Welcome to Mara Expedition Camp

A journey of discovery where lessons learned will change your life and the way you view the world…

“Mara Expedition Camp is positioned on high ground in a grove of typical East African acacia trees overlooking a valley in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. It is on private land, so very exclusive but with access to some of the region’s best wildlife. The camp tells the story of early day explorers with touches of campaign furniture and open-air space under light canvas. It is an ideal camp, from which to start your safari looking for big cats such as cheetah and lion. Most days you don’t even have to go very far!” – Dereck Joubert, CEO.

The camp is a magical revisiting of the past, drawing from Africa’s original explorers’ designs and designed for those who search for East Africa’s romantic safari era. Here, you will experience the best of both worlds: the intense action of the Maasai Mara ecosystem, as well as the more private 28,000-hectare Mara North Conservancy. Mara Expedition Camp is a stylish experience and adventure camp unique to the industry and fits the service levels, specialised guiding and design that has become associated with Great Plains Conservation.

It is safari chic with six light and airy, spacious canvas tents, and all en-suite bathrooms. It is set down low, hidden from lights and noise from other camps or properties or any sign of mankind. Under the grove of African acacia trees, its humble main area is lit by lantern and candlelit, simple in design, but just enough for all the comforts. This camp’s ambience and ‘back to the classic’ safari design will be a sure hit with private groups and safari enthusiasts alike.

The camp is locally famous for its leopard residents wandering nearby and is positioned to take the best advantage of two migrations – the famous annual Serengeti migration and the green season migration from Loita Plains, an additional 50,000 wildebeest and over 100,000 zebras vying for grazing rights. Mara Expedition Camp is a place for the ardent safari-goer. Full days, with picnic breakfast (and often lunch, too), traverse some of Africa’s richest game country, renowned for extraordinary predator density and frequent hunts. Access to Mara North Conservancy gives guests options of more privacy when not out exploring the Masai Mara Reserve.

Located in the Mara North Conservancy in Kenya and bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Mara Expedition Camp is the sister camp of Mara Plains. The exclusive and intimate camp is located in a wonderful game viewing area that is well-known for leopard sightings. The great wildebeest and zebra migrations also pass through the camp each year. 

Mara Expedition Camp is positioned on high ground in a grove of typical East African acacia trees overlooking a valley in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. It is on private land, so very exclusive but with access to some of the region’s best wildlife. 

Camps Features

Total Number of Bedrooms: 6 double/twin guest tents accommodating two guests each for a total camp size of 12 people in classic safari styled tents.  

Room Types

Tented Accommodation

(6 ROOMS)

It is safari chic with six light and airy, spacious canvas tents, each with en-suite bathrooms where you enjoy hot water from huge brass safari showers. It is set down low, hidden from lights and noise from other camps or properties or any sign of mankind. Under the grove of Africa ebony trees, its humble main area is lit by lantern and candlelit, simple in design, but just enough for all the comforts

Accommodating Children and sharing accommodation

• We look forward to having children stay with us who are 6 years and older

• No triples possible

• Families with children may be accommodated in the same vehicle as other guests unless a private vehicle is booked and paid for

• Walking is possible at Mara Expedition Camp for guests from 12 years old

• Young children must be supervised as the camp is open, with high predator densities in and around camp

• Great Plains Young Explorers Kid’s program is available – thoughtfully designed to explore various experiences and topics from birding to cooking to art to tracking wildlife.

RATING

Explorer Collection

TYPE

Tented Camp

NO. ROOMS

6

CHECK-IN TIME

12h00 PM

CHECK-OUT TIME

10h00 AM

LODGE SEASON & OPENING

Year Round

IDEAL LENGTH OF STAY

3-4 Nights

CHILD POLICY

 6 years and older

CAMP

Not Fenced

SPOKEN LANGUAGES

English, Swahili

SPECIAL INTERESTS

Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, History & Culture, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Wildlife

Access Directions

• Daily scheduled light aircraft transfers to the ol Kiombo Airstrip

• Flight Time from Nairobi’s domestic Wilson Airport is approximately 1 hour

• The camp is a 45-minute drive from the airstrip

• Co-ordinates: S1°24’31.0” E35°06’38.0”; • Airstrip length: 1200m.

CAMP CO-ORDINATES

1°22’03.0”S 35°11’38.0”E

Additional Information

Mara Expedition Camp is primarily accessed by scheduled air transfers or private air charters. On arrival at the airstrip, the transfer to camp is approximately 45 minutes allowing time for game viewing en route.

Safarilink and/or Air Kenya offer scheduled daily flights from Nairobi’s domestic Wilson Airport to the Ol Kiombo airstrip inside the Maasai Mara Reserve. This airstrip is licensed for a wide range of aircraft including, but not limited to, King Air, Pilatus PC-12 and Cessna Caravan.

Flying distance from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Ol Kiombo is 390km and flying time in a Cessna Caravan is about an hour. Flying times depend on the type of aircraft being used and prevailing weather conditions.

Foundation Initiative

Conservation Education Engaging youth in local communities living alongside conserved land is critical to long-term conservation. Our conservation education programs engage youth with the natural world at a pivotal time in their lives. Great Plains Conservation believes that through thoughtful engagement, environmental education, fun and mentorship, youth in communities that surround our protected wildlife areas can learn to appreciate the uniqueness of their ecosystems and become champions for conservation. Great Plains Student Conservation Camps are one of our longest-running community programs. Since the program began more than ten years ago, hundreds of children have benefitted from the program in both Kenya and Botswana. Learn more at www.greatplainsfoundation.com

In addition to our own programs Great Plains Foundation keeps a list of other school needs in the countries where we work. Needed items can be hand-carried by travelers or we can help purchase them locally. To learn more or to help support students and educators as part of your trip please reach out info@greatplainsfoundation.com 

Possibility of Disabled Access

The camp layout is not always conducive to guests who use wheelchairs (in the wet season), but many wheelchair-bound guests feel quite comfortable in this camp.

Birding

The Masai Mara isn’t one of Kenya’s birding hotspots. However, with more than 500 bird species recorded, this isn’t a bad place to mark off a lot of Kenya’s savannah species from your bird list. The park is particularly rich in raptors with 57 species present. Bateleurs can often be seen soaring above the grassy plains and predator kills are a good place to find up to six species of vultures scavenging. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Best Time for Bird Watching

The Masai Mara offers good bird-watching any month of the year, but the best time is from November to April when the migrants from Europe and north Africa arrive. This coincides with the Wet season when many species can be seen in breeding plumage. June to October is the Dry season, and tends to be best for general wildlife viewing.

Wildlife & Animals

The Masai Mara is Kenya’s flagship park. Sightings of four of the Big Five are pretty much guaranteed. Black rhino is more elusive, but can sometimes be spotted in the Mara Triangle. The reserve is one of the best for big cats, but sightings of smaller predators like bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and spotted hyena also tend to be rewarding. Antelope include impala, reedbuck, Thomson's gazelle, eland and topi, while buffalo, elephant and giraffe are relaxed and easily spotted.

Wildlife Highlights

The legendary wildebeest migration is one of the world’s most amazing wildlife encounters. Sometime in July and August, millions of animals leave the Serengeti and head into the Masai Mara around September. The crossing of the Mara River along the way is the most spectacular part of the migration. Around October, the migration slowly heads back into the Serengeti again.

It should be noted that, although the pattern is well known, the exact timing of the migration is unpredictable as animals move with the rain looking for greener pastures.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara is good throughout the year. The best months for the wildebeest migration are September and October. June to October is relatively dry, and offers the best general wildlife watching.

Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara is generally very safe as long as you use common sense and listen to the advice given by your guide. Incidents are extremely rare.

About the Special

Experience the best safari destinations Kenya has to offer!
Stay for 4 nights at any of our Maasai Mara camps or the magnificent ol Donyo Lodge in the Chyulu Hills and only pay for 3!

Terms and Conditions

Booking Terms and Conditions:
• This offer is valid for all guest reservations staying from 01 November 2021 - 31 May 2022 & 01 November - 19 December 2022 (excluding 20 December 2021 - 10 January 2022);
• This offer is valid to all standard guest U$D rate accommodation reservations;
• Free night includes accommodation only (Conservation fee payable on free night);
• This offer is valid for a safari stay of a minimum of 4 nights at one of the following Kenyan camps -
Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite, Mara Nyika Camp, Mara Toto Camp, Mara Expedition Camp and ol Donyo Lodge;
• Private vehicle and pilot / guide rates are additional;
• Return scheduled air transfers are included for stays at Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite and Mara Nyika Camp. Return scheduled air transfers from Nairobi are excluded from stays at Mara Toto Camp and Mara Expedition Camp unless combined with Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite and / or Mara Mara Nyika Camp;
• Offers cannot be combined and are offered on a stand alone basis per reservation.

About the Special

Experience the best safari destinations Kenya has to offer!
Extend your ultimate Kenyan safari experience by combining 4 nights at either of our Maasai Mara camps with 4 nights at ol Donyo Lodge and only
pay for 6 nights!

Terms and Conditions

Booking Terms and Conditions:
• This offer is valid for all guest reservations staying from 01 November 2021 - 31 May 2022 & 01 November - 19 December 2022 (excluding 20 December 2021 - 10 January 2022);
• This offer is valid to all standard guest U$D rate accommodation reservations;
• Free night includes accommodation only (Conservation fee payable on free night);
• This offer is valid for a safari stay of a minimum of 4 nights at one of the following Kenyan camps -
Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite, Mara Nyika Camp, Mara Toto Camp, Mara Expedition Camp and ol Donyo Lodge;
• Private vehicle and pilot / guide rates are additional;
• Return scheduled air transfers are included for stays at Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite and Mara Nyika Camp. Return scheduled air transfers from Nairobi are excluded from stays at Mara Toto Camp and Mara Expedition Camp unless combined with Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite and / or Mara Mara Nyika Camp;
• Offers cannot be combined and are offered on a stand alone basis per reservation.

• The free nights will be at the lowest priced camp.

About the Special

When staying on honeymoon, at any of our Great Plains camps, we would like to give you a gift from ourselves, where the celebrating couple each receive 25% off their Great Plains accommodation costs!
THINKING OF CELEBRATING YOUR NUPTIALS WHILST ON A KENYAN SAFARI?
Talk to us about arranging a special and unique Maasai blessing ceremony to cement those vows you have taken back home.

Terms and Conditions

Booking Terms and Conditions:
• Offer specific to your choice of camp’s Green or Shoulder Season period;
• The validity period for the above offer in Botswana and Kenya is 11 January -
14 June and 01 November - 19 December annually;
• This offer cannot be combined with any of the other specials on offer;
• Offer valid to guests holding Marriage certificate, within 6 months of the ceremony, or celebrating their 40 or older wedding anniversaries!

About the Special

Want to stay out and drive a little longer in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, float down the Zambezi River in the Sapi Reserve one last time, or follow the channels of Botswana’s waterways in search of big tuskers and lions?
Whatever your preference take advantage of our shoulder season rates, when staying a little longer with us in the peak season.

Terms and Conditions

Booking Terms and Conditions:
• Stay a minimum 6 night stay, regardless of camps, or where they are located, as long as they are in the same itinerary, during the period 15 - 31 October 2022, qualify for shoulder season rates;
• Free included inter-camp air transfers restrictions may apply to some camps;
• Offer cannot be combined.

About the Special

Experience the best safari destinations Kenya has to offer!
Stay for 4 nights at any of our Maasai Mara camps or the magnificent ol Donyo Lodge in the Chyulu Hills and only pay for 3!
Extend your ultimate Kenyan safari experience by combining 4 nights at either of our Maasai Mara camps with 4 nights at ol Donyo Lodge and only
pay for 6 nights!

Terms and Conditions

Booking Terms and Conditions:
• This offer is valid for all guest reservations staying from 01 November 2021 - 31 May 2022 & 01 November - 19 December 2022 (excluding 20 December 2021 - 10 January 2022);
• This offer is valid to all standard guest U$D rate accommodation reservations;
• Free night includes accommodation only (Conservation fee payable on free night);
• This offer is valid for a safari stay of a minimum of 4 nights at one of the following Kenyan camps -
Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite, Mara Nyika Camp, Mara Toto Camp, Mara Expedition Camp and ol Donyo Lodge;
• Private vehicle and pilot / guide rates are additional;
• Return scheduled air transfers are included for stays at Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite and Mara Nyika Camp. Return scheduled air transfers from Nairobi are excluded from stays at Mara Toto Camp and Mara Expedition Camp unless combined with Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite and / or Mara Mara Nyika Camp;
• Offers cannot be combined and are offered on a stand alone basis per reservation.

• The free night will be at the lowest priced camp.

About the Special

When staying on honeymoon, at any of our Great Plains camps, we would like to give you a gift from ourselves, where the celebrating couple each receive 25% off their Great Plains accommodation costs!
THINKING OF CELEBRATING YOUR NUPTIALS WHILST ON A KENYAN SAFARI?
Talk to us about arranging a special and unique Maasai blessing ceremony to cement those vows you have taken back home.

Terms and Conditions

Booking Terms and Conditions:
• Offer specific to your choice of camp’s Green or Shoulder Season period;
• The validity period for the above offer in Botswana and Kenya is 11 January -
14 June and 01 November - 19 December annually;
• This offer cannot be combined with any of the other specials on offer;
• Offer valid to guests holding Marriage certificate, within 6 months of the ceremony, or celebrating their 40 or older wedding anniversaries!

About the Special

Experience the best safari destinations Kenya has to offer!
Extend your ultimate Kenyan safari experience by combining 4 nights at either of our Maasai Mara camps with 4 nights at ol Donyo Lodge and only
pay for 6 nights!

Terms and Conditions

Booking Terms and Conditions:
• This offer is valid for all guest reservations staying from 01 November 2021 - 31 May 2022 & 01 November - 19 December 2022 (excluding 20 December 2021 - 10 January 2022);
• This offer is valid to all standard guest U$D rate accommodation reservations;
• Free night includes accommodation only (Conservation fee payable on free night);
• This offer is valid for a safari stay of a minimum of 4 nights at one of the following Kenyan camps -
Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite, Mara Nyika Camp, Mara Toto Camp, Mara Expedition Camp and ol Donyo Lodge;
• Private vehicle and pilot / guide rates are additional;
• Return scheduled air transfers are included for stays at Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite and Mara Nyika Camp. Return scheduled air transfers from Nairobi are excluded from stays at Mara Toto Camp and Mara Expedition Camp unless combined with Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite and / or Mara Mara Nyika Camp;
• Offers cannot be combined and are offered on a stand alone basis per reservation.

• The free nights will be at the lowest priced camp.