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
Solio Lodge
Solio Lodge is an exclusive wildlife destination located between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains within the stunning and wildlife-rich Solio Conservancy. Guests can enjoy luxurious accommodations, spectacular wildlife sightings, sumptuous cuisine, and numerous safari activities.
Solio Wildlife Sanctuary is the most successful private rhino breeding sanctuary in Africa. Experience the best of Solio Lodge and all that it has to offer for a truly unforgettable African safari experience.
Serena Beach Hotel
Serena Beach Hotel is set back from the powder-white sands and shimmering waters of the Mombasa National Marine Park, the hotel décor blends the time-honoured intricacy of Swahili carving with the jewelled glow of Arabian lanterns.
Serena is one of the more popular beach resorts due to located and service levels. Scuba diving here is spectacular.
Elephant Pepper Camp
Elephant Pepper Bush Camp, this 8-tented bush camp, is tucked away in a prime wildlife area, surrounded by the Masai Mara and her ubiquitous wildlife; it's a seasonal camp, which is taken down for a month or so in the rainy seasons.
Game drives are the highlight of one's stay here at Elephant Pepper, with fantastic wildlife and excellent guides.
Elewana Loisaba Star Beds
Elewana Loisaba Star Beds is located within the amazing Loisaba Conservancy and Laikipia Plateau that offers guests one of the finest wildlife and safari experiences on offer in Kenya today.
Loisaba Star Beds is poised on top of a kopje offering commanding views out over the plains and valleys of the Laikipia. One of the more unique and in-demand safari lodges in Kenya.
Sala's Camp
Sala's Camp, located on the Sands River and within 2 kilometres of Tanzania's Serengeti, is one of the most luxurious Maasai Mara Tented Camps options available today.
Sala's offers guests exceptional service, fine dining, stunning accommodation and an authentic Masai Mara safari.
Ol Malo Lodge
Ol Malo Game Lodge is a privately owned game sanctuary on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River in Kenya's wild and beautiful Laikipia County, overlooked by Mount Kenya and teeming with the elusive antelope and wildlife.
A truly magnificent lodge that offers views and safari activities that very few can match.
Mount Kenya Safari Club
The Mount Kenya Safari Club is a unique boutique hotel located in the Mount Kenya region that offers guests a variety of activities, including horseback riding, golf course, and fishing safaris. The lodge also has a heated swimming pool and superb cuisine.
One of the highlights of the Mount Kenya Safari Club is the forest reserve walking safari, where guests can see wildlife in their natural habitat. Guests are encouraged to stay at least for 2-5 nights in order to experience all that the boutique hotel and surrounds have to offer.
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.