Kenya’s Most Well-known Safari Vacation spot Has a New Luxe Lodge — and It is Set in a Treehouse

“The hippos might be your neighbors,” my safari information, Nancy, tells me as she picks me up from the Ol Kiombo Airstrip and drives me via the seemingly infinite savanna to the brand new Mara Toto Tree Camp.

Opened July 2024, the ultra-intimate four-tent camp is hidden on the northern border of the Maasai Mara Nationwide Reserve, made well-known by the Nice Migration, which usually happens from July via October. With simply 4 elevated tents lifted practically 10 toes above the tea-colored Ntiakitiak River, hippos will certainly be my neighbor, alongside extra-cheeky vervet monkeys, bush infants, and the occasional croc. Fortunately, elevated picket walkways and the camp’s 24-hour safety patrol — native Maasai folks, wrapped in blue tartan shukas and carrying spears — keep watch over the animals and are all the time out there to information me to my tent (a requirement come dusk).

This new riverine camp comes care of Nice Plains, an eco-chic safari firm spearheaded by Nationwide Geographic explorer-filmmaker couple Dereck and Beverly Joubert.

“Residing with the birds at their degree is remodeling,” says Dereck, who ensured no bushes had been minimize down through the constructing of the camp. Along with the birds and different animals, count on to see the couple’s personal fine-art wildlife prints in each the visitor tents and the communal tent, which is dressed like an old-world explorers’ lair, with lighting fixtures handmade from baobab seeds and brass-forged acacia-leaf hanging sculptures, alongside overstuffed couches, virtually demanding to be lazed in.

Nonetheless snug the camp is (and it’s actually a marvel), essentially the most enjoyable occurs within the open plains, on my twice-daily recreation drives with Nancy, who — like 90 % of the employees — can be Maasai. “I used to be born right here, raised right here, and now I work right here,” says Nancy, who was not solely the primary feminine safari information from her village within the east of the Maasai Mara but in addition Nice Plains’ first feminine safari information in Kenya.

The gold grass Is gilded with dew on our morning drives in a grumbling open-sided Land Cruiser. We watch the lions snack on their kills from the night time earlier than — cape buffalo and even long-lashed giraffes. (It is laborious to see typically, however as we’ve all discovered from The Lion King, it’s the circle of life).

Now we have breakfast on the highway, with Nancy pouring scorching Kenyan black tea from a thermos and setting out a selection of yogurt, contemporary watermelon juice, and boiled eggs. From there, it’s again to camp for a contemporary feast of three or 4 totally different crunchy backyard salads made by Chef Pemba, additionally Maasai. Late afternoon, we set again out for a night recreation drive, this time with sundowners (cocktail hour within the bush), adopted by a comfy dinner at camp across the fireplace on the outside deck.

It is one thing out of your wildest goals, and even veteran safari goers might be impressed by the extent of consolation, type, and beneficiant hospitality right here. Right here’s what else I beloved about my Mara Toto Tree Camp keep.

The Rooms

Every of the 4 tents is a non-public treehouse with fashionable sitting areas of leather-based loveseats, terraces with hanging chairs, and large loos decked out in glowing lanterns. There’s no air con, however a fan circulates air, and tents keep cool in a single day.

All tents are sufficiently big to accommodate two separate beds if wanted, although Tent 4 is the most important. Complimentary mini bars are housed in weathered picket cupboards and crammed with Tusker, the native Kenyan lager, home made cookies, and the ginger-based East African soda, Stoney Tangawizi. Different issues to like are a number of gymnasium gear (together with weights and a stationary bike) and Nice Plains toiletries smelling of orange, grapefruit, and marula. As with most high-end safari camps, laundry service is complimentary (which is an enormous assist contemplating weight restrictions on gentle plane).

Meals and Drink

You’ll eat very nicely right here, and all-inclusive charges embody meals, drinks, spirits, and wine (together with upmarket worldwide Champagne like Taittinger).

A chilly breakfast is often ready for the morning recreation drive, however you possibly can request a extra fancy “bush breakfast,” the place a cellular kitchen involves you within the bush and a chef whips up scorching eggs and tangy mimosas. Lunch is often again at camp, with a brand new set menu of sunshine each day and contemporary fare. (There’s a basic menu, too, if the set menu isn’t to your style).

Anticipate sundowners on night recreation drives, full along with your drink of selection (strive a G&T with Nice Plains’ personal South African-distilled gin) and a brass tiffin crammed with home made snacks like polenta chips and spiced nuts. Dinner is again at camp, with maybe a glowing South African wine in entrance of the hearth first. There’s often a creamy vegetable soup to begin, and three decisions of mains (meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes like wealthy risottos or spooling piles of noodles or pasta), plus moreish desserts like home made strawberry ice cream, sticky toffee pudding, or turmeric lemon posset.

Actions and Experiences

Camp visitors get twice-daily recreation drives (one within the morning and one within the night) in an open-sided Land Cruiser pushed by a non-public information. Drives are finished in each the Maasai Mara Nationwide Reserve and the far-less-busy Mara North Conservancy, which is land privately owned by the Maasai however a part of the identical ecosystem.

Different actions embody dawn scorching air balloon flights and personal photographic guides. (Every tent is outfitted with pro-level binoculars and cameras to your journey, with photographs downloaded onto a USB stick upon departure). Alongside the communal eating and lounging house, there’s additionally a Nice Plains Safari Boutique. Don’t miss the hand-beaded treasures made by the Naboisho Ladies Craft Centre.

The Spa

Remedies like massages, scrubs, facials, and even manis and pedis are finished in room, utilizing pure, uncooked substances like jojoba, rose hip, and African potato. After the therapies, heat baths are drawn, infused with lavender oils and muscle-slackening tub salts.

Household-friendly Choices

Like all Nice Plains camps, Mara Toto Tree Camp is open to visitors aged 6 and up. Youngsters obtain a Younger Explorers pack, together with an exercise ebook and a safari journal, and guides modify recreation drives to accommodate their pursuits and a spotlight spans. Mini hand and foot massages are additionally out there for younger explorers.

Accessibility and Sustainability

There is no such thing as a want to decide on between sustainability and luxurious right here: Pure and recycled supplies add to the safari-chic aesthetic, and the camp runs nearly fully off solar energy and is supplied with a water filtration program. (Don’t even take into consideration single-use plastics.) Nice Plains additionally has its personal basis, contributing to conservation and benefiting the native communities.

Relating to accessibility, don’t be postpone by the treehouse format. “Paradoxically, our most risky-looking camp, the one within the bushes, is essentially the most ADA grievance,” says Dereck. “I used to be very cautious to make all of it one degree to be wheelchair-friendly. Even on the entrance, a protracted ramp runs into the bushes, winding its option to the principle space. From there, each tent is ADA-accessible. I really like that as a result of many vacationers with mobility points typically get caught in camps on the bottom or in unstylish lodging.”

Location

Anticipate to journey through gentle plane to succeed in Mara Toto Tree Camp, which is in the course of the bush on the border of the Maasai Mara Nationwide Reserve and Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It is a couple of 45-minute drive via the bush from Ol Kiombo Airstrip and about an hour’s flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.

Non-public plane may be organized, however visitors may use the safari airline Safarilink, which usually stops at different airstrips en path to your ultimate vacation spot. For recreation drives, camp visitors have entry to the Maasai Mara Nationwide Reserve, which it borders, and Mara North Conservancy, which is about an hour’s drive away, via the conservancy.

Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Nice Plains solely accepts bookings through its trusted journey advisors, and on the very prime of the record are the last word safari specialists Pure Migrations, which — on account of their longstanding relationship with Nice Plains — affords the absolute best charges, in addition to particular extras, reminiscent of bush dinners beneath the African stars, scorching bush breakfasts, or shock “room drop” items, in addition to room upgrades based mostly on availability.