Highlights of Tanzania and Kenya

Take a guided walk around the workings of the coffee plantation to see how the coffee is grown, harvested, dried, and produced into the aromatic coffee that we drink every day, culminating in that all-important coffee tasting!

Tours are an additional cost to accommodation.

The Trader's Walk is a collection of 5 boutique shops and gourmet food places within the ground of Arusha Coffee Lodge showcasing some of the best creativity and ingenuity of Tanzania.

Shanga - A workshop creating gift arts and crafts.
Watch beautiful jewellery, arts and crafts being created out of recycled materials.

Soko - The gift shop
From safari clothing to wonderful keepsakes and gifts.

Jikoni - The authentic African kitchen
An open-to-air restaurant with traditional Swahili food on offer.

The Tanzanite Experience - The jewellery store
Tanzanite Experience specialises in authentic, ethically-mined Tanzanite gemstones and jewellery. Tanzanite, a beautiful blue stone, is said to be a 1000 times rarer than diamonds.

Kahawa - The cafe
A delightful gourmet cafe selling freshly ground coffee and fresh-baked cakes either 'to go' or served on Kahawa's shaded terrace.

Take a picnic lunch and enjoy an excursion to the slopes of Mt Meru where Arusha National Park is located. The park enjoys an abundance of birdlife, and quite a variety of wildlife. The landscape within its relatively small 137km2 is impressively varied and offers some spectacular views.

A day excursion to Arusha National Park is an additional cost to accommodation.

Arusha is a bustling town with one of the fastest growing populations in Africa. Shopping and cultural experiences are on offer, including Masai Markets, the Tanzanite Museum, Museum of Natural History and Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre, plus a variety of boutique gift shops, cafes and restaurants.

City tour of Arusha is at an additional cost to accommodation.

Indulge in a pampering and relaxing treatment at Peaberries. Select from bouquet of treatments, including massages, pedicures, manicures, waxes and facials.

Spa treatments are not included in accommodation price.

Wildlife viewing and bird watching game drives are offered twice per day. Experienced guides encourage guests to see and experience the Serengeti through their eyes, sharing a world of small and large wonders that only they truly know and understand. Guests can arrange full days in the bush with picnic lunches or shorter excursions returning to enjoy the tranquility of camp.

Balloon safaris are a romantic and evocative way of experiencing the wilderness of East Africa, as you silently fly over the plains teeming with herds of wildlife in the early morning. Typically, a balloon safari begins around 6 am and lasts for around 1-2 hours. Balloon safaris (additional cost) take off from designated sites in the nearby Ndutu Area. The safari is followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush, a fitting end to a memorable flight in the wild. (At an additional cost)

Experience the wild while being able to give back to the community and experience the true life of the Tanzania inhabitants.

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.

We visit both inside the Masai Mara National Reserve and outside, in our Olderkesi Conservancy. You can do either morning, evening or all day game drives. Please note that viewing the main migration river crossings requires a full day out as they are located some way from camp. We believe that wildlife viewing should be a private , special and un-rushed experience.

All walks are led by a professional guide and accompanied by a licensed gun bearer. Bush walks can start from camp or can be a part of a game drive. They give you the

chance to view the unique ecosystem from a completely different perspective, and to learn about botany and entomology, and how to interpret animal tracks and signs.

The walk can be as long or as short as you wish.

Dinner is setup out in the conservancy, under the vast African sky; with sundowners by the fire to start, followed by a three course meal, accompanied by the fantastic sounds of the wilderness at night.

We have a number of treatments available at the Spa which is located near the main Mess Tent area. We only use organic ingredients and allow our guests to choose the ingredients to make their spa experience truly bespoke.

The 1920s Camp and the Bush Villa each have their own swimming pools for guests to enjoy as and when they wish.

You are given packets of Seedballs and as you drive or walk on your safari, please throw the seedballs out, one at a time. They are encased in a special coating which will activate at the right time for germination. Your packet contains approximately 225 indegenous tree, or grass or plant or flower seeds that are critical to the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.

We are replenishing the tree species that are endangered in our area. Indirectly, we are also supporting species such as elephants, butterflies, bees and other insect life that is key to the biodiversity in this area. This year, our aim is to plant 30,000 indigenous trees. Your complimentary packet will help us get towards our target, thank you for helping our local ecosystem and helping Cottars become net positive!

Spend a few hours visiting our local primary school, you will get to meet the children and sit in on a few classes if you wish, or join in on the daily football game. Something for those seeking a more engaging and immersive safari experience.

Children and families are invited to learn the ways of a warrior with the African bush as your classroom. A session includes spear throwing ; bow and arrow practice; Maasai jumping, dancing and singing and tracking, depending on age and ability.

After a day out game driving, soak and relax in our unique canvas bush bath: A traditional style canvas bath is set up in the open-air outside your tent, as you bathe, you can enjoy the wild beauty of the Masai Mara.

Under the vast African sky, while enjoying an evening cocktails by the fire, guests get to enjoy the time-honoured celebration of song and dance by our local Maasai warriors.

Visit a Maasai Village and experience their rich culture. This involves a trip to their Manyattas (mud huts), village setup (security, healthcare, education and management of resources e.g. meals, water, firewood), local market with wonderful Maasai artefacts/attire for sale, their live-stock and much more. You will learn about ancient traditions as well as contemporary struggles and adaptations to modern life.