ASILIA ENCOUNTER MARA – MARA NABOISHO CONSERVANCY

Situated on the edge of the savannah under the shade of acacia trees, Encounter Mara is a 10-tent camp within the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, bordering the famed Masai Mara reserve in southwest Kenya. The conservancy is known for its prolific wildlife and award-winning sustainability model that balances the needs of local communities, wildlife and tourism. It has an even higher density of animals than the neighbouring Masai Mara National Reserve and one of the world’s most concentrated lion populations. While the adjacent Masai Mara National Reserve is known for being on the route of the Great Migration, the Mara Naboisho Conservancy has its own ‘secret’ version: The Loita Migration sees thousands of wildebeest and zebras travelling through the conservancy to Loita Plains.

LOCATION

Located in the southwest of Kenya, the 20,234-hectare Mara Naboisho Conservancy sits alongside the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. Not only does the conservancy have the benefit of being private (with just eight camps sharing the land), but it also has a higher density of wildlife than the busy Masai Mara National Reserve. There are a particularly high number of lions and you’ll also spot other animals like giraffes, elephants and zebras.

CAMP

Encounter Mara offers 10 spacious and comfortable tents, all with en suite bathrooms with double vanity basins, flushing toilets and hot-water bucket showers. Spend lazy afternoons on your tent’s shaded veranda, chilling on your daybed with a good book or just enjoying the Mara views.

The camp serve homemade meals in the dining tent or outside depending on the weather and if you’ve opted for a longer game drive you can take a picnic breakfast or lunch to enjoy in the bush. Enjoy sundowners and snacks during your late-afternoon game drive, then take your time over dinner back at camp.

The camp welcome families with children over the age of 5 and has two tents specifically for families plus twin tents for kids over 12 (we strongly recommend younger children share with adults and can add an extra bed to your tent upon request). Many of the guides are also parents and love hosting families.

These are some of the child-friendly activities available at Encounter Mara:

• Bow-and-arrow shooting with Maasai

• Starting a campfire with elephant dung and sticks

• Educational bush walks around camp

Families of six or more are guaranteed a private safari vehicle at no extra cost in low season. In high season, families with children under 12 are required to book a private vehicle at an additional cost.

ACTIVITIES

Game drives – enjoy game drives twice a day around dawn and dusk when animals are more active. As the camp is in a private conservancy you can drive off-road to get a closer look at wildlife and the camp is able to drive after dark – which means better chances of spotting nocturnal animals. If you would like to experience the famous Masai Mara National Reserve this can also be arranged (at an additional cost).

Cultural and community visits – most of the camp guides are from the local area and are more than happy to talk about their culture with guests and you can also visit local villages and a school.

Hot-air balloon rides – as dawn breaks glide over the Masai Mara National Reserve in a hot-air balloon and watch the landscape change colour beneath you. Balloon flights are at an additional cost and subject to weather conditions.

Night drives – a night safari gives you the chance to see nocturnal animals in action at night. Vehicles are equipped with special spotlights so you can watch predators such as lions, leopards and caracals and see porcupines, genets and civets at night.

OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

FAMILY FRIENDLY