With an area covering about 1500 square kilometers, the Masai Mara Game Reserve may not be the largest wild life area in Kenya, but it is certainly the most famous. The entire park is nestled within the gigantic Great Rift Valley that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea all the way to South Africa. The rolling hills and open savannah are ever teeming with wildlife, climaxing in the annual migration occurring between July and October.
The Mara is easily accessible from Nairobi, on a 45-minute flight. Enjoy this natural and African abundance by staying in one of the small, intimate tented luxury safari camps.
My pick of 6 top tented Safari Camps, not in any order of superiority, are below:
Fairmont Mara Safari Club
The luxurious Mara Safari Club is set in the Ol-Choro Oiroua Conservation Area, bordering the Masai Mara Game Reserve. It is surrounded on 3 sides by the Mara River, and all the tents have there own private river frontage with four-poster beds, verandah and modern en-suite facilities. You can fly in from Nairobi into the Ngerende airstrip for a pick up by the camp vehicles and enjoy a game drive to the camp.
Cottars 1920’s Safari Camp
For any one looking for the ultimate luxury safari, romance and a bit of African adventures, this is the place. There are 6 en-suite double tents plus 4 en suite family tents -two rooms in each. Activities at Cottar’s include day and night game drives, bush walks, swimming (at the pool and in the river), sundowners, massage and fishing. You can also have your meals in the bush!
Porini Lion Camp
Porini Lion Camp is situated along the banks of the seasonal Ntiakatiak River within the 20,000-acre Olare Orok Conservancy, bordering the Maasai Mara Reserve. Accommodation at Porini Lion is in 6 luxury en-suite tents. The camp conducts day and night game drives in 4×4 open side vehicles. You and also enjoy bush walks and sundowners while at the camp.
Elephant Pepper Camp
Elephant Pepper Camp is a small, luxury tented camp on the Koyaki Community Ranch in the northern part of the Mara offers the authentic bush camp experience of starlit night, hurricane lamp and sitting around the campfire. Accommodation is offered in 8 elegant en suite tents including one for honeymooners. Activities will include day and night game drives, bush walk, lunches and dinners, sundowners and cultural visits to the neighboring Masai villages.
Leleshwa Camp
Leleshwa Camp is another small camp with only 6 tents situated in the Siana Community Conservation area. From this camp you can enjoy a personalized safari experienced that is closed to nature without compromising comfort. Game drives are conducted in 4x 4 safari vehicles. Activities include bush breakfasts, nature walks and night game drives.
Mara Porini Camp
Mara Porini Camp, sister camp to Porini Lion Camp, is set within Ol Kinyei, one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. With rolling hills, open savannah, riverine forest and offering spectacular view across the Mara Reserve. The camp has 6 tents shaded by acacia trees. Each tent has a double bed and is en suite. Day time and nighttime game drives are offered in 4×4 vehicles. Other activities include bush walks, sundowners and cultural village visits.
