The intimate, luxurious Mara Plains Camp is one of only three Relais & Châteaux properties in the Maasai Mara.
Why you'll love it here
- Stay at a luxurious camp offering extensive traversing across 40,000 hectares
- Discover Olare Motorogi Conservancy, home to Africa's highest concentration of big cats
- Enjoy Mara’s incredible game viewing with custom safari vehicles and professional camera sets
- Relax among lush forestry running along the beautiful Ntiakitiak River
Best For
- Adults Only, Honeymoon, Family,
Jackie
Travel Specialist
Included in your holiday
- Lounge passes and meet & greet service in UK airports
- Transfers to and from your hotel
- All flight luggage allowances
- Personal concierge service
- 24/7 assistance when travelling
- Full ATOL protection
Full accommodation information
Hotel information
Just north of the Maasai Mara Reserve, in the 35,000-acre private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, this luxury Relais & Châteaux camp offers you an incredible game viewing experience.
During the days, you’re likely to hear the mighty lions roar or witness leopards wandering all throughout. On top of this, the intimate camp blends into your surroundings, nestled among the tree canopies, with each suite boasting an extensive raised deck with far reaching views over the savannah.
Early mornings, late afternoon/evening or even full day safari drives take place in some of Mara’s most luxurious wildlife vehicles, with a maximum occupancy of four guests or a family up to six. Mara Plains even offers the opportunity of taking you deep into the Maasai Mara National Reserve or the private Mara North and Olare Motorogi Conservancies.
Local conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert have created an exquisite camp with thoughtful environmental elements such as solar power and no cement, making Mara Plains a modern-day safari retreat.
Booking Offers:- Stay 4 pay 3 - Valid until 19 December 2024, 11th January to 14th June 2025 and 1st November to 19 December 2025
Room Options
The six well-appointed, luxurious suites offer stylistic and thoughtful environmental elements such as solar power. Each guest suite has a set of professional cameras and lenses available on a complimentary use basis. Add to it the pair of high-quality binoculars to capture the regions incredible wildlife.
The camp layout is also conducive to those who use wheelchairs due to interconnected raised decking and pathways between suites and the main area. There are a few steps between the main entrance and arrival bridge, but staff are always on hand to assist.
For the walking impaired, Suites One and Three are close to the main area with minimal steps.
Luxury Tented Suite
Sleeps: 2 Adults
Each Luxury Tented Suite has deep canvas canopied ceilings, rough-hewn wood floors and accents of East Africa’s rich safari history. Thick Lamu wood doors, deep reds and brass accents also feature – these small details transporting you to a time and land far, far away. The well-appointed en-suite facilities (including a deep copper bath) and extensive private veranda complete what is genuinely a stunning concept.Jahazi Suite
Sleeps: 2 Adults , 3 Children
The Jahazi Suite is an intimate, two-bedroom tented suite, built entirely under canvas and a perfect partner to the safari experiences.Facilities/Amenities
- Main lounge and library
- Outdoor fire pit with seating
- Safari boutique
- Wellness spa
- Yoga mats and bands provided in each suite
- Photography tuition
- Laundry
Restaurants & Bars
Dining
For indoor and outdoor dining, Mara Plains offers world-class Relais & Châteaux recognised à la carte menus. All meals are included and prepared by the Executive Chefs and their teams in a state-of-the-art kitchen that you're welcome to visit. All drinks and beverages are also included, such as imported spirits and champagnes.
Picnic breakfasts or lunch (or both) are the norm due to the very active safari drives, often delivered to the bush.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Activities & Entertainment
Wildlife Viewing
Early morning, late afternoon/evening or even full day safari drives take place in some of the Mara’s most luxurious wildlife-viewing vehicles. Each Toyota Land Cruiser safari vehicle is open-sided, canopied and customised for photographers (fold-down screens, raised roofs, photographic bars and multi-plug invertors). Each vehicle is also stocked with a fridge, so you can enjoy drinks and snacks, ready for longer days out if the wildlife viewing is exciting and just too hard to leave.
Every day on safari brings a unique and distinct experience. Safari drives typically start at sunrise, so you can return for lunch and depart again in the mid-afternoon before returning just after sunset. However, with a packed breakfast and lunch, the guides will often go out all day deep into the Maasai Mara National Reserve or the private Mara North and Olare Motorogi Conservancies.
Safaris will often continue into the evening, made possible by the location on a private conservancy. Night drives are also incredibly prolific in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, and while they take patience, sightings commonly include lesser-known nocturnal mammals and even lion and hyena hunts.
Hot Air Ballooning
Hot air ballooning is available, but should be booked in advance - subject to availability and additional costs. Departures are very early in the morning to allow time to transfer to the nearest launching point.
Cultural Experience
The Naboisho Women’s Group cultural experience is supported by the Great Plains Foundation, enabling the group to purchase raw materials in bulk that include a tailor hired to work on leather products. Available to those staying at Great Plains Conservation camps, all profits from the sale of their wares are ploughed back into the women’s business training to ensure the group is self-sustainable.
Sustainability Initiatives & Responsible Tourism
Responsible travel and sustainability are both at the heart of the Great Plains Conservation ethos, and sustainable technologies and systems are in place throughout the camps. In Kenya, Mara Plains Camp has been awarded a 'Gold Rating' from EcoTourism Kenya.
In addition, Great Plains Student Conservation Camps is one of the longest running community programmes. Since the programme began more than ten years ago, hundreds of children have benefitted from the foundation's educational lessons. Not only that, but the foundation also keeps a list of school needs to support students.
Kenya travel information
- Time zone: +3 GMT
- Flight time: 8 hours
- Recommended airlines: British Airways, Kenya Airlines
- Currency: Kenyan Shilling
- Tipping guideline: 10-15%
- Health considerations: There is a risk of dengue. There is a risk of Zika virus. There is a high risk of malaria in Kenya as a whole, but there is a very low risk of malaria in the city of Nairobi and in the highlands above 2,500m. There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in parts of Kenya and there is a certificate requirement. Yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Capital: Nairobi
- Population: 5.6203e+007
- National languages: English, Swahili
- Electricity and plugs: Type G, 240V
- Mobile phone coverage: Good coverage
- UK passport visa requirements: You need an ETA for Kenya if you have a British passport - apply online
Want to know more?
Call our Travel Specialists for a chat with our Kenya experts. They'll share their first-hand insights so you can find your perfect holiday.
Monday - Friday: 9am - 7:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Jackie
Travel Specialist
Kenya travel guides
Want some more help planning your holiday to Kenya? Read our expert guides to find out everything you need to know about where to stay, dine and explore on your Inspiring Travel escape.
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