The rains have arrived, and once again the Mara has transformed. Everything is green again — the grass is tall, the trees are full, the river is flowing and the air feels fresh. It’s that time of year where everything feels possible, and Mother Nature reminds us who’s in charge.
We’ve had a great and busy start to the year at Collection in the Wild. The kind of busy that comes with creativity, progress, and moments where you just have to stop and take it all in.
The River Room Reimagined
One of our projects we are super excited about is the rebuild of our much loved River Room — the one that sits closest to the river (in 2020, it was actually in it!) This beautiful room, shaded by trees and always full of birdsong is being rebuilt slightly back and up, giving it a fresh layout and a new lease on life while keeping its wild soul intact and staying dry! We’re so excited to reveal it in time for our high season in June. Watch this space…
Twelve Years of Rewilding
It’s hard to believe it’s been twelve years since we started this journey. Back then, this land was full of bean crops and irrigation pivots. Today, it’s a thriving wildlife sanctuary, bursting with life.
Before:
After:
The Lions Have Returned
There’s nothing quite like hearing lions at night from a warm bed with a hot water bottle. Lately, the Sankei males have been seen roaming boldly through the area. The lionesses have cubs and have been mating with the Sankei boys in Enonkishu and Ol Chorro. Some of the older cubs have been seen on Naretoi—curled up in the grass where French beans once grew.
Community & Conservation: Futures in the Wild
Over at Emarti Schools, with the support of the incredible Nicholson family of Nicholsons Nurseries, our Futures in the Wild initiative has helped finish the school dining hall, new classrooms, and a science lab. It’s been a joy watching the students settle in, learn, and dream a little bigger. Conservation here is about the planet, people, partnerships, and possibility.
A Celebration of Kenyan Flavours
Our chefs and service team have been busy too and we have spent the last few months deep in culinary training, learning, sharing, and tasting our way through local dishes with a Wild twist. From home grown produce, foraged greens to freshly baked sourdough bread, the creativity has been flowing. We’ve also done mixology training, and the cocktails and
mocktails are better than ever. Think wild herb infusions, homemade cordials and shaken up Mara Gin. It’s been such a fun process — and our team are feeling very inspired.
Wild Treasures
Our ”Wild Duka” has been restocked with the gorgeous creations from local artisans, Sally Dudmesh jewellery, beaded items from Women in the Wild, natural soaps, hand-poured beeswax candles, KOY shirts, and other beautiful things we love. It’s been so nice seeing guests come in, browse slowly, and take a little piece of the wild home with them.
Horses & Hidden Trails
The horses have well and truly settled in, and we’ve been discovering some breathtaking new trails through the conservancies — places that cars can’t reach, where the silence is only broken by the sound of hooves on earth and birds in the trees. We recently welcomed a visit from an incredible equine stunt rider and filmmaker who captured some stunning footage out on the plains. His film is coming soon—and we’re sure it’s going to give us goosebumps. We love our new logo too.
Mbokishi grows
Over in Mbokishi, land is transforming from farming to wildlife habitat, nature is back in the driving seat. More than 200 zebra and wildebeest have returned, grazing freely across open space that’s slowly rewilding itself. Livestock grazing plans are coming together and there’s a real sense of momentum here — as more landowners witness what’s possible if we see wildlife as a benefit rather than a pest. We’re hopeful that more farmland on the edges of conservation here will follow this path.
Mara Hills: A United Vision
This year marks an exciting step for the future of conservation in our area. Mbokishi, Enonkishu, and Ol Chorro conservancies have come together under one shared vision and management: Mara Hills Conservancies. The name was chosen by the elders, who spoke of the hills as the backbone of this ecosystem—places of strength, memory, and meaning.
Together, we’re working to protect ancient wildlife corridors, support indigenous communities, and ensure this land remains wild and thriving for generations to come.
Sustainable by Design
It’s easy to forget the small things that make a big difference — so here’s a little reminder we’re proud of. All of our properties run on 100% solar power, and we bottle our own spring water on-site. No plastic bottles, no long transport chains—just clean, fresh water straight from the earth. We grow most of our salads in our Wild Shamba.
Six Months of Wild Hill
It’s hard to believe it’s only been six months since we opened the doors to the Wild Hill. We still pinch ourselves and can’t quite believe the journey. From that very first climb to now, we’ve had the most incredible guests, shared unforgettable moments, and found our rhythm. The spaces flow, the experiences are building memories —it’s all coming together. And we’re just getting started. Every corner is thoughtfully designed for comfort, beauty, and ease, but it’s never without meaning, there is a backstory woven through every experience. We have built a team who care deeply about what we’re doing—and it shows in the warmth of the welcome, the attention to detail, and the way each guest is made to feel co mpletely at home.
The feedback has blown us away—heartfelt messages, big smiles at the end of each stay, and the same words we keep hearing again and again: “There’s nothing else like this.”
And we feel it too.
Wild Hill Wellness
There’s a rhythm that invites stillness and wild connection all at once. Slow mornings with fresh juice watching colobus monkeys by the pool, thrilling game drives on the plains below, and next-level wellness that’s unlike anything else on safari.
A space where you can stretch, breathe, reset, and truly reconnect with the land, with your own rhythm, and with those you love.
Our wellness offering goes beyond what you’d expect on safari. Think forest-view saunas, invigorating cold plunges, deeply restorative massages and facials. Our facials use beau tiful, all-natural products that nourish, hydrate, and refresh—perfect after a few days out in the bush.
Morning yoga sessions on the deck, sound baths under the stars, and quiet spaces designed for peace, solitude, and soul-soothing views.
It’s indulgent, yes. But it’s also deeply grounding. A treat for your body, your mind, and your spirit. We want to exceed every expectation of what wellness on safari can be.
Wild photo shoot:
We were thrilled to welcome KOY – Inspired by Kenya back to Wild Hill for their latest photoshoot. It’s always fun having them with us—full of colour, creativity, and the kind of energy we love. KOY has not only worked with us in the past, but they’ve also generously supported Emarti School through our Futures in the Wild programme. They’re a brilliant example of a quality Kenyan brand doing things right, and it was a real honour to host them again as they continue to grow and inspire. They have kindly offered our readers a 15% discount from their websiteon their Worn Wild collection. Please use the code KOYWILD15 to make the most of this amazing offer.
Asante sana:
So here we are — through the first few months with full hearts, muddy boots, and endless thanks for the land, the people, and the wildlife that make this place what it is. If you are dreaming of a slow morning by the river, a sundowner overlooking the Mara, a ride through the plains, or a starlit dinner with stories shared around the fire, we hope you plan your trip soon. We are so excited to see our high season bookings filling up, although as the abundance and variety of wildlife has bounced back so much in this area, visiting the Maasai Mara does not have to depend on the great migration, truly, any time of year in the private conservancies of the Mara is amazing.
To see our live availability, please click on the links below:
With love from the Mara xx
