Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya is one of Africa's most renowned conservation areas and spans around 62,000 acres of protected wilderness at the foot of Mount Kenya. The landscape is characterised by open savannah, acacia woodlands, wetlands and gentle hills with sweeping views over Kenya's northern highlands. The area offers a classic East African safari experience, but with an unusually strong focus on conservation, research and collaboration with local communities. Lewa originally began as a ranch, but was converted during the 1990s into a non-profit-run wilderness reserve with the aim of protecting some of Africa's most endangered species. Today, Lewa is regarded as an international model for sustainable conservation and the protection of endangered wildlife. Wildlife in Lewa is exceptionally rich, with over 70 larger mammal species and hundreds of bird species. Species found here include elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes and several different antelope species, but the area is especially known for its successful programmes for rhinos and Grevy's zebra – one of the world's most endangered zebra species. Lewa protects a significant proportion of Kenya's black rhinos and is also home to one of the world's largest populations of Grevy's zebra. Conservation runs through everything Lewa does. The area works actively on anti-poaching, protecting migration corridors, habitat preservation and research into endangered species. Through advanced monitoring and close collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service, Lewa has succeeded in creating one of Africa's most successful rhino protection programmes, while elephant populations in the area have continued to stabilise and grow. Lewa is also strongly committed to the local communities around the reserve. Education projects, water initiatives, healthcare and various community programmes are a central part of the conservancy's work, based on the belief that long-term conservation only works if people and wildlife can coexist and benefit together.