What would you choose for the Mara? Please help
 

We are still planning but plans are progressing. Now we will have to choose between either
- Naibor
- Entim
- Mara Bush
- Mara Explorer
for the first few days in the Mara and between
- Olonana
- Richards
- Cottars
- Elephant Pepper
for the last few days in the Mara.

What would you choose (we like night drives...)???

Thanks for help.
steffid

A few years we stayed at Olonana. It was the best camp we had. They kept us as busy as we wanted, with a great night drive. ((*))

Still for August, from your other thread? yes?

Well, wide variety and prices. Are these the ones being offered for your dates of travel, or you have chosen? And, as my previous replies, you have to consider the road transfer between the camps.

Explorer the most expensive in the 1st group; Cottar's in the 2nd group. You've already been to Olonana as I recall.

So why not Naibor or Entim combined with Richards or Elephant Pepper. The night game drives will come with the 2nd group.

Jed, thanks. Olonana is indeed very nice.

Sandi, yes, still planning for august... I dont get a flight back, which makes me nervous.

Just had a phone call from a friend reporting that Naibor changed a lot. The management is bad and the food poor.

Did you have a comparable information?

As to Mara Bush Camp, is this camp nice? Have you been there? The same friend told me that it would be best for the migration...

Puhhhhhh, I dont know what to choose. It is so difficult ;-)))

Naibor has gone down hill. They have been through 3 sets of management couples in the last 3 months. Food has gone downhill, as has the camp. Recently they hosted a group of 54, meaning a mobile camp was set up in their grounds, which meant they had to clear bush, etc., around the camp.

I just spent the weekend at Mara Explorer. Game was fantastic. We saw the Big 5 in 24 hours. Their new vehciles are very spacious and comfortable with fridges. Food is still excellent, service unbeatable, tents very comfortable (ask for Tent 4. Best views with a sand bank and river full of hippo). I have never gone wrong with Explorer and everyone I have met have always enjoyed it.

Thank you so much!! Mara Explorer seems to be excellent but is very expensive as well. So would you go for a split between Mara Bush Camp and Mara Explorer?
We have 7 nights in the Mara.

Go to Serian, its fantastic!!

Serian is fantastic, especially their new tents, but also expensive as are their daily park fees.

Mara Bush? Where is this. Is this the Siria Bush Camp. The only Mara Bush Camp I can recall closed a few years back.

If, as you list, Mara Bush and Explorer, both are inside the reserve, so no night drives. If Naibor isn't up to snuff, stay away.

Of those outside the Mara on group ranch land, the least expensive is Elephant Pepper. Olonana (you've been), Richard's and Cottar's are all expensive, as is Explorer.

One that has gotten good reviews from the few who have been and posted here on Fodor's is Royal Mara, a bit north of Elephant Pepper. Small, 6/tents, all river facing. Ol Seki is another, but also expensive.

If you want something way off the beaten path, there is Saruni's Campi ya Tembo, with only 3/bedouin style tents, but a ratio of 1:1 staff/clients. Ensuite loo, flush toilet, running water, bucket showers. Good for walking safaris, lots of ellees and giraffe out this way. About a 30/min drive from Main Saruni; priced in the same range as Elephant Pepper.

Sandi,
Mara Bush is not far from Explorer, not the same camp as Mara Siria which is outside of the reserve to the northwest.

From their website www.marabushcamp.com looks like they target a German clientele.

I think the camp you're thinking of that was closed a few years back is Mara River.

So many Mara whatevers ;)

Patty -

Thanks!
Yes, German (and no option for another language, tres tres strange)
Yes, too many camps with similar names.

warum?

spricht man hier kein deutsch?

:S-

tschuss.

I've been to quite a few camps in the Mara in the last few years and, overall, I would rank Explorer highest. However, I recently visited Royal Mara which is also very nice and, if you book direct, it will be cheaper than Explorer. I would guess that if you booked direct for August the owner would offer for around $300 pppn plus $40 park fees - perhaps even a bit less. Let me know if you want his email address.

Phil

Sandi, you are really so much help, thank you so much for all the recommendations!!!

Indeed, Mara Bush Camp seems to be a "german camp". I saw this on a website of sunworld safaris, which is an operator domiciled in Nairobi but the couple running it seems to be austrian-kenyan (she is austrian) so they look for german speaking people. They offer the camp for a real good rate so it seems they run the camp by themselves. I was told that sunworld safari is the biggest operator in Kenya now with more than 50 vehicles. You heard of it?

Phil, a direct contact would be great. USD 300 pppn is much cheaper than what they give us through operators. I never heard of Royal Mara. Do you have a webpage?

sorry always beeing late but I am on european time...

Phil, I found Royal Mara in the internet. It seems to be a lodge not a camp so it is no need to give me the contacts. We absolutely prefer camps.

I think we go for Mara Explorer in combination with another camp for cost saving aspects. 7 nights in Explorer is definitely too expensive.

Another question: Elephant Bedroom seems to go down, facilities bad and food is not eatable. Sasaab is much too expensive, so we go for Larsens. OK?

Royal Mara is indeed a tented camp. See: www.royalmara.com/

Comment re Elephant Bedroom seem strange; recent report posted here indicated it was outstanding. Where did you read those comments?

Larsen's though does get excellent reviews. And, there's also the new Saruni Samburu... not in the park, but on private land so night drives are done.

Steffid


As Sandi says, Royal Mara is a tented camp. The sleeping accomodation is actually a tent surrounded by a wood outer 'casing' - if that makes sense ! if you want the genuinely wild experience go for Royal Mara as it is much more remote than Explorer. If you want canvas without any wood go for Explorer !

The camp owner is George Sphixas, email [email protected].

Phil

Phil,
thanks a lot for the contacts. Pics on the webpage look very nice, I will try to contact the owner.
Saw, that they indicate a pack of wilddogs nearby - I never saw them, this is a big dream. The seem to be outside the parc so we would have to pay parc entrance fees every day. I will check this.

Sandi,

as for Elepant bedroom, I will try to get the report. I have the information from an operator who just had clients there. Do you know somebody who stayed there in the last weeks? It is cheaper than Larsens but looks much better in the internet and seems to be much smaller...

steff -

From trip report by MyDogKyle

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=4

scroll down to Day 4 where she mentions Elephant Bedroom tents, staff and meals.

That's the best I can do. It's a relatively new camp opened last year.

If contacting Royal Mara, be sure they provide not only the daily room rate, but also daily park fees. Located on private group ranch lands, their is park fee for the Mara and maybe a small fee that goes to the owners of the group ranch.

Sandi,

MyDogKyles report sounds fantastic and with respect to the fact that Elephant Bedroom is less expensive than Larsens we will go for it. I tried to get the report I was talkong of, but strangely they couldn't find it... Perhaps they have special agreements with Larsens and therefore opt for it.

Our trip is nearly planned now...

How about this operator Sunworld Safari. You heard of it?

Steffid,
Go to Mara Bush Camp so that we get a report from there. Though I haven’t seen reports from Entim either. I’d choose Rekero among the expensive camps in that area.

If cost really is an issue, there’re less expensive camps, like Bushbuck, for your stay outside the reserve. If you want to do game drives inside the reserve or conservancy while staying on a group ranch you’ll have pay double park fees. The Koiyaki-Lemek tickets cost the same as the tickets for the national park.

I’ve visited Sunworld’s office in Wayaki Way. It was a nice office, but they couldn’t find me what I was looking for. Though I suppose I can’t blame them for that.

I just saw this thread. I was really surprised to hear somebody had negative feedback on Elephant Bedroom in Samburu. As you know from my report, we loved it there and thought it was the best place we stayed in Kenya. I suppose it's possible that something might have changed since we were there in September (different chef, staff cutbacks if they aren't getting much business recently, or whatever), but we had no complaints whatsoever. And I certainly don't see how someone could fault them for the facilities. Everything was in great shape -- beautiful tents, gorgeous location, and nice, small size with no fence.

Oh, I don't know who made that report and obviously they don't give it to me. But they mentioned that the food is bad and the common area is not in good shape.

Whatever, I think we will try and let you know;-) The size is perfect, the location as well and we will spent the whole day in the parc anyway.

Entim seems to have split from the operator of Chui Lodge where they were on the webpage. But I've got rates now, and I can tell you they are very high (even higher than Mara Explorer!)

I think we will go fo Mara Bush Camp and report it after coming back. The last 3 days in Explorer or Rekero tented just to save the parc entrance fees ;-) Bad for night drives but we have to save something for next time. It's a pity because I really love the bushbabies...

Whether staying inside the Mara or outside on the private group ranches, in addition to the room rate you should be provided a daily fee which includes the Mara and the group ranch, if the group ranch actually charges a fee. It's unlikely for a park on ranch land not to do game drives in the park... especially in August.

The daily Mara fees are increasing as 1st May to $60; then, if applicable, the ranch fee, which can range from $25-$75/daily.

Some daily fees including the Mara and group ranch are now up to $100/day total.

This is crazy! I don't understand why they increase the parc fees now in times of such low tourist numbers!! I read that they increased the parc fees in Tanzania up to USD 100 pppd especially in private concessions which is really out of range.

Hopefully they gtake the money for the maintenance of the parc...

I know people who stayed at Elephant Bedroom in Jan and they only had good things to say. OTOH as Kenyan residents, they paid a ridiculously low last minute rate. Perhaps their expectations would've been different if they were paying the full rate.

According to MyDogKyle it is a fantastic camp. The pics look very nice http://www.atua-enkop.com/samburu.php

Sandi: it ist not clear whether Saruni will be open in June because of the immense losses they had in the last month. Perhaps they postpone the opening until next year.

Oh, another question. Would there be a chance to see wild dogs at Samburu, Nakuru or in the Mara?

I've heard of wild dog sightings at all 3 locations plus in Tsavo and Laikipia, but I think you have to be very, very lucky!

Where'd you hear that about Saruni Samburu? The same person who had the bad report on Elephant Bedroom? I plan to be there as well others I know.

No, not the same person, but an operator in Nairobi. Obviously they do not have enough bookings right now, I have never got answers on emails so quickly;-)

When will you be there?

Hopefully we will be lucky with the wild dogs.

Hopefully beginning June, if I can get my own act together :)

Hey, what are your plans??

steffi -

... are you kiddin'? :) Have some ideas, but nowhere near firm. Once I have it together, I'll post.

Steffid

Sorry to say it but you will be very very lucky to see wild dogs in either samburu or mara. Whilst there are some in the area, i think they were last seen in samburu 2-3 years ago. There is a pack just outside the mara (in the aitong hills) but these were last seen 9-12 months ago. Treat it is a bonus if they appear - you will not be disappointed with the rest of the game !

Sandi: now I am really curious for your plans!!! Keep us posted!!

Phil: I know, it is so difficult so spot them. Last time at Kleins Camp they saw a pack just one day before our arrival (ok, I can't prove this but they said it ;-) but we weren't lucky. To see them must be better to go in the Okavango Delta but even during 5 days there we weren't lucky either. Shoudl stay for one or two months...

I pulled out my map of the Mara last night and saw, that Rekero has the best location for the crossing. I will at least ask for rates. Hopefully they don't get crazy about my changings every day...

have a good day - tgif!!

Steffid,

We use Sunworld when we go to Kenya. I sort out an intinerary, then they make all the bookings and provide the vehicle and driver/guide. I have found them very easy and efficient to deal with and would use them again.

I think that they only set up the Mara Bush Camp during the time of the migration.

steffid -

Saruni Samburu plans are right on schedule! Will be opening 1st June.

Sandi,

yes, Saruni will be open, just came in the office and got the message. It seems they quote around USD 200 more than Elephant Bedroom (I dont get the rates directly but only the price diffrence, strange, I know).
How come that Elephant Bedroom is less expensive than Larsens. Does Larsens charge higher since renovation?

Wingi,

this is very interesting for me. Can you recommend a guide? I am a little lost what to do, take my former operator in Nairobi or try Sunworld. Sunworld is more expensive, but I have the impression they are very well organized and we can rely on it. Unfortunately I get thet rates in Euro which is bad for us. And, I don't know any of the guides. But one of the guides we had with the other operator in NAI, our favorite, died last year and we are so so sorry about this. He was such a nice guy.

Do you know anything about guides from TANZ, are they allowed to drive in Kenya? I would love to go with our last guide in Tanz but they tell me it is not possible without giving a reason for it.

Larsen's was originally one of the first, if not the first camp at Samburu (many years back). They then closed, for whatever reason sometime, I believe early 2000s.

The new Larsen's completely different than the original when re-opened in '05. Larsen's wasn't a refurbish... rather a complete redo from ground up.

Can't comment on specific prices between Larsen's, Elephant Bedroom or Saruni, but, if Saruni was quoted at $200 higher than Elephant Bedroom, then EB or Larsen's would be a good deal.

Sandi,
I think we choose Elephant Bedroom, MyDoKyle's report was so nice and I like small camps. But Larsens does look nice from the pic in the internet. I am not shure if we want to move from one to another in 5 nights, I think this is too much trouble. We could visit Larsens while staying at EB just to know for the next time.
They are both the same in price.

And: Saruni and SaSaab seem to have the same rates, they quoted Saruni and SaSaab USD 200 more per days (compared to EB and Larsens).