Encounter Mara

Game drives depart from Encounter Mara twice daily — at 06h30 and 16h30 — into the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. The camp holds ten canvas tents under an acacia canopy in a secluded corner of the conservancy, set where forest meets open grassland. Each tent stands on a private veranda and includes an en suite bathroom with a plumbed hot shower, mosquito nets, and an in-room safe. A family tent accommodates up to four guests. The central dining tent and lounge occupy the same thatched-roof deck that overlooks a salt lick; giraffe, zebra, plains game, and occasionally large cats visit the mineral deposit within sight of the seating area.

Off-road driving is permitted throughout the conservancy, allowing rangers to track wildlife into valleys and thickets. Night drives run after dark in both the conservancy and the adjoining Masai Mara Reserve, spotting nocturnal species invisible by day. Most guides come from the local Maasai communities and hold land stakes in the conservancy; village visits can be arranged. Hot-air balloon safaris lift before dawn and float above the plains at sunrise. A specialised photographic vehicle offers drop-down sides, beanbags, foam camera rests, 360-degree swivel seats, and power outlets for long-lens work. Meals unfold in the canvas dining tent; guests gather at the campfire before three-course dinners. The camp operates on 24-hour security, offers complimentary laundry, and connects to Ol Kiombo Airstrip by road transfer.