MARA NYIKA
A ROMANTIC EXTRAORDINARY TENTED CAMP IN THE PRIVATE NABOISHO CONSERVANCY
The lovely Relais and Chateau member Mara Nyika Camp, meaning “Large Plains” is an intimate Great Plains Conservation tented camp, owned by renowned conservationists and filmmakers, Derek and Beverly Joubert. Set deep in a valley within the privately managed Naboisho Conservancy, bordering the magnificent Maasai Mara. Mara Nyika manages to juggle an enchanting treehouse atmosphere, and beautiful colonial design with an unforgettable wildlife experience with top quality guiding, and delicious cuisine. This is one of the Mara’s most luxuries camps, situated in a pristine wilderness. Here you can explore the wilderness in exclusive comfort.
The intimate and personalized service at camp lends Mara Nyika a suitable ambience for romantic travel but the camp also welcomes families with children over the age of eight and would make a great option for an exclusive booking.
This camp is open year around.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Mara Nyika’s five spectacularly spacious guest tents are built on a network of raised wooden walkways constructed from old Zambian railway sleepers. The camp’s small guest count enables it to feel highly intimate. The suites are linked to the main area by raised wooden walkways. Each guest suite is 1,000 square feet/93 square meters in size, offering an indoor private lounge and separate en-suite bathrooms complete with brass baths, double vanity basins, and an indoor shower. Here you will experience true romantic serenity and privacy.
Dining
Mara Nyika offers excellent, creative dining experiences, the chefs are highly trained professionals and approach each meal with considerable culinary flair, able to cater to all dietary requirements if given notice. Flexibility is a focus here, so meals are built around your plans for the day. Expect excellent food and charming service under the Stars of Kenya.
COMMUNITY
Established in 2010 as a partnership of 500 Maasai Landowners working together to conserve their land, providing them with a valuable income, while protecting important wildlife habitat.The Naboisho Conservancy, meaning coming home in Maasai, is adjacent to the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
ACTIVITIES
At Mara Nyika the safari experience is intimate and personal, the standard arrangement accommodates four guests per vehicle, though family groups may include up to six. There is no set camp schedule, the day’s activities are tailored around your preferences, with options ranging from traditional morning and afternoon excursions to full-day adventures with packed meals. Night drives are offered, though requiring patience, these excursions frequently reveal lesser-known nocturnal mammals and occasionally even lion and hyena hunts. You will experience superb wildlife-viewing areas in the conservancy, as well as the neighboring Maasai Mara National, with extraordinary guiding.
WILDLIFE
Mara Naboisho Conservancy is known for its abundant wildlife, including a high concentration of big cats; lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as large herds of elephants, giraffes, and wildebeest. Not only is Naboisho an exceptionally rich wildlife area but also on the path of the Great Migration, when tens of thousands of wildebeest arrive onto the Naboisho plains. The conservancy has strict rules limiting the number of vehicles, providing a more exclusive and immersive game viewing experience. This is also a haven for bird watchers, with over 450 bird species recorded.
Drawing on the expertise of legendary wildlife film-makers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, Mara Nyika is a great choice if you’re looking for an authentic, uncrowded, and impactful safari experience.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Experiencing the legendary Great Migration is an amazing experience for any photographer. At the time of year the Great Migration moves through the National Reserve and surrounding private conservancies, the vast herds can be found in the conservancy. The annual movement of wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world and a must for any keen wildlife photographer.
Open-sided Toyota Land Cruisers specially modified for photographers with fold-down screens, raised roofs, photographic bars, and multi-plug inverters, complete with fully stocked fridges ensure comfortable safari drives. The design of the vehicles reflects the Jouberts’ background as National Geographic photographers.
Photography enthusiasts appreciate the complimentary use of professional camera equipment provided in each suite, complete with a Canon 5D camera body and 100-400mm and 24-70mm lenses, with all photos downloaded to memory sticks upon departure. And a pair of Swarovski binoculars for your use is also available in each suite.
