Mara Siana Wildlife Conservancy - Masai Mara, Kenya
Set amid the 60,000 hectares of the Mara Siana Wildlife Conservancy, directly bordering the Masai Mara itself, Kuoni Mara Bushtops Camp is a five-star luxury tented camp just 5 km from the Sekenani Gate).
World renowned for the breathtaking spectacle of ‘the greatest wildlife show on earth', the awe inspiring annual migration of the wildebeest, the Mara is Kenya's most visited protected area. Technically an extension of Tanzania's renowned Serengeti National Park, the Mara constitutes only 4% of the entire Serengeti ecosystem but its rolling grasslands, meandering rivers and towering escarpments offer one of the world's most rewarding and evocative wildlife arenas.
Location
The Masai Mara is 170 kms from Nairobi (five hours by road and less than an hour from Nairobi by plane). The camp can be reached by road from Nairobi via Narok. However due to current condition of this road, it is recommended you travel by air. The nearest airstrip is Siana Springs (10 minutes to drive) or Keekorok Airstrip (30 minutes to drive). There are daily scheduled flights from Mombasa and Nairobi/Wilson Airport.
Kenya hotels and accommodation
Amongst the wide range of Kenya hotels, some make the ideal Kenya safari destination. Choose a safari lodge, safari hotel, bush camp, luxury lodge, safari camp, tented camp or bush lodge. National park accommodation usually takes the form of a traditional safari lodge or tented camp, but numerous other options exist on the park boundaries. Luxury lodges and luxury camp options are also offered in the private wildlife conservancies.
The Background
The Masai Mara National Reserve
When it comes to game-viewing, there is nowhere in Africa richer in wildlife or more eventful in encounters than the Mara. A pristine wilderness of haunting beauty, it promises its visitors a profusion of wildlife, prolific bird life and the unprecedented opportunity of catching up with all the members of the ‘Big Five' in one morning.
As to scenery, the 1,800 sq kilometres of this veteran reserve offer the classic mix of African imagery; miles of lion-gold grasslands, shoals of lilac-misted hills, a meandering river, acres of thorn-bush and mile upon mile of undulating wilderness.
The Miracle of the Migration of the Wildebeest
Between the end of July and November, over one and a half million wildebeest accompanied by half again as many zebras and gazelles, migrate from the short-grass plains of the Serengeti to fresh pasture in the grasslands of the Mara; thus creating one of nature's grandest spectacles. Moving in groups of up to 20,000 at a time they thunder across the plateau hesitating only briefly to cross the Mara River, where many fall prey to the waiting crocodiles. Towards the end of October they begin crossing back into Tanzania. The actual timing of the migration, however, is dictated by the weather and does not always ‘run to schedule'.
Accommodation
The camp offers 12 luxury tents each with its own special view. Each spacious tent can be opened on all of three sides, and each has its own sunken tub and shower. Tastefully presented each tent has a large bed (with mosquito nets) and a writing desk. The private wooden decks are equipped with loungers and telescopes. Tent service is available 24 hours. Early morning coffee and tea with homemade pastries are served to the tent after the wake up call. Laundry and valet service.
Dining and bars
The Restaurant and lounge overlook the watering hole which also features a natural salt lick attracting an abundance of game. The restaurant offers fine a la carte dining - entirely home-made, herbs and fresh vegetables from the camp's own garden. There is also an external campfire/bar. The central lounge has its own fireplace and safari library. The camp also boasts its own regulation-controlled wine cellar of fine wines.
Wildlife highlights
Offering an abundance of herbivores, the Mara makes the ideal hunting ground for Kenya's famous ‘big cats' and hosts her largest population of lions. It also offers the best chance of spotting a leopard in the wild. Other predators include cheetah and spotted hyena. Historically teaming with wildlife, the Mara is famous for the large herds of elephant and buffalo that meander its plains; also for the fat pods of hippo that wallow in its mud-brown rivers. Other stars include the distinctive Masai giraffe, plum-coloured topi, Coke's hartebeest, Grant's and Thomson's gazelle, zebra, impala, Kirk's dik-dik, bushbuck, waterbuck and red duiker. The Reserve also boasts plentiful Nile crocodile, monitor lizard, baboon, vervet, blue and red-tailed monkeys, nocturnal bush babies, and tree hyrax. There are over 550 resident and migratory species of birds.
Child-friendly
The camp welcomes children.
What to see and do
The camp has an 'infinity' pool and a sun-deck. It also offers a whole range of activities from walking safaris, bush picnics, walking on the nearby Sekanani Hills, bird-watching, and fishing at Lake Victoria, to cultural outings, themed dinners - including a visit to a Boma - and story-telling round the camp fire.
Game Drives are conducted in specially converted Toyota Land cruisers for optimum game viewing. Our drivers are certified, minimum bronze level, KAPSG driver guides.
We offer early morning game drives, half day, full day game drives as well as night game drives.
Extra activities
Game drives, walking safaris, bush picnics, walking on the Sekanani Hills, bird watching, Masai Cultural outings, fishing at Lake Victoria, hilltop bonfire sun downers.
Balloon Safaris
The balloon safari packages includes transfers, the balloon flight, a freshly cooked champagne breakfast after the flight, a flight certificate and return transfer to camp.
Mara Bushtops - Masai Mara • Exclusive Safari Camp • Kenya Hotels, Safari Lodges & Tented Camps
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