Within this Conservancy is the small and exclusive 12 bed “eco-friendly” Malewa River Lodge, nestled in the shade of huge Acacia trees on the banks of the Malewa river. The rustic design of the lodge is most unusual and innovative using local methods and materials gathered from the surrounding area.

The result is a cluster of charming buildings constructed of mud, timber and thatch. Every effort has been made to be economical and innovative in the true ethos of eco tourism. The furnishings are also very unique. The beds, tables and chairs are constructed using the timbers from old fencing posts taken from the former cattle ranch. The ambiance has been calculated to bring the visitor close to nature; sounds of the African bush, birdsong and the flow of water over the pebbles in the nearby streambed are the essence of your stay at Malewa River Lodge.

To quote from the visitors book... “A little bit of heaven never hurts”... “ a place to feel at home in Africa. We were so impressed by the structure built with traditional materials, set in peaceful, natural surroundings”... “ we could have stayed until the next millennium.”

The Lodge offers guests full board accommodation with exquisite cuisine. Tasty meals are prepared to the highest standard by a “Cordon Bleu” chef using fresh, local ingredients. The emphasis is on excellent home cooking. There is a small team of friendly staff including waiters, bar men, room stewards and guides to take care of you. They are well trained, and without being intrusive they ensure you have a relaxing and comfortable stay. Our trained naturalists are on hand to accompany guests on walks.

Your hosts……..
Chris. Managing Director of Kigio Wildlife Conservancy and Malewa River Lodge, but a wildlife artist by profession. (see News and Gallery page.).
Christine. Hands on management of the lodge and an extremely talented cook. (behind every man there is a woman!).
Milli, with a warm smile and gentle nature ensures all clients are informed and happy during their stay. Trained as an outdoor activities instructor she may also persuade you to dangle off a rope whilst abseiling or rockclimbing.
David. Naturalist and guide. Total enthusiast and a very talented game tracker with a profound knowledge of the African bush, cultural beliefs and myths.

Your accommodation at Malewa ……..

The enchanting open plan main building offers a large sitting room complete with open fire, spacious veranda, bar and dining area with views over the river.   

The cottages are separated from the main building and well spaced along the river-bank. Each with their own character.

Kasuki Cottage: Comprising spacious bedroom with large double bed, en suite shower room and private garden with river view.

Aberdare Cottage: Spacious bedroom with twin beds, en suite shower room and private garden.

Mau Cottage: Double storey, with a bedroom and bathroom on both levels with an outdoor shower so that you can bathe under the stars!

In the main building two large bedrooms lead off the upstairs balcony.
Eburu East: Large double bed and 3 extra bunks, mattresses & pillows.
Eburu West: Two twin beds and 8 extra bunks, mattresses & pillows. One shower room upstairs and one downstairs. Additionally the delightful 'crows nest' in the eaves of the thatched roof with space for 4 mattresses. Great for children!

With 4 cottages and 2 large rooms in the main building the Lodge can accommodate 12 guests in comfort and extras in comfortable bunks. The accommodation is therefore suitable for individuals, family groups, and options for school groups.

Walking:

The expansive conservancy area offers ample opportunity to walk safely amongst wildlife. We do recommend you take either of our guides, David or Patrick and benefit from their knowledge honed from a childhood in the bush. They will help you identify animal tracks as well as the huge variety of bird species. Their knowledge of wildlife and the medicinal properties of the many endemic plants that flourish on the property makes your walk in the bush a fascinating experience.

Bird watching: Our trained guides could soon show you a large number of the 150 species recorded in our comprehensive bird lists.

Trout Fishing: We stock the Malewa river annually with rainbow trout. So try your hand fly-fishing along four miles of private water. Ideal season Jan-March. We have fly rods available for hire.

Horse riding: Take this opportunity to explore the conservancy on horse back and enjoy riding side by side with the wildlife.

Farming: Get involved in the everyday farm life African style! Herding cattle, sheep and goats. Visit the dairy, dip the livestock and hand milk a cow!

Painting and Photography: Spectacular views of the Rift Valley, the indigenous people and culture, stunning skies and the abundant flora and fauna make Kigio Wildlife Conservancy ideal for all forms of nature based painting and photography.
Painting and sketching holidays arranged by Chris as the resident artist can be arranged.

Astronomy: Beautiful clear nights away from light pollution provide an ideal environment for star gazing.

Mountain biking: we have mountain bikes for hire. With over 20 kms of trails or roads there is plenty of scope for cycling around the Conservancy and the neighbouring community.

Abseiling or Rock climbing: Challenge your fears and enjoy a days activity abseiling or climbing the cliffs in the Amphitheatre and river gorge. Milli is our resident instructor.

Canoeing: Enjoy the Malewa River on a guided canoe trip, spotting birds, otters and maybe a python!

Rafting: In season the Malewa River can be rafted with rapids graded I to III+.

We can arrange for excursions to nearby attractions such as
Lakes Nakuru, Elementeita, Naivasha, Baringo and Bogoria, Hells Gate, Mt Longonot, Elsamere and the Aberdare National Park. See map.

Hells Gate National Park.
Awesome scenery and cliff faces. A climbers and walkers paradise with the opportunity to walk amongst wildlife.
40 minutes drive from Malewa.

Lake Nakuru
One of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world with regular sightings of one million flamingoes feeding on the algae suspended in the alkaline waters of the lake. This stunning Park is also home to a huge variety of wildlife including Rhino, Lion, Leopard and Rothschild Giraffe.
45 minute drive from Malewa.

Lake Elementieta
The breeding ground for Pelican and excellent viewing for flamingo. This lake offers stunning scenery. From Malewa we recommend an evening drive with sundowners to experience the dusk colours over the Rift Valley.
Merely a 20 minute drive from Malewa

Lake Naivasha
The only fresh water lake in the Rift Valley. Take a boat trip to enjoy excellent viewing of Hippos and birds, or try fishing for wide mouthed Bass and Tilapia.
30 minute drive from Malewa.

Mt Longonot National Park
An easy climb to the top of Mt Longonot, a dormant volcano with a perfect crater offers dramatic views in every direction of the Rift Valley, lake Naivasha and Mt Suswa to the south.
35 minute drive from Malewa.

Elsamere Conservation Centre.
The home of the late Joy Adamson of Elsa fame. Interesting homestead, in a beautiful location on the shores of Lake Naivasha. Suitable for an afternoon visit to the museum including a slide show and tea on the lawns where friendly Colobus monkeys play around you.
45 minutes from Malewa.

Aberdare National Park.
High altitude mountain park with crystal clear trout streams flowing over the moorlands and cascading over waterfalls. Stunning views and atmosphere.
Only 2 hours drive from Malewa.

Lakes Baringo and Bogoria
Two more very distinct Rift Valley lakes. Unique in their own way………..
Between two and three hours drive from Malewa.

COMMUNITY

Interaction between the children from varied backgrounds is encouraged in the classroom and on the playing fields. We encourage visits to Kigio and other conservation areas and National Parks. Lasting friendships and a profound understanding of different cultures have developed.

We encourage the development of micro enterprises:

	Bee keeping: Introducing this small scale industry to the community farmers is ongoing.This would include setting up hives, checking and harvesting of the honey. Labeling and marketing.
	Leleshwa harvesting: This is an indigenous leaf that is currently being harvested for the oils as an insect repellant, mostly against mosquitoes. Our small group of women from the neighbourhood need support and encouragement to harvest, dry and bag the leaf to a good quality.
	Tree nursery: We have a tree nursery which has been sufficient for replanting soil eroded areas within the conservancy. Now there is a necessity to expand the effort within the community and along the watercourses to protect the river banks. The setting up of new tree nurseries are essential. We also have a new project whereby cuttings are taken from cloned Eucalyptus trees for commercial production. Bagging, labeling and marketing will be necessary.

“Born to be Wild Programme” filmed on location in Kenya during 2002.

An update on the welfare of the Giraffe is that they have now settled well in the conservancy. The unexpected birth of a male calf (left and right) in September was wonderful news to us all and further proof that the animals have settled well with no ill side effects. We plan to publish a quarterly update on the progress of the Giraffe family for viewers to be kept informed throughout the year.

We are delighted to inform you that there is a new arrival at Kigio Wildlife Conservancy. On September 24th two significant events took place. As the thunder clouds gathered over the parched soil there was a radio report from one of the field rangers that a baby giraffe had been born.

Everyone on the conservancy soon heard the exciting news, and despite the heavy rain, we all sped out to see for ourselves. The sight of this new born giraffe so engrossed our minds that we did not notice we were getting soaked through to the skin by the first rain in weeks. The beauty of this 6 feet tall baby being washed clean by the falling rain will be a memory we will all cherish.

Kigio Wildlife Conservancy has come of age! Several years ago we set out to provide a safe sanctuary for a breeding herd of Rothschild Giraffe and we have begun to activly achieve these goals. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

History 1997 – 2002

Recognizing the potential for tourism on this beautiful land area the Directors of Kigio Group Company Ltd and Chris Campbell Clause formed a partnership and set about revising the management plan.

The purpose of which was set out in a simple policy document and the farming emphasis started to move towards sustainable use of the land and nature based tourism. This led to the development of campsites and the construction of the Malewa River Lodge.

The following aims were set out in the policy document:-

	To manage and conserve the wildlife resources on Kigio in close liaison with the Government and the Kenya Wildlife Services.
	To perpetuate a truly pastoral form of land management where man, domestic stock and wildlife could flourish in relative harmony.
	To develop programmes for the protection and care of all wildlife species and encourage research.
	To encourage awareness amongst our peoples of Kenya that wildlife is an asset which through careful management can benefit us all aesthetically and financially in perpetuity.
	To make Kigio financially self-supporting by:- a) Development of Eco-tourism. b) Sustainable wildlife management. c) Wildlife education programmes.
	Protect this eco system for our children and our children’s children.

The main parameters of success were to be measured by :-

	Habitat and Species conservation within the Kigio Wildlife Conservancy
	Community awareness amongst the local residents and schools
	Employment provided to local people and improvement of the community infrastructure.
	Foreign exchange earned through tourism and wildlife
	Public image to convince other communities to set up similar projects to educate people to preserve wildlife and wilderness whilst expanding sustainable development.

We are proud that many of these objectives have been realized in the first few years of operation within the boundaries of the conservancy. Wildlife numbers have increased tenfold and the recent introduction of an endangered sub species of Giraffe has raised the conservancies profile. Conservation of biodiversity has no boundaries and these initiatives now need to be emulated amongst the neighbouring communities.

In order to do this we are setting up the Malewa Trust to manage funds wisely and transparently for the benefit of the greater Malewa river catchment area.

We also offer opportunities to carry out conservation, community and science–based projects. The programmes are very popular amongst people taking a year off before or after university.

Wildlife and Conservation: There may be a need to look after orphaned wildlife and birds before returning them to the wild. We have recently translocated a herd of Rothschild Giraffe from Lake Nakuru National Park and these animals need to be individually recognised and checked on each day. Other species of wildlife will be introduced and further studies and care will be necessary. Teaching the value of wildlife conservation and developing micro-enterprises with primary school children are ongoing. We therefore encourage visits to Kigio and nearby National parks, so funding is always needed to pay for transport for these excursions.

Community work: Within the two neighbouring primary schools, teaching, playing, and interacting with the children. Introducing sports, music and games.

Funds: We recommend volunteers raise approximately £200 prior to their arrival which will go towards directly to any of the projects they will be involved in.

Transport: Mountain bikes are available for hire and Mwega and Murindati schools are a maximum of half an hour away - even for the faint hearted!! (20 minutes may be more accurate). Naivasha approximately one hour.

Communication: Cyber cafes are available in Gilgil or Naivasha, alternatively email access is available once a week or in emergencies from our conservancy office.

Security: We can offer excellent 24 hour security whilst inside the Conservancy.

Health: The conservancy is in a Malaria free zone at 2000 meters above sea level, (no need for prophylaxis) but it is essential that you are covered by personal international medical insurance. Good hospitals are in Nairobi, approximately one and a half hours by road or 20 minutes by air rescue. The Conservancy has an air strip.

Dates: The rural school terms are approximately the following: Jan 5th to 27th March and 6th May to 9th August. This would leave a good slice of holiday to travel around Kenya during April.

Accommodation available for research and gap year students:
There are several options available according to budget allowances and experience preferred. Visitors are expected to be self sufficient with food and beverages which can be purchased from Naivasha town.

Option 1. Stay in the beautiful Kigio Wildlife Conservancy Research Centre where several thatched cottages are situated high on a hill with panoramic views of the Great Rift Valley. Comprising a comfortable lounge with fully equipped kitchen with fridge and gas cooker, plus several bedrooms with en suite bathrooms with showers and toilets. Rate:£35.00 per person per week.

Option 2. Camp in one of the sites by the river. The facilities include flush toilets and hot showers. Visitors have to be totally self contained with tent, sleeping bag, cooking utensils, food etc. Cooking would be done on an open fire.
Rate £21.00 per person per week.

Option 3. Stay a few minutes walk outside the Conservancy with a rural Kenyan family. One room accommodation would be offered with a bed and basic facilities. Meals would be taken with the family and a small rent per week would be offered to the family. Approximately £10.00 per person per week plus a contribution towards food.

PHOTO GALLERY :

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