Camps in Mara Conservancies - Masai Mara National Reserve

The Masai Mara conservancies are home to some of the most exclusive and eco-conscious safari camps in Africa, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience wildlife in a more intimate and sustainable setting compared to the Masai Mara National Reserve. These conservancies work in partnership with local Maasai communities to conserve critical wildlife habitats while promoting low-impact tourism. The camps within these conservancies range from ultra-luxurious tented retreats to eco-friendly lodges that emphasize conservation and community involvement. Each camp offers a personalized safari experience, from private game drives to cultural interactions, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the wilderness and contribute to the long-term protection of the Masai Mara ecosystem. This guide explores the standout camps in each conservancy, highlighting their accommodations, wildlife experiences, and distinctive features.

1. Olare Motorogi Conservancy

Notable Camp: Mahali Mzuri

Overview: Owned by Sir Richard Branson, Mahali Mzuri is a luxury tented camp that offers an exclusive safari experience in the heart of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. The camp is renowned for its elevated views of the surrounding plains and its commitment to sustainable tourism.
Accommodation: Mahali Mzuri features 12 luxurious tents, each with en-suite bathrooms, private decks, and stunning panoramic views of the landscape. The tents are elegantly designed and provide a perfect blend of comfort and adventure.
Safari Experience: Guests at Mahali Mzuri enjoy morning and evening game drives, walking safaris, and cultural visits to nearby Maasai villages. The conservancy’s low visitor density ensures exceptional wildlife sightings, including frequent lion and cheetah encounters.
Unique Features: The camp offers a spa, a swimming pool, and personalized service, making it ideal for honeymooners and luxury travelers.

Notable Camp: Kicheche Bush Camp

Overview: Kicheche Bush Camp is an intimate, eco-friendly tented camp that blends seamlessly into its surroundings, offering an authentic safari experience in a pristine wilderness setting.
Accommodation: The camp consists of just six tents, ensuring privacy and exclusivity. Each tent is spacious, with en-suite bathrooms and a private veranda. The camp is designed with sustainability in mind, using solar power and eco-friendly practices.
Safari Experience: Kicheche Bush Camp is known for its excellent walking safaris and game drives. The low vehicle density in the conservancy allows for undisturbed wildlife viewing, including big cat sightings and close encounters with elephants.
Unique Features: The camp’s small size and attentive staff make it perfect for guests seeking a more intimate safari experience. Walking safaris are a highlight here, led by expert guides.

2. Mara North Conservancy

Notable Camp: Elephant Pepper Camp

Overview: Nestled in the heart of the Mara North Conservancy, Elephant Pepper Camp is known for its classic bush camp atmosphere and focus on a traditional, low-impact safari experience.
Accommodation: The camp has eight tents, including two honeymoon tents and family tents, all with en-suite bathrooms and bucket showers. The tents are designed in a rustic style, yet offer all the modern comforts necessary for a pleasant stay.
Safari Experience: Guests can explore the conservancy on day and night game drives, guided bush walks, and enjoy cultural visits to Maasai villages. The area is known for its lion prides, and guests frequently enjoy exclusive sightings due to the conservancy’s limited number of vehicles.
Unique Features: Campfire dinners and bush breakfasts are a signature experience at Elephant Pepper Camp, allowing guests to dine under the stars in the wild.

Notable Camp: Offbeat Mara Camp

Overview: Offbeat Mara Camp is a small, traditional tented camp located in a secluded part of the Mara North Conservancy. It’s particularly well-suited for guests looking for an authentic safari experience away from the crowds.
Accommodation: The camp has just six tents, including family units, all offering comfortable furnishings, en-suite bathrooms, and private verandas overlooking the plains.
Safari Experience: Offbeat Mara is known for its expert guides and personalized safaris, which include game drives, walking safaris, and night drives. The camp’s location offers prime viewing of cheetahs, lions, and the Great Migration during the season.
Unique Features: The camp offers an immersive wilderness experience, with solar-powered tents and eco-friendly practices. The small camp size ensures personalized service and an intimate connection with nature.

3. Naboisho Conservancy

Notable Camp: Naboisho Camp

Overview: Naboisho Camp is a luxury tented camp that provides a high-end, immersive experience in the heart of the Naboisho Conservancy. It’s known for its exceptional guiding and focus on responsible tourism.
Accommodation: The camp has nine spacious tents, each with en-suite bathrooms, private decks, and panoramic views of the surrounding savannah. The tents are elegantly furnished and provide a perfect retreat after a day of adventure.
Safari Experience: Naboisho Conservancy offers walking safaris, night game drives, and cultural visits to Maasai villages, experiences not allowed in the main Mara reserve. The conservancy is renowned for its large lion prides and high densities of other wildlife.
Unique Features: Naboisho Camp is deeply involved in conservation efforts and community projects, making it a great choice for eco-conscious travelers. The camp also offers fly-camping, where guests can sleep under the stars in the wilderness.

Notable Camp: Encounter Mara

Overview: Encounter Mara is an eco-friendly camp located in a secluded part of the Naboisho Conservancy. It is designed to offer guests a close connection with nature, while maintaining a minimal footprint on the environment.
Accommodation: The camp features ten tents, including family tents, all with en-suite bathrooms and private verandas. The tents are spacious, comfortable, and designed using sustainable materials.
Safari Experience: Encounter Mara offers morning and evening game drives, walking safaris, and birdwatching excursions. The conservancy is known for its high density of wildlife, particularly predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Unique Features: The camp is completely solar-powered, with a strong focus on sustainability. Community involvement is a key aspect of the experience, as the camp works closely with local Maasai communities to support conservation and cultural initiatives.

4. Ol Kinyei Conservancy

Notable Camp: Porini Mara Camp

Overview: Located within the exclusive Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Porini Mara Camp is a small, eco-friendly tented camp offering an authentic safari experience in one of the most wildlife-rich areas of the Mara ecosystem.
Accommodation: The camp has just six tents, ensuring an intimate and personalized experience for guests. The tents are spacious, with comfortable furnishings and en-suite bathrooms with hot showers.
Safari Experience: Porini Mara Camp offers day and night game drives, walking safaris, and cultural visits to Maasai villages. The conservancy is known for its exceptional cheetah sightings, and guests can enjoy exclusive game drives with no other vehicles in sight.
Unique Features: Porini Mara Camp operates on a low-impact, eco-friendly model, using solar power and maintaining a minimal footprint. The camp also emphasizes community involvement, with many of the staff coming from nearby Maasai villages.

5. Enonkishu Conservancy

Notable Camp: The House in the Wild

Overview: The House in the Wild is a boutique lodge located on the banks of the Mara River within the Enonkishu Conservancy. The lodge is part of a working farm and offers a unique blend of wildlife conservation and agricultural tourism.
Accommodation: The lodge features four private cottages, each with spacious bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, and private verandas. The cottages are beautifully designed, blending rustic charm with modern comfort.
Safari Experience: Guests at House in the Wild can enjoy game drives, walking safaris, and fishing in the Mara River. The conservancy’s focus on sustainable cattle ranching allows visitors to learn about holistic land management while also enjoying excellent wildlife sightings, including elephants, lions, and buffalo.
Unique Features: The lodge is heavily involved in community development and conservation efforts, working closely with the Maasai community to balance wildlife protection with sustainable farming.

6. Siana Conservancy

Notable Camp: Siana Springs Tented Camp

Overview: Siana Springs Tented Camp is a well-established safari camp located near the Siana Conservancy. It offers a traditional tented safari experience combined with modern comforts and services.
Accommodation: The camp has 38 tents, making it one of the larger camps in the Mara ecosystem. Each tent is spacious, with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and private verandas offering views of the surrounding bush.
Safari Experience: The camp offers game drives in the nearby Siana Conservancy, as well as cultural visits to Maasai villages. Siana Springs is known for its high populations of herbivores like giraffes, elephants, and zebras, and the camp offers walking safaris for a more immersive experience.
Unique Features: Siana Springs Tented Camp is family-friendly, offering a wide range of activities for all ages. The camp also features a swimming pool and restaurant, making it a more resort-like option compared to other more intimate camps.

7. Ol Derkesi Conservancy

Notable Camp: Cottar’s 1920s Camp

Overview: Cottar’s 1920s Camp is one of the most renowned luxury camps in the Mara ecosystem, located on the southeastern edge of the Mara within the Ol Derkesi Conservancy. With its classic, vintage safari feel, Cottar’s brings an air of elegance and history to the African wilderness.
Accommodation: The camp has 10 luxury tents, including family tents and a private bush villa. Each tent is designed to evoke the spirit of a bygone era, with antique furniture, en-suite bathrooms, and spacious verandas offering panoramic views.
Safari Experience: Cottar’s offers a range of safari experiences, including walking safaris, game drives, and night drives in the private Ol Derkesi Conservancy. The area is known for its excellent wildlife sightings, with frequent encounters of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and big cats.
Unique Features: The camp is known for its strong emphasis on eco-tourism and cultural heritage, being one of the pioneers in the safari industry. The camp also offers spa services, making it an ideal option for travelers seeking a luxurious, holistic safari experience.

8. Olare Orok Conservancy

Notable Camp: Mara Plains Camp

Overview: Mara Plains Camp, located in the Olare Orok Conservancy, is a high-end, intimate tented camp that delivers an unparalleled luxury safari experience in a pristine wilderness. The camp is part of the Great Plains Conservation portfolio and is known for its exceptional attention to detail and exclusivity.
Accommodation: The camp has just seven tents, each thoughtfully designed to blend with the environment while offering luxury amenities such as en-suite bathrooms with copper bathtubs, private decks, and high-end furnishings. The tents provide stunning views over the open savannah.
Safari Experience: Guests enjoy personalized game drives in the conservancy, with access to some of the Mara’s best predator sightings, particularly cheetahs and lions. Walking safaris and night drives are also a highlight in this private conservancy.
Unique Features: Mara Plains Camp provides each guest with high-quality photography equipment, allowing visitors to capture incredible wildlife moments. The camp is also fully solar-powered, reflecting its strong commitment to conservation and sustainability.

Notable Camp: Porini Lion Camp

Overview: Nestled within the Olare Orok Conservancy, Porini Lion Camp is an eco-friendly tented camp that provides an immersive safari experience with a focus on sustainable tourism. The camp is known for its proximity to lion prides, hence its name.
Accommodation: The camp offers ten tents, each with en-suite bathrooms and hot showers. The tents are spacious and comfortable, with private verandas that offer uninterrupted views of the conservancy’s wildlife-rich plains.
Safari Experience: Porini Lion Camp offers game drives, night drives, and guided walking safaris, all led by experienced Maasai guides. The conservancy is known for frequent lion sightings, as well as cheetah and leopard encounters. The camp’s low guest numbers ensure a highly personal safari experience.
Unique Features: The camp operates entirely on solar power and adheres to strict eco-friendly principles, ensuring a minimal footprint on the environment. Guests also have the opportunity to visit nearby Maasai villages for cultural tours.

9. Pardamat Conservation Area

Notable Camp: Mara Training Centre

Overview: Located within the Pardamat Conservation Area, the Mara Training Centre is a unique accommodation option that combines wildlife conservation with community engagement and educational programs. The camp is focused on supporting sustainable practices for both wildlife and Maasai communities.
Accommodation: The camp offers basic, comfortable accommodation for guests and participants in its conservation programs. Rooms are simple but cozy, providing all the necessary amenities for a peaceful stay in the heart of the wilderness.
Safari Experience: Guests can participate in walking safaris, game drives, and community-based conservation programs. The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including elephants, zebras, and giraffes, and offers a chance to see how Maasai communities and wildlife coexist.
Unique Features: The Mara Training Centre focuses on education and capacity building, offering guests a deeper understanding of how sustainable grazing practices and wildlife conservation can work together. Visitors can take part in workshops and learn about Maasai culture and land management.

10. Lemek Conservancy

Notable Camp: Royal Mara Safari Lodge

Overview: Royal Mara Safari Lodge is a luxury lodge situated along the Mara River in the Lemek Conservancy. The camp offers an excellent balance between wildlife viewing and relaxation, with opportunities to witness animals from the comfort of your tent.
Accommodation: The lodge features eight riverfront suites, each built on raised decks overlooking the Mara River. The suites are spacious and luxurious, with en-suite bathrooms, private balconies, and views of hippos and crocodiles basking in the river.
Safari Experience: Guests can enjoy game drives, birdwatching, and nature walks in the conservancy, which is home to a variety of wildlife including lions, leopards, and elephants. The camp’s location along the river offers prime viewing of animals coming to drink.
Unique Features: Royal Mara is a great option for travelers seeking a peaceful riverside retreat while still being close to some of the best wildlife areas in the Mara. The lodge’s focus on luxury and comfort makes it a favorite among honeymooners and those seeking a high-end safari experience.

11. Siana Conservancy

Notable Camp: Sekenani Camp

Overview: Sekenani Camp is an eco-friendly safari camp located in the Siana Conservancy, offering a secluded and tranquil retreat with easy access to the Masai Mara National Reserve. The camp emphasizes sustainability and community involvement.
Accommodation: The camp has fifteen tents, each built on raised platforms and connected by walkways to the main lodge area. The tents are comfortably furnished, with en-suite bathrooms and private verandas offering views of the surrounding bush.
Safari Experience: Sekenani Camp offers game drives in both the Siana Conservancy and the nearby Masai Mara National Reserve. Walking safaris and night drives are available within the conservancy, giving guests the opportunity to experience the wilderness in a more intimate way.
Unique Features: The camp is heavily involved in conservation efforts and works closely with the Maasai community to support wildlife protection and sustainable tourism. The eco-friendly design and focus on low-impact tourism make it a popular choice for those seeking a more responsible safari experience.

12. Enonkishu Conservancy

Notable Camp: Richard’s River Camp

Overview: Located in the Enonkishu Conservancy, Richard’s River Camp is a luxury tented camp offering a blend of comfort, style, and wilderness adventure. The camp is set along the banks of the Njageteck River, providing stunning views of the surrounding plains.
Accommodation: Richard’s River Camp has seven luxury tents, including family tents, all elegantly decorated with vintage furniture and spacious en-suite bathrooms. The tents offer a peaceful escape, with private decks where guests can relax and enjoy the sounds of the bush.
Safari Experience: Guests can take part in game drives, walking safaris, and community visits. The conservancy is known for its wildlife corridors, providing essential passageways for migrating elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife. The camp also offers cultural tours to nearby Maasai villages.
Unique Features: Richard’s River Camp is renowned for its exceptional service and intimate atmosphere, making it ideal for honeymooners or small groups. The camp also offers private dining experiences and bush picnics, adding a special touch to the safari experience.

Final Thoughts

Each of these camps within the Masai Mara conservancies offers something unique, whether it’s a focus on luxury, sustainability, intimate wildlife encounters, or cultural immersion. By staying at one of these camps, travelers not only gain access to incredible wildlife viewing but also support vital conservation efforts and contribute to the well-being of the local Maasai communities. The variety of options ensures that there’s a camp for every type of traveler, whether you’re seeking a high-end retreat or a more eco-conscious, off-the-beaten-path experience.