GOVERNORS’ CAMP

Masai Mara National Reserve | Kenya

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HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT WE LOVE

Prime position in the Masai Mara

Excellent views of the Mara River

Hot-air ballooning at dawn

WHEN TO VISIT

CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY

Mara Elephant Project
Working with researchers and communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts such as crop raiding, setting snares for bushmeat and habitat destruction

Mara Predator Conservation Programme
Concentrating on wild dog, lion and cheetah, implementing various interventions to help sustain their populations. These include collaring, monitoring, reducing vehicles at sightings to protect cubs and kills, and working with villagers to cease retaliatory killings for livestock loss

The Mara Raptor Project
Helping to conserve the more than 60 species of raptors in the Mara ecosystem via banding, tagging and checking nesting sites

Reforestation
Partnering with the Eburru Rafiki Forest Community Group and Seedballs Kenya to plant trees such as broad-leafed crotons, wild figs and sausage trees, and release African wild olive seedballs from ballooning safaris

Mara Rianda Primary School
Helping to fund classrooms, dormitories, ablutions, boreholes, teacher salaries, scholarships and overall maintenance. The school is also a member of Pack For A Purpose

Mara Rianda Health Centre
Coffee from KaSet up to provide needed care for outpatients, pregnant women, TB patients as well as testing for HIV and family-planning services

Green operations
Hosting speakers for teenagers to discuss career options

Financing support groups
The camp has a reverse osmosis water filtration system plus reusable bottles and a ban on plastic straws to minimise plastic waste. Solar power provides hot water and electricity, and natural toiletries in sustainable packaging are provided in all bathrooms. Governors’ Camp has a Silver EcoRating from EcoTourism Kenya

OVERVIEW

Governors’ Camp is likely the longest-standing safari camp in Africa. Built in 1972 for the governor of Kenya, it had its pick of sites in the Masai Mara National Reserve: a stunning bend on the Mara River with views of the forest to one side and golden savannah to the other. By night, hippos emerge to graze on the lawns around camp.

By day, Governors’ offers three game drives: morning, midday and afternoon. The abundant wildlife means you can even opt for a full-day drive, taking a picnic lunch with you. Tents are comfortable with large beds often crafted from massive logs of indigenous wood. Children have a variety of fun activities, such as Maasai archery, they can take part in.