Offbeat Mara Camp

OVERVIEW:

Offbeat Mara Camp is a friendly, unpretentious camp with plenty of character and a fine location in the Mara North Conservancy. Bordering Kenya’s infamous Maasai Mara National Reserve, the area boasts wildlife densities that are truly epic. Night drives are on offer, as are plenty of activities to keep younger guests entertained. With its charming style, warm hospitality, and well-spaced tents immersed in the surrounding forest, this is a great little bushcamp with an adventurous spirit, suited to those seeking authenticity and homestyle comfort over luxury. Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, selected safari activities, transfers between the camp and Mara North Airstrip, and a laundry service.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Offbeat Mara Camp is located in the Mara North Conservancy, which borders the northern part of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. Guests arriving from Nairobi will fly by light aircraft from Wilson Airport to Mara North Airstrip (approximately 90 minutes), before transferring to the camp via an hour-long drive through the conservancy.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT OFFBEAT MARA:

Guest accommodation at Offbeat Mara Camp consists of five Meru-style double/twin tents and two family tents, all nestled into the bush and spaced well apart for an added sense of secludedness. At the entrance of each tent, you’ll find a shady veranda furnished with a table and a couple of safari chairs, perfect for lounging and enjoying views of the surrounding bush. Some verandas offer daybeds too. Inside each simply furnished standard tent, there’s a rustic cedarwood double or twin bed/s, bedside tables with reading lamps, a writing desk, and a storage space for hanging clothes. Separated by pull-back canvas curtains, the bathroom is at the back of the tent, and has a flush toilet, twin washbasins, and a classic bucket shower that can be filled with hot water on request. The family tents have a second adjoining twin-bedded tent for children, and both include an en-suite bathroom. All the tents have Wi-Fi and charging facilities, and camp staff members provide assistance for disabled travellers if required.

The slightly raised, partially canvas mess tent at Offbeat Mara Camp offers a welcoming space where guests can read a book by the fireplace, or select one of the sink-in armchairs on the shaded deck to observe passing wildlife with a drink in hand. There’s plenty of comfortable, home-style seating, and you’re welcome to pull up a stool around the well-stocked bar for cocktails and friendly conversation. Guests enjoy meals communally around the central dining table, and the forest deck is perfect for lunch or dinner outside under the tree canopy. There’s also a campfire out on the deck, lit early in the morning before game drives begin, and at night for pre-dinner drinks and social time.

ACTIVITIES AT OFFBEAT MARA:

The camp offers an exciting variety of activities, as follows:

• Game drives

  – The Mara North Conservancy covers roughly 30,000 hectares of savanna, woodlands, and water sources that support a tremendous diversity of wildlife. All Big Five are present (though rhino are rarely seen in the conservancy), alongside Maasai giraffe, zebra, eland, spotted hyena, warthog, and many more. There are also hundreds of bird species, including the black-crested snake eagle, hooded vulture, ostrich, and lilac-breasted roller, to name a few. The camp offers unlimited game drives in custom-designed 4×4 safari vehicles with open sides, camera stands, and roof hatches. As it’s located in the Mara North Conservancy, you can also head out after dinner with filtered spotlights on night drives.

• Walking safaris

  – Led by a knowledgeable and experienced Maasai guide, walks provide excellent opportunities to examine Mara North’s plants, insects, and birdlife. You can also search for tracks and identify spoor to see which animals you’ve crossed paths with recently.

• Running with the Maasai

  – Running enthusiasts, get ready to put yourselves to the test with a running experience you’ll never forget. Accompanied by Maasai guides, take off into the bush for some exhilarating exercise in the heart of nature.

• Line fishing

  – Spend a relaxing few hours fishing for catfish or tilapia on the banks of the Olare Orok river, with nothing but the sound of birds in the background.

• Village visits

  – There’s a Maasai village about an hour’s drive from camp. Here, you can meet some of the community members and learn about ancient Maasai traditions and ways of life. A school trip to Aitong Primary School, which is an hour away, is possible too. Please note that there is a charge of USD 30 per person to visit a Maasai village.

• Family-friendly safaris

  – As a family-friendly camp, Offbeat Mara ensures there’s plenty to keep younger guests occupied and entertained! Some activities include learning how to fire a Maasai bow and arrow or throw a spear, beading with some of the ladies from the community, fishing, or even baking a cake for afternoon tea.

• Hot air balloon safaris

  – Little Governors’ Camp, located in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, is the launch location for sunrise hot air balloon rides. Guests have a very early start to the morning, as the drive to the departure point takes an hour or so, but the thrill of this experience is well worth it! Spend an hour soaring over the Mara’s plains, woods, and rivers before descending to a delicious champagne breakfast.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.