Governors’ Camp

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Governors' Camp was once the exclusive setting for Kenya’s colonial governors but now offers guests a chance to enjoy old-world luxuries with modern amenities on the banks of the beautiful Mara River.

One of the larger tented camps, Governors’ Camp consists of thirty-seven luxury canvas tents perched on the riverbank. There are twenty-four twins, twelve doubles, and one suite, each offering comfortable beds and hot water bottles to keep guests warm at night. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with hot and cold running water, shower, sink, and flush toilet. Other amenities include electric lights and wireless internet, and the best part of the tent is the comfortable, private veranda with views of either the Maasai Mara’s sweeping plains or the verdant banks of the Mara River.

Created in 1972, Governors’ Camp lies in the forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, whose waters swarming with hippo and crocodile, in the heart of Kenya’s grand Maasai Mara National Reserve. The reserve is well-known for its hilly grasslands fed by plentiful rains and home for a wide array of wildlife from the Big Five to herds of migrating wildebeest. For the last 10 years, the camps have been the base for the B.B.C.’s famous Big Cat diaries series which have made the plains of East Africa so famous. The camp also supports several conservation projects and community support programs.

Activities at the camp are plentiful. Highly-trained and experienced guides head up daily game drives in custom-made vehicles to some of the best viewing areas in the Reserve. Hot air balloon rides offer an aerial view of the stunning landscapes below. Walking safaris take place in a private concession area adjacent to the Masai Mara Game Reserve giving a different view and experience than found on game drives. Maasai cultural visits to Mara Rianda, a traditional community, show a way of life almost virtually unchanged for centuries. The camp can also arrange overnight trips to the beautiful unspoilt Island of Mfangano on Lake Victoria.

The camp enjoys an open-sided bar and dining tent with views over the Mara River and the open plains of the Masai Mara. The reception area is built from beautiful natural stone and features a small museum of mounted photographs and bronzed animal sculptures. A spacious decking area overlooks the river where breakfast and lunch buffets are served when the weather is fine. A chef-training program has elevated the level of the food over the past few years. Finally, for a bit of added pampering after a long day’s adventure, there is a spa with massage and spa treatments available.