Encounter mara camp

Situated on the edge of the savannah under the shade of acacia trees, Encounter Mara is a 10-tent camp within the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, bordering the famed Masai Mara reserve in southwest Kenya.

The conservancy is known for its prolific wildlife and award-winning sustainability model that balances the needs of local communities, wildlife and tourism. It has an even higher density of animals than the neighbouring Masai Mara National Reserve and one of the world’s most concentrated lion populations.

Open June to April, Closed May

Closest airstrip: Mara Ol Seki, 45 minutes drive from camp

Families: children aged five and older

Rooms

Encounter Mara offers 10 spacious and comfortable tents, all with en suite bathrooms with double vanity basins, flushing toilets and hot-water bucket showers. Spend lazy afternoons on your tent’s shaded veranda, chilling on your daybed with a good book or just enjoying the Mara views.

Accommodation & Amenities

From the camp’s outdoor viewing deck, guests can watch zebras amble to the nearby saltlick, see a giraffe strut right past camp, glimpse a mongoose running down the path right in front of you or even spot a cheetah prowling the plains. Over sundowners around the campfire, listen for lions calling to each other as they start their night of hunting. From Encounter Mara, guests can go on nature walks around camp, or soar across the plains in a hot-air balloon.

• 10 tents (including 1 family tent and 2 triples)
• En-suite bathrooms
• Flushing toilets
• Hot-water safari bucket showers
• Complimentary laundry service
• In-room lockable box
• Solar & generator power
• Battery-charging facilities
• Suitable for disabled guests

Location of Encounter Mara

Located in the southwest of Kenya, the 20,234-hectare Mara Naboisho Conservancy sits alongside the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. Not only does the conservancy have the benefit of being private (with just eight camps sharing the land), but it also has a higher density of wildlife than the busy Masai Mara National Reserve. There are a particularly high number of lions and you’ll also spot other animals like giraffes, elephants and zebras.

While the adjacent Masai Mara National Reserve is known for being on the route of the Great Migration, the Mara Naboisho Conservancy has its own ‘secret’ version: The Loita Migration sees thousands of wildebeest and zebras travelling through the conservancy to Loita Plains.

Magical Mara wildlife

Situated on the edge of an open plain in a forest of acacia trees, Encounter Mara is the perfect place to experience this wildlife-rich corner of Kenya. The camp is designed to be as open as possible, so guests can take in the sights and sounds of the Mara during meals or afternoon siestas. From the outdoor viewing deck, watch lions visiting the nearby saltlick, and see gazelles and giraffes stroll right past the fence. Mornings are greeted by a chorus of birdsong. After dark, you might hear lions roaring or hyenas whooping.

Meals and refreshments

We serve homemade meals in our dining tent or outside, depending on the weather. If you’ve opted for a longer game drive, we’ll pack you a picnic breakfast or lunch to enjoy in the bush. Enjoy sundowners and snacks during your late-afternoon game drive, then take your time over dinner back at camp.

We can cater to most dietary requirements and allergies –please just let us know ahead of your arrival.