Cottar’s 1920s Camp is what happens when you time-travel back to the golden age of safari, minus the questionable khaki fashion choices (unless you insist, we won’t judge). Tucked away in the vast and private Olderkesi Conservancy, right on the edge of the Maasai Mara and Serengeti, this place isn’t just old-school—it’s original cool.
The Cottar family has been running safaris for over a century (which does beg the question—did they actually invent safari?). If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a sepia-toned explorer’s tale—well, welcome to the real thing.
The Camp was founded by owner Calvin Cottar’s grandfather 100-odd years ago. The vintage luggage chests and gramophones in some of the 11 canvas suites are reminders of this heritage. Interiors are decked out with cream linens, dark wood furnishings and brass basins. Some suites have living areas with comfy Chesterfield couches, while others have bathtubs on the terrace overlooking the surrounding hills and plains.
Cottar’s offers a rich wildlife experience, both in Camp and out on game drives. With no fences, the animals come and go as they please—so don’t be surprised if an elephant strolls past your tent or an impala eyes you from the deck. Out in the bush, it’s all about the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino-without the bumper-to-bumper safari traffic.
There’s no shortage of ways to explore the area. In addition to game drives, you can head out on foot with a Maasai guide, either walking or running, perhaps learning about medicinal plants and tracking techniques on the way. At Cottar’s, you can also get a lofty view from a hot air balloon or in a helicopter with the Mara Elephant Project team, which is an experience that helps fund conservation efforts.
At the spa tent, you can treat yourself to a jetlag or hangover Revival massage – cheekily combined with a bloody Mary.
Four tents are family-sized – but should you require even more space, there’s also the Bush Villa is an exclusive-use property for up to 12 people. With a dedicated team of eight, five bedrooms, epic views from the terrace and its own 25-metre pool, it’s the bees-knees of Maasai Mara accommodation.
