Nestled against a wooded thicket and surrounded by savannah, Mara West provides nature lovers with luxury accommodations while experiencing the sights and sounds of an unforgettable African safari. Luxury tents are perched in secluded spots on an escarpment edge overlooking the vast plains of the Masai Mara Game Reserve giving tremendous views and a sense of private exclusion.
Mara West is an American owned and managed private safari camp providing high quality service with beautifully designed, comfortable accommodations. Associated with the non government organization (NGO) Africa Mission Services (AMS), Mara West Camp provides financial support that enables AMS to carry out its ongoing development program in the local Maasai community.
Exclusive Accommodation
Mara West Camp has six secluded, luxury tented cottages, fully furnished with two queen beds each. Full bathroom facilities are ensuite with flush toilets and large spacious showers, complete with good water pressure and plenty of hot water. A wide front verandah overlooks Masai Mara’s vast plains below, providing spectacular views of the sunrise and glimpses of giraffe, elephant, gazelles, impalas and wildebeest as they roam the plains. Electricity is a combination of solar, generator and battery packs, so that power is always available for lights, and during generator times power is available in the tents for charging equipment and other electrical appliances.
Cuisine
With a fully equipped kitchen and professional chefs, Mara West is able to spread the table with tastefully prepared, appetizing dishes of many varieties. A combination of buffets and plate service ensures the customers satisfaction. A wide range of tastes, including vegetarian, can be catered to. Daily, various soups, creative main entrees, plentiful fresh fruits, salads, vegetables and home cooked pastries, breads, and deserts and freshly prepared. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal.
The Seasons
The camp is open from 15th July to 31st October, and 15th December to 31st March, 2008. The camp will be open from 15th June for self drive tour operators and 15th July for camp included game drives to 31st October.
Location
Situated on the Oloololo Escarpment overlooking the stunning views of the park below, Mara West Camp borders the remote and beautiful western edge of Masai Mara National Reserve.
Access
By air: 45 minutes from Nairobi Wilson Airport with Safari Link, Air Kenya, or private charter to Kichwa Tembo’s airstrip.
By road: Drive along the Nairobi-Narok Road to Narok, then 30 minutes towards Kisii and turn onto C-13 towards Oloololo Gate/Kichwa Tembo. 80 kms through the Lamek wheat fields and over the Koiyak Group Ranch plains, over the Mara River bridge, past Kichwa Tembo to the bottom of the Olooloolo Escarpment, turn up the hill towards Logorian, our sign is 10 minutes after the top of the hill on the left.
Activities
Game viewing down in the great expanse of the Masai Mara Game Reserve is the highlight of a stay at Mara West Camp, which is located 5 kms. from the Oloololo Park Entry, making the park easily accessible to clients throughout the year. Birdwatchers enjoy a wide diversity of bird life at Mara West, with birds of prey soaring on the updrafts from the escarpment and special varieties nesting in the thicket that grows along the escarpment’s edge.
Other activities offered are: A cultural tour to the local Maasai Boma, tours and introduction of local schools and their activities, cultural talks by local Maasai about their lives and traditions, traditional dances, and guided nature walks in a designated walking area exclusively bordered by Mara West Camp.
Climate
At 6000 ft above sea level Mara West Camp has cool nights and warm/hot days year round.
