Owned and run by the Maasai community, Il Ngwesi offers something truly special. Visitors to the lodge have a full wildlife and cultural experience, enjoying hospitality more akin that offered to a valued family member. With no other tourist facilities within the Group Ranch, it is the ultimate personal experience. Activities: Superb wildlife viewing from the […]

Constructed entirely out of local materials, the award winning Il Ngwesi Lodge is perched on the edge of the Mararoi hills close to the Ngare Ndare river in Laikipia District in Kenya, with breathtaking views towards Samburu as far as the eye can see. Designed by Simon du Fresne, six spacious rooms accommodate two to […]

The lodge staff, all from the local Il Ngwesi community, are experienced and committed to ensuring all visitors have a memorable experience. They welcome repeat visitors time and time again.    Our lodge manager takes care of all operational aspects of your stay whilst one of our wildlife guides will welcome you and manage your […]

It’s all here! Since Il Ngwesi set aside more than 8,500 hectares of its land as a conservation area, the ecosystem has recovered and a full complement of wildlife species has returned. With a number of endangered species including the White Rhino, Grevy Zebra, African Wild Dog, Leopard and Lion now resident on its land, […]

Il Ngwesi Lodge contributes to developing the local communities by supporting education, health and livelihoods projects, by providing jobs and business opportunities with surrounding tourism and other businesses. There are six Maasai villages in Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, all rooted in a traditional  pastoralist lifestyle. Since the mid 1990s, profits from the lodge and generous […]

In 2016 Il Ngwesi was 20 years old. Supporting both communities and wildlife, it remains the only upmarket lodge that is both owned and run by the community. Its significance cannot be overstated. Its remarkable story is told here as it enters its third decade. The Il Ngwesi Story Neighboring Lewa, Borana and Lekurruki, Il […]

In its lifetime, Il Ngwesi has won a number of national and international awards and features in the publication ‘Authentic Eco lodges’ (2010) where it is described as ‘one of the most exemplary examples of deadwood architecture in the world’. In 2017 Il Ngwesi appeared in National Geographic’s 21 Places to Stay If You Care […]

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Thank You! To all that have and do support us, none of this would have been possible without strong partnerships with like-minded organisations and individuals who have supported both financially and by training staff, and  ensuring the security and safety of visitors and community.  In particular, we would like to recognise the following: Our Partners […]