3 Days Masai Mara Safari Tour
Departs daily at 07.30am.

Day 1. Nairobi - Masai Mara
Distance: 275 kms (5 hrs) Morning drive into the Masai Mara with its amazing concentration of wildlife and outstanding scenery. Lunch. Afternoon game drive. Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge, L,D.

 

Mara Sopa Lodge in Masai Mara:
In Maasai language, Sopa means “Welcome”.
Mara Sopa Lodge is located in the Oloolaimutia valley, where it blends in perfectly with its surrounding hillside landscape. The accent here is on the Maasai people and the fabulous wealth of wildlife, bird life and natural flora to be found in the Maasai Mara National conservation which is believed to be famous, and often talked about but rarely seen. More still about the Mara Sopa Lodge, is that it is located 20Km south of the Equator on the eastern boundary of the Masai Mara Game Reserve in southern Kenya, 2Km from the Oloolaimutia Gate. The reserve which is the best known game area in East Africa, is 1,120 sq. km. Of prime safari wildlife-viewing territory bordering the Serengeti National park.

Mara Sopa Lodge has got 77 rooms with 200 beds, 12 suites ad I presidential suite, and all these are “rondavel” style. It even has en-suite bathroom facilities that provide sharing sockets and hair dryers. All rooms and suites have got a private, elevated verandah with splendid views across the valley and on which guests can sunbathe, relax and view resident wildlife and birds. Meanwhile, each room avails mini-bars.

There are also direct dial telephone facilities as well as satellite television and video options. The nearby springs help in supplying water, filtered water is given in flasks in every room and bottled water is ever there for sale.

The Mara Sopa Lodge of an altitude 2,104 meters (6,400 ft) above sea level, experiences warm days and cool evenings, because of cool breeze through the valley where it is located. The conservation is fresh and green almost throughout the year, and this is a result from the rainy seasons of April/June, October/November. For early mornings and late evenings, a light sweater might be needed, otherwise only the lightest of clothes are recommended. For the pool, a swimwear is needed, while amore formal attire might be advisable for cocktails and theme evenings.

Day 2. Masai Mara
Morning and afternoon game drives in the finest game sanctuary in Kenya, noted for its lions and other wildlife. Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Masai Mara:
Masai Mara National Reserve is a pristine wilderness of haunting beauty, it promises its visitors a profusion of wildlife, prolific bird life and the unprecedented opportunity of catching up with all the members of the 'Big Five' in one morning. The 1,800 sq kilometers of this veteran reserve offers the classic mix of African imagery; miles of lion-gold grasslands, shoals of lilac-misted hills, a meandering river, acres of thorn-bush and mile upon mile of undulating wilderness. An impressive feature is the annual migration of the Wildebeest, Zebra and gazelle from the plains of the Serengeti that cross the Tanzania border and rivers to reach the Mara lush grassland from late June, hunted by the predators Lion, Hyena and circled by vultures as the journey unfolds. Their dramatic river crossings are a reality for tourists visiting in July-August. Apart from seasonal migration, game viewing is excellent year round. Game includes Elephant, Black Rhino, Buffalo, the big cats and virtually every animal found in Kenya. The rivers are a home to hippo and Crocodiles. 452 bird species are recorded including 53 Raptors, Buzzards, Vultures and Eagles.

Optional activities:
-Visit to a local Maasai village for a Maasai cultural tour: US$ 25 per person
-Hot air balloon ride: US$ 425 per person

Day 3. Masai Mara - Nairobi
Morning game viewing. After breakfast drive to Nairobi. Optional lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant: US$ 45 per person, B

Tour price: US$ 590 per person sharing; Single room supplement: US$ 125

Tour cost includes:
-Guarantee price; Guarantee departure
-Transport in a safari van with pop up roof for game viewing, photography and touring

-Safari van equipped with wildlife guide books and pair of binoculars
-Full board accommodation at the Mara Sopa Lodge
-Meal plan as described, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
-Accommodation in double/twin/triple room sharing
-All park entrance fees to include government taxes
-Service of an English speaking professional driver/guide
-Game drives as detailed in the itinerary
-Pick up and drop off in your Nairobi Hotel
-Comprehensive trip itinerary and detailed in country information

-Complementary bottled water on safari

Tour price excludes:

-Nairobi Hotel, please see Nairobi Hotels and reserve.

-Tips
-Laundry
-Drinks
-International flights
-Visas
-Items of a personal nature
-Optional activities and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary

 

Mara Sopa Lodge [Masai Mara Game Reserve]
Set in the Oloolaimutia valley the lodge blends in perfectly with its surrounding hillside landscape. The accent here is on the Masai people and the fabulous wealth of wildlife, birdlife and natural flora to be found in the fabled Mara.

The Mara Sopa Lodge has direct-dial telephone facilities as well as satellite television and video options. Mara Sopa Lodge generators provide 240 volts, 50 cycles 24 hours a day.

Every room and suite at Mara Sopa Lodge has a private, elevated verandah with splendid views across the valley and on which guests can relax, sunbathe and watch resident birds and wildlife. Mini-bars are also available in each room.

Mara Sopa Lodge welcomes kids of all ages and can provide both special meals at convenient times and baby sitters on request. The guest shop stocks a wide selection of curios, gift items, clothing, film and toiletries.

The Mara Sopa Lodge has 200 beds by way of 77 rooms, 12 suites and 1 Presidential suite, all of which are 'rondavel' style and have en-suite
bathroom facilities which provide shaving sockets and hairdryers.

It also has a freeform, fresh-water pool which offers spectacular views over the valley. After a game drive you can refresh in the pool, sipping on cocktails or experience an African barbeque while enjoying African Theme Nights. You can also purchase gifts and clothing from the gift shop. Children are especially welcome to Mara Sopa Lodge and the lodge will also provide a baby-sitting service on request.

 

MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE: Maasai Mara safari
The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in the whole of Africa. At times and in certain places it can get a little overrun with tourist minibuses, but there is something so special about it that it tempts you back time and again.

Seasoned safari travellers, travel writers, documentary makers and researchers often admit that the Masai Mara is one of their favourite places. So why is that? Perhaps it is because of the 'big skies', the open savannahs, the romance of films like 'Out of Africa' and certainly because of the annual wildebeest migration, the density of game, the variety of birdlife and the chance of a hot air balloon ride.

Also because of the tall red-robed Masai people whose lifestyle is completely at odds with western practices, and from whom one learns to question certain western values.

A combination of all these things plus something to do with the spirit of the place - which is hard to put into words - is what attracts people to the Mara over and over.

The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long, from Ethiopia's Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into Mozambique. Here the valley is wide and a towering escarpment can be seen in the hazy distance. Most of the game viewing activities occur on the valley floor, but some lodges conduct walking tours outside the park boundaries in the hills of the Oloololo Escarpment. The animals are also at liberty to move outside the park into huge areas known as 'dispersal areas'. There can be as much wildlife roaming outside the park as inside. Many Masai villages are located in the 'dispersal areas' and they have, over centuries, developed a synergetic relationship with the wildlife.

There are four main types of topography in the Mara: Ngama Hills to the east with sandy soil and leafy bushes liked by black rhino; Oloololo Escarpment forming the western boundary and rising to a magnificent plateau; Mara Triangle bordering the Mara River with lush grassland and acacia woodlands supporting masses of game especially migrating wildebeest; Central Plains forming the largest part of the reserve, with scattered bushes and boulders on rolling grasslands favoured by the plains game.

MASAI MARA ANIMALS & BIRDS:
In a short stay during the wildebeest migration you could see thousands of animals, at other times there are still hundreds. The plains are full of wildebeest, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson's gazelle. Also regularly seen are leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance.

Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, who lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures.

Every July (or sometimes August), the wildebeest travel over 600 miles (960km) from Tanzania's Serengeti plains, northwards to the Masai Mara and the Mara River is the final obstacle. In October or November, once they have feasted and the grass has all but gone, they turn around and go back the other way.

The Mara birds come in every size and colour including common but beautiful ones like the lilac breasted roller and plenty of large species like eagles, vultures and storks. There are 53 different birds of prey. Wildebeest Migration River Crossing.

MASAI MARA SEASONS:
Altitude is 4,875-7,052 feet (1,500-2,170 metres) above sea level, which yields a climate somewhat milder and damper than other regions. The daytime rarely exceeds 85°F (30°C) during the day and hardly ever drops below 60°F (15°C) at night.
Rainy Season: It rains in April and May and again November and this can cause some areas of the Mara to be inaccessible due to the sticky 'black cotton' mud.
Dry Season: July to October is dry and the grass is long and lush after the rains. This is a good time to come and see the huge herds of migratory herbivores.
Hottest time: The warmest time of year is December and January.
Coldest Time: June and July are the coldest months.

MASAI MARA SPECIALITIES:
· Wildebeest Migration
· Hot Air Ballooning
· Huge savannahs of golden grasslands
· Big skies
· Rift Valley escarpment
· Lion sightings

MASAI MARA FACTS:
This is a malarial area
Masai Mara Game Reserve covers an area of 1,510 km²
There is no night driving and vehicles must be back at the lodge by 6pm, except at Mara Serena Lodge where night game drive is available.
Several lodges are located outside the park's boundaries, but as there

are few fences you may not be aware of this.

Masai Mara is a Reserve rather than a National Park and it belongs to

the Masai people.

 

Masai Mara safari Kenya Mara Sopa Lodge Masai Mara - Masai Mara safari, Maasai Mara tour trip and luxury holiday in Masai Mara. Masai Mara safari tour - Masai Mara in Kenya. Masai Mara safari tour Maasai Mara safari Kenya Safari Masai Mara in Kenya Mara Sopa Lodge Masai Mara Game Reserve.

 

Basecamp Masai Mara
Basecamp is a small camp built on principles of ecotourism and environmental awareness. All water used is recycled and solar panels are used for heating and lighting. The camp features 16 spacious and luxurious tents hidden away on a lush peninsula embedded by trees on the banks of the Talek River and shaded by thatched roofs. You have your own veranda and bathroom ensuite with a solar heated shower under an open sky and an eco-toilet which some guests may need to get used to. View the wildlife from the comfort of your tent, the fig-tree platform, or while lazing over a drink in the open air bar. Basecamp is a meeting place where guests can experience people, traditions and nature in an open and intimate atmosphere. Its genuine ambiance engages visitors, for example during the evening talks about Maasai life at the open fire which often lead to stimulating conversations and discussions.

Bateleur Camp
This exclusive safari camp is the epitome of private tented luxury. Bateleur Camp is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and comprises just nine tented suites set among the forests on the edge of the Masai Mara. Lying at the base of the Olololo escarpment just below the spot where Out of Africa’s most famous scene was shot, this romantic and totally private camp reflects the ambience of Kenyan safaris of the 20s and 30s. The camp lies directly in the path of the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra and after a morning game drive, the pool offers relaxation during the heat of the day. Beautiful antiques adorn the comfortable lounge and in-door/outdoor dining area, conjuring a classic safari ambiance. Each of the spacious and luxuriously furnished tents has a private deck overlooking the vast game-filled plains of the Masai Mara, and service is rendered by a personal butler who attends to your every need.

Cottars Camp
Cottar's Camp is situated in an extensive and exclusive concession between the Masai Mara und der Serengeti. This area has been untouched by any kind of tourism or development and offers the discerning guest a guarantee of privacy. The camp accommodates up to twelve guests in authentic white canvas tents which are spacious and luxuriously furnished with original safari antiques from the 1920's; all tents have a private en suite dressing rooms and bathrooms with old-fashioned showers and flushing toilets, a main bedroom and an outdoor veranda with panoramic views. The camp transports the guest back to the original spirit and essence of 'safari' - an era of romance, professional guiding, adventure and elegance."

Dorobo Bush Camp
Dorobo Bush Camp is located on private Maasai land in a secluded setting outside the Mara Game Reserve. The camp's common areas include a mess tent, a common shower and an eco-toilet. Accommodation is offered in six basic tents pitched in the open bush where animals can freely walk through as there is no fence around the camp. At night the campfire under the starlit sky sets the ambience for interaction with your Maasai hosts who gladly share stories about their life in the wild. One clear highlight of the camp are the morning bush walks to the nearby hill from where you can enjoy the stunning 360 degree view of the entire Mara plains as well as the harmonious humming and grunting of the accompanying Maasai guides.

Duma Safari Camp
Duma Camp is located in the heart of Maasai country, bordering Kenya’s great Masai Mara Game Reserve. It is a traditional safari camp in true ‘Out of Africa’ style – and with ten beds one of the smallest upscale camp in the Mara. It is ideal for those guests who enjoy the privacy, personal attention and an informaland homely atmosphere. Duma is an ideal base from which to enjoy the spectacle of the annual wildebeest migration from Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara. It is while in Masai Mara that the migration is at its most concentrated. The central dining area is under canvas and offers a view over the open plains a waterhole and salt lick. Weather permitting, dinners are often served al fresco under a canopy of stars, next to an open fire. The camp is unfenced but Maasai askaris guard the perimeter against possible dangerous game that could wander through. Enjoy game drives, guided walks, bird watching, and cultural visits to a Maasai village. The weekly cattle market at Aitong is well worth a visit as Maasai from all over the area congregate to trade cattle, and market goods.

Elephant Pepper Camp
Elephant Pepper Camp is tucked away right on the Northern Edge of the Maasai Mara reserve within the protected Koiyaki wilderness area and looks out over the Mara Plains which support a vast concentration of game all year round. In order to preserve the special area the camp is dismantled for three months of the year. This camp with only eight tents maintains the atmosphere of the traditional mobile safari. Each spacious en suite canvas tent nestles under a grove of giant Ebony and Elephant Pepper trees. Meals are offered in candle light and family style. A barbecue by the campfire, dinner in the mess tent, or a bush breakfast on the open plains are some of the lasting memories to take home.

Entim Camp
Entim Camp is an exclusive tented camp accommodating just 10 guests in utmost comfort. Each of the luxury en-suite tents has been individually decorated to provide the ideal blend of colour, texture and ambience. The camp offers an intimate setting of an African night with flickering candles, a glass of wine and a spectacular view. The dining area provides a romantic background for delightful gourmet food. Alternatively guests can choose to dine privately on their own verandah whilst enjoying the personal service of the local staff.

Fig Tree Camp
Fig Tree Camp is situated along the Talek River on the northern border of the Masai Mara game reserve. While it caters mainly for large groups and therefore offers less personalized service, its central location makes all areas of the park accessible during game drives. It has two bars, a main dinning room, an open-air dining area, a tree house coffee deck, a video room and a swimming pool. Accommodation is provided in 38 tents and 22 cabins."

Governors Private Camp
Governors Private Camp is ideal for those who seek exclusivity in their own private camp. Guests are accomodated in eight luxurious tents with handmade furniture. The camp can only be booked by one family or group at a time which means that they have a beautiful bend of the Mara River entirely to themselves, in a spot where animals come to drink, hippos laze in the shallows, and elephants bring their calves for a playful dip. The forest around the camp is home to many beautiful birds, from rare trogans and turacos to nesting hornbills. Personal attention is the hallmark of a stay here. The camp manager is also your host and is on hand to see to all your desires and answer all your questions.

Il Moran Camp
With the atmosphere of the original hunting camps and hidden deep in the forest, Il Moran's ten tents line the winding banks of the Mara River. The spacious tents all have a very private location and a large veranda from which you may see furtive bushbacks and dozing crocodiles on the banks, as well as families of hippos in the shallows. They’re designed so you can take dinner in private at your tent if you wish, or just relax and enjoy the sights and sounds. Birds and butterflies abound, elephants wander through the camp, at night leopards call nearby. At the end of the day, guests can enjoy a hot bath in the luxurious ensuite bathrooms, then sink into a huge knotted olive-wood bed in preparation for another day of excitement and pleasure.

Ilkeliani Camp
Ilkeliani is a permanent tented camp located by the Talek River in the Masai Mara. It features 17 tents with verandas that are well spaced from each other to ensure privacy. The tents are quite dark as they are set under the shade of indigenous trees on the edge of the Talek River looking onto the Masai Mara plains. All tents are ensuite with flush toilets and hot water showers.

Karen Blixen Camp
Karen Blixen Camp is situated on the northwestern border of the famed Masai Mara Reserve on a 66 acres concession of private land leased from a Masai landlord. Set on the bank of the Mara River, the location is spectacular, with the great Mara plains behind the camp and the impressive escarpment and Mara River in front. The camp comprises 22 spacious tents set on large mahogany platforms – each with a veranda from which one can enjoy an afternoon siesta taking in the wonderful surroundings. The tents are furnished with comfortable furniture for the ultimate camping luxury. 19 tents are placed along the riverbank, whilst 3 units are situated on raised platforms offering incredible views of the area. Each of the tents has private toilet and shower. Camp facilities also include a restaurant, a bar and a swimming pool, as well as wellness treatments are offered by the resident masseuse. Being situated in one of the most densely populated wildlife areas in the world, game viewing is never a disappointment. A night drive allows you to discover nocturnally active species.

Kicheche
Kicheche is a classic bush camp hidden in a grove of wild olive and croton trees in the northern Koiyaki Lemek region of the Masai Mara Reserve. Unfenced and secluded, the camp impinges so little on the natural inhabitants of the Masai Mara reserve that animals wander through the grounds at any time. To ensure an intimate feel, a maximum of 22 guests are accomodated in the camp's 11 spacious ensuite tents. The majority of the tents are in secluded positions overlooking the plains and nearby hills, while others are closer together for families or friends. The camp offers a friendly and relaxing stay, with the hosts providing very personal attention to each guest.

Kichwa Tembo
Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp lies deep in a monkey-rich forest on the exclusive western side of the Masai Mara on a private concession leased from Maasai which is much less crowded than the eastern part of the Reserve. It has an excellent year-round concentration of animals and lies directly in the path of Africa’s spectacular Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra.
The camp features forty tents which appear to be a bit aged but offer sweeping views of the rolling Mara plains. The main thatched guest areas include a bar and sitting area, indoor and outdoor dining areas and a swimming pool which is perfect for laid-back game viewing whilst cooling off.

Kilima Camp
Kilima Camp is a private tented Camp bordering the Maasai Mara Conservation area. It offers a true African adventure in style and comfort. Game viewing, whether by car or on foot, around the Camp is superb all year round. The camp consists of twelve tents and is located on top of the Siria escarpment with a phenomenal view of the Mara River. Each tent has its own verandah and en-suite bathroom. Enjoy the stunning view over the Mara plain and river from the comfort of yout own terrasse. The bathrooms are fitted with flush toilets and a safari shower with hot water. The spacious, central dining tent is Kilima Camp's meeting place where guests gather to eat, drink, talk, play games, read, or just enjoy the view. The experienced chef provides excellent international cuisine, supplemented by a selection of fine wines. Dinner is served under canvas in the dining area or under the stars, weather permitting. Before and after dinner, guests can relax by the campfire or at the bush bar and listen to the magical sounds of the African bush.

Leleshwa Camp
Leleshwa Camp is situated on Siana Conservation Area, half an hour drive outside of the Masai Mara Game Reserve and, therefore, guests are not bound by reserve rules and can experience bush walks and night game drives. The camp consists of 7 well-appointed tents with en-suite bathrooms of flushing toilets and hot showers. Each tent has either 2 single or 1 king-sized bed with soft duvet bedding and, if required, an extra canvas cot bed can be provided for children. The large tents are insect-proof and pleasantly furnished with thoughtful touches for your comfort. Outside at night, hurricane lamps bathe the camp in a soft, warm light and Maasai warriors are on patrol and escort you to and from your tent. The camp offers a pleasant variety of food that the chef prepares from his simple safari kitchen. Attached to the large dining tent is a comfortable lounge area, which houses the bar and a small library where you can relax and read about the fascinating wildlife you have seen. Every night the roaring campfire is lit by the mess tent, and you can relax under the expansive African night sky and let the sounds of the bush wash over you.

Little Governors Camp
Getting to the intimate and secluded Little Governors Camp is an adventure in itself. You first have to cross the Mara River by boat, then walk a short distance beneath the canopy of indegenous forest trees. The camp has just 17 tents tucked around a large watering hole where animal and bird life abound. From every verandah the view changes constantly as different animals come to drink or graze. Beyond, the changing colours of the Olololo Ridge melt into the vast African sky. All tents are comfortable, tastefully furnished and lit with gas and kerosene lanterns or candles providing the old safari feel. Dinner is served in a communal setting, allowing for ""the good natured rivalry of who saw what"". As dusk falls, the flickering lights in the forest coupled with the Camp's exquisite and romantic setting cast a spell over all who visit.

Main Governors Camp
Governors Camp nestles in the forest on a site which was originally reserved exclusively for the colonial Governors of Kenya a century ago. Half of its 38 tents look out over the rolling golden grasslands of Africa's great plains, with views of herds of elephants, zebras and gazelles; the rest line the banks of the Mara River. From their private verandas guests can enjoy the wild splendours of Africa with animals grazing nearby and cheetahs hunting and share the authentic traditional safari atmosphere and dramatic landscape that magnetised adventurers across the world.

Mara Bush Camp
This is an intimate semi-permanent camp discreetly ‘tucked away’ in a riverine forest on the banks of the seasonal Olare Orok River, in the path of the annual migration. It is a great choice is for the guest who appreciates simplicity and privacy away from mass tourism and wants to enjoy an authentic ‘safari’ experience rather than a large, crowded lodge with swimming pool & entertainment. Mara Bush Camp offers personalized services while providing all amenities to make guests feel at home. After an exhilarating day out in the bush, get back to your luxurious walk–in tent with a spacious verandah overlooking the Olare Orok and its numerous hippos. Guests sleep under canvas in the wild. All 10 river front tents have been placed far enough apart to guarantee complete tranquility and privacy. All the river facing tents are equipped with comfortable four-poster bed with a mosquito net, en-suite flush toilet and sink unit in the bathroom with running water, hot bucket shower, clothes rack and storage chest, writing desk and verandah furniture. A fully equipped ‘Mess tent’ is situated close by, where all meals are served. Adjoining, is a luxurious and comfortable ‘Lounge Tent’, where you can meet up with other guests to exchange safari experiences and highlights of the day or read a book from the library. A ‘Sundowner cocktail’ will help you unwind in front of a cozy campfire under the African stars with all its sounds of nature. All meals at the camp are freshly prepared by the camp's head chef, offering buffet lunches and set a’ la carte dinners. Mara Bush Camp is not fenced, therefore Maasai warriors look out for your safety while you are sleeping.

Mara Explorer
Mara Explorer is a luxury tented camp set on a thickly forested bend of the Talek River in the heart of the Masai Mara Reserve. It enjoys prime views of the wildebeest migration between June and September, and rewarding game viewing for the rest of the year. It features a canvas covered dining area which looks out over the river close to the camp entrance, a bar with splendid river views, a well-stocked library and a lounge area with luxurious sofas which is an ideal place to read or share the day's experiences with other guests.

The camp's traditional safari ambience is enhanced by the decor comprising old African artefacts and memorabilia from the early days of the African safari. Accommodation is offered in ten luxurious and well-spaced tents. Each tent has its own deck overlooking the Talek River as well as an outdoor Victorian bathtub from which guests can watch the animals drinking in privacy.

Mara Intrepids
Mara Intrepids Camp sits above a bend in the Talek River, at the confluence of the Maasai Mara’s four game-viewing areas and enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the entire Mara ecosystem. Intrepids is a short drive from the Mara River, where up to one-and-a-half million wildebeestes and zebras make their perilous migration crossing between July and October.
Guests are accomodated in 30 tents which are spread over a large riverside site. An Intrepids safari offers three daily game drives with experienced guides, educational outings and trips to Maasai villages.

Mara Porini Camp
Mara Porini Camp is set under the shade of Acacia trees along the banks of the permanent Laetoli River in the Maasai owned Olkinyei Conservancy in Masai Mara. It features a wide variety of animals including a large resident pride of lions.

Accommodation is offered in six spacious tents with ensuite bathrooms. A maximum of twelve guests are hosted at a time to ensure that their experience in this pristine wilderness is not only authentic, but also exclusive, private and intimate.

Mara Safari Club
The Mara Safari Club is set by the Mara River at the foot of the Aitong Hills bordering the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Surrounded on three sides by the Mara River, all forty tents have their own private river frontage with a viewing deck from where guests can enjoy watching hippos climb the banks as well as listen to them as "talk" to each other. Occasionally elephants wander past to drink the water and during the migration period large herds of wildebeest can be sometimes observed attempting to cross the river nearby. The main building with lounge, bar and dining room also provides a superb vantage point to view the resident hippos and the amazing riverine birdlife.

Mara Serena
The Mara Serena Safari Lodge commands a prime location for the annual migration of the wildebeest and zebra. It is located high on hill above the Mara River with spectacular 360 degrees view of of the Mara Plains. The lodge's architectural style is inspired by the traditional Maasai cultural motif of a cluster of domed, mud-coloured huts encircled by a “Boma” of brushwood and complimented by ethnic decor which features a unique selection of Maasai art creating the look and feel of a traditional bush encampment. The relatively small rooms each have their own balcony and splendid views of the sweeping grasslands teeming with wildlife. The lodge has a fantastic pool with equally breathtaking views of the entire Mara Game Reserve.

Mara Siria Camp
Mara Siria Camp has a great location on the Siria Escarpment with dramatic views over the Masai Mara plains the the Mara River. The breakfast spot right on the ridgeline has been chosen in a way that the morning omelette is likely to get cold as guests will forget trivialities such the food while they admire the ""world"" below.

Eight spacious and comfortable tents with en-suite bathroom and their own private veranda are spread across the escarpment line. The camp is solar powered and well integrated into the existing landscape without harming the beauty of the natural wilderness.
The camp's location just outside the reserve boundary opens up the opportunity for bush walks with local Maasai naturalists, either to a spectacular sundowner point or down to the Mara River and Hippopool."

Naibor Camp
With its combination of contemporary style, comfort and muted bush colours, Naibor Camp comes close to what might be called a designer camp. The seven spacious tents with king-size beds of fig-wood and large sofas with soft cushions have an aura of rustic simplicity mixed with elegance and pose a challenge even to the most extreme wildlife enthusiast as they are a difficult-to-escape temptation to just relax. The main 'mess' tent overlooking the Talek River and beyond has cushions, rugs and sofas making it an ideal venue for relaxation and drinks before dinner. The camp is set in a grove of riverine forest on the banks of the Talek River within the Masai Mara Game Reserve in southern Kenya. From this strategic location close to all the major Mara River crossing points, guests can view the wildebeest migration as well as a wide array of game all year round. Game viewing can also be done on foot or on mountain bikes outside the reserve.

Offbeat Mara Camp
Offbeat Mara Camp is set away from other lodges north of the Masai Mara Game Reserve on the Olare Orok group ranch on the banks of a small seasonal river. In the cosy lounge guests can read, relax or just savour the sights and sounds of nature in this wild and serene setting. Accommodation is offered in seven solar lit tents with ensuite bucket showers, flush toilets, wash basins and huge cedar beds. While the camp does not offer the same breathtaking views as other camps, it has excellent service, very knowledgeable guides and a very personal and homely ambiance as it is personally hosted by the owner, Piers Winkworth who works closely with the local Maasai community. A bush walk to the neigbouring village and a visit to the weekly Maasai market in Aitong offer close and authentic cultural encounters that hard to find in other camps and lodges in the Masai Mara.

Ol Seki
Ol Seki is a luxury tented camp set on a rocky hill overlooking the plains in the Koyiaki conservancy north of the Mara. The comfortable and cosy lounge tent with a small library and a deck has spectacular panoramic views of the plains while the dining tent has a charming 'hat tree' where guests can borrow hats for outdoor use. Guests sleep in six round, spacious, airy and cosy light-coloured tents which are elevated from the ground on a wooden platform. They are tastefully decorated to complement the wild and pristine setting and have a very relaxed and inviting ambience. They all have decks from which guests can enjoy deeply moving sunrise or sunset moments that will last in their memories. Occasional leopard sightings on the rocks just below the camp, elegant candle lit dinners, romantic dining on the tent terrasse and a resident masseuse make Ol Seki a delight for all senses.

Olonana
Olonana is a small luxury camp harmonically nestled on the banks of the Mara River. Accommodation is offered in twelve double tents, all placed to offer maximum privacy and with a verandah where you can watch hippos frolicking just before heading out for their nightly grazing. Its beautifully decorated and furnished lounge area with a wooden outdoor deck overlooks the Mara River and is the setting for memorable open air breakfasts, lunches and dinners. In addition to big game viewing in the Masai Mara Reserve, visitors are offered a glimpse of the day-to-day lives of the Maasai people in the adjacent Maasai village.

Olpidir Safari Camp
Located at the Siria escarpment looking down on the Mara River, the camp is only ten minutes away from the Musiara Gate of Masai Mara. Guests greatly enjoy the natural, rustic style perfectly blended with African vastness. Expect soothing tranquility during your adventurous stay in the African bush, exciting game drives and superb game viewing around the camp and in the nearby Masai Mara. The camp consists of five simple tents that are furnished with typical safari beds and thick, comfortable mattresses. There are communal toilets and bush showers utilizing warm water. Dinner is served in the open, spacious mess tent where not only mouthwatering food is prevalent, but also stunning views of the Masai Mara and the wildlife at the Mara River. In order to preserve the authentic, rustic bush atmosphere, There is no generator and electricity in the camp. After all, candle-lit bush dinners taste by far the best!

Porini Lion Camp
Porini Lion Camp is located in the private Olare Orok game conservancy which borders the Masai Mara Game Reserve and is home to an abundance of animals including the Big Cats for which the Mara is famous. The small, intimate tented Camp is situated along the banks of the Ntiakatiak River, a seasonal river with some permanent hippo pools near the camp. With 10 luxury guest tents the camp is very exclusive and gives guests a real bush experience. The tents are very spacious and have private verandahs along the length of the tent, providing a secluded and private 'space' for you to relax and enjoy the beauty of this African wilderness. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet and hot shower. Guests enjoy morning, evening and night game drives in custom built 4x4's, sundowners at scenic viewing points, from where you can enjoy a drink watching the sun set over the Mara and escorted bush walks with Maasai warriors and safari guide, where one can get an insight into the Maasai people, their way of life and also learn more about the animals, birds and plants of the Mara.

Rekero Tented Camp
Rekero Tented Camp is a secluded haven of peace and tranquillity, providing a friendly welcome and an impressively personal service. Gerard and Rainee Beaton and Jackson Ole Looseyia, a Maasai from the local area and their safari crew cater for your needs. The standard of guiding is exceptional, as the professional Maasai safari guides seek isolated spots for game drives and ensure that guests experience wildlife without another soul to be seen. The camp’s wild riverside setting is at the heart of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Being so close to both the Mara and Talek rivers, the camp provides guests with an ideal opportunity to view the annual migration crossings from the comfort of their armchair. Each of the seven tents has an uninterrupted view of the Talek riverbank, ensuite bathrooms with bucket showers and flush toilets and has small and tasteful finishing touches such as flowers, glass bottles for water and magazines. Dining is generally open air and in dinner party style with guests exchanging experiences and sights over a glass of wine. The chefs produce appetising 'farmhouse' meals while special dietary requirements can be catered for. The camp is unfenced meaning that during the night elephants, hippos and even leopards are known to wander amongst the tents.

Richard’s Camp
The Royal Mara is located on the Mara River in Western Koyiaki Conservation Area, near the Koyiaki-Kichwa Migration River Crossing 15 miles from the other well known crossing point at Mara Serena. All six luxury guest suites are built on raised wooden decks with mahogany floors, hand-carved furniture and private balconies overlooking the Mara River and her resident hippos. Several lion prides are within proximity of the lodge and in contrast to the National Reserve area, the Koyiaki conservation area allows game walks and night game drives enabling the property to offer guests a more fulfilling safari experience.

Sala's Camp
Sala’s Camp is located on the convergence of two rivers close to the Tanzanian border. This secluded spot offers tranquillity and tremendous views along the Sand River towards the Serengeti. The camp is owner hosted and offers a very homely ambiance, impeccable service and fantastic food. During the Great Wildebeest Migration between July and October, Sala’s Camp is ideally located since many of the animals move back and forth from the Serengeti in search of lush grasslands in the Mara. The views from the camp during this time is exceptional as the migrating wildebeest and zebra pass just opposite the camp on the other side of the Sand River. The mess tent extends onto an inviting 'lounging' area with an Arabian feel which is ideal for reading, relaxing and unwinding while enjoying the views. Accommodation is in seven spacious tents which have ensuite bathrooms with flush toilets and bucket showers. As an alternative to game drives, the more active guests can join in the daily afternoon volleyball match with the camp staff in the Sand River's dry bed - a more pristine and wild setting for a volleyball game is simply unimaginable.


Saruni Camp
Saruni is a deluxe and intimate lodge set in a private conservation area outside the Masai Mara National Reserve. With accomodation for only 12 guests in six spectacular cottages, it offers an experience which combines the elegance and safety of a permanent accommodation with the thrill of sleeping in close contact with nature and Saruni's equally luxurious fly camp Campi ya Tembo will bring you even closer to nature. The rooms are furnished with colonial antiques, Persian carpets and African art and the atmosphere at the camp is informal but elegant. Riccardo Origgio, owner and host of Saruni, is a fascinating person to exchange views of the world with and will make you feel like you are at home. A sundowner on the top of a windy hill while watching the brilliant hues of sunset and overlooking the entire Masai Mara provides you with divine memories. Or how about a candlelit dinner in the privacy of your verandah as a full moon lends a soft glow to the ‘cough cough’ of a leopard barely 10 feet away? Truly the stuff dreams are made of.

Serian Camp
Serian is one of the few real bush homes in the Masai Mara, with a fantastic location blending into the surrounding vegetation in a secluded valley overlooking the Mara River. The eight marquee tents are set in the shade of large trees and are furnished in rich warm textures mixed with natural hard woods. Comfortable colonial style furnishing with a little eastern “spice”. They are constructed of canvas and supported by hardwood poles with the interior walls and ceilings made from Kenyan canvas. The verandah is furnished with two comfortable chairs and a small table for drinks. The “bedroom” area is fitted with a king-size bed flanked by twin writing desks. The “bathroom” area includes a shower, soaking tub and separate toilet. The dressing area contains the cupboards with hanging space and twin basins. Hanging swathes of cotton and canvas walls provide complete privacy. Furniture is minimal and unobtrusive, mimicking the traditional safari camps of an earlier time. The experience at Serian is focused on viewing wildlife. In addition to game drives in the Masai Mara, the highly qualified guides of the camp lead game walks in the various group ranches bordering the Masai Mara. Enjoy intimate outdoor dining after an adventurous day in this amazing part of Africa.

Tipilikwani Camp
Tipilikwani Camp is set on the banks of the Talak river, right on the border to the Masia Game Reserve. The twenty tents are mounted on raised wooden decked platforms, all furnished in rustic African style. All tents are en-suite with hot and cold powered showers and all the amenities that one would expect of five star luxury accommodation. All the tents face the river and look onto the savanna expanses of the Mara allowing for beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Included in the twenty tents are two family tents each comprising of two interconnecting en-suite tents, sharing a beautiful deck area. The size of the rooms allows for the twin tents to comprise of two queen size beds and the double rooms, a king size bed and divan. All rooms can also easily accommodate another single bed and baby cot. The lounge and dining areas are built structures with views of the Savanna plains and sit right above the Talak river. They have huge couches surrounding the bar area and tranquil lighting setting the ambiance. Night game drives, visits to Masai village and guided nature and bird walks are the activities which the camp can offer. The menu overseen by the gourmet chef offers a la carte menus where guests will indulge in an active breakfast, a three lunch and a five course dinner.
 

 

 

Rongai Route: This remote and less frequently used route is the second easiest route to Kilimanjaro. The approach to the mountain is from the less-forested north side and the descent is by the Marangu Route. There are several variations, the one described below is a longer route taking in Mawenzi Tarn. We offer this Rongai Route climb for both groups; joining group existing Kilimanjaro climb or private Kilimanjaro treks for 2009 and 2010. Read more......

The Umbwe route is one of the shortest routes to the Southern Glaciers and the Western Breach. It is probably the most scenic, non-technical route on Kilimanjaro. It is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitude, but the rewards are plentiful. Read more..