Il Ngwesi Group Ranch

Il Ngwesi Group ranch is located at northwest edge of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and is owned by Il Ngwesi community of the Mukogodo division of Laikipia district.

The Maasai people of Il Ngwesi have a long and friendly relationship with Lewa. Many of LWC's staff, including the head of security John Pameri, comes from Il Ngwesi. They have often turned to LWC for support. In recent years we have helped them to move towards financial self-sufficiency through the Il Ngwesi Lodge.

Previously the area remained undeveloped with little economic activity except for subsistence pastoralism until the early 1990s. Although there was some wildlife in the area, elephant poaching remained a problem, and elephants tended to move rapidly through Il Ngwesi from the north into the security provided by Lewa.

Il Ngwesi is a communally owned Group Ranch. The members have elected a Group Ranch Committee and Chairman to represent over 6,000 people. A general meeting is held once a year to discuss matters including revenue distribution, management policies, registration of new members, and election of a management committee, which carries out day-to-day management for the rest of the year.

Livestock management

Originally, the Ngwesi people only kept livestock, which for the last many years in Northern Kenya has been prone to cattle rustling, and were never a guarantee of livelihood.

Today a major priority is the planning of seasonal livestock grazing patterns in a way which will ensure an increase in ground cover vegetation and a reduction in the present erosion.

Wildlife

The re-introduction of wildlife from Lewa to Il Ngwesi continues every year including black rhino, waterbuck, white rhino and giraffe. There is now no poaching within the area and wildlife numbers continue to increase.