Offbeat 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. 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 Mara North Conservancy offers relative exclusivity away from the crowds. You do still see other vehicles, especially at predator sightings, but much of the time you will be able to explore away from other vehicles. The Conservancy is vast, stretching from the Aitong Hills all the way down to the north-western boundary of the Mara Reserve, and offers a good mix of wide open plains, rocky valleys and riverine thickets. The game viewing is superb.

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
Offbeat Mara Camp is located outside the official Masai Mara Game Reserve within the Mara North Conservancy. Most game viewing will take place on the plains of conservancy (with the Offbeat Lion pride being a large attraction!), but it is worth visiting the official Mara Reserve to witness a river crossings during the migration period. Game viewing around the camp is superb and animals often wander through at night. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and giraffe are often seen from the verandahs of the tents themselves, and zebra and impala help keep the lawns short!

In addition to daytime game drives, it is also possible to enjoy night drives, guided walks, line fishing for catfish and village visits. Hot-air ballooning can be arranged via third party organisation.

Seasons
Offbeat Mara usually closes around the time that Easter falls until June.