Extraordinary Africa>Kenya>Masai Mara>House in the Wild
House in the Wild is a fabulous lodge by the Mara River in the far north of the Greater Mara. Staying here is almost like staying with friends in Kenya with an incredibly fun, homely, and flexible approach.
What’s House in the Wild really like?
The House in the Wild was once a family home on a private estate- as the estate was rewilded and given over to nature, owners Tarquin and Lippa Wood converted it into a safari lodge with a laid-back, homely feel. There are seven private cottages at the main lodge, a mixture of one and two bedrooms. Each has a laid-back, comfortable feel and two have extra day beds that can be used for younger children. Outside there’re lovely lawns with a pool, and plenty of games to keep younger visitors entertained with boules, table tennis and even a tennis court nearby.
Set away from the lodge, there are also 3 gorgeous private houses. Amani has 7 bedrooms, a pool and a gym, and works well for groups and families with older children. Jamani has 5 bedrooms and incredible views. Lastly, Olmarei House has 3 bedrooms in the main house and 2 in the cottages next door, also excellent views and a huge pool! All three generally operate separately from the lodge.
What can I do at House in the Wild?
House in the Wild were founders of the Enonkishu Conservancy and game drives usually take place here or on the Ol Chorro and Lemek Conservancies away from the busy areas of the public reserve. If you are visiting during migration season and want to brave the crowds, a visit to the Reserve is best done as a full day visit with a picnic (there is an extra park fee payable for this). As with so many of Kenya’s fabulous conservancies, local communities and farmers live side by side with the wildlife here, so you get so much more from the experience than just looking at animals. You can visit the local school (pens, pencils and footballs with pumps are always good icebreakers), take meals out in the bush, or try catch and release fishing in the Mara River or learn about the conservation projects in more detail.
There are also several extra activities we can book for you- just let us know in advance as there is a small extra cost attached. For safari-goers who haven’t spotted rhino elsewhere on their travels we can arrange a visit to the rhino sanctuary. If you are interested in the nuts and bolts of conservation we can plan a visit to the Mara elephant project. It’s also possible to visit the local Maasai Community and learn about their way of life.
Giving back at House in the Wild:
So much of the modern conservancy idea is holistic conservation- supporting the landscape, the wildlife, and the people together. This feeds into every part of your stay. To learn just a little about this you can visit the Mara Training Centre, and learn about guide training and conservation programmes or have a go at bead work. You can also visit the vegetable garden where your food is grown or the tree nursery where saplings are raised as part of a reforestation project. Water bottles are reusable and even your yoghurt pots are recycled in the tree nursery. For each night of your stay a fee goes to the local community. The Woods have helped fundraise to support the local school, and support the Mara Beach project to bring an income for Maasai women.
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