Black rhinos are unmistakable, prehistoric-looking creatures with a two-horned head. The front horn measures 20-30 in (50-75 cm), occasionally over 40 in (102 cm); the rear horn measures 13-16 in (33-40 cm), occasionally over 20 in (50 cm). Males have a shorter, thicker front horn than females. Rhino horn is composed of a tightly packed, fibrous protein called keratin (also found in skin, nails and hooves), which grows from the skin but is unattached to the skull.

Black rhinos have three hoofed toes on each foot and a pointed prehensile upper lip adapted for browsing. The spoor or footprint is rounded at the back, whereas that of the white rhino is sharply indented. Black rhinos are noticeably smaller than white rhinos.

Powdered rhino horn has for centuries been used as a medicine in Asia and the Far East, and is considered to have almost supernatural healing powers for a wide variety of illnesses. Since the 1970s more than 40% of rhino horn has been imported into Northern Yemen to be carved as handles for the daggers which are prized symbols of manhood there. This has greatly contributed to the wholesale slaughter of rhinos throughout their range. It is estimated there were 65,000 black rhinos in the 1960s; today they are severely endangered and less than 2,500 survive in the wild.

Come to Lewa Wilderness and see these rare and magnificent creatures.

The African pencil cedar, the tallest of all juniper species in the world, acquired its name from its extensive use in the manufacturing of pencils. The trunk is straight and sharply tapered, covered with bark varying in colour from pale brown to reddish brown. Young African pencil cedars have needle-like leaves, one to two centimetres long, and as the plant ages the foliage gradually changes to the scale-like adult leaves, which are light-green or yellowish-green and only up to six millimeters long. Male African pencil cedars bear numerous, tiny male cones at the ends of branches. These greenish to orangey-brown structures are composed of scales, each containing two to three pollen sacs. Female plants bear the female cones; reddish-brown to blue-black, berry-like structures made of fleshy scales, each one containing a single ovule.

Come and witness the beauty of these trees at ol Donyo Lodge.

The main identification characteristic of this bird is its dark brown head and chest, to which it owes its name. In flight the dark head contrasts with the under parts and under wings, which are white apart from dark barring on the flight feathers and tail. The upperparts are dark brown, the eye is yellow and it has bare legs with a lot of scales to protect it from snake bites. Mature ones feed mainly on reptiles.

Snake eagles’ nests are small, flattish structures concealed in the crowns of acacia and other trees hence difficult to see. The nest is built by both the female and male. Each breeding season the pair builds a new nest but sometimes they rebuild the old one. They build the nest using twigs and small branches. The building is done mainly from early morning to midmorning. While building continues they regularly mate on a branch nearby or on the structure it's self, once the eggs hatches the female rarely leaves the nest.

It is the work of the male to bring prey, mainly toads and small snakes, back to the nest. There is usually one eaglet born to each pair and they are fed by regurgitation of food by their parents. The Snake Eagle has a lengthy nesting cycle of about 140 days from the laying the egg to the flying of the Eaglet. The Eaglet starts learning how to fly by first performing vigorous wing exercises. It then progresses to flying some meters high and back to the nest. When the Eaglet is confident, it flies out of the next and starts spending nights in the nearby branches, close to the original nest. After this it finds a mate and the circle continues.

Come and see the fantastic birds at Ol Seki Mara Camp.

Il Ngwesi Group ranch is located at northwest edge of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) and is owned by Il Ngwesi community of the Mukogodo division of Laikipia district.

The Maasai people of Il Ngwesi have a long and friendly relationship with Lewa. Many of LWC's staff, including the head of security John Pameri, comes from Il Ngwesi. They have often turned to LWC for support. In recent years we have helped them to move towards financial self-sufficiency through the Il Ngwesi Lodge.

Previously the area remained undeveloped with little economic activity except for subsistence pastoralism until the early 1990s. Although there was some wildlife in the area, elephant poaching remained a problem, and elephants tended to move rapidly through Il Ngwesi from the north into the security provided by Lewa.

Il Ngwesi is a communally owned Group Ranch. The members have elected a Group Ranch Committee and Chairman to represent over 6,000 people. A general meeting is held once a year to discuss matters including revenue distribution, management policies, registration of new members, and election of a management committee, which carries out day-to-day management for the rest of the year.

Walking Wild regularly does its walking safaris across the Il Ngwesi Group Ranch – come and see it for yourself.

Having witnessed firsthand the shocking slaughter of a herd of elephant by poachers and been powerless to stop it, Ian Craig, the chief architect of the Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust (NWCT), realized that the elephant had no future unless the community was fully engaged in the protection of wildlife and the conservation of its natural habitat.

To succeed a presence had to be established in the bush to deter poachers. Initially local herdsmen were provided with radios with which to report any poaching incidents. As time progressed and wildlife returned the community began to understand the benefits of having wildlife on their land; visitors were interested, and with them came a valuable source of income. The establishment of Sarara Camp in 1997 by Piers and Hilary Bastard provided the key to generating tourism revenue. The Camp, which is owned by the community, makes a significant contribution through the conservancy to the local community.

Correctly managed the people of Namunyak have learnt that their land can generate a sustainable income for the community whilst also providing security for their people, the wildlife and its habitat. The conservancy’s revenue is disbursed each year throughout the community to support education, development and healthcare projects, with 40% retained to cover the Trust’s operating costs. Namunyak has provided a successful model and stimulus for the creation of numerous other community managed conservancies.

Come and stay at Sarara and contribute to this unique partnership between people and wildlife.