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GOVERNORS‘ CAMP Masai Mara, Kenya

Written by monika on . Posted in Kenya.

Location

Located on the banks of the Mara River, Masai Mara, Kenya (open throughout the year)

Camp description:

Governors’ Camp is situated on the banks of the Mara River in the west of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Created in 1972, it set new standards in luxury as a tented camp, putting particular emphasis on comfort and service, complimented by the sort of good food, which would have been impossible in the bygone days of the grand safari. Maintaining these unique qualities as a tradition, the camp has been refined and improved through the years.

We have taken special care to preserve an atmosphere in which today’s traveller can share the same elemental landscape that inspired Hemingway and magnetised adventurers the world over. The site and size of a safari camp is critical to its vitality.

Governors’ Camp, with its 37 tents set amongst the trees along the Mara river, also has unrivalled views over the plains and is visited and re-visited by guests who find its continued excellence, personal style and family feeling quietly reassuring.

Facilities

All guest facilities are under canvas and keep the authentic, traditional safari atmosphere. All guest tents have en-suite bathrooms with shower and basin, running cold and hot water as well as a flush toilet. Gas and paraffin lamps are used for lighting.

Our privately located Justus Suite is perfect for honeymoon couples, as is tent 37 which has incredible views over the Mara plains and its wildlife.

The dining tent, our campfire and the bar tent are the centre of the camp. Next to the reception is a small souvenir shop. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style, alfresco. Dinner is served in the dining tent. For dinner the menu offers a choice of four courses, including a choice of main courses.

A traditional campfire is lit at sunset every evening and after dinner clients enjoy sitting around the campfire, reminiscing about their safari in its evocative light.

Activities and Excursions

The Masai Mara is a unique area with a constant and unrivalled flow of wildlife throughout the year. From July to October the Mara becomes a backdrop for one of the last great natural wonders of the world, when 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra surge up from the Serengeti plains in their annual search for the seasonal grasses that sustain them. The spectacle as the vast herds cross rivers and sweep through the golden grasses, is punctuated by individual struggles with the predators, which are in turn drawn to take their part in this dramatic event. Whilst the migration is spectacular, game viewing at all other times of the year remains almost unrivalled anywhere in Africa.

There are various activities on offer: game viewing excursions in open Landrovers, game walks or balloon flights over the wide plains of the Masai Mara. Day excursions to the Lake Victoria are also on offer.

Important Information

However, we recommend booking these excursions well in advance and combining the Lake Victoria trip with an overnight stay. All meals, three game viewing excursions daily as well as laundry is included in our price. Park entrance fees, drinks as well as other activities (such as walking, ballooning, Lake Victoria excursion, a visit to a Masai village) are to be paid separately. Please let us know special dietary requirements in advance. Please note: Luggage restriction of 15 kg on all domestic flights. Extra luggage can be left at your base hotel in Nairobi. Safari arrangements and bookings can be made through your local ground-handling agent or directly with Governors’ Camp.

Further Details

GOVERNORS‘ CAMP Information and Details

Location: On the banks of the Mara River in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Number of beds: 37 tents (74 beds)

Double & Twins:: 24 Twins, 12 double tents, 1 Suite (Justus Suite)

Facilities: En-suite bathrooms with shower, basin, flush toilet, bidet and hot and cold running water

Tents: Spacious luxurious safari tents entirely under canvas, each with private verandah

Electricity: Gas & Paraffin lamps in tents. 220 Volt plugs at reception

Bar / Restaurant: Open bar and dining tent with view over the Mara river and the open plains of the Masai Mara

Room service: Room service on request. Tea and coffee is served in the tents with the morning wake up call

Bush meals: Bush breakfast, lunch & dinner can be organised on request at a supplementary cost

Souvenirs: Curio Shop is open daily

Laundry: Arranged daily at no extra cost

Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Eurocard, American Express and Traveller Cheques are accepted

Communication: Telephone, Fax and Email in camp. A satellite telephone is available. Radio contact with other camps and the Nairobi office

Musiara Airstrip: Length 1.600 m, all weather gravel airstrip, Coordinates: S 0117.98 E 03503.92

Governors’ Camp was recently voted as the World’s Best Wilderness Experience by The Sunday Times Travel Magazine

Activities:

  • Game viewing excursions: 3 game viewing excursions per day, early and mid morning as well as the afternoon with experienced driver guides in the Masai Mara Game Reserve (included in the price)
  • Balloon Safari: With professional balloon pilots daily, at dawn, in the Masai Mara Game Reserve followed by a champagne bush breakfast and game viewing on return to camp (Extra cost).
  • Game walks: Daily, with qualified guides in a private concession area adjacent to the Masai Mara Game Reserve; morning with a champagne bush breakfast and afternoon with sundowners and canapés (Extra cost)
  • Culture: Visits to a nearby Masai village (manyatta) can be arranged (to be paid locally) or visits to the local school, one of Governors’ Camps charity and community support initiatives
  • Mfangano Island Day excursions to Lake Victoria by light aircraft: Bird watching, boat rides, Camp on Lake walking and fishing are available on Lake Victoria. Excursion with overnight at Victoria: Mfangano Island Camp highly recommended (booking prior to the trip is advisable) (Additional cost)

General

Seasons:

  • Open throughout the year.
  • Peak season months August and September and 15th –31st December.
  • High season months January – March inclusive and June, July, October, November and 1st – 14th December.
  • Green season – April and May

Children: Of all ages are welcome and catered for

Rate includes: Airstrip transfers, accommodation, meals, 3 game viewing excursions daily and laundry

Rate excludes: Flights, drinks, Park entrance fees

Health: Preventative Malaria medication is recommended

How to get there and transfers:

  • Air Kenya & Safari Link: Twice daily (10:00 hrs & 15:00 hrs) scheduled flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Safari Link Musiara Airstrip (duration approx. 45 minutes). Clients met on arrival and transferred with a Landrover to the camp (duration approx. 15 minutes). Return Musiara Airstrip – Nairobi twice daily (11:00 hrs & 16:00 hrs)
  • There are scheduled flights from other airstrips in Kenya such as Nanyuki, Samburu, Lewa, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, Ukunda (Diani)
  • Charter flights: From all airports/airstrips in Kenya to Musiara Airstrip
  • Luggage restriction: Maximum 15 kg luggage per person in small air craft including hand luggage
  • Road transfer: Ex / to Nairobi is possible. Duration approx. 6 hours (depending upon road conditions)