals and new full buyout options mean that once borders are open from the UK, there are compelling reasons to travel to Kenya.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, leader in rhino conservation on the continent, recorded the birth of six rhino calves over a 3-month period in the last quarter of 2020, bringing the total number on the Lewa-Borana-Landscape to 113 black and 101 white rhinos.
Inside the Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sites Elewana Lewa Safari Camp, the perfect place to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures. Guests desiring maximum privacy can opt for Elewana Lewa Kifaru House, a stunning property open for private buyouts. Comprised of five thatched cottages, a beautifully appointed communal area and a stunning pool overlooking the surrounding plains, this is the perfect options to step away from it all.
Meanwhile, there's similarly good news elsewhere. Arguably one of the best places in the world to view elephants, Amboseli National Park is enjoying a calfing boom like few before, thanks mainly to record rains in 2018 and 2019. Just over 226 elephant calves were born in 2020, an extraordinarily high number – in typical year around 50 to 100 births would be expected.
As well as high rainfall providing a rich habitat, conservation partners including the Kenya Wildlife Service, The Amboseli Trust for Elephants, Big Life Foundation and the Olgulului Game Scouts have worked hard to secure the ecosystem. As a result there were no incidents of poaching in 2020.
Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli, which has reopened this year, is situated in the 30,000 acre Kitirua Conservancy with Mount Kilimanjaro as a spectacular backdrop. Here, guests can literally walk in the footsteps of elephants on a walking safari or explore the neighbouring the Amboseli National Park.
* Photo credit: Pie Aerts
Another stunning addition to the Elewana portfolio is Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs, which opened in 2019. This luxury camp with vastly oversized rooms, stylishly decorated using reclaimed furniture and local fabrics is now available for full buyouts as well as individual bookings. With eight well-spaced-out safari tents, all offering breathtaking views of the Laikipia plateau and Mount Kenya, there are few better locations to escape with friends and family.
The 57,000 acre Loisaba Conservancy, located on one of Kenya's most significant elephant movement corridors is a catalyst for community development, a hub for wildlife research, and a world-class ecotourism destination.
