Il Ngwesi Lodge

Il Ngwesi Lodge
In 1995, a small lodge was built on Il Ngwesi, using funds donated through the Kenya Wildlife Service. This was Kenya 's first community-owned and managed lodge in the country. It has proved enormously successful, and has won many awards, including a British Airways 'Tourism for Tomorrow' award, Equator Initiative Award in 2002, Conde Nast Traveler 2003 Eco Tourism winner in the Hotel/Lodge cathegory and Harpers and Queens "Best 101 Hotels 2003".

With the revenue from the lodge, the Il Ngwesi community has paid for many social developments, such as the provision of school bursaries and the construction of a primary school and three nursery schools. Funds have also been directed into water maintenance and health schemes. The Il Ngwesi project won the UNDP Equator Initiative Award for their success in tapping the biodiversity of their environment for economic gain and community development.

Since the initiation of the Group Ranch projects, eight Game Scouts have been employed which has greatly increased the wildlife security. A vehicle purchased by the community for use for security is also available for transportation of Group Ranch members.

Training and awareness workshops have become an important part of the picture as they cover wildlife conservation project management and the further development of sustainable resources.

LWC still provides considerable logistic support to Il Ngwesi, including maintenance of vehicles, communication network, and accounting. It is LWC's objective to make Il Ngwesi entirely self-supporting, except in areas where there are economies of scale in LWC continuing to provide services.

This will be achieved by additional training programmes and by moving the lodge up-market in order to generate additional revenue.