Governors Camp Kenya

Governors’ Camp occupies the best wildlife viewing location in the Reserve, nestled in the riverine forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, its waters teeming with bird-life, hippo and crocodile.

It is perfect for couples, families and friends wanting to experience the best of what a safari in the Masai Mara has to offer. The entire camp is under canvas with all of the comforts of a luxury hotel.

Some of the 30 tents line the riverbank, tucked into the forest they enjoy uninterrupted views over the Mara River, others have views across the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara. The tents are big, bright and allow in lots of natural light.

All tents are classic safari style each with en-suite bathrooms and a private verandah. There is a bar tent with a deck overlooking the Mara River and a dining tent with amazing views over the plains.

Governors’ Camp has been awarded a Silver Eco Rating from Eco – Tourism Kenya due to our sustainable tourism practices in place in camp. Governors’ Camp nestles in the forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, in the heart of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.

TENTS
Governors’ Camp has 30 tents in total:

• 21 classic safari tented accommodations.
• 8 specially designed family tents.
• 1 Suite (the ‘Justus Suite’)

Spacious luxurious safari tents entirely under canvas, each with private verandah. En-suite bathrooms with shower, basin, flush toilet and hot and cold running water.

MEALS
Breakfast is a continental and full English buffet. Lunch is served as a buffet with fresh salads al fresco and dinner is a la carte in the dining tent.

Picnics / packed meals can be provided for those who would like to head out on full or half day game drives. Bush meals are available to book at an extra cost. We cater for special diets on request.

SPA TENT
We now have a fabulous new spa tent at Governors’ Camp offering a wide range of treatments such as massages, facials, body scrubs, body masks, pedicures and manicures.

After a long flight, game drive or bush walk why not immerse yourself into the tranquil world of your Masai Mara surroundings while our fully-trained spa therapists pamper you using the finest face and body products by Terre D’Afrique, ensuring that you emerge feeling relaxed and recharged.

GAME DRIVES
We offer three game drives per full day, departing from camp at sunrise, late morning and in the afternoon. Alternatively, guests can go for extended game drives with picnic meals. Game drives are inside the Masai Mara National Reserve.

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

HEALTH AND INSURANCE
Preventative Malaria medication is recommended. More information is available on our Health Planning page. Please make sure you have fully comprehensive medical and travel insurance arranged before visiting Governors’ Camp.

MASAI MANYATTA
Just outside the Masai Mara National Reserve is a Maasai community called Mara Rianda. There is a traditional Masai homestead or Manyatta which consists of 48 traditional houses surrounding a cattle enclosure.

The Maasai community welcomes guests who would like to visit the manyatta and see a tribal way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries.

Visitors are always struck by the grace and beauty of the Masai people, and the colourful lifestyle they lead. There is also a bustling curio market where guests can buy traditional Maasai beadwork.

In order to visit the Manyatta, guests must pay a small fee; this money is extremely important to the community and they have used it to build a nursery school for 120 children aged between 3 – 5 years.

They have built two classrooms, accommodation for 3 teachers and a toilet facility. They have also paid for desks for the school.

The money from your entry fee also helps the community members to buy food, pay for secondary school for their children and to pay for cows – the mainstay of the Maasai economy.

During times of drought when Maasai cattle suffer the money earnt from ticket sales helps the community enormously to stay on their feet. Overall this revenue supports 98 different families comprising 300 individuals. If you would like to visit the manyatta, this can be arranged with the camp manager.

WALKING SAFARI
Governors’ Camp Collection offers guided walking safaris in a private concession area adjacent to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Our guided walking safaris enable you to leave your vehicle behind and take a walking safari with one of our experienced and qualified naturalists for the true thrill of the bush.

Down on the same level as the animals you will experience the untamed beauty of the Mara. Here the scenery differs from inside the Reserve and picturesque acacia trees dot the hilly landscape.

You will also be accompanied by one of our Masai Scouts, who provide a wealth of information on the traditional medicinal uses of plants and Masai folklore. You will track game, unsure what waits round the next corner: giraffe, buffalo, hyena, zebra or even lion.

Whilst out on a walking safari, you can catch the scents and sounds of the wild Africa and uncover a hidden, fascinating and interconnected world of plants, tracks and insects. At the end of it all waits a sumptuous bush breakfast complete with sparkling wine.

You can enjoy some game viewing as you are driven back to the camp through the Masai Mara. Walks take around 3 – 4 hours and can either be booked in advance or at camp reception.

HOT AIR BALLOONING
Hot air balloon safaris over the river, plains and forests of the Masai Mara are offered through a separate company, Governors Balloon Safaris Ltd. Governors’ Balloon Safaris offers the best flight path in the Masai Mara, following the natural winding course of the Mara River.

The adventure begins just before dawn. Departure is from a perfect natural launch site behind Little Governors’ Camp, and flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crews inflate their craft. The first pink tongues of sunlight flicker across the skies as the hot air balloon fills, then rises.

Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a wildlife viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness: the silence as you float above the plains, the forest and the rivers of the Masai Mara.

Even if you’ve flown elsewhere, this is a unique experience. The flight lasts an hour or so, drifting wherever the air currents take you, and with ample opportunities for photography and video filming.

After about an hour or so, your balloon safari finishes with a flourish; in the time honoured tradition of balloon flights the world over, you toast your return to earth with a delicious breakfast (complete with sparkling wine), cooked wherever you land.

The experience ends with a game drive back to your camp (we fly passengers staying at other Mara camps too).

GAME VIEWING
We are in the heart of what is widely considered to be the best game viewing area of the Masai Mara and we offer our guests two to three game drives per day in custom-built 4 wheel drive Landcruisers.

Governors’ Camp properties combine superb locations in the Masai Mara with custom designed vehicles and exceptionally highly trained and experienced guides to give our clients un-matched game-viewing and photographic opportunities in the world’s prime wildlife area.

Our driver-guides are highly trained individuals who undergo a continuous guide training scheme mentored by experts in the field.

Having operated in the Masai Mara for 40 years, our driver-guides have an un-paralleled knowledge of the reserve combined with a deep understanding and respect for this precious wilderness area, its flora and its fauna.

We have also modified three Landrovers into superbly designed photographic safari vehicles which offer same-level seating throughout, cut out side panels in the middle row (to get those much desired low angle shots), high roofs, fully folding windscreens and wide side panelling – the perfect place for resting a beanbag and long lens.

These photo cars are available on an exclusive use basis and can be requested for and reserved when making a Governors’ booking. They are available at all our camps in the Masai Mara.

WEDDINGS AND HONEYMOONS
Governors’ Camp offers couples the opportunity to be married in the wild. We can arrange everything from small intimate weddings on the banks of the Mara River to large extravagant events in camp.

Over the years we have arranged many different safari weddings from large society events to small intimate celebrations.

When it comes to planning your safari wedding we can arrange everything for you from the legalities to the Pastor or District Commissioner, the flowers, beautician, hair stylist, a sit down dinner to the honeymoon after. All you have to do is let us know what you want.

For your honeymoon, our properties offer the perfect combination of privacy and luxury. Between the “top cottage” at Loldia, Governors’ Camps’ “Justus Suite”, Little Governors’ “tent 17”, “number 1” and “number 10” at Governors’ Il Moran Camp, we have the ultimate in honeymoon accommodation.

We are also able to organize something special for your loved one – a surprise candlelit dinner in the bush, or up by the pool at Loldia – any number of things are possible.

FAMILY SAFARIS
We welcome guests of all ages on safari with us, in fact we feel you are never too little to experience your first African safari together with the family. Safaris open up a world of wonder and discovery of nature, and over the years we have hosted many families at Governors’.

Some of our camps are better suited to small children; Governors’ Camp has specially designed family tents which can comfortably sleep a family of four and we can provide cots for babies and infant travellers (on request).

We can arrange early meals and sole use of game drive vehicles (please enquire in advance as this depends on family size and is subject to availability). For groups of families travelling together, Governors’ Private Camp is available to book on an exclusive basis, providing the perfect set up for an intimate family safari.

We celebrated the start of a new decade by launching the ‘Governors’ Mongoose Club‘, aimed at keeping your children happily entertained while with us. The idea behind this club is to educate and inspire with activities that are fun and informative.

Please note that at Governor’s Il Moran, we accept children of eight years and over. At Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge the age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years however we can provide babysitters for those travelling with children under 15 years.

RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
For 2022, Governors’ Camp Collection is hosting two amazing wildlife photographers; Felix Rome and Nick Penny.

We have lined up two excellent wildlife photographers for 2022; Felix Rome and Nick Penny will be covering different stints throughout the year, mostly based at our Mara camps. They are onsite to lend our guests a helping hand with their camera and offer top tips on capturing the very best of your safari.

There is no cost for this informal level of assistance and our photographers would be most happy to help out however they can. Photo safaris: For an extra fee, our photographers can join guests on game drives, providing personal focus and in-depth assistance with both landscape and wildlife photography.

Before heading out on the first game drive, our photographer will meet with you in camp and go over any questions that you may have, about your equipment or upcoming experience, to ensure that that your time out in the field is maximised.

After each game drive, there will be an image review and photo editing session, to making sure you go home with a collection of images that you are truly proud of.

Alternatively, our photographers can be booked to simply take all the images and edit them for you, meaning that you can sit back and enjoy the sightings first hand.

If you would like to book a couple of days with either of our photographers, to ensure that you make the most of your time on safari, please contact us for more information.

A FILMMAKER’S PARADISE
All of our Mara camps are positioned right in the heart of the action, in the most precious of wildlife locations and set amongst some of the most spectacular scenery, therefore it’s no surprise that landmark series such as BBC Earth’s ‘Dynasties’ and Animal Planet’s ‘Big Cat Tales’ are filmed right on our doorstep!

BBC Earth ‘Dynasties’
BBC Earth’s new landmark series, ‘DYNASTIES’ (which is narrated by wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough) features our Marsh Pride of Lions – the most famous and core pride of Kenya’s Masai Mara.

This is an incredible story focusing on ‘Charm’ – a powerful lioness and one of the world’s best loved and most iconic creatures. Today, her offspring – Rembo and Kito – are leading the Marsh Pride against all perils, to ensure that this great dynasty continues.

The DYNASTY filming took place during a unique time for the Marsh Pride: all the males had abandoned ship, leaving the females to fend for themselves and protect their offspring against the dangers of the Kenya’s Masai Mara.

This series is a MUST WATCH following five extraordinary animals, each fighting for their very own survival and the future of their dynasties.

Animal Planet’s ‘Big Cat Tales’
Animal Planet’s ‘Big Cat Tales’ is the much-anticipated follow on series, from ‘Big Cat Diaries’, documenting the present-day lives of the memorable ‘Marsh Pride Of Lions’ as well as leopards and cheetahs in one of the best and most precious wildlife locations in the world – the Masai Mara.

Wildlife filmmakers Jonathan and Angela Scott are the much loved presenters of this show: they and their team are based out of the ‘Butterfly House’ at Governors’ Camp.

We are always honoured to be part of such an amazing and important wildlife story – especially one that can be shared across the world like this.

Rooms: 21

Price: from 1.150 EUR per night

Source: www.governorscamp.com