Encounter Mara Camp

AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife
The Masai Mara ecosystem is one of the best game viewing areas in Africa and is especially good for viewing the big cats. Elephants, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles, giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyaena, impala, gazelles, eland, waterbuck, topi, jackal and serval are all common and seen regularly. Wild dogs are more transient visitors. The famous wildebeest and zebra migration is usually in residence from mid-July through to mid-October, though the movement of the animals is always somewhat unpredictable. The scenery of the Masai Mara is stunning with open grassland plains intersected by rivers, rocky ridges and pockets of riverine forest. Birdlife is varied and especially good around the riverine woodland areas.

Whilst the official Masai Mara Game Reserve can be busy with tourist vehicles in places, especially at river crossings in migration season, the Naboisho Conservancy offers relative exclusivity away from the crowds. You do sometimes still see other vehicles, but most of the time you will be able to explore away from other vehicles.
The Conservancy offers a good mix of open plains, rocky hills and acacia woodland, and is superb for game viewing.

The conservancy is funded by a limited number of ‘tourism partners’ in cooperation with local Maasai land-owners, and this model has been shown to benefit not only the local land-owners who receive greater income and better pasture for their livestock, and the tourism partners, but also the wildlife and in particular, the predators.

Activities
Game viewing activities include game drives by day and night in open 4×4 safari vehicles with shade canopies within the conservancy. Please note that day trips into the Mara Reserve (only a consideration during migration season from July to October) are not available unless you have a private vehicle included during your stay. Hot air ballooning and cultural excursions to local Maasai villages are all available at extra cost, as are visits to community and conservation projects supported by the camp (see Conservation & Community for further information).

Seasons
Encounter Mara Camp is open from June to April. Game viewing is excellent all year, with the migration usually being resident from mid-July to mid-October.