Sat overlooking the Mara River, House in the Wild is a private home 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, who were the founders of Enonkishu, House in the Wild consists of five cottages, can comfortably accommodate a party of 12, and has a spacious and rustic look and feel, with a neat lawn separating each house, a large curved swimming pool in between, and easy access into the wilds beyond. Please note that Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the lodge and a daily laundry service is available.
Food & service
All 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 Mara Beef, a local company that breeds top quality grass-fed Angus, Boran and Zebu.
Rooms
Of the five cottages, two are family suites. 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 remaining cottages have one double room each and are located on the bank of the river. 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 rangelands 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.