GUIDE ON IL NGWESI IN KENYA

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For an authentic safari in northern Kenya, spend time at IL Ngwesi Lodge, an eco-accommodation situated within the Laikipia’s IL Ngwesi Conservancy Ranch. The sub-conservancy is owned and operated by the Maasai communities who have generously dedicated 80% of their land to conservation efforts.

The success of these efforts has made IL Ngwesi an internationally-recognized model for the preservation of Africa’s natural beauty. Portions of the revenue generated by the conservancy benefit many community projects that protect the health, culture and well-being of the Maasai. Your wondrous tour of Laikipia includes breathtaking views of Mount Kenya rising above vast savannah plains.



You rest and relax comfortably in one of 6 guest bandas, unique open-sided structures built of local materials, offering guests impeccable views and refreshing breezes. Each banda features an en-suite bathroom with outdoor showers and plenty of solar-heated hot water. Showering outdoors is a traditional safari experience, and the views of the surrounding landscape are sure to keep your attention in check.

Two bandas, one which is the Royal banda, feature beds that can be moved out to private verandah so you can have a star gazing African slumber holiday. The branded Royal banda (aka as honeymoon banda) is where Prince Williams and Kate Middleton stayed for the night and has the best views of the watering hole where elephants, baboons, waterbucks and other wildlife travel from the distant savannah to drink. AfricanMecca guests with mobility problems should select a banda near the main areas, as the trek to some rooms is quite steep.



The Maasai are known for being gracious hosts, and during your bush vacation in Laikipia, you are treated to the finest service in Kenya. You are well-cared for from the time you savor a delicious cup of early morning tea or coffee that is brought to your banda until you close your eyes listening to the nocturnal sounds of the bush.

Join this exceptional tribe for an early morning bush walk, and you see a new world unfold before your eyes. Guided walks allow you to view giraffes, elephants, warthogs and other animals at a more objective level. Under the expert tutelage of your guide, you also discover the smallest denizens of this Maasai owned conservancy, such as antlions, leopard tortoises and other members of the “Small Five”, as well as other tiny creatures that are critical to the ecosystem.



The Maasai gladly share their knowledge of the sounds, smells and sights you experience, as well as their traditional uses of flora and ancient tales of their culture. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast before lounging by the infinity pool where you can view even more wildlife and later opt for a bush picnic -- a divine outback way to have lunch, after which you can return to a shaded place on the lodge terrace for a nap and some light reading. A delicious mid-day cup of tea hits the spot before your late afternoon game drive when the fauna is very active. During your wilderness travel at Kenya’s IL Ngwesi, you may see some of the rare animals that are found in the conservancy, including African wild dogs, Grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes and gerenuks (read more on the best time to visit Laikipia Conservancy).



Sundowners and a dinner of traditional and international dishes rounds out your day perfectly. With more than 400 species of birds at IL Ngwesi, we recommend that you find time for a bird watching excursion, as well as visits to the Maasai village and a trip to the rhino sanctuary. Day hikes to the Mukogodo Escarpment can also be arranged via AfricanMecca.

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