Governors’ Camp is the original permanent tented camp in the Masai Mara National Reserve– hammering its first stakes into the ground back in 1972 – it’s here where luxury safaris began. This area was once reserved for Kenya’s British governors but thankfully the dress code has relaxed since then (“white” is not required, but a little “mischief” is still encouraged). It’s still considered one of the best locations for viewing wildlife in the Mara.
Its 25 khaki-clad tented suites are generously spread out above the chocka-a-croc Mara River. Each en-suite has its own veranda for post-lunch downtime – whether that involves a nap or popping open a bottle of bubbly (followed by…a nap).
A safari at Governors’ is about the game drives—cranky lions prowling and the growls of lazy leopard lounging. Big cats abound. For those keen to get even higher up the food chain, hot air ballooning offers breathtaking views while drifting slowly over the Mara at sunrise. Maasai village visits, meanwhile, are a fascinating way to learn just how wildly unqualified you’d be to survive in the wild.
Visit the spa tent and spend the afternoon being kneaded and pummelled (in a good way). Or grab a chilly beverage at the bar tent, which overlooks the river. If you’re visiting between August and October, you might even see the migration herds crossing right in front of camp – talk about front-row seats.
As with most safaris, you’ll not be left wanting on the food front – from a full English brekkie to a three-course lunch on the lawn and a buffet dinner, feeling even vaguely peckish will be a distant memory by the time you check out.
Come back from your afternoon game drive for sundowners and a round of enthusiastic (if wildly inaccurate) wildlife impressions around the campfire. Then it’s dinner, followed by a cheeky nightcap in the lounge—assuming you can resist the gravitational pull of your warm, pillowy bed. Safaris do tend to enforce the bedtime routine of a seven-year-old, and honestly, we’re not complaining.
