Sat overlooking the Mara River, House in the Wild is a boutique eco-lodge located in Naratoi, a private 1,000-acre farming concession holding its lease within Enonkishu Community Conservancy just north of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Overview
Owned by Lippa and Tarquin Wood, the founders of Enonkishu, House in the Wild consists of two private Wild Villas, Amani House and Jamani House, which both sleep up to fourteen guests. The rest of the property consists of a lodge with four double ensuite rooms and two family cottages, comfortably accommodating up to sixteen guests. There is a swimming pool overlooking the river. The lodge is fully staffed with a brilliant chef and private guide. Please note that Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the lodge and a daily laundry service is available.
Food & service
Ingredients for meals at House in the Wild, including vegetables, eggs, milk, chicken and baked goods, are produced by the family or the farm at Naratoi. All of the beef is produced by the local company Mara Beef, which breeds top-quality grass-fed Angus, Boran and Zebu.
Rooms
The lodge has four double ensuite rooms on the river and two family cottages. One of the family suites includes two double rooms with en suite bathrooms, the other a double and twin with a shared bathroom and outdoor shower. Both have a dining area and a lounge. The décor in the rooms is light and comfortable. The cottages are semi-canvas, lending themselves to feeling closer to the wild, while at the same time retaining a lovely level of comfort.
Activities
Activities at House in the Wild are extremely varied and can include anything from a dip in the swimming pool, to going on wildlife drives and guided walks. Guests can also visit the local Maasai villages, go fishing, visit the rhino sanctuary or even help out on the estate milking cows, beekeeping, planting trees or assisting the scouts in their conservation work.
Impact
Conservation
Lippa and Tarquin Wood are the founders of Enonkishu Conservancy, which is part of a belt of rangeland conservancies that serve as a buffer zone between the Maasai Mara and Kenya farmland. The levies from Enonkishu’s conservation fees are distributed evenly among the community and help to incentivise conservation within the local communities, which hold title deeds to the land. In total, levies have risen from KSh1,000,000 in 2017 to a fantastic KSh4,000,000 as of now.
Commerce
The lodge employs sustainable business practices throughout its day-to-day function, including community training and sustainable rangeland management.
Community
House in the Wild supports sustainability workshops at the Mara Training Centre, which allows local communities to work together and explore methods of protecting wildlife while earning a living.