Lumo Conservancy
LUMO Private Conservancy
“Conservancy at its best”
Lumo Community Wildlife Conservancy (simply called LUMO Conservancy) is a community-led wildlife conservation park in Kenya. The sanctuary is formed by three community-owned ranches in Taita Taveta, namely Lualenyi, Mramba, and Oza, hence the acronym “LUMO”. These ranches came together to merge and form a large conservation area with the aim of pursuing wildlife-based initiatives.
LUMO covers an approximate of 46,000 acres, and is located near Mwatate in Taita-Taveta County, in the wider Tsavo National Park’s eco-system, Southern Kenya. Additionally, LUMO is well sandwiched in between the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and Tsavo West National Park. It’s geographic location, as part of the Tsavo, makes the Conservancy a crucial wildlife corridor, fostering biodiversity and free movement for migratory animals, especially elephants. Big cats and elephants are regular highlights and the accommodation is superb, making it a terrific all-round additional safari package.
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Lumo Conservancy Landscape & Scenery
Having a look at what makes LUMO truly distinctive, these 46,000 hectares of diverse African landscape is well covered, featuring diverse flora and fauna. The Conservancy is a mosaic of open savannahs, rolling hills, riverine woodlands, and waterholes. Its open savannahs are dotted with umbrella thorn acacias and the iconic baobabs. At the same time, the conservancy features fever trees, doum palms, tamarinds, and is also known for its groves of Salvadora persica, a plant used traditionally for dental hygiene.
With its strategic location, the towering Taita Hills border the Conservancy to the west; their peaks often covered in mist, providing a picturesque backdrop that adds to the unique visual of the Conservancy.
Top Things To Do In LUMO Conservancy
Discover some of the best things to do in LUMO Conservancy. The setting and climate of Tsavo ecosystem allows for quality wildlife viewing all-round the year; whether you’re interested in birding, cultural experiences, bush sundowners, and guided nature walks something to offer for everyone. Let’s take a look at the notable activities that LUMO Conservancy offers.
1. Safari Game Drives In LUMO Conservancy
The main activity in LUMO Conservancy is the guided game drives, which will take you around the park in search of animals and bird species. The game drives normally start as early as 6:00am. and involve the use of a 4X4 Land Cruiser Jeep with an open roof-top, showing you some of the stunning views of the area.
The Land Cruiser safari vehicles accommodate 6 seat passengers (everyone with their own spacious window seat) but can additionally seat up to 8 adults with an extra seat included and with one person sitting beside the Driver. The vehicle has a spacious game viewing roof, is more reliable, strong and spacious enough while also being marginally more comfortable than the only other option.
2. Underground Viewing Waterhole In LUMO Conservancy
The pursuit of the perfect photograph is an endless journey for professional photographers and passionate safari enthusiasts alike. The viewing slots allows for a 180-degree panoramic view of the whole water hole and the surrounding landscape. In addition, these Hides are equipped with comfortable seating and a sufficient space for tripods and other equipment, ensuring photographers can focus on capturing the perfect shot.
This specially designed photographic hide offers unique vantage points, granting intimate access to the realm of wildlife. If you are planning a photographic safari in Kenya, we highly recommend visiting Tsavo National Parks, and LUMO. From these underground viewing spots, you quietly observe and document animal behavior from an entirely new perspective.
3. Night Safari Drives In LUMO Conservancy
As for Night Game drives, a curiosity for many visitors while on an African safari. Note that night game drives are allowed in LUMO Conservancy. The night game drives add a thrill to the whole luxury safari experience.
As for timings, expect to leave the lodge either before or after dinner set off to discover the creatures of the night. This is the only time when you may catch a glimpse of such elusive nocturnal creatures as aardvark, leopard, aardwolf, and serval cat. Additionally, to ensure a great experience, your safari vehicle is well equipped with a powerful handheld lamp used to sweep the bush for sightings.
4. Birdwatching In LUMO Conservancy
These birding outings can be custom tailored to your interests, in the company of a professional ranger with options of picnics, bush lunches, and sundowners to be scheduled to suit your needs.
Boasting an array of over 300 bird species including the African fish eagle and the crowned crane; together with Tsavo National Park and Taita Hills Sanctuary which has over 700 species recorded, this southern part of Kenya safari circuit serves as one of the prime birding destinations for bird watching tours.
5. Cultural Visit In LUMO Conservancy
For the travelers interested in cultural tours, visits to the cultural villages can be arranged to fit your itinerary. On this village tour, you will visit a typical ethnic home, watch a dance display, or discover beading and handicrafts in the making. We’ll take it further to the farmlands where you’ll see how the farmers manage diverse crops and pastoral activities, such as cattle and goat keeping.
6. Visit Lake Jipe
Just about one and half hours from LUMO Conservancy, in Tsavo West, lies this freshwater lake that borders Tanzania. A host to hippos, crocodiles, and unique birdlife. A lake shared by two countries, each with different economic values. Since the Kenyan side of the lake lies in Tsavo West National Park, no fishing is allowed. Tanzania is allowed controlled fishing. Boat rides are provided at an extra cost.
7. Climb Taita Hills
Climb the beautiful Taita Hills. Drive through lush, mountainous Taita, where the climate is perfect and the views stunning over what is known to the locals as ‘little Switzerland.’ Walk through the farmlands and interact with the locals in their daily chores. It takes about 45 minutes of steep walking from where you leave your vehicle to where the view is panoramic. The camp will supply you with a nourishing packed picnic lunch.
8. Bush Meals, Dinners & Sundowners In LUMO Conservancy
Delight in the wide-open sky and space of LUMO plains on an unforgettable bush sundowner at LUMO Wildlife Conservancy, where you will be served drinks and cocktails while watching the sight of the African sunset. This usually happens as the sun begins its descent, the sundowner begins with a gentle evening game drive, arriving at the sundowner site just as the evening sky turns gold-pink, surrounded by nothing but scenic views framed by stunning landscapes and magnificent wildlife. (Can at times take place within the lodge premises).
Your chairs will be set up facing towards the extensive scenic LUMO plains, accompanied by a well packed mobile bar service and cocktail snacks served in the raw wilderness of the African savannah. Musical entertainment can also be provided at request. After sunset you will be driven back to the lodge in time for dinner.
Picnic Lunch: usually arranged during a full day game outing in the reserve so that one does not have to go back to the lodge or camp for lunch, the meal itself is in the form of packed lunch boxes which are provided by your camp or lodge by prior arrangement the night before to allow them adequate time to prepare the meal boxes. The meal will be enjoyed under a tree, on a scenic setting out in the wild.
Bush Breakfast & Dinners: in the case of a Bush dinner, this is enhanced by being eaten under a tree. Fresh fruit, juice, tea, coffee, and a cooked breakfast to your requirements will be freshly prepared by our chef while you relax and soak up the atmosphere of the bush through which you have just meandered. Bush meals are typically arranged at special chosen sites within LUMO Wildlife Conservancy – generally located outside of but very near the respective Lodges or Camps. Expect the menus to range from multi-course fine cuisine to more casual bush barbeque meals, prices for these special meals vary widely starting from USD 70 per person all the way to USD 150 per person for a more luxurious bush meal.
Special Requests: the meals can also be arranged to cater for certain special dietary requirements such as gluten free, vegan, vegetarian and even restricted vegetarian such as for Indian Jain diets which exclude use of Onions or Garlic as ingredients. Though choices are limited for bush meals, in-house dining at the lodges or camps promises more dietary options. Make sure you make an early request for easy planning.
Animals & Wildlife In LUMO Conservancy
Being an important migratory corridor for animals crossing along Taita Hills and Tsavo West Park, among the resident wildlife in LUMO, you’ll find iconic lions, elephants, buffaloes, possible sightings of leopards, Masai giraffes, silver backed jackals, spotted hyena, striped hyena, waterbucks, Lesser Kudu, long-necked Gerenuk, Hirola, and sightings of African Wild Cat are also possible. These are just some of the animals you can expect to see.
Best Time For Wildlife Viewing In LUMO Conservancy
While LUMO Wildlife Conservancy is beautiful all year round, the best time to visit LUMO Conservancy for wildlife watching is in the dry months of (June to October) when the vegetation thins out and animals gather around remaining water sources. Still – the dry months from January to February is also a great time for wildlife viewing. The wettest months are April and November.
Birdlife & Birds In LUMO Conservancy
With over 1,070 species of birds, Kenya has the second highest country bird list in Africa, while the area around Tsavo West boats 600 recorded species. LUMO Conservancy with over 300 recorded bird species, is also part of this statistics, featuring the African fish eagle and the crowned crane, adorning the skies with their vibrant hues and melodious calls.
List Of Birds In LUMO Conservancy
Big Birds, like the Common Ostrich, African Mourning Dove, Emerald–spotted Wood Dove, Namaqua Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Ring–neck Dove, Coqui Francolin, Crested Francolin, Helmeted guineafowl, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Buff–crested Bustard, Common Sandpiper, Crowned Plover, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Kori Bustard, Spotted Thick-knee, Three-banded Plover, White-bellied Bustard, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, African Cuckoo, Blue-naped Mousebird, Blue-checked Bee-eater, Grey Hornbill, Hoopoe, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Little Bee-eater, Red–bill Hornbill, Southern Ground Hornbill, Speckled Mousebird, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, White-bellied Go–away bird, White-browed Coucal, African Orange-bellied Parrot, African white-backed Vulture, African Fish Eagle, African Harrier Hawk, Amur Falcon, Augur Buzzard, Bateleur, Black-shouldered Kite, Brown Snake Eagle, Common Kestre, African Spoonbill, Black-headed Heron, Cattle Egret, Greater White Egret, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Hammerkop, Long-tailed Cormorant, Malachite Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Marabou Stork, and Sacred Ibis.
Best Time For Bird Watching In LUMO Conservancy
The wilderness of LUMO offers very rewarding birding opportunities all year. Migratory birds arrive in the reserve around November and stay until April. However, be prepared with the weather changes, as short showers can start at any moment. That said, December to February or March are generally best for bird watching.
Best Time To Visit LUMO Conservancy
While LUMO Conservancy can be visited year-round, wildlife watching is best in the dry months from June to October and again from January to March; during this time there is little to no rainfall, and climate conditions in the park are favorable for wildlife watching. The animals can be spotted around the nearby water holes as they quench their thirst. Now this is a good time to plan a trip to Tsavo East National Park.
Similar to Tsavo’s ecosystem, LUMO’s wet seasons comprise November and April. During these months, wildlife (with water and food more widely available they will spread out) and is more challenging to spot in the long grass. However, if you are a bird lover, then the wet season is perfect to enjoy birdwatching as many migratory birds come here during this season; – getting wet is not an issue.
The Weather & Climate At LUMO Conservancy
Together with Tsavo East, and Tsavo West Park’s, when planning on a safari to LUMO Wildlife Conservancy and the whole of Tsavo Ecosystem be ready to for a hot, dry climate with average temperatures varying in between 31°C/88°F during daytime and 20°C/68°F at night. For the morning game drives, we recommend you bring with you warm clothing. Given Kenya’s climate pattern, rainfall will be experienced in late April and November, bringing both the long and short rains, respectively. Though the rain tends to fall as short, heavy showers.
Generally, the conditions tend to stay hot and dry throughout the year at LUMO Conservancy. The wet seasons in LUMO Conservancy (November to May) can get particularly hot, especially during the break.
Dry Season In LUMO Conservancy – June to October
These are the dry seasons characterized by sunny days – there is no rainfall.
June & July – Days are typically hot and sunny with pleasant temperatures of around 29°C/84°F.
August & September – Both months of August & September are characterized by a rise in daytime temperatures on an average of 29°C/84°F.
October – come October, expect a hot and humid climate, with temperatures increasing prior to the arrival of short November rains.
Wet Season In LUMO Conservancy – November to May
Tsavo East’s wetter season is marked by short rains followed by the long rains. Remember, January and February are part of the dry months in between.
November & December – these months signals the start of the short rains in Tsavo East National Park. During this period, expect short afternoon storms with daytime temperatures at an average of 33°C/84°F, which can rise. In addition, the skies tend to be clearer & sunny days possible.
January & February – with the exact timing a little challenging to predict. These months break the rains and welcomes a dry season; – making it good for game viewing, with February labelled as the hottest month, temperatures peaking to an average of 30°C/86°F or even higher.
March, April & May – call it the long rainy season, usually kicks off late in March. Remember, it hardly ever rains all day, just surprising afternoon showers; – still pleasant temperatures characterized by sunshine & clear skies is experienced. Late April can receive the most of rainfall, with an estimated temperatures of around 30°C/86°F.
Safari Tours To LUMO Conservancy
Want to visit LUMO Conservancy? This is one of the most rewarding safari destinations in southern Kenya that you can easily add on a safari package to Masai Mara. Being close to Nairobi, you can easily start off with short Nairobi daytrip tours then proceed to Tsavo making it easy to visit in a short time frame, and combine it with other parks as well.
You have plenty of choices to pick from, Tsavo midrange safaris to Tsavo luxury safaris depending on your travel style.
Ready To Plan A Private Tsavo Safari?
Browse our selection of private Tsavo tour packages in Kenya above, or get in touch with one of our African safari experts to help tailor-make the best itinerary for you.