This contemporary, elegant villa is the only truly luxurious private home in the Maasai Mara. Previously named as Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa at the World Travel Awards and Global Ecosphere Retreat-accredited, it borders one of Earth’s natural wonders: the Masai Mara National Reserve and, across the border in Tanzania, contiguous Serengeti region.

Accommodating up to 10 guests, Cottar’s Bush Villa also comes complete with its own 25-metre swimming pool. It offers an abundance of wildlife sightings, a guarantee of privacy and the highest standards of professional guiding amid a luxurious, elegant safari environment.

The villa was designed by our co-owner Louise Cottar, then built by hand using indigenous and eco-friendly materials. It’s managed within the same area as Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp, and guests can enjoy the same levels of service and standard for which that camp is already known.

”Winner of Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa at the World Travel Awards

  • One of The Long Run’s certified Global Ecosphere Retreats (GERs) – with only 11 around the world
  • Located in the Olderkesi Conservancy, which borders the so-called “eighth natural wonder of the world”, the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
  • Secures the Olderkesi Conservancy for wildlife use: in a community partnership, the Cottar’s Wildlife Conservation Trust leases these 7608 acres from the local Maasai community, conserving biodiversity on the land
  • Fifth-generation family owners with more than 100 years of authentic history of arranging safaris in Africa
  • Highest standards of guiding, with two KPSGA gold-standard guides and one silver-level guide
Rooms
There are five rooms, all in a contemporary style. Four are luxurious double rooms, with the fifth having a twin configuration. Extra beds can be added.
Bathrooms
All bedrooms are en-suite, with hot showers and flush toilets
Dinning
A large dining area in the first-floor front room affords wonderful views onto the Maasai Mara plains
Extras
Swimming pool & Spa treatments
Caters To
Families and small groups

Activities

  • Game drives
  • Guided walks
  • Visit a Maasai warrior school
  • Talk on sustainability and conservation
  • Stargazing
  • Talk on Maasai culture
  • Talk on the life of a hunter-gatherer
  • Talk on history of African travel
  • Coffee-tasting experience
  • Talk on pangolins
  • Carbon footprint, recycle and upcycling talk and experience
  • Raptor talk and visit
  • Foraging and medicinal walk
  • Ecological monitoring (must be pre-arranged at least one day ahead)
  • An hour with female conservation rangers (must be pre-arranged at least two hours ahead)
  • Talk on the history of Cottar’s
  • Reforestation seedball dispersal activity
  • Educational visit to The Explorers’ Tent, showcasing the history of safari

Activities at an Additional Cost

These activities will need to be pre-arranged – please enquiry for prices:

  • Pangolin experience with The Pangolin Project
  • Immersive raptor experience with The Kenya Bird of Prey Trust
  • Mara educational cheetah experience
  • Visit the local Maasai village
  • Elephant research/monitoring experience
  • Beading lesson with Mamma Nashiro Batian
  • Massage or other spa treatments
  • Hot-air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara. PLEASE NOTE: The day begins with a wake-up call at 3.30am including tea and coffee before departure to the launch site. The drive takes about 90 minutes
  • Professional photography experience – with 20% of all proceeds going towards the Cottar’s Wildlife Conservation Trust

Safaris