It’s a bumpy Jeep ride up the side of Kileleoni Hill — a hill so steep that in the construction of Wild Hill, two vehicles carrying materials rolled on their way up, and every piece of glass arrived shattered on the first attempt.
The view at the top is more than worth it, though: From the top of the highest hill in the Maasai Mara, Wild Hill gazes across one of the most mesmerizing landscapes in the world. The exclusive-use lodge opened in August 2024 as the latest property in the Collection in the Wild — and, while its big sister at the bottom of the hill, House in the Wild, is quietly luxurious, the new addition is loudly and proudly upping the ante.
Reminiscent of a Bond villain’s lair submerged into the rocky hillside, Wild Hill sits on a 111-acre plot that owners Tarquin and Lippa Wood have been quietly but consistently adding to over the years. Wildlife spotting here is plentiful and thrilling, with guests enjoying access to the Maasai Mara’s rich Ol Choro and Enonkishu Conservancies. Previously, due to itsrelatively high density of local villages and distance from the main reserve, this northern portion of the Mara wasn’t considered as wildlife rich.
But, thanks in no small part to the Wood family’s ongoing partnership with nearby cattle farming families, rewilding projects are thriving and the species count is quickly going up. Leopard, giraffe, wild dog, lion, zebra, elephant, water buffalo and hippo all call the nearby conservancies home and, thanks to limited camp numbers, you’ll often find that yours is the only Jeep at a sighting.
Wild Hill’s guides are top-notch, too. Our guide, Wilson Nampaso, has lived locally his whole life and knows many of the animals on sight. On top of his guiding duties, Nampaso still manages a herd of cattle; not so long ago, his bull was attacked by a resident lion pride. “Were you not angry with them?” we asked him as we watched a few members of that very same pride basking on a rock. “No,” was his reply. “I love the lions.”
Stay
Wild Hill’s four suites (including one two-bedroom suite) wing out from either side of the main heart of the building, which comprises an open-plan bar, lounge and dining area, as well as a media and game room. Outside, an infinity pool seems to melt right into the plains below. Designed by Pollos Purdon, Wild Hill’s interiors are pure drama, with tones of charcoal and brown enhanced with flashes of copper and whispers of green. Purdon has balanced flash with neutral: exposed wood, basket lamps and cow skulls sit alongside ornate Zanzibari doors and distressed mirrors.
This grand style carries through to the standalone accommodations, each of which is a true haven. While the classic tented camps remain coveted, the canvas walls mean the sounds of the bush are ever-present. Wild Hill’s sturdier build offers a safari rarity: silence. Pair that with the pure cotton linens that grace the enormous four-poster beds, and a sublime night’s sleep is all but guaranteed.
In-room amenities are thoughtful and extensive. Most bathroom products (including a ‘Bush Survival Kit’ with SPF, insect repellent and lip balm) are supplied by Africology, while herbaceous salts for spooning into the oversized metal bathtubs are made by Solveig Gevers (who co-manages the property with her husband David Steyn). Other touches include Turkish bathrobes, an easel and paints, yoga mats, a wild journal, and help-yourself snacks and drinks. Each suite opens out onto a private deck for drinking up more of those seemingly never-ending Mara views — but be sure to shut the doors when you’re out to stop cheeky monkeys from popping in uninvited.
Dine
Evenings are a multi-course, fine-dining style affair, while lunches are served family style. Expect healthy and veg-forward dishes, including miso-roasted eggplant; pineapple and avocado salad; and chicken marinated in harissa yogurt. The menus are generally prearranged, but if there’s anything you desire (and, equally, anything you do not want to see on your plate), Wild Hill’s amazingly accommodating staff will make it happen. There are plenty of options for destination dining, too, from bush picnics to pizza night on the outdoor boma.
As with everything here, drinks are all-inclusive. The wine cellar is extensive, but don’t pass on the cocktails — sundowners are ingrained into the safari lifestyle, after all. Every lodge serves up a version of the Kenyan dawa cocktail, which mixes vodka with lime, honey and sugar (dawa is Swahili for ‘medicine’), but Wild Hill riffs on the classic by switching vodka for tequila.
Relax
Wild Hill punches way above its weight when it comes to well-being. The spa includes a two-person treatment room, an oversized metal bathtub, a hair salon and a snug little sauna with views of the bush; outdoors, there’s a sundeck, plunge pool and wood-fire-heated hot tub. All services are all- inclusive, and treatments can be booked to your heart’s content: There are restorative massages, manicures and pedicures, and even blow-dries and hair cutting available.
For fitness junkies, there’s a compact but well- equipped gym (it’s perched up high so the views over the plains are incredible), and a pickleball court. Manager-cum-wellness guru Solveig can run an array of tailored classes too — from Vinyasa yoga up on the roof to sound bath healing sessions. Expect her lovely dogs to join in too, if you’ll have them.
Each suite has its own separate lounge area.
The media and games room.
Pizza night on the outdoor boma.
Suites overlook the expansive Mara plains.
Explore
The headline act here is the game drive. But bear in mind that, given Wild Hill’s location, it’s a good 30-minute drive to the bottom of the hill (and ultimately back uphill) to where most of the wildlife action happens. (Although, you can expect to see some wildlife in the camp — two timid lionesses quite alarmingly made themselves known during our stay, and a leopard couple resides nearby.)
But Wild Hill deftly ensures it has many more strings to its bow than just hopping in the Jeep. Guests can take an escorted hike to the bottom of the hill to visit the Rhino Sanctuary, where they can walk with its incredibly rare resident black rhinos; head to nearby Mara Training Centre to meet with the people behind Women in the Wild — a local organization promoting employment opportunities for women; challenge themselves to a series of Maasai warrior games; or take a scenic helicopter ride.
From $14,300 per night for six guests, with three-night minimum. Contact Aisha Gross, destination guide for Africa, aisha@cazloyd.com, +44 020 3319 9362, cazloyd.com