Kenya - 7-day Governors Safari with Laikipia and Maasai Mara Safari - Private fly-in

Enjoy our traditional shared game drives with a dedicated, highly qualified and experienced guide, which are available daily, in our specially-designed vehicles. Game drives can depart at any time, though are generally best in the early morning or late afternoon when animals tend to be more active as the temperature is a little cooler. If you would like to extend your afternoon game drive into the early evening, please speak with your guide.

Look out for all members of 'The Mugie Five'; there are five species living on the conservancy which guests of Governors’ Mugie won’t find at any of our other properties. Each is perfectly adapted for a life in more drought-prone regions and each needs special conservation efforts to ensure their long-term survival in the wild as all of their global populations are currently listed as ‘endangered’, or in the case of the striped hyena, ‘near threatened’

Explore the varying landscape of Mugie, from the dam to olive tree forests and acacia scrubland, host to a wealth of diverse wildlife including northern endemic species such as the Grevy's zebra, Jackson's hartebeests, reticulated giraffe and and beisa oryx.

Included in the accommodation rate.

Research on predators in the area has seen two lionesses collared in order to monitor the pride’s movements and better understand where interactions occur, that can lead to human-wildlife conflict.

Guests can join the tracking team to look for collared lions. Please note, the topography and simple equipment mean that tracking can be challenging. However, guests will learn about the use of this technology and how it assists the Conservancy in aiding pastoralists and wildlife to live alongside each other.

Included in the accommodation rate.

Get up close with nature on a foot safari and experience the untamed beauty of the Laikipia region. Being out of a car will allow you to get down to the same level as the wildlife and the smaller creatures that inhabit this incredible ecosystem. Learn all about them and their importance from your guide. Please note that for safety reasons, participants must be 16 years and over for guided bush walks.

Included in the accommodation rate.

Explore Mugie’s spectacular landscape and unique wildlife by venturing out on a sustainably powered electric mountain bike with your safari guide.

E-biking on Mugie Conservancy is a great opportunity to embark on an eco-friendly adventure along a stunningly scenic route, with plenty of (close-up) wildlife encounters along the way. We suggest heading out early morning or late afternoon while the day is still relatively cool and the game is more likely to be out in the open. Expect a variety of animals such as zebras, giraffes, oryx, buffalo, warthogs, elephants, impalas, hyenas, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, to stare curiously as you cruise by.

How do electric bikes work? Simply start peddling which kicks starts a motor that gives consistent electrical energy to the bike. You can literally pedal at your own pace and with ease, feeling completely relaxed with your guide for company and a support car that drives a little distance a head, for safety.

Guests must be 12 years+ for this activity and groups are limited to four people at a time. There is no need to book this activity in advance, nor is there any extra charge.

Included in the accommodation rate.

Tala is most definitely one of Mugie's ‘cast of characters’.

Tala became an orphan at just a few days old after her mother was killed by lions and she was brought to Mugie Conservancy by a local herder after she began following his herd of goats. There, she was cared for by Margaret who quickly became her surrogate mother. Today she wanders freely within the conservancy, but often returns to her chosen ‘home’ at the Head Quarters - where the staff are quite accustomed to being overseen by this towering presence.

Included in the accommodation rate.

Mugie Dam is Kenya's third largest private dam with 156 acres of surface area to explore. The dam welcomes a variety of game which comes to drink or graze along the shore - especially elephants that are partial to a playful dip in its refreshing waters.

Governors' Mugie House has four beautiful Canadian canoes which guests can enjoy during an early morning's entertainment. Canoeing on the dam offers a thrilling opportunity to view wildlife from the water, out in the open air, armed with the spirit of adventure. If a family of elephants happens to be bathing at the same time, rest assured that you have just witnessed one of life's most enchanting adventures.

Please note that for safety reasons, participants must be 12 years and over for canoeing excursions.

Included in the accommodation rate.

The Mugie Rangers are based close by with a team of bloodhounds who are used for daily anti-poaching patrols. Visit their headquarters to learn about the work they do, and experience the power of their keen scenting skills with a tracking demonstration.

Ask the manager to book a visit for you to meet the dogs and their handlers. If they are available, they will be happy for you to participate in a mock search, to demonstrate the hounds incredible sense of smell, with you hidden away as the ‘poacher’! You’ll be impressed with just how quickly they find you! A small gratuity given directly to the handlers will be greatly appreciated if you enjoyed your experience with them.

A visit to the bloodhound unit is not "charged for" per se, however guests are encouraged to make a donation towards the upkeep of the dogs.

Mugie's undulating landscape offers some excellent lookout points for a perfect sundowner or bush picnic. As the sunsets, this is a lovely time of the day to take a minute out and watch the sunset over the Laikipia landscape with a cold drink in hand.

Included in the accommodation rate.

Enjoy a round of golf on this 9-hole private course, which is also Kenya’s most northern golf course! Caddies are available to help you whether you are a beginner or a pro. A tip is suggested for the caddy as they are not employees of Governors’ Mugie. The golf course is also a perfect place for a walk or jog, or a spot of birdwatching!

The cost for golfing is USD $40 per person if guests need to hire clubs, or USD $25 per person if guests bring their own.

Mugie Conservancy is at the forefront of conservation, operating as a low-impact cattle ranch and farm alongside preserving the delicate and productive ecosystems that host abundant wildlife, and provide key corridors for wildlife between the Laikipia plateau, the Mathews Range and the Samburu lands to the north and east. Guests are welcomed to visit the ranching and farm operations to understand how each functions alongside securing essential habitat for wildlife.

Mugie Trading Stock has brought about a new era of community livestock management, based on the premise of shared resources. This is a program unique to Mugie, it's a program from which all parties benefit and furthers conservation, environmental and ecological conscientiousness.

Head down to visit the Mugie farm to collect freshly laid eggs or watch the dairy cows being milked at dawn. Learn about the Miraa plant and how it provides much needed income for many of our community neighbours. Saturday is Mugie's 'Dip Day' - a fascinating experience for those that wish to see this cutting-edge program for themselves.

Included in the accommodation rate.

We are now offering guests another truly authentic cultural experience from Governors’ Mugie – a visit to a nearby Samburu homestead. Interested guests will learn first hand about this colourful and culturally rich tribe.

The Samburu are a Nilotic people of north-central Kenya that are related to, but distinct from, the Maasai. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd mainly cattle but also keep sheep, goats and camels and are widely known for their beautiful attire.

You will be welcomed inside their home, which is made of wattle and plastered with a mixture of cow dung and earth. The houses are dark and smoke from their constantly mouldering fireplace fills the air inside.

Well-used gourds are prized possessions, used to make the traditional drink of cows blood and milk. The houses are divided into two small rooms, one for the women and children and the other for the man. The whole family sleeps on slightly raised beds which are covered by cow hides.

Outside you will enjoy a vibrant song and dance performance by the ladies, learn how to make a fire in the traditional way by rubbing two sticks together and will have an opportunity to appreciate all of the comings and goings of Samburu daily life.

Guests staying at Governors’ Mugie have the opportunity to visit the Pokot at a nearby village and learn about the traditions and customs of this colourful tribe who hail from the districts of West Pokot and Baringo.

Watch highly adorned women carry out vibrant song and dance while an elderly lady prepares cloth out of a goat hide. Meanwhile, a village elder demonstrates the art of fire making by rubbing two pieces of wood of different hardnesses together and other men play a fast-paced game of ‘bao’ in the sand.

You are also welcome to take a peek inside one of their homes and understand the importance of gourds; how they are made and the way in which they are used to store milk.

This is a truly fascinating experience and should not be missed. There is a fee of Ksh 15,000 (approximately USD 115, rate depending) to visit the Pokot, regardless of guest group size and this activity should be booked in advance where possible.

Governors’ Camp properties combine the best locations in the Masai Mara with the best-designed vehicles and exceptionally highly trained and experienced guides to give our clients un-matched game-viewing and photographic opportunities in the world’s prime wildlife area.

We are in the heart of the best game viewing area of the Masai Mara; we take you out twice a day into the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve and surrounding areas. Our driver-guides are hand-picked and nurtured by us. They undergo a continuous guide training scheme mentored by experts in the field. Having operated in the Masai Mara for 50 years, our driver-guides have an un-paralleled knowledge of the reserve combined with a deep understanding and respect for the importance of this wilderness area, its flora and its fauna.

Game drives are included in the accommodation rate.

For those looking for an adventure of a different kind, we suggest a magical hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara.

The adventure begins just before dawn. Departure is from a launch site behind Little Governors’ Camp. Guests assemble at the launch site for a briefing as the flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crews inflate their craft. As the dawn breaks, the hot air balloon fills and then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a wildlife viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective.

What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness – the silence as you float above the plains, the forest and the rivers of the Masai Mara.

After about an hour or so, your balloon safari finishes with a flourish. In the time-honoured tradition of balloon flights the world over, toast your return to earth with sparkling wine and enjoy a delicious breakfast that is set up and served at a very special spot. The experience ends with a game drive back to your camp.

There is an extra cost for a hot air balloon safari and the price depends on the time of year.

For a very unique experience, enjoy the excitement of a bush dinner in the wild. You will arrive at a special secluded location on the banks of the Mara river. A welcoming drink awaits by the warming campfire, followed by a delicious meal prepared by our Bush chefs, served under the stars, with the soft lights of safari lanterns and accompanied by the sounds of the African night and the grunting Mara river hippos.

Bush breakfasts and bush lunches are also available. Please try to book bush meals in advance. Costs: bush breakfasts and lunches USD $75 per person, bush dinners USD $92 per person

The Masai people of East Africa are a striking image, synonymous with safari. A proud people with many traditional practices still very much alive in their culture. Visit a local Masai village and learn about who they are in their own words.

Entry to the Maasai village is currently USD $40 per person and is paid directly to the community.

Visits to our responsible tourism projects can be organised from camp. Mara Rianda Primary School and Mara Rianda Medical Centre are two inspirational projects supported by Governors’ Camps.

There is no extra charge for this activity but donations to any of the projects are welcome.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century the cheetah population has fallen dramatically from 100'000 individuals to 7'500 individuals with human activity a major cause. It is therefore important to understand the cheetah-human interface, which is one of the key works of the Mara-Meru Cheetah Project, led by Dr. Elena Chelyseva.

Our Governors' Guides play a critical role in the data collection for Dr. Elena and her team, reporting through sightings and behaviour observations of cheetah spotted. Dr Elena enjoys sharing her expertise on the cheetahs in the area with our guests through talks or by accompanying guests game drives.

Please let us know if you would like to pre-book a talk or a guided game drive with Elena when booking your safari. There is a minimum donation requirement of USD $500 for a presentation in camp.

We welcome guests of all ages at Governors’ Camp - you are never too little to experience your first African safari together with the family!

Safaris open up a world of wonder and discovery of nature, and over the years we have hosted many families at Governors’. Some of our camps are better suited to small children; Governors’ Camp has specially designed family tents which can comfortably sleep a family of four - we can provide cots for babies and infant travellers (on request).

We will happily arrange early meals and sole use of game drive vehicles (please enquire in advance as this depends on family size and is subject to availability).

On your arrival at Governors’ Camp, you will notice our numerous little furry friends; the dwarf and banded mongoose, who are well loved members of our famous ‘Cast of Characters’! We wanted to celebrate these entertaining critters by naming our new kid’s club after them, and so the Governors’ Mongoose Club has been formed.

The idea behind this club is to educate and inspire our youngest visitors in ways that they would never have access to in their mainstream schooling systems abroad. Game drives are, of course, wonderful experiences in themselves to be shared with family, but there is so much more for your children to take away from their Kenyan safari.

The activities are designed to be fun and informative and we know that these experi- ences will provide your children with lifetime memories. You, as the parents, can take some well-deserved timeout; enjoy a spa treatment, read a book or just have a siesta while Julius (Our “chief Mongoose”) who is a local Masai guide, and the rest of our friendly team keep your children as entertained and educated as they would like to be, whilst of course ensuring their complete safety at all times. Please note that the Mongoose Club is only available at Governors’ Camp.

Included in the accommodation price.

Governors’ Camp hosts a wildlife photographer in the Mara who is available to be booked by our guests for accompanied photo safaris and in-depth tutorials on all elements of photography, including editing. Do let us know if you would like to guarantee a full day with them capturing the very best of this incredible wildlife reserve. Please note that guests will need to secure an exclusive use vehicle at a daily rate if their group size does not already secure one, on top of the photographer's daily fee.

Governors' also has 3 'photo safari' vehicles. Listening to the specific needs and recommendations of the photographers we've hosted over the years, we've modified three Landrover vehicles to include same level seating throughout, cut-out side panels in the middle row to get those much desired low angle shots, high roofs, fully folding windscreens and wide side panelling to offer the perfect place for resting a beanbag and long lens. The cars are available on an exclusive use basis and can be requested for and reserved while making your Governors' booking. They are available at all our camps in the Masai Mara.

Please see https://www.governorscamp.com/travel-planning/resident-photographers/ for full details and costs.

After your late afternoon game drive, end the day with a 'sundowner' at our very special spot on the banks of the Mara River. Our team will have set up a traditional 'safari bar' ahead of your arrival.

Sundowners are included in the nightly rate but premium drinks are extra.

Governors’ Camp offers a breathtakingly beautiful location in the wild where you can celebrate your recent nuptials with a Maasai blessing ceremony and more.

Please contact our office for a quote which will be based on the numbers in your group.