Off Beat Mara

Masai Mara


With just six tents on the bend of a tree-lined river, this is one of the smallest and most personable of the Mara North camps, with bush-chic tents filled with heavy wooden furnishings exuding an authentic old-African-safari feel. Wildlife abounds around the camp and this is one place where they've resisted the temptation to manicure the lawn – it feels wild.

The camp has a charming young staff who produce a nicely informal atmosphere, and excellent guides, including a specialist walking guide who takes guests on long bush walks. The newly built terrace at the back of the mess tent is a lovely breakfast spot to be serenaded by birdsong.

The wildlife in the vicinity rarely disappoints, with elephants, leopards, cheetahs and two lion prides (the Acacia pride and the 30-strong Offbeat pride) – we saw more lions in a single day here than we did anywhere else in the Mara, and you're always a chance to see all big cats before breakfast. The sundowner spots here are particularly well chosen.