Stay privately and stay longer in the Maasai Mara. Experience these vast, contrasting 1,500 square kilometres, with their many distinct ecosystems and unique Maasai culture, while immersing yourself in Big 5-focused safari experiences – all with the same dedicated private team (guide, spotter, waiter and room steward) throughout.
This is a full-circle safari experience. You can choose to stay for seven, 10, 12 or 14 days at one or several luxurious Maasai Mara bases:
- Under canvas in a private camp within the Mara Triangle, close to the famous Mara River
- At our award-winning Cottar’s 1920s Camp, one of less than a dozen Global Ecosphere Retreats in the world and set in its own exclusive conservancy area in the Mara’s south-east.
- In luxury tents at a private camp in either the Loita Forest of the Lost Child, which holds spiritual significance for the Maasai people, or close to the Mara River.
This seamless, exclusive safari will be organised by Cottar’s Safari Services with accommodation chosen for its complete privacy. You’ll be away from the crowds, yet up close and personal with nature and accompanied by some of Africa’s most experienced guides.
Along the way, learn about ongoing conservation and community work including a pangolin project, a vulture rehabilitation programme, anti-poaching teams and the only all-female ranger unit in the Mara. Connect with Maasai culture, and understand more about the continent’s richest concentration of wildlife, and the interconnectivity of Great Rift Valley ecosystems.
Suggested 7-14-day Safari. Cottar’s will personally curate the final itinerary according to your preferences and priorities. Please contact us so that we can support and develop your bespoke safari experience.
Travel with purpose. Low-volume, high-impact.
Safaris that directly contribute to CONSERVATION, COMMUNITY, CULTURE and COMMERCE. Working to help the travel industry take responsibility, and to help to protect wildlife and wild spaces that we all want to enjoy.
Private Under Canvas Mobile Camp
No safari is truly complete without some time spent under canvas, in the style of Africa’s original explorers. Better yet, this private mobile camp lets you explore some of the most beautiful and remote wilderness areas in Kenya.
Designed according to decades of experience, it provides the ultimate in exclusivity whilst enabling an intimate wildlife experience. Each traditional, insect-proof canvas tent has en-suite flush toilets and showers. Freshly prepared according to guests’ needs, meals are usually served in the central dining tent. A full crew of exceptional safari staff are on hand to attend to every whim, be it preparing a special dinner under the stars or a piping hot shower upon your return from a hot afternoon’s adventures. For those who want to stay active, activities from photographic workshops to games of soccer or volleyball with the crew can be arranged.
Cottar’s 1920s Camp
As well as representing vintage safari luxe at its best, the award-winning camp also boasts its own 7,608-acre private conservancy and is situated just one kilometre from one of Earth’s natural wonders: the Masai Mara National Reserve and, across the border in Tanzania, contiguous Serengeti region. Owned and run by the continent’s original and longest-running safari family, it embodies the original, romantic spirit of adventurous African travel.
Our 1920s Camp provides the romance of safari under cream-coloured canvas tents – the bygone style of safaris’ golden age while, at the same time, supplying amenities required by modern-day travellers and professional guides whose qualifications rank among the highest in Africa.
The camp has nine tents in total (two unique honeymoon tents, four double tents and three family tents), all en-suite. It’s arranged to ensure that every tent enjoys privacy and quietude, whether containing newlyweds, couples or families with children. There are two main mess tent areas for fine dining, drinking, reading and relaxing, plus an amazing pool and spa where you can relax after game drives. Guests can also enjoy a safari bath or safari shower: a genuinely unique way of bathing set up out on the savannah. The camp’s location provides easy access for day and night game drives around the conservancy and adjoining Masai Mara National Reserve, as well as game walks, and cultural interactions with the Maasai community.
Having been providing safaris for more than 100 years, the Cottar family focuses on providing authentic, individualised safari experiences and continuing a legacy founded on wilderness, wildlife, comfort and security, as well as honouring a balance between conservation, prosperous commerce, community and culture.
