Naboisho Camp
Naboisho Camp is a sophisticated tented lodge in the exclusive Naboisho Conservancy, bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Naboisho Camp has recently been rebuilt to offer a stylish and luxurious tented lodge experience. In fact, the rooms are now only partially tented, with glass doors, some solid walls around the bathroom and a huge thatch roof, but you still enjoy the feeling of being under canvas. Owned and run by Asilia Africa, Naboisho has always been one of their best camps, with great staff and a warm atmosphere. The price tag has jumped up with the upgrade, which may lessen the social, relaxed element of the camp, but we still think Naboisho is a great option for anyone looking for a sophisticated and luxurious tented experience with the exclusivity and flexibility of the Naboisho Conservancy for game viewing.
Rooms
Accommodation for up to 22 guests in nine spacious guest tents. Each tent is raised on a stone plinth, under a large thatch roof and accessed up steps onto a small external verandah. Double glass doors lead from the verandah to the tent which has a sitting area and writing desk and a large sleeping area with twin or double beds. To the rear is a spacious en suite bathroom/dressing area furnished with a wardrobe, double vanity unit, separate flush toilet and plumbed indoor shower. Glass doors lead to a further open air double plumbed shower located outside at the rear of the tent. Two of the tents are ideal for families, each with two en suite bedrooms connected by a central lounge area.
Central Areas
The central thatched area includes a comfortable lounge with fireplace and a dining area, in front of which is an infinity edge swimming pool, overlooking the plains beyond.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – Yes
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. Rhino are found in certain areas, and 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 landowners, and this model has been shown to benefit not only the local landowners who receive greater income and better pasture for their livestock, and the tourism partners, but also the wildlife and in particular, the predators.
Activities
Activities at Naboisho are very much tailored to guests’ wishes with daily morning and evening 4×4 game drives being complemented by night drives after dinner. A dedicated photographic vehicle is available for hire at an additional cost. Daily walks are also available with Naboisho’s two specialist walking guides with overnight fly-camping walks also possible (at extra cost). Authentic visits to local villages can also be arranged at additional cost paid locally in camp.
Seasons
Naboisho Camp is open all year round. While game viewing is excellent year round, it is the long rainy season in April and May and short rains in November. The migration season is between mid-July and mid-October.
Children from the age of five years are welcomed and with fantastic family accommodation and a range of special activities for children, Naboisho makes for a very good, up market family Masai Mara option.
Staying at any of Asilia’s properties, owners of Naboisho Camp, sees guests automatically contributing to community and conservation projects through their guest conservation charge. By staying in Asilia properties, guests are also supporting their in-house training schemes and responsible tourism efforts.
Asilia’s home-grown projects include Twende Porini, meaning ‘let’s go to the bush’. The programme hosts children from local communities in an Asilia camp for five days, offering an immersive introduction to the tourism industry and wildlife conservation. Whilst at the camp the children are mentored by Asilia guides and staff as well as local school teachers and engage in a range of activities from lectures to game drives in order to assist their understanding for the need for conservation in the wild areas close to their communities.
Asilia has also partnered with the Wildlife Tourism College of Maasai Mara which aims to equip both local and international students with vital knowledge that will help them solve the issues facing the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, ranging from climate change, unemployment, modern development and pressure on land and wildlife. With the help of the guest donations and conservation fees, Asilia has offered full sponsorship to three out of the 40 inaugural students joining the college in 2023.
Projects close to, and supported by, Naboisho Camp include the Maa Trust, which has established youth empowerment programmes, vocational training, beekeeping, honey production, and an extremely successful beadwork project. Conservation projects supported include the Mara Predator Conservation Program and the Kenyan Wildlife Trust, and the Mara Elephant Project. Visits to some or all of these projects can be arranged during a stay at the camp.
Sustainability efforts in Asilia’s camps include eliminating single-use plastics and banning the use of cling film in their kitchens.
AsiliaGiving is an online donation platform for their UK and US charities with total annual donations increasing significantly. The projects which AsiliaGiving supports are both community and conservation focused.
