Mahali Mzuri Mara
Mahali Mzuri is Sir Richard Branson’s 12-tented luxury safari camp in the Kenyan Bush. At Mahali Mzuri you’ll have a front row seat, not just to the migration, but also to the abundant game you can see all year round. The camp is situated in the private Olare Motorogi conservancy in the wider Maasai Mara ecosystem. The name means beautiful place in Swahili, and we hope you agree. Mahali Mzuri is Sir Richard Branson’s Kenyan safari camp located in the world-famous Maasai Mara ecosystem and right in the path of the annual great migration. Mahali Mzuri sits within the Olare Motorogi conservancy which covers an area of 13,500 hectares! There are endless opportunities for game viewing, so all you need to do is sit back and let the wildlife come to you.
Conservation
Mahali Mzuri is located in the Olare Motorogi conservancy, and are a part of 1 of 4 established conservancies which together cover a total area of 63,000 hectares in the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem, bordering the northern edge of the Maasai Mara national reserve. The other three conservancies are Olare Orok, Mara North and Naboisho, and together all are helping to increase the protected area of the ecosystem by nearly 50%. Since 2006 a unique land management structure has been developed in the conservancies with a dual aim of extending the protection afforded to wildlife in the National Reserve to an even greater area whilst directly supporting the needs of some 1,550 Masai families. Today we are seeing both the Masai community and safari guests enjoying the true benefits of conservation of this land in a relationship that will see the ecosystem protected for many years to come.
Tents
Each of the 12 luxurious tents are designed to be your home away from home throughout your stay, with an ensuite bathroom, inviting private deck and views you won’t want to miss. You’ve heard of glamping but this isn’t camping as you know it. The 12 tented suites are super stylish and unlike any tents you’ve ever experienced. There are 6 tents on either side of the main tent, each accessible by a walkway, the furthest of which is approximately a 5 minute walk from the main tent. Ten of the suites can be configured with either king or twin beds and two of the suites are 4 poster king size beds designed to accommodate up to two additional children on sofa beds in the living room. We can cater for a maximum of 24 guests in the camp at any one time.
Game viewing
Anyone who’s been on safari before knows that no two game drives are ever the same. Safaris in Kenya are filled to the brim with exciting wildlife sightings as well as romantic scenery and dramatic views. Wild animals roaming the Kenyan plains include wildebeest, elephants, zebra, lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe, impala and gazelles, but that’s just for starters.
Day game drives
The abundant animal life in the Olare Motorogi conservancy is quite simply jaw-dropping, and you won’t need to go far to see some unforgettable sights. All the drama that only nature can provide is on your doorstop and you’ll be in the hands of our experienced Field Guides with a front row seat on your safari tour. A number of lion pride territories meet in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy which can make for some interesting encounters as the different groups battle for dominance. The area is also home to roughly 150,000 Loita wildebeest that don’t make the annual migration south and seem content to loiter all year round! Of course one of the biggest draws to the area is the annual ‘Great Migration’, which sees up to one million wildebeest plus hundreds of thousands of zebra, gazelles and other game undertake a journey of roughly 1,600km through Tanzania and Kenya.
Night game drives
Game drives in the evening open up a whole new world with the chance to see predominantly nocturnal game including aardvarks and honey badgers. Full day excursions with a packed lunch give us the flexibility to really explore the conservancies, and for the curious we can also organise day trips to the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The migration
Known as one of the 7 new wonders of the world, the annual great wildebeest migration is truly breath-taking. It is in fact a sort of circle, with anywhere up to 2 million animals. The wildebeest and accompanying zebra, gazelle, eland and topi make up the bulk of the migration. Lions, hyenas, leopards and other predators take full advantage of the passing buffet and exploit every opportunity. This is a key time for wildebeests to breed, and incredibly, a newly born wildebeest will be on its feet and walking around within 3 minutes, running with the herd within 5 minutes. The best time to view the migration will depend on the climatic conditions that year, but in the Olare Motorogi conservancy you can expect to see the herds arrive anytime from July to September, departing around November for the return journey to Tanzania.
Extra things to do
The thrill of going on a game drive is difficult to top, so our advice is try and soak up the views from all the sharing spaces and sit back and take in the view, keep your binoculars handy as you never know what you’ll spot. Relax in our main tent that features an open but snuggly lounge area with fireplace, a library of books, iPads, iPod docking stations and speaker systems and a TV/DVD. We’ve got a 12 metre outdoor infinity pool, big enough for a leisurely swim or a refreshing dip.
Masai community tours
Visit one of the Masai villages to get a flavour for daily life in the Mara and to learn about Masai tribe whose pastoralist customs are still very much in practice. The village is only 10 minutes’ drive from Mahali Mzuri and the best times to go are 1st thing in the morning when you can help milk the cattle or in the evening when the cattle, goats and sheep are being herded back to their enclosures. The local school is a further 5 minute drive from the village. This is where the Masai children aged 3-15 years attend. The guides at Mahali Mzuri will take you on a tour and introduce you to their families while explaining some of the cultures and traditions.
Spa treatments
What better way to relax than at Nasaro. It is located down near the valley floor and provides a private, intimate setting in which to be pampered. We use a range of products from Africology ethical skin care products to capture the rejuvenating and healing essences of Africa. A whole range of treatments are available, from facials to massages to those essential grooming rituals. Below are just a sample of what we have to offer. Spa treatments are available for an additional charge.
Dining
The chefs have developed numerous pan-African dishes influenced by a variety of cultures, flavours and spices. Whether dining under the African sky in the open bush, on a deck or in the dining tent, our menus and meals promise to be exciting, social and inspirational. From bush BBQs to champagne picnics to sundowners our team will treat you to a wide selection of African and international menus. All our breads and pastries are baked daily and we also cater for private meals and special occasions. Mahali Mzuri use locally-sourced produce, flavours and spices to deliver something truly memorable. All meals and drinks including alcohol and our finest champagne are included in your stay and guests are welcome to help themselves to whatever they want at any time. If you have any special dietary requirements just let us know before you arrive and we’ll make sure we can cater for these.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
At breakfast a continental buffet will be served with hot dishes available à la carte, and you’ll typically share tables – it’s a great time to chat with your fellow travellers about the wildlife you saw earlier that morning. All our breads and pastries are baked daily so you can guarantee they will be fresh that morning. Lunch is normally served on the main deck with individual tables and you can order from the à la carte menu. If you fancy lunch by the pool or on your private deck our team can organise whatever you like. In the evening, dinner could be around a large communal table, out in the bush or somewhere private just for 2.
Little warriors
Children aged 2 years and older are very welcome to stay at Mahali Mzuri. Because we know each little warrior is different, we do not operate a set kid’s programme. Instead we offer a range of activities depending on their ages and interests. Whilst in camp children of all ages must be under parental supervision at all times. Children over six years old can participate in the daily game drives accompanied by their parents. For children below 6 years to go on game drives a closed vehicle must be hired at $350 a day. We provide children’s car seats too. Special food and beverages or simple snacks and light meals can be prepared according to your child’s tastes. Please let us know of any dietary requirements in advance and our chefs can prepare this.
