Colonial governors had the pick of the best real estate in any country they governed, and they certainly enjoyed their weekend retreats. Governors Main Camp is the legacy of this investment. Located in the Masai Mara Reserve on a bend on the Mara River, it has the advantage of overlooking a natural watercourse and wide savannah. It remains the oldest existing safari camp in east Africa.
- Current Governors camps listed on Uyaphi.com (more to follow);
Governors Camp Kenya; Big and small game have been comfortably parading through this open (no protective fences) tented camp for decades. It is not unusual to be confronted by an elephant on your way back to your tent. Accommodation is in the classic and comfortable bush style but with the advantage of fully functioning bathrooms. Every tent is located with a view, so you have to open the flap of your tent to smell and take in unspoilt nature and wilderness. Food is more comfortable than haute cuisine, and you will certainly not leave the camp hungry.
The combination of water and savannah has made this area very fertile. Wild animals enjoy such an environment, and it is no surprise that vast animal herds roam here. So much so that the BBC has used Governors Camp as a base for their documentary series Big Cat Diaries and Planet Earth Live.
Very close to the main camp is Little Governors. This smaller sister camp, in which you have to cross a stream by boat to reach only 17 tents instead of 37 in the main camp and consequently has a more intimate feel. It also overlooks a natural water feature; in this case, a large marsh. The game is equally at home here. In front of the mess tent, sipping an ice-cold Tusker lager, I was transfixed by a family of warthog playing in and around the tent with the mischievous piglets determined to upset their mother in any way possible. Such calming moments are the stuff of safaris; relaxed, observing nature with time on your hands. Little Governors is also the launch site for the balloon safaris, something about which I have previously written and, if you can afford it, should not be missed (See our Masai Mara Balloon Safari blog).
There is a graceful and timeless ambience to these camps. The staff are welcoming and friendly, and they have been run professionally and efficiently by the charming Grammaticas family for many decades. You could do much worse but certainly not much better for your next safari.
Governors Camp Kenya Review by the team at Uyaphi.com
Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs
The luxurious Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs lodge offers up incredible views out over the 57 000 acre Loisaba Conservancy, a Laikipia Conservancy famed for its huge herds of elephants, large lion population, wild dog, leopard and cheetah.
Mara Toto Camp
Mara Toto Camp on the banks of the Ntiakitiak River within a thick forest is a small and intimate option in the heart of the Masai Mara National Park.
The wildlife and birdlife in this area are spectacular, with the annual migration being the highlight.
Saruni Mara Safari Lodge
Saruni Mara Safari Lodge, with accommodation for only 18 guests, is a small boutique safari lodge located with a private concession bordering the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, offering the thrill of a real African adventure coupled with the highest standards of style and comfort.
Early morning, late afternoon or full-day game drives are on offer.
Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort
One of East Africa's most exotic and best-known resorts, Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa, is located in a dreamlike setting, on Bamburi Beach on the North coast of Mombasa, a fusion of Swahili interiors and Arabic architecture.
Whitesands offers up a beach holiday like very few others can, the perfect setting for family holidays.
Leopard Beach Resort
Situated on Diani Beach near Kenya's bustling port of Mombasa, Leopard Beach enjoys a position on Diani Beach with 158 comfortable and welcoming rooms. One of the more popular beach lodges near Mombasa.
Sea views, water-based activities and scuba diving are all exceptional, pair those with excellent service and location, and one will not be disappointed.
Taita Hills Game Lodge
Taita Hills Game Lodge offers a truly exclusive bush experience, being situated in the heart of the Taita Hills Sanctuary, a private conservancy of 28,000 acres at the foot of the Taita Hills and adjacent to Tsavo West National Park.
A more budget-friendly option in the Tsavo West one cannot find.
Amboseli Serena Lodge
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge bordering that Amboseli National Park is framed against the glorious backdrop of Africa's highest mountain, the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro.
All 92 guest rooms at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge offer an uninterrupted view over the ever-changing vistas of the African plains.
Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge is located on a ridge that commands magnificent sweeping views of the Chyulu Hills at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Kilaguni was the first safari lodge ever to be built in Tsavo West National Park and has long been a favourite of tourists by offer outstanding game drives.