In 1901, the legendary American millionaire Sir William Northrup Macmillan (1872-1925), a huge Scot, raised in St Louis, Missouri, USA), arrived in Kenya for the big game shooting. He established his base at Juja, playing host to Roosevelt during his famous 1911 safari at their ranch Juja Farm. He and his wife were great philanthropists, creating the Macmillan Library in central Nairobi.
(Macmillan in his farm).

He acquired the mountain named Ol Donyo Sabuk by the Maasai (meaning mountain of the buffaloes) and a great deal of ranch land at its foot. He created Juja Farm, called so after two statues he had brought from West Africa known as Juand Ja.
There he entertained a succession of eminent visitors among them famous writers, US President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, big game hunters and soldiers that came for retreats and picnics.
When he died he bequeathed the mountain to the nation and was buried there. His grave and those of his wife Lady Lucie, their servant Louise Decker and also his dog are on the slopes of the mountain.
The ranching was started way back in 1902 and Macmillan became the Legislative Council representative for the area, then known as Ukambani or “the territory of Northrup Macmillan'
Soon after the first great war, Macmillan sold part of of his estate (near modern day Juja town), to F.N. Nettlefold, a wealthy Englishman and finally left for Oldonyo Sabuk.
In the eighties Nettlefold sold out to a cooperative that divided Juja Farm into plots between the shareholders. One of the plots on sale was a 20 acre parcel that included the Huge Bungalow named Juja House, was acquired by Mr D. A Harries a second Kenya generation gentleman part of a pioneering family.
The huge bungalow where Macmillan and his VIP guests lived, still stands, watched over by Ol Donyo Sabuk.

(Oldonyo Sabuk from Juja House).

Juja House is still the D. A. Harries family home. A lot of changes have taken place with garden, landscaping etc, but the Huge Bungalow (shipped directly from Birmingham - U.K. to Mombasa) made of wood and iron looks as it was, sitting on more than 100 stilts.
Nowadays, Juja House is also a quiet resort for bird watching and swimming in a pool surrounded by nature, majestic palm trees and hidden gardens (see the photo gallery section). Some bungalows are under construction but it is possible to camp with your own tents; to spend a day relaxing around a BBQ; celebrating your birthday, wedding, partying or even just enjoying the delicious home-made Biltong meat.