Masai Mara National Reserve - Kenya
A traditional tented camp, Sala's Camp stands on the banks of the Sand River, which traverses the southern tip of the Masai Mara Reserve. Located within the boundaries of this famous reserve, the camp is surrounded by wilderness and in close proximity to the main migration corridors of the annual migration of the wilderbeest. Surrounded by indegenous forest, the camp looks south towards the north of the Serengeti, the Tanzanian extension of this natural biosphere. The camp also lies adjacent to a designated Rhino conservation area.
The camp prides itself on its owner managed hospitality and impeccable service: it is owned and managed by experienced safari professionals Mikey and Tanya Carr-Hartley, who have been operating luxury mobile safaris in East Africa for the last twelve years. The camp is closed from 15th March - 14th June & 15th October to 14th December.
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.
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.
Location
The Masai Mara is 270 miles from Nairobi (five hours by road). All weather air strip - less than an hour from Nairobi by plane. By air: 40 minutes from Nairobi by Schedule or private charter into Keekorok airstrip.
By road: Four hours drive from Nairobi, along the Nairobi-Narok Road, and then towards Sekenani gate, past Keekorok and on towards Roan Hill (35 mins west of Keekorok airstrip)
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
All the time, when on the move, the wildebeest emit harsh grunts, something like the sound of frogs, something like that of old men clearing their throats. People have called them ungainly because of their high shoulders and sloping hindquarters and also clowns because of their long pale faces and white beards, but in fact they move with grace and sometimes playfulness, leaping and cavorting with apparent joie de vivre.
Last Days in Eden
Elspeth Huxley and Hugo van Lawick
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 just seven luxury tents, which are widely spaced and enjoy magnificent views. Each tent offers either twin or double beds, attractive safari furnishings and a luxury bathrooms ensuite (with safari bucket showers, hot and cold running water and flushed WC). Electricity is supplied for lighting and charging purposes only. One of the tents is suited to families or honeymoon couples - offering both a double bedroom and a central lounge area.
Dining and bars
There is a central dining and bar area overlooking the wilderness of this famous reserve. Camp food is cooked in the traditional safari style, using a camp fire, and a gas cooker. Home baked pastries, breads and biscuits are a speciality. All the ingredients are farm sourced and free from artificial pesticides. We offer a combination of international dishes and a variety of food to suit all tastes. Children's needs and special dietary requirements can easily be catered for.
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 and can provide additional beds and childrens' mealtimes and menus.
What to see and do
We offer daily game drives in safari-adapted 4WD vehicles. We also offer guided walks, birding tours, balloon safaris, air excursions, and day trips to nearby Rusinga Island. Visits to nearby Maasai villages and traditional cultural displays are also offered.
Sala's Camp - Masai Mara • Exclusive Tented Safari Camp • Kenya Hotels, Safari Lodges & Tented Camps
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