We left Governors Il Moran feeling depressed because we thought that there was no way that Cottar's Camp, or any other camp for that matter, could live up to the standard set during our stay at Governors Il Moran. Suprisingly Cottar's Camp set the bar even higher!

Disclaimer: We visited during the 'School Holiday' in Kenya and thus Calvin and his family were at the camp which created a very special charm. I'm told that normally only Calvin is there and that he comes and goes.

Pros:
The location is, like Governors Il Moran, superb. Cottar's is an hour game drive away from the main crossing points for the Great Migration so it's possible to see the big crossings which the guides from the other camps won't take you too because it's too far. At the other camps you go to the minor crossing points and likely won't see the giant herds.
The location is also lusher and has more hills then in the main Masai Mara area so it's a nice welcome from the unbroken plains you see day after day.
Peronalized services. You go on drives when you want to and not at "6:30 and 3:30 sharp" with the rest of the cattle. This really set Cottar's apart and we took full advantage of it.
The food was exceptional (they have a new chef) and is a la carte unlike the buffet style at other luxury camps.
There were three massage therapist on staff and it was no problem to get a massage whenever and wherever.
Huge firepit in front of the main dining area is fantastic to sit around and have a drink while sharing stories about the day's game drive.
They have two 'Family Tents' on the other side of the camp separated from the six main tents for couples and they put families there for everybodys comfort.

Cons:
The tents and furniture are very nice and have an old world luxury feel to them but the floor should really be hardwood with carpets and not laminated canvas with carpets. A minor nag but I was straining to think of something I didn't like!

Tips:
Ask for a 'Bush Bath' for your wife and then a massage for her afterwards and you'll see her in heaven. They set up the bath on the veranda of your tent and then do the massage inside your tent on a massage table.
Take advantage of the Bush Breakfasts and Bush Lunches so that you can stay out on game drives longer. Take one of those Bush meals by the waterfall and watch the baboons playing nearby.
Go on night drives! We only did one on our last night (we were there 3 nights) and it was otherworldly watching the predators in action. You'll also see more little animals running about that use the cover of night.
Ask for tent # 3-6 (we stayed in # 5) as they are the furthest from the main dining area and thus you'll have less noise.
If you drive in from Talek Gate ask your driver to take the shortcut which is bumpier but is a really fun 4WD adventure up and down hills and across a river.
Make your reservation around a school holiday time so that you'll get to hang out with the Calvin Cottar and his gracious family.

and, you saw what on your game drives?
(Almost as important to me as knowing they have three massage therapist.)

regards - tom

Tom,

During our daytime game drives around Cottar's we saw a cheetah with a kill, huge herds of zebra and wildebeast, giraffes, ostriches, waterbuffalo, jackals, dik-diks, warthogs, lions, baboons, vultures, some sort of monkeys that live by the water, hippos and crocodiles. We also saw a few "Vanderbeast" as our guide/driver called them.

On our night drive we saw hyenas, zebras, baboons, wildebeast, lots of rabbitts and a very strange animal called a 'springhare'. They resemble miniature kangaroos, hop all over the place, and are very amusing.

Did you see any crossings at the river?
regards - tom

Thanks for the details--very helpful.

Yes we were very fortunate to see a major crossing of the Mara river. It was incredible to witness Hippos angry at the Wildebeast and Zebras for using their river and crocodiles attacking those that got carried away from the main heard by currents.

We also saw a crossing at the Mara river in the Mara's 'triangle' when we were staying at Governors Il Moran. However the crossings that take place nearer Cottar's Camp were much larger and apparently it's like that every year.

I think Cottar's is quite a ways from the Mara River, if I'm reading the maps correctly. Could the crossing you saw have been on the Sand River? Did you drive quite a distance to the crossing, or was it close to the camp?

The Mara river crossing was about 1.5-2 hours drive from Cottar's Camp; a good distance to drive but definitely worth it!

hmm, from Cottar's the nearest point of Mara River is at South Bridge, entry to Mara Conservancy. To go there you have to enter the Reserve and pass Keekorok Lodge. Why shouldn't other operators/camps go there? Are you sure you're talking about Mara River?

Well, TBM may not know their rivers, but I bet they know a good massage therapist when they find one!!!!
regards - tom

Interesting how TBM felt 1.5-2/hr drive was worth seeing the river crossing while others feel this drive time is just too long. Can't win for loosing. Everyone has different expectations or limits to what safari can/cannot offer.

Long drives, but a massage at the end of day. Short drives... who cares about a massage?

Different strokes for all aspects of travel anywhere.

Yes it was definitely the Mara river which our Cottar's guide took us to in order to see the river crossing. We left Cottar's, drove through the reserve and along/across the border (there's a white stone marker between the two countries) to get to the river.

I'm not sure why we didn't see vehicles from the other luxury camps at the major crossing point. However I suspect that it's easier for camps in the 'triangle' to take you to a closer crossing point on the Mara which Governors did take us to and at which there were at least a dozen or more vehicles from Governors, Bateleur, etc. The crossing we saw there was of maybe a half dozen zebras but was exciting nonetheless.

If I'm not completely turned around, as I recall that stone marker is right outside the Sand River Gate, OR, there's one not too far from Keekorok Lodge.

There really aren't any other lux camps down that way. Royal Safaris used a forest camp site between here and where Cottar's is located, but that's about it.

TBM, question?
You may have indicated in your report, but can't find at this time*,
How did you travel from Il Moran to Cottar's? Road or flight?

*believe you indicated road and it took less than 2/hrs? If I'm correct, that's awfully fast. It's almost 2/hrs with some game viewing just from the Keekorok airstrip. The reason I ask. Thanks.

Just received an email from a Fodorite to visit this thread and help clear up the confusion!

Please refer to my map while following the explanation: http://www.go-safari.com/Masai%20Mar...MaraCamps2.jpg

Assuming the Sand River is not too high and one can take a short cut to Keekorok (instead of entering at Olaimutiek Gate), Cottars is at least 32 rough miles from the South Mara River Bridge. The bridge is marked with a blue "i" in my map. To the right (east) of the bridge one can turn south for a few meters to visit the Serengeti marker (also marked on my map).

After the bridge, turn right for 3 - 10 additional miles to visit three popular crossing areas before the road turns northwest towards the Serena.

So, the nearest Mara crossing areas are at least 35 to 45 miles from Cottars - a solid 2 hours on the road if not more.

The crossing areas south of the Talek/Mara junction are easy to visit from the Serena, but rather far away from Governors and I cannot imagine their guides wanting to go so far south with no guarantees that a crossing will happen.

Even Rekero, Intrepids and Naibor guides must do some off-roading and/or long-distance driving to reach all the south crossing points - again with no guarantees.

IMO, driving all the way from Cottar's to see a crossing is an even a bigger risk. TBM was very lucky.

The crossings areas west and east of the Serena are easier to reach and are better monitored. The car radios light up when the herds gather - more cars for sure but still...

TBM is perhaps a bit overenthusiastic with the adjectives and accolades. A "main crossing point" is meaningless if the animals are not in the vicinity! They do not cross at a single place all the time!

And saying that Cottars's is an hour away and in a superb location is very misleading. What if the main crossings happen west and east of the Serena? These areas are practically unreachable from Cottar's.

Upon more thought I certainly didn't get the amount of time it took to get to the main crossing from Cottar's correct; it was more like several hours away. But as we used a MGPS (Masai Game Postioning System) and not a GPS, and did a lot of off-roading, please don't rely on my estimate of time for your own plans/analysis.

Sandi, we went by Governor's vehicle from Il Moran to the Musiara gate (for shopping, didn't pass through) then to the Talek gate where we were met on the other side by Douglas from Cottar's who then took us to camp. It was a good few hours drive from Il Moran to Talek Gate and 2-2.5 hours from Talek to Cottar's even using Douglas' 'short-cut'. Like everyday in the Mara we spend 8-10 hours in a vehicle so travel times get blurry.

Anyway, for us the important thing was that William (our Masai guide from Cottar's) was more than willing to drive as far as it took to give us the best possible crossing viewing. His dedication and commitment to service is my point and is what we experienced at every level at Cottar's.

Yes, time does have a way of getting away from us when on safari. And, I do appreciate your enthusiasm. It's just that I recalled longer distances than you indicated (which Eben has a much better handle on, than I any day); didn't want future travelers to possibly expect shorter distances than what can be rather long. Whether for game crossings or between various points.

Does anyone know how the game viewing is at Cottar's at the very end of Oct?