Lewa House

Perched on a hill at the heart of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the Lewa House maximizes the sweeping views of the region. With the rugged Mathews Range and the sacred mountain of Ololokwe to the north and the gentle rolling hills leading up to Mount Kenya to the south, a clear day at Lewa House is a treat in and of itself.

• The new hobbit hut style “earthpods” that blend effortlessly with the landscape
• The fresh vegetables from the property’s biodynamic garden, milk from its jersey cows and eggs from its chickens.
• The views of the surrounding mountains and hillscape

The family-run Lewa House, owned by Sophie and Calum Macfarlane, is part of a family legacy that stretches back five generations, beginning with Sophie’s great grandparents. Their long-standing passion for the land and its conservation can be felt throughout the lodge.

Lewa House, constructed of entirely local materials, has two types of accommodations: three family cottages and four new rooms nicknamed “earthpods,” as they’ve been designed to disappear into the landscape and to collect and store rainwater. The family cottages were built using traditional Lewa architecture of rough stone walls and thatched roofs and have rough-hewn hardwood furniture. Each cottage has a double room and a twin room with an ensuite bathroom and shared veranda. A third bed can be added to the twin room to accommodate three children if needed. The earthpods have simple décor and can be set up in a double or twin room configuration making them great for couples or friends traveling together. Two of the earthpods are large enough to hold an extra bed so they are amenable to families who would prefer this room type to the cottages. Of all the accommodations, the waterhole room has the best view of the landscape.

The property has no age limit and is a good option for families on more of a budget looking for a traditional safari experience. There is no gym on property, but massages are available in the rooms, and the lodge has a pool and a wealth of activities on offer. These include game drives, visits to the Ngare Ndare forest and cultural visits, horseback and camel safari, community projects and bush walks.

Families or couples looking for a simple, conservation-forward and traditional lodge in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy