Richard’s River Camp
Richard’s River Camp is an exclusive tented camp set up on the banks of the Motorogi River on the eastern side of Mara North Conservancy.
Richard’s River Camp offers an authentic tented camp experience but with very much a luxurious and sophisticated twist. There is no great ‘infrastructure’ to the camp, but the furnishings, fittings and fabrics are all high quality and the camp has the definite feel of a discerning bush retreat. The tents are very comfortable, but not over the top, and camp has an intimate and personal feel. Service is good and food is sophisticated, whilst at the same time the camp offers a close to nature wilderness adventure. Guiding is excellent and of course the game viewing is spectacular.
Rooms
Accommodation for around 20 guests is in 6 standard guest tents and two family tents, each built onto a solid plinth under a canvas awning. Each tent has a large furnished verandah and is stylishly furnished with individual pieces. To the rear of each tent is a bathroom enclosed by plastered stone walls and comprising a double vanity, flush toilet and glass door leading to an outdoor plumbed shower with enclosed walls. The two family tents have two en suite bedrooms adjoined by an internal lounge area – perfect for families with younger children or even two couples travelling together. The family tents have an indoor bathtub as well as the open air shower. One of the family tents has its own entrance and a dining area and can be sold as a self-contained private unit.
Central Areas
The central areas include a beautifully styled lounge and dining tents overlooking the river course, though meals are often taken ‘al fresco’ when the weather permits. There is also a great boutique selling particular items which are for use in the camp, amongst other sought after pieces.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – No
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 and jackal 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
Activities at Richard’s River Camp focus around game drives by day and night in the Mara North Conservancy. Gentle walks are available on the open plains, as is a visit to a genuine Maasai village, whilst massages in your own tent at an additional cost.
Seasons
Richard’s River Camp is open throughout the year.
There is no age restriction at Richard’s River Camp, though the style of the camp will not usually suit families with very small children. The two-bedroomed family tents are, however, superb for families who wish to be ‘under one roof’, and there is enough space to also make them suitable for families with older teenage kids. There is no swimming pool, but as is the case with many camps in the Masai Mara, the local staff are always on hand to supervise and entertain as required.
In 2011 the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) was founded by Richard and Liz, owners of Richard’s River Camp. The project works to reduce human wildlife conflict (and poaching) by monitoring the elephants through tracking and collaring. Guests are free to visit the project.
All of the funds raised through the conservation fee that guests are contributing to, go to land leasing, MEP, Raptor Rehab, the local school and medical clinic.
Richard’s River Camp is a member of Pack for a Purpose where guests may use the empty space in their suitcases for donations of much needed supplies for the local school.
The camp operates entirely on solar power and uses no single use plastic – waxed cloth replacing cling film, cotton buds with paper centres and metal straws instead of disposable ones. Guests are also given reusable water bottles on arrival which are refilled from 20 litre refillable bottles during their stay and so reducing the waste from single use bottled water.
The camp has an organic vegetable garden and organic meat is purchased for guest consumption.
