Guide to Little Governors' Camp in Masai Mara National Reserve

Comfortable Beds, Classic Safari Style, and Scenic Waterhole & Mara River Views

Little Governors’ Camp offers a simple yet exceptional safari experience, known for its top-notch service and unforgettable adventures. Established in 1976, this camp has earned numerous awards and continues to receive glowing reviews from both first-time and seasoned safari enthusiasts. Your adventure begins the moment you arrive, with the local airstrip often frequented by elephants and lions. You never know which wildlife will greet you as you land.

Getting to the camp itself adds to the excitement. Situated on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve, you’ll embark on a short boat ride across the Mara River, followed by a brief hike through the woods. The surroundings have a distinctly tropical feel, with the camp nestled amidst lush riverine forests and expansive plains. The camp’s seventeen safari tents are strategically placed with private decks that offer stunning views of a local waterhole, where a variety of wildlife often stops by for a drink. The waterhole also attracts waterbirds and waders, making it a favorite spot for birdwatchers.

In addition to the camp’s natural beauty, its facilities are designed for comfort and relaxation. The common areas include spacious lounge tents and a dining area with tiled floors, cozy sofas, and rustic wooden coffee tables. As evening falls, a log fire is lit in front of the bar tent, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Soft lantern light enhances the charm of the surroundings, and the bar serves up tasty cocktails and snacks—perfect for swapping safari stories with fellow guests and your Masai guides. There’s also a small souvenir shop offering a gallery of wildlife and natural history artwork.

Your tented suite at Little Governors’ is spacious and well-equipped to ensure your comfort. The seventeen walk-in tents are scattered along the edge of a lagoon, shaded by the forest canopy, with views overlooking the waterhole and the distant Olooloo Escarpment. While some tents are close to the common areas, the farthest ones are only about 250 meters away. Each tent is roughly 3 meters wide, with polished wooden floors covered by occasional rugs. Furnishings include comfy sofas, director’s chairs, a folding table on the front deck, a small writing or dressing table, and a luggage rack.

The en-suite bathrooms are luxurious, featuring hot and cold running water, as well as flushing toilets. Eco-friendly solar water heaters provide hot water, and solar energy powers the camp’s electrical systems, including sockets in each tent. For your convenience, filtered drinking water is available in every tent, purified through an eco-friendly reverse osmosis system.

Culinary Delights at Little Governors’ Camp

At Little Governors’, meals are crafted with care throughout the day, offering a variety of delightful dining experiences. During the day, you can enjoy your meals outdoors, with the camp offering a beautiful ambiance as dusk sets in. As evening falls, the camp is bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, gas, and kerosene lamps, creating a serene and atmospheric atmosphere.

You’ll have a range of scenic locations to choose from for your meals. Imagine enjoying breakfast right by the tranquil lagoon, savoring lunch under the shade of the towering African ebony trees, or relishing dinner by the fireside with the stars above. Wherever you choose to dine, the surrounding natural beauty is sure to captivate you, with hippos, buffaloes, and even a warthog family occasionally strolling by the camp.

Start your day with a delicious full English breakfast buffet, offering an array of fresh fruits, cereals, pastries, bread, and other tempting treats. For lunch, enjoy a buffet with a variety of flavorful options like curries, moussaka, rice, baked breads, and a salad bar where you can choose from an assortment of ingredients and dressings. And to finish off, there’s always a delightful dessert waiting for you.

When it comes to dinner, you’ll be in for a treat. The menu offers a choice of meat, fish, or vegetarian dishes, including options like roasted pumpkin quiche, Mongolian barbecue, and vegetable risotto. For dessert, you might enjoy a sticky banana cake drizzled with toffee sauce or a savory Kenyan cheese platter. At Little Governors’, the kitchen always has something delicious cooking to satisfy your taste buds.

Things to Do at Little Governors’ Camp

At Little Governor’s Camp, the manager will touch base with you every evening to discuss the activities you’d like to experience the following day. Since the camp is situated in the northern part of the Masai Mara National Reserve, most of your game drives will take place within the Musiara Sector. You can select from an early morning game drive that departs at 6:15 AM and returns by around 9:00 AM, or a mid-morning drive at 10:30 AM, which concludes around lunchtime. If you wish, the camp can prepare a picnic bush breakfast for you to enjoy at a scenic stop along the way. An afternoon game drive is also available as the third option.

For a more extensive experience, you can opt for half-day or full-day extended game drives, complete with packed picnic meals. The open-sided Land Rovers at the camp feature two rows of rear seats, offering wide, panoramic views of the wildlife. In addition to the 4×4 safaris, you can enjoy birdwatching, visit a nearby Masai village for a cultural excursion, or go on a guided walking safari.

For an extra-special adventure, just behind the camp, you’ll find a launch pad for thrilling hot air balloon rides. As the balloon rises, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the African savannah and woodlands. You can sip on a glass of bubbly, take in the vibrant colors of the African sunrise, and enjoy the serenity of the landscape. The cost of the hot air balloon ride is not included in your stay, and it’s priced at approximately 500 US dollars per person. However, with the launch pad right behind the camp, there’s no need to wake up extra early to travel to the take-off point. Even if you decide against the balloon ride, you can still enjoy the view as the balloons lift off from the camp.

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