Your arrival starts with a grand entrance, crossing a rope bridge over a river, which leads you into a hidden world of riverine forest and lantern-lit pathways. At night, hippos grumble in the water, leopards bark in the dark (from a respectable distance, one hopes), and the rest of the world feels charmingly irrelevant.
Mara Plains is a masterclass in safari elegance, blending traditional materials with African soul. Rich leather, copper, and brass set the tone. And chunky doors from Lamu and handwoven Persian rugs add warmth and a sense of place – you’re arrived in a different world.
But there are some decidedly more modern inclusions too – the professional-level camera and lenses you can use during your stay or the Swarovski binoculars for impromptu birding on your deck. There’s a yoga mat, too, for a downward dog before you head off to see an uptight cat.
With only 14 guests in camp and being in a private conservancy, you really get the best of the Maasai Mara area – particularly the proliferation of big cats for which this neck of the woods is known – without the crowds.
So what are you waiting for? Get out and about on a game drive (day or night), on foot, in a hot air balloon, or even on horseback if you’re a decent rider (galloping through the domain of lions is not ideal for beginners). If you’re keen to mix up your safari experience, you can take a beading class with the Maasai women of the Maa Trust.
With no set schedule, you’re free to design your day however you like – and that goes for meals, too. If you just can’t wait to get moving in the morning, have your breakfast out and about. That might be packed pastries, sausages and fruit to have at your mid-morning coffee stop – or a full-on bush brekkie where a chef cooks your eggs to order as you admire the expansive Mara plains from the world’s best breakfast table.
