Elewana Strengthens Conservancy Commitment with Mara North Camp & Lewa Renewal

Brand expands low‑impact safari footprint with debut of Little Elephant Pepper Camp and complete refurbishment of Lewa Safari Camp

Elewana Collection has added a boutique mobile-style camp in the Mara North Conservancy and completed a full refurbishment of its Lewa Safari Camp, moves the company says strengthen its commitment to conservation-focused tourism while avoiding additional pressure on fragile ecosystems.

Little Elephant Pepper Camp opens in Mara North

Elewana this week opened Little Elephant Pepper Camp in Mara North Conservancy. The new camp contains three spacious safari suites and one two‑bedroom family suite, each with a private veranda and plunge pool. Set beneath African pepper trees a short distance from the original Elephant Pepper Camp, Little Elephant Pepper Camp is described by the company as the first ultra‑high‑end property inside Mara North.

Built with no permanent footprint and designed to echo classic safari style, the intimate camp blends mobile‑safari traditions with luxury touches including campaign furniture, warm woods and brass details. A dedicated wellness tent is available for post‑game drives, and brand‑new safari vehicles will transport guests across the conservancy’s 72,000 acres. Walking safaris — a feature of the conservancy experience — are also offered. Elewana says the camp is particularly suited to couples, multi‑generational families and private buyouts.

Lewa Safari Camp reopens after full restoration

Also reopening this month is Lewa Safari Camp in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy following a complete restoration. The refurbishment preserved the camp’s “warm and authentic” character while upgrading guest amenities: a redesigned central Dining Tree deck, shaded verandas, larger guest tents, a separate bar and lounge, and an upgraded spa.

Lewa sits within about 65,000 acres of protected wilderness known for its black rhino and Grevy’s zebra populations. Elewana highlighted the conservancy’s low vehicle density and strong “Big Five” viewing potential as part of the guest experience.

Conservation and community at the centre

Elewana emphasised that both projects were delivered under existing strict bed‑night quotas for the conservancies, limiting tourism pressure on the landscape. The company framed the moves as aligning with the conservancy model, where capped bed nights and rules on vehicle numbers at sightings help prevent overtourism while protecting wildlife corridors.

Elewana Group Chairman and CEO Karim Wissanji said the properties’ locations within key conservancies were central to the decision to invest. “It speaks to something we care about deeply at Elewana: community impact, wildlife conservation, and tourism that’s built on real purpose,” he said, praising the conservancies’ work to create tangible benefits for local communities through education, health and employment programmes.

Why conservancies matter

Both Mara North and Lewa are credited with protecting vital wildlife dispersal routes and reducing human‑wildlife conflict by providing communities with economic incentives to conserve land. Mara North is a privately leased 29,170‑hectare partnership of 783 Maasai landowners and 12 tourism operators that helps keep migration corridors open for species such as wildebeest and elephants. Lewa is noted for safeguarding critically endangered black rhinos and Grevy’s zebras while reinvesting tourism benefits into local people.

Elewana’s portfolio and positioning

The Elewana Collection — part of Minor Hotels’ luxury brand portfolio — now consists of 17 boutique lodges and camps across Kenya and Tanzania. The brand says it seeks to balance luxury hospitality with conservation and community engagement, reflecting the meaning of “elewana” in Swahili: harmony.