Which Lodge/Camp To Choose in Mara
 

I am new to this board and we are going to Africa in Sept 07. The 2 places our tour operator can get for the dates we want in the Masai Mara are Royal Mara Safari Lodge or Kichwa Tembo Camp. We will be in MM for 4 nights on a 15 day safari. Does anyone have any input as to which place we should choose? I have read so very much on this wonderful board that has helped me in the planning of this trip and am hoping someone can give me their thoughts on these places! Thanks very much!!

How about Little Governors camp? We were there for five nights in September 2006 and loved it. This after being at MalaMala for four nights and in Zambia Robin Pope camps for six nights.

regards - tom
ps - dang, Sept 2007 is getting very close !!!!

Hello cmtravels,
Royal Mara is a new lodge that I hadn’t heard of. http://www.royalmara.com/home.htm
It’s more expensive than Kichwa Tembo.

I never heard of Royal Mara.

Kichwa Tembo gets good remarks. I like the area it is in. Four nights in the Mara in Sept. is outstanding. I'd go for KT, based on your choice of 2.

It Royal Mara Safari Lodge
wher Eben marked Safari Club ?????
http://www.go-safari.com/Masai%20Mara/MasaiMara1.jpg

Royal Mara is brand spanking new.

Prices higher than Kichwa Tembo, but also remember one is only 6/tents and KT is almost 30... big difference. Royal Mara is too new for anyone to have been, but I'll take that kitchen!

What's marked on Eben's map as Safari Club, is just that... the Mara Safari Club, now under auspices of Fairmont Hotels (the Norfolk in NBO and others). Safari Club has been refurbished for this current season.

I know exactly where it is! On a horseshoe bend in the Mara river below Buffalo camp - a great location. When I visited the area in Dec it rained so much we could not get there.

See my new map: http://www.go-safari.com/Masai%20Mar...MaraCamps2.jpg

Looks very good in pictures. Assuming budget is not an issue I much prefer a smaller camp. Kichwa is huge.

From the pics and the location, I'd say go for Royal Mara and tell us how you liked it!

Thanks for your replies! My tour director has been having trouble getting 4 nights in a row anyway and these are the only 2 he could find for us so I don't think he will find much more in the way of openings. It is a bit over my budget, but the Royal Mara with only 6 tents does look inviting to me!! He has told me they would be about the same price (KT and Royal)Anyone else have input? I could not find any reviews on the Royal Mara.

pictures of the Royal Mara look good and the 6 tent limit sounds very appealing.

Any idea about their guiding?

Eben, is this inside the triangle or outside?

Rgds,
Hari

I just saw Eben's map...it looks like outside the triangle.

I remember not so nice reports from this area on German forums, mainly from David Livingstone Safari Resort visitors. Too much human population and cattle. The rumour mill tells that this was one of the reasons why BBC moved to Governors.

So do you think Kichwa Tembo is in a better location in the MM for game viewing, migration, etc?

Nyama,

You referring to the big cat diary? or just their camp set up? I thought they shifted from the Governor's area to Mara Explorer area? or are they both in the same location?

Hari

cmtravels, unless someone gives me a positive report on the current situation in that area, I would prefer the Kichwa Tembo area. Please note, this recommendation is based on hearsay and not personal experience.

Hari, I meant the Big Cats Diary team. As far as I know they have their base camp at Governors. But I'm not a TV watcher so this info might not be up-to-date. Governors and Mara Explorer are located in the same section of the national reserve, Musiara, although the camps are located at different ends.

I have personnaly seen the good and the bad of the areas outside the Mara proper.

My Maasai friend's engang is just northeast of Musiara gate. He explains the situation to me as follows:

He normally moves his cattle as soon as the big herds of wildebeests start to move north past Musiara. The cattle don't do well when eating the wildebeest hairs strewn on the grass.

There are also rules imposed by the different ranches who don't want herds of cattle everywhere during migration months so the Maasai are asked to move. Failure to comply may cause fines and/or time in jail.

So generally speaking, the NW areas outside the Mara proper are not crowded with populations of humans and livestock during migration months.

But one cannot ignore the expanding towns near the Mara crossing north of Kichwa. And Talek town.

How much wilderness one sees depends on the lodges/camps and their guides. Some are obviously better than others.

I have seen reports that some places are rather dishonest - taking clients on game drives to "crossing points" that are not used by the wildebeests at all! The aim is clearly to avoid paying reservation fees and to save fuel costs by not driving south towards the Mara/Talek forking areas. Instead they drive north away from Mara proper!

In terms of game-viewing it is a toss-up between Kichwa and the other camps up towards Royal Mara. If the herds make it into the area west of L. Govs and south of Kichwa airstrip then Kichwa will be good.

If the herds are north of the Mara /Talek rivers, then the drives from Kichwa can be as long or longer.

When not inside the Mara proper, I generally enjoy being on the Mara River in smaller camps. I love hearing the hippos and enjoy the thrills of unfenced camps.

Kichwa is fenced and serves Micato and other large tour groups that I try to avoid.

Thanx Sandi; Thanx Eben

i was looking at Royal Mara's map
http://www.royalmara.com/location.htm
trying to figure out (impossible) where is it exactly

Sandi: i knew it was new, but thought <u>maybe</u> the old Safari Club was bought &amp; a smaller camp created nearby... that's why i posted the question

thanks for the answers

aby

P.S. at this rate, let's gamble when Mara's 70th camp would be erected...

aby -

I have some Ksh to put down on a bet. Looks like number of camps are getting up there :)

So much for a moratorium... well, yes, inside the Mara, but not on the private lands outside.

Well, I still think I am leaning toward the New Royal. It sounds like for that time of year, one, of course, can never tell where the big migration can be seen. Will a really good guide know where it has been seen or where to find it, or is it a very random thing as far as seeing it?

Game can never be guaranteed anywhere, anytime of year. But for September, you can be assured, there will be plenty around in all areas of the Mara.

As to the wildies, the herds arrive at different times and once those who are arriving have arrived they don't &quot;hang together.&quot; They move in all directions daily and even hourly.

I'm sure your guide/s will do justice in finding the opportunities that can be had in the Mara during September.

... and you'll have to report on Royal Mara, as no one has been - too new! So as a newbie, you have your first assignment.

I just returned from Kenya, and in the Mara stayed at Bateleur Camp at Kichwa Tembo. It was lovely in every way - and the staff and food were excellent. I would return there in a heartbeat.