£540.00
Remote, comfy, permanent tented camp inside Mara Naboisho Conservancy, a Masai-owned, privately managed wildlife zone surrounded by acacia trees, woodland and grasslands. It has unbeatable wildlife viewing, from elephants to big cats. Staff are friendly, food is hearty and there’s a true wilderness feel.
In the heart of the 55,000-acre Mara Naboisho Conservancy. It takes 45 minutes by Land Rover to reach camp from Naibosho’s Ol Seki airstrip, though the trip will be more like two to five hours, as you’ll stop frequently to watch and photograph the animals.
This is a world class wildlife area, owned by the Maasai, but with private conservation management. Lions, leopard, cheetah and elephant are thriving, alongside warthogs, giraffe, impala and much more. The camp’s surrounded by acacia trees, woodland and stretching Mara grasslands. Flights from Nairobi to Ol Seki take around 45 minutes. The nearest big town is Narok, around two hours by car.
Naboisho Camp has the warm feel of a traditional safari lodge, albeit a smart one, with a long central building thatched with makuti grass, where there’s communal dining (which I’m not a big fan of) and a comfy lounge with sofas, photography books and a leopard photo above the fireplace.
It’s an open-feeling place that makes the most of its surroundings, which is a wise call: everyone is here for the exceptional wildlife and Mara landscapes. At night, surrounded by stars, you might hear the roar of lions or the whoop of hyenas; in the morning, you could see impala grazing under acacia trees or zebra wandering through the unfenced camp.
Staff are warm and friendly all the way, starting with the airstrip pick-up and arrival at camp, where the team come out to personally shake guests’ hands and introduce themselves. That continues throughout the stay, from punctual delivery of morning teas and coffees to spear-carrying Maasai who escort you safely to and from tents.
Wildlife guides are first rate: knowledgeable, professional, chatty and keen to get you what you want from your time in the Maasai Mara, whether it’s photographing big cats or finding a specific bird. Vehicles have drop-down sides to allow photographers lower angles, which I particularly liked. As well as morning, evening and night game drives, excellent walking safaris are on offer.
Large canvas tents are positioned to be sunrise-facing, looking out across the hills, trees and grassy plains, with a seating area for wildlife-watching or landscape-gazing. The main bedroom gives the impression of a smart city hotel, with a cream wall, pristine white and brown bed, and a writing table and lamp in one corner. Coasters, torch covers, curtain ties and water bottles are colourfully decorated with Maasai beadwork supplied by local charity The Maa Trust.
Behind the bedroom, there’s an area for luggage and a bathroom, with separately canvassed-off toilet and shower. There’s also an outdoor shower (you need to order a heated bucket) and a clothing line in a private patio area. It’s comfy and practical, with space to move around and plug sockets for charging cameras.
Camp dinners, taken with other guests after fireside drinks, feature hearty, filling, comfort food, such as butternut and sage soup, fried tilapia, or chicken topped with tomato sauce and cheese, as well as desserts, like fruit and cream pancakes. Sundowners, including G&Ts, are also served in the great outdoors.
Breakfast is a highlight, usually eaten out in the bush during game drives, with luxuries such as freshly baked little loaves of bread, still-warm chocolate muffins, spicy samosas and fruit all laid out on the side-shelf of a Land Rover. Breakfast is a highlight, usually eaten out in the bush during game drives, with luxuries such as freshly baked little loaves of bread, still-warm chocolate muffins, spicy samosas and fruit all laid out on the side-shelf of a Land Rover.
Tents from £540 per person in low season; and from £800 in high. All meals, house drinks and safari activities are included, apart from conservancy fees, which are US $116 (£91) per person per day. There’s free Wi-Fi in a separate tent, 160 ft away from the lodge, but none in the tents or main building.
Not suitable.
Yes. There are two family tents, with small separate rooms with twin single beds attached to the main tent,. There’s an option for a third child on an enclosed veranda daybed. There’s a children’s menu available, and families can request to eat by themselves in the lounge if they don’t want group meals. There’s an entertainment chest with games, and activities, such as traditional bow-shooting. Baby-sitting can be arranged.
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