Kenya Pioneer Safari

Take a game drives into one of the most unique game parks in the World, the Nairobi National Park.

Visits to see the orphaned elephants. Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is today the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Founded in 1979 as a core breeding centre of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe it further escalated its conservation efforts in 1983, opening up an outstanding environmental education centre. Take a tour around the Centre and feed the giraffes.

http://giraffecenter.org

Nairobi is just around the corner for those who need to get last minute items. Although our boutique is fully stocked, we would be happy to take you to any of the local shopping areas in Nairobi. Our driver guides are not only wildlife specialists, they also understand the art of bargaining.

An interesting project to deter large predators such as lion, leopard, hyena and cheetah, from killing livestock held in enclosures. This simple project was invented by an 11-year-old boy, Richard Turere whose family and neighbors were faced with predator incursions and livestock depredation on almost a daily basis in Kitengela (an area bordering the Nairobi National Park).

The ‘anti predator’ scheme involved a solar lighting system which charges batteries during the day and at night powers lights around the homestead. The lights are low power LED’s which flash continually throughout the night and have so far proved to be a great success. A study was carried out on this scheme and predator attacks and so far homesteads which this lighting scheme have not had one single predatory attack since their implementation.

The Emakoko has purchased twenty two units which have been given to 10 homes in the area – and so far those households have not been attacked. There are however more homes which desperately need these and if you would like to make a donation towards one of these units the community would be very grateful. The cost per unit to buy and install is $240.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Emakoko garden and Netty’s (daughter of Anton and Emma) tree project. Starting with just a handful, the garden has grown to over 3,500 seedlings! The trees are donated throughout Nairobi to anyone who would like to start their own Shamba (garden), and contribute to the reafforestation of Nairobi and the surrounding suburbs.

Enjoy a massage from the comfort of your room (additional cost - paid directly). Feel your jetlag dissipate as you listen to the animal sounds of Nairobi National Park.

At Campi ya Kanzi you will have the unique experience of enjoying game drives like on a magic carpet!

Thanks to our partnership with Rivian, we have a custom made Rivian Safari EV, zero emissions thanks to our photovoltaic system, and zero sounds! It is simply magnificent to move silently, and ecologically, within wilderness and next to wildlife, hearing birds, insects, and simply feeling integrated in Nature.

We also have two electric Land Rovers

With us you can do more than just stretch your legs, you can walk for days. Stroll down through the foothills to the granite-topped outcroppings at the edge of the savannah and climb up for a view of the Savannah.

Take a longer day hike across the hills and plains, accompanied by your experienced Maasai scouts, learning to read the signs of the animals and hearing how the landscape was formed, crossing over ancient lava flows and ending in a tented camp under a baobab tree for the night. Or, best of all, take the rarest of walks up into the Green Hills and through the Chyulu Cloud Forest: wild forest hogs, rare Turaco birds, huge silver-cheeked Hornbills, antelope, elephant…all under the cool shade of giant strangler fig trees that rival the strangest most mystical trees in the world.

Should you wish to fly over the Snows of Kilimanjaro or The Green Hills of Africa (the Chyulu Hills) or over the magnificent wilderness of Tsavo West and/or Amboseli National Parks, in search of elephants, our commercial pilot will be delighted to assist.

Flying next to the highest mountain of Africa is amazing: you will see the snowy peaks, the forests, the valleys of the old lava flows.

At sunrise, and with a pinkish dawn embracing the Mountain, we will fly next to Mawenzi – the second highest peak, then toward Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s highest peak We will see the Shira Plateau, and in distance Mt. Meru.

You will feel like the first pilots experiencing pioneering flying over Africa. Being so close to Kilimanjaro is fascinating.
We remain in the Kenyan airspace and we fly just 5 miles from the peak: very impressive!

We will come back toward the Chyulu Hills, flying low level in search of the elephants, which we see most of the time.
After landing, a table will be waiting for you in the savanna, with a fabulous vista of the mountain where you just flew over.

A champagne breakfast, in the savanna, with eggs and bacon cooked on a bush fire… Do not miss the experience of a life time!
Flying early morning is extremely comfortable; the air is not moving and you will have an incredibly smooth flight.

Imagine Mount Kilimanjaro wrapped in a soft, purple light with the snow on top reflecting the first sun of the morning. Listen to Africa as she wakes up at dawn. Birds are singing, zebras are snorting, and the wind is whistling through the acacias.

You are in the middle of it all, riding a horse through a herd of hartebeest. This magical experience will remain with you forever.

After your ride, raise a toast to the great greatdoors as you sip champagne at a peaceful bush breakfast.

A unique and magical cave experience...

Dining below the Earth’s surface in a lava tube lined with flaming torches, dimly lit lanterns, and local Maasai? Guests at Campi ya Kanzi have the opportunity to do just that!

Start your evening with a leisurely and scenic walk for approximately 40 minutes from Campi ya Kanzi. Your guide will lead you through the vast beautiful plains of the Chyulu an excellent time for bird watching, viewing fresh lion paw prints, and learning about the grazing practices of the Maasai in the area. As you approach the cave enjoy a surprise Maasai traditional dance by with a backdrop of the sunset and the hills.

It is not an easy venture to truly capture the essence of the warm and calming energy of the cave. The lighting from the lanterns and the candles combined with the darkness of the cave contribute to a relaxing and spiritual inner and out-of-body experience. One that cannot simply be captured through an image.

Immerse yourself in the heart of authentic Maasai culture with a visit to a traditional Maasai village, guided by Maasai guides like Pashiet, Parashi, and Matasha, who has helped create the lodge and who proudly call these lands home. As you step into the village, be greeted by warm smiles and the rhythmic melodies of traditional songs, marking the beginning of a vibrant journey into the rich heritage of the Maasai people. Engage directly with the community as they invite you to share in their daily lives and centuries-old traditions. Marvel at the intricate artistry of beadwork, feel the energy of the rhythmic jumps in the Maasai dance, and listen to captivating stories passed down through generations.

Each interaction offers a genuine glimpse into the deep-rooted respect the Maasai hold for their land and its wildlife. This immersive cultural exchange transcends a mere visit; it fosters a profound connection to a resilient culture, providing insights as enduring as the vast landscape itself.

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Amboseli National Park on a day trip that promises unforgettable vistas and wildlife encounters. Begin your adventure with the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro as the backdrop, providing a stunning setting for photography. Traverse the beautiful landscape to find vibrant flamingo flocks wading in the shallow waters, painting a striking contrast against the serene plains. Amidst this picturesque scenery, watch herds of majestic elephants roam freely, showcasing their gentle might. Amboseli's panoramic views and rich biodiversity offer a quintessential Kenyan safari experience, perfect for nature lovers seeking a day filled with awe and wonder.

Spend an unforgettable day in Tsavo, Kenya's largest and oldest national park, renowned for its vast landscapes and rugged beauty. Begin your journey under the expansive African sky, where the untouched wilderness stretches as far as the eye can see. Explore the rolling volcanic hills and sweeping savannahs, dotted with acacias and baobabs and framed by distant mountains. Witness the diverse wildlife that calls this ancient terrain home, from the iconic Tsavo lions, with their unique fine manes, to large herds of elephants bathing in red-earthed waterholes. Tsavo offers a profound connection to the wild, a place where nature's past and present merge in a timeless dance of life and survival. The diversity is stunning: our record is 29 mammals species in a day!

Indulge in the ultimte safari experience: a sleep-out night on a waterhole platform at the Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo. As the sun sets over the African savanna, find yourself perched atop a secure platform, surrounded by the serenity of nature. With the distant rumble of wildlife echoing in the night, immerse yourself in the tranquil ambiance under the vast African sky. Gaze upon the twinkling stars as they paint a breathtaking canvas above, while the gentle breeze whispers through the trees. As darkness falls, listen to the symphony of nocturnal sounds, from the distant calls of wildlife to the rustle of leaves in the wind. Elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, will come drinking in turns.This unforgettable experience offers a rare opportunity to connect intimately with the wilderness, making memories to last a lifetime.

With only 10% of Amboseli National Park utilized by most safari vehicles, combined with Elewana Tortilis Camp’s unique location on the western edge of the park (most lodges are outside of the eastern gate of the park), guests can enjoy an almost private Amboseli. We also have private gamedriving within our own 30,000 acre Kitirua Conservancy, which is the western part of the Amboseli ecosystem.

Elewana Tortilis Camp boasts an elite fleet of custom-designed safari vehicles, and highly-qualified guides with intimate knowledge of their "backyards".

Game drives are included in Game Package.

Elewana Tortilis Camp’s walking guides are Masai from the local community, who have been walking over these plains since childhood.

Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – tracks, dung beetles, micro-ecosystems. The guides are happy to share their knowledge of the terrain, traditional uses of wild herbs and barks, and the Masai way of life.

Guided walks are included in Game Package.

“Sundowners” are a safari tradition – after a day of safari; stop, watch the spectacular sunset; traditionally with a gin and tonic in hand!

Sundowners are included in Game Package.

Enjoy the cool waters in the heat of the day!

Within the lush green gardens, the pool is shaded by palms and acacia Tortilis, and a haven for tropical birds. The swimming pool has bar service and board games.

Safari is also a holiday and a rest – a break from today’s frenetic lifestyle.

Tortilis Camp offers:
Massages – a wonderful way to ease the stress out of tired shoulders and backs.
Manicure and pedicure – compliment those tanned limbs!

Spa treatments are at an additional cost.

In the heart of Masai country, Elewana Tortilis Camp offers visits to local Masai homesteads. The Masai live in semi-permanent huts known as Manyattas and it is the role of the wife to construct the hut from cattle dung and grass. The families will show you round their home for a fee (payable separately, ask reception for details), and will want to take the opportunity to sell their traditional handicrafts – bargain hard!

A team of fully-qualified driver guides are on hand for vehicle safaris across the conservancy. The specially adapted open vehicles allow for excellent viewing but it is the richness of the game that our guests talk about. All the main safari predators, the rare Grevy zebra and of course the threatened rhino, both black and white, can be viewed in abundance. A particular favourite and well recognised aspect of the area near the lodge are the good elephant numbers. The game drives are on your terms using our experience and are not limited to daylight hours. We often explore the conservancy by night using spotlight and the full moon when it obliges. Lewa offers a very good opportunity to see the Big 5.

One of the most popular ways to explore the conservancy is in a more traditional fashion – on foot. Lewa Wilderness’ expert Masai walking guides, who have lived here all their lives, explore Lewa with guests to really get up close to many of our wild neighbours. Out walking almost nothing is a barrier and ground is covered very easily making the safari experience so much more real. Guests either walk in the early morning or early evening before dark.

With over thirty horses in our stables Lewa Wilderness is well equipped to explore our wilderness. With everything from ponies up, they are able to cater for a wide range of experience levels and have become very accustomed to accommodating groups of mixed ability. They offer extensive exploration on horseback and it is one of the very popular ways to investigate and safari through the open lands to the east of the lodge. For experienced riders full morning or full day rides can be arranged, or spend the night out with the horses and our fly camp!

For something a little out of the ordinary, why not ride a camel! Guests can opt for a short ride in the bush, or for those seeking further adventure Walking Wild is our camel safari operation. This involves a longer camel trek (2 nights minimum) where guests walk across the African plains while the camels and Maasai guides transport the camp.

Visit our 'Shamba' ( Farm ) where we grow all the fresh fruit and vegetables for the lodge. There are cows, chickens and goats free range down here too. We try and be as self sustaining as possible, and this is a lovely place to explore.

Join us on the farm for a guided “back of house” tour ending in our organic garden with a freshly cooked lunch beneath the Mango trees. Such a special atmosphere celebrating our ethos of sustainable living at Wilderness.

Drive or walk to your exclusive campsite for the night and spend the evening around the campfire. Our fly camp is simple but extremely comfortable, with hot bucket showers and cosy tents, there is a mosquito dome option for those who want to sleep under the stars. For advanced horse riders we can also ride there. This experience ensures adventure in comfort.

There is a fully equipped gym at the lodge.

Lewa Wilderness provides employment and training to local people through Lewa Crafts Furniture and Kifuma Weaving project. All of the beautiful furniture in the lodge is designed and created in our workshop, fashioned out of salvaged acacia wood and crafted into unique designs. The carpet weaving uses natural wool, spun and woven by hand into beautiful rugs for sale in our gift shop. Guests are welcome to visit both projects and see the craftsmanship at first hand.

The nearby Ngare Ndare Forest offers a different ecosystem to explore, with a treetop canopy walk and spectacular waterfalls where you can swim and enjoy a picnic lunch. This is a full day trip.

For those guests interested in the local traditional culture, there is an authentic Maasai village where guests can spend the day enjoying a unique experience interacting with amazing people. This is a full day trip.

Air Wilderness is able to offer scenic flights straight from the lodge in our cessna 206 which takes up to 4 passengers. Fly to RETETI Elephant Orphanage for their morning feed, or cruise low level along the Ewaso Ng'iro River and stop for a sundowner in a remote location. Air Wilderness can also be chartered privately to take you wherever you need to go across Kenya. Unfortunately our WACO Biplane is still unavailable due to us redoing the licences.

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.