Lewa has been so successful that it is being used as a model for private conservation throughout East Africa.

BBC: The future of conservation in Kenya

Although Lewa has luxury lodges, stunning scenery, astounding wildlife and has hosted Prince William, they would rather focus on their community and conservation projects.

BBC: The future of conservation in Kenya

In the past, Rohingya refugees caught in Thailand were handed over to the immigration authorities, says Chris Lewa, a longtime advocate for Rohingya rights.

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Many there, Ms. Lewa said, feel that the government isn't prepared.

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One of the first, and certainly one of the finest examples of this kind of community-based conservation is found just a short way to the south of Kalama, at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC).

BBC: The future of conservation in Kenya

In the 1990s, the first white rhinos were imported from South Africa and the results of the breeding programme saw the animals transferred to other reserves in Kenya, including Lake Nakuru National Park, Sweetwaters Game Reserve and Lewa Downs Conservancy.

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The Aberdares are also almost completely overlooked by most tourists, who usually head to the southern parks of the Masai Mara and Amboseli or the luxury camps of the nearby Laikipia plateau, including the Lewa Safari Camp and Borana Ranch and Safari Lodge.

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The conservation effort at Lewa -- which is a mixture of classic habitat preservation, stringent security measures (the rhinos have their own security guards at all times) and the use of the latest technology to enhance the knowledge of a species and its breeding patterns -- has been astounding.

BBC: The future of conservation in Kenya