House in the Wild

MAASAI MARA, KENYA

House in the Wild is a small property nestled within a 1000-acre private estate on the edge of Kenya’s epic Maasai Mara. Owners Lippa and Tarquin Wood hope to regenerate the biodiversity of their land in a way that is socially, ecologically and economically viable. To this end, they have established the 6000-acre community-based conservation initiative, Enonkishu Conservancy. As a result of collaborative efforts between Enonkishu landowners, previously over-farmed land has been restored and now wildlife including lions, leopards, wild dogs, honey badgers and elephants all migrate freely in and out of the conservancy.

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Within the Enonkishu Conservancy, the Woods own and manage the Mara Beef farm, which helps local landowners to access livestock markets. Understanding the need to build the economic resilience of the local community, a large focus of the Conservancy’s work is diversifying income streams to lessen dependence on tourism. The Mara Training Centre, partly funded by concessions from House in the Wild guests, trains local pastoralists in regenerative grazing and sustainable land management. The Wood’s hope to replicate this ‘Grazing for Growth’ model in strategic areas throughout Kenya.  The Woods have also built two local schools, which emphasise the importance of conservation.

 

House in the Wild provides guests with a charming home-away-from-home on the banks of the Mara River.  Sleeping 12 people in two double rooms and two cottages, the lodge is often booked out exclusively and is well geared up for family-friendly adventures.  Being such an intimate setting, 90% of employees are from a 5km radius and their unrivalled local knowledge means that experiences can be tailor-made to suit everyone’s needs.  80% of produce is sourced locally and where there is appetite, guests are encouraged to meet the local community, visit the school and get involved in conservation efforts.

 

www.houseinthewild.co.ke

The 4Cs

House in the Wild joined The Long Run in 2017 and committed to a holistic balance of the 4Cs – Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce – as a means to contribute meaningfully to the biodiversity and the people of their local region.

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CONSERVATION

The goal of the founders of the House in the Wild is to restore and regenerate biodiversity in a sustainable way where benefits are seen socially, ecologically and economically. Owners Lippa and Tarquin Wood are the founders of the Enonkishu Conservancy, a community led conservation initiative, looking after the heritage, people and the natural resources of an increasingly fragile ecosystem on the edge of the Mara Serengeti Ecosystem. Enonkishu Conservancy is committed to sustainable rangeland management that allows space and resources for all people, cattle, and wildlife. To achieve this it seeks a balance between conservation of the ecosystem and appropriate enterprise for the resident Maasai communities. Enonkishu is adopting a unique approach to conserving land by creating a viable livestock enterprise through a Holistic Management (HM) Approach. Through HM, Enonkishu intends to improve productivity of the livestock in the region, improve livelihoods and maintain heritage.

 

 

 

COMMUNITY

90% of the staff employed in the camp are local, from within a 5km radius of the House in the Wild. Lippa and Tarquin Wood, the owners of House in the Wild founded the Mara Training Centre through the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund grant, that focuses on building community capacity in sustainably managing their natural resources.  The Wood’s also built the Emarti Primary School and the Emarti Secondary School (over 700 students in between them), where they also focus on incorporating a conservation program into the schools as an extracurricular activity.

CULTURE

The Reserve area formed an integral part of the culture and spirituality of several Native American tribes, and later witnessed the Lewis and Clark expedition and westward travels of American settlers and homesteaders. American Prairie Reserve incorporates compelling stories about Native Americans, early explorers, and early settlers into the visitor experience through interpretation, exhibits, and visits to historic points of interest. Working with local elders, our campground welcome signs feature greetings in the languages of the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine, honouring two of the local tribes that lived and hunted in the region for thousands of years and continue to do so today.

COMMERCE

The goal of the founders of the House in the Wild is to restore and regenerate biodiversity in a sustainable way where benefits are seen socially, ecologically and economically. Owners Lippa and Tarquin Wood are the founders of the Enonkishu Conservancy (www.enonkishu.org), a community led conservation initiative, looking after the heritage, people and the natural resources of an increasingly fragile ecosystem on the edge of the Mara Serengeti Ecosystem. Enonkishu Conservancy is committed to sustainable rangeland management that allows space and resources for all people, cattle, and wildlife. To achieve this it seeks a balance between conservation of the ecosystem and appropriate enterprise for the resident Maasai communities. Enonkishu is adopting a unique approach to conserving land by creating a viable livestock enterprise through a Holistic Management (HM) Approach. Through HM, Enonkishu intends to improve productivity of the livestock in the region, improve livelihoods and maintain heritage.

 

 

 

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