Constructed entirely from local materials, the award-winning Il Ngwesi Lodge is perched on the edge of the Mararoi Hills, close to the Ngare Ndare River in the Laikipia region of Kenya, with breathtaking views towards Samburu as far as the eye can see. Truly special, this award-winning enterprise combines eco-tourism with sustainable environmental management and community development. IlngwesiIlngwesi

This is one of the only lodges in Kenya to be one hundred per cent owned and run by the community — in this case, the Mukogodo Maasai — with all proceeds going back into the local people. Staying here is not simply a safari; it is an investment in a remarkable conservation story