Ngare Serian isn’t just off the beaten path—there is no path. To get there, you’ll cross a narrow suspension bridge over the Mara River (life goals). Just four tents sit on hardwood decks above the water, with sweeping views of the Oloololo Escarpment. Here, isolation is the ultimate luxury—no vehicles, no cattle, making this area ideal for walking safaris through untouched landscapes. The only traffic? A pod of hippos blocking the river.
There’s something thrillingly intrepid about having to cross a little rope bridge to reach the camp. Hopping out of the vehicle to enter camp on foot makes it fun (if you’ve packed light).
Four large tents overlook the Mara River, where a resident hippo pod luxuriates during the day. The canvas-sided suites are all romance, with Zanzibar four-poster beds and bathtubs on the veranda.
In the private Mara North Conservancy, there’s masses of space for the camp’s few residents – and with private vehicles, you really get a sense of exclusivity. That can be at odds with a typical Maasai Mara experience and part of what makes this spot as special as seeing your first pangolin.
Beyond the game drives, there are walks, balloon rides and river fishing. After a day of exploring, you can get to know your fellow guests over campfire stories and a warming whisky or two.
Another reason we love this camp is The Nest. A short stroll from Ngare Serian, this riverside treehouse is built into the branches of a Warburgia tree and can be booked for a romance-heaped sleep-out or an extreme version of camping in the garden for Families.
The Nest’s double beds are under cover in case of rain and there’s a flushing loo with a view (of hippos, usually). After dark, you can conduct your own little safari from the comfort of your deck. Scan the area with a red-light spotlight and when it reflects off nocturnal eyes, grab the night-vision camera to capture scenes of the Mara’s wild nightlife.
