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With far-reaching views of the plains, Mara Nyika is an intimate, luxury tented camp that belonged to National Geographic filmmakers and photographers, Derek and Beverly Joubert.
Place
Bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve to the south-west kenyaThe camp is located in virgin forest in a deep valley within the private 55,000-acre Naboisho Conservancy, which was created in partnership with 500 Maasai landowners. conservation of wild life And place of residence.
To get there it’s a 45-minute flight from the Maasai Mara Reserve nairobi Wilson Airport. A private Great Plains Safari vehicle can be arranged to collect you for the one-hour drive to camp.
To explore the preserve, you have to stay in one of nine camps within its boundaries, so there are very few tourists for the best wildlife-viewing.
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stretch
A member of Riley and Chato, Camp has grandeur in spades, with no pretense or ostentation of any kind. Think polished antique wooden furniture, squishy sofas to relax on while perusing a library full of maps, and a well-stocked wine cellar.
From the moment you step into camp, you are invited to disconnect from the outside world and join nature. Mara Nyika is a little piece of heaven where you can take a deep breath and block out everything else.
Service
You’d be hard-pressed to find the warm welcome you get at Mara Nyika Camp. Being welcomed back from an adventure with a thrilling song is ideal, and the staff is quietly attentive to your needs. They make every moment you spend here a joy – doing the laundry (mine came back in record time, sweet-smelling and pressed) or tucking a blanket around your shoulders while you sit by the fire pit enjoying a night cap. I have never felt more loved.
bed and bath
With a ceiling hung in billowing, white cotton curtains, each suite is made up of three huge canvas tents (covering 1,000 square feet), including a living room, bedroom, and bathroom with twin copper sinks and a free-standing tub. There is no separate toilet here, but a carved wooden screen will save your shyness.
A huge floor-to-ceiling mirror made from Maasai beadwork and carved wooden furniture from Lamu Island nods to the location.
Design-wise, the rooms have a distinctly rugged air (softened by fur throws and delicately embroidered cushions), with a studded leather headboard over a substantial four-poster, woven rugs scattered over polished floorboards (which creaked satisfyingly), a writing desk (complete with personalized writing sheets), and a vintage leather trunk that serves as a coffee table.
On the private deck, it’s fun to watch the vervet monkeys play from the comfortable armchairs. A sample of the talent is the loan of a professional DSLR camera and lens set (all the images you capture are downloaded onto a USB stick to take home).
There are four one-bedroom suites and two larger two-bedroom/bathroom suites perfect for families, one of which has a private swimming pool.
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Food and Drink
Two-course lunches and candlelit three-course dinners, at your leisure, are served on the large, winding wooden deck or in the tented dining room when the temperature drops. Be sure to request an evening local dinner of braised beef stew and attitudeA staple Kenyan dish made from cornmeal.
Cocktail hour carried around the fire pit is very lively and well served here, served from a huge cabinet with a wide selection of global spirits. try a Claim – meaning medicine in Swahili – which is an alcoholic concoction of vodka, honey, mint and brown sugar.
Nyika’s mobile kitchen (the only one in the Maasai Mara area) offers guests a sumptuous, cooked-to-order breakfast on the plains (expect silverware, the finest linens and a bottle of fizz on ice), while the wildlife does its thing. One morning while I was laying out my omelette, three elephants came into view.
facilities
Wooden walkways two meters above the forest floor connect the guest suites to the main area where you will find many beautiful sights. Relax in the lounge/library or the wine cellar (where tastings can be enjoyed); Both are furnished with a mix of squishy leather sofas, bespoke, carved furniture, and Beverley Joubert’s striking wildlife photography.
In the small boutique, browse beaded necklaces and bracelets made by the Naboisho Women’s Cooperative, supported by the Great Plains Foundation.
There’s no gym here, but each suite comes with light weights, a yoga mat, and a stationary exercise bicycle. Spa treatments in the suites can be booked upon request.
All game drives are private in open-sided Toyota Land Cruisers, and come with a dedicated guide for the entire duration of your stay.
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simple use
The camp has no built-in facilities to make it more accessible. Staff will provide assistance wherever possible.
pet policy
no pets allowed.
check in check out?
Check in after 10 am, check out at 9 am (timings are flexible as per availability).
family friendly?
Families with children over six years of age are welcome. The Explorers Program organizes lessons in kid-friendly activities such as bug safaris and animal tracking.
at a glance
Best thing: Cooked breakfast on the plains, waiting to see what animals and birds appear.
Perfect for: Pairs and small groups of adventurers.
Not suitable for: Those that require a gym, constant WiFi or air conditioning.
From Instagram: Your copper bathtub with a view of monkeys sitting on trees.
Address: Mara Nyika, Naboisho Conservancy, Maasai Mara, NA NA, Kenya
Website: bestplainsconservation.com
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