Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge is found on the northern Kenya Laikipia plateau. It is perched on the edge of Mararoi hills close to the Ngare Ndare river. It was built in 1996 with the help of international organizations but owned and runned by the surrounding Masai community. You can access it through air from Nairobi Wilson to Lewa Downs or the Nanyuki airstrip where Il’ Ngwesi offers transfers to the lodge a 2 hour drive. Very small planes/helicopters can land at the Il’ Ngwesi airstrip adjacent to the lodge 10 minutes drive and by the road you can access it via Lewa Wildlife Conservancy using Matunda Gate, 120 minutes to the lodge, or from Isiolo town 90 minutes to the lodge. Visitors who wish to self-drive should make contact for directions. Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge staffs are all from the local Il Ngwesi community, experienced and committed to ensuring all visitors have a memorable experience.
The main house (Il Laikipiak Hall) at the front of the site offers spectacular views to the north and east as well as down to the water hole while the swimming pool area overlooks the valley and provides an excellent spot to relax in during the day. The central area houses the bar, and dining area with bush views on the eastern side of the valley towards the steer wall of Mukongondo escarpment. Breakfast and dinner is served in the dining terrace while a 3 course lunch is often served by the pool. The chefs are in house trained and offer tantalizing European and African cuisine. You can make requests for bush dining’s that are provided at high notch satisfaction. Local and international beers are also available at Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge.
Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge has 6 spacious rooms that were designed by Simon Du Fesne. These rooms are open to the stunning views of the valley, adjoined by a rope bridge to the family rooms overlooking the waterhole. The rooms are divided into two rooms; the luxury Banda built with local materials and uniquely open to bush design and the star bed suites with king size, four-poster `mkokoteni` beds for those who would wish to sleep under the African sky. The rooms are named from north to south namely; 1. Emuny which means Rhino and is ideal for couples, 2. Ol Tome which means elephant, 3. Orgatuny which means lion. Room 2 and 3 are most preferred as family rooms, 4. Osiruwa which means elephant, 5. Olarro which means buffalo and 6. Emara which is the giraffes. These rooms have wash basins, washstands, toilets, loos with the bush views, and outdoor showers open to the African blue skies.