Governors’ Camp

There are 37 tents in total at Governors’ Camp, 29 of which are classic safari tents, designed to be spacious, airy and filled with natural light. All tents have their own private verandas where guests can enjoy lovely views of either the Mara River or the golden savannah.

All classic tents have a double or twin beds with an en suite bathroom separated by a canvas wall, complete with a hot shower, complimentary toiletries and bathrobes. Guests are also supplied with a cosy seating area, a desk, storage for belongings, and ports for charging various devices. The toiletries provided by the camp are a lovely range of Cinnabar Green products – shampoo & conditioner, shower gel, soap and body lotion – that are all handmade in Kenya with natural ingredients.

The other 8 tents are specially designed for families with ample space to sleep 2 adults and 2 children, all overlooking the Maasai Mara plains. Family Tents are provided with all the same amenities as Classic Tents with the addition of an extra children’s bedroom area at the front of the tent.

All meals are prepared by the camp and served in or outside of the dining tent. Breakfasts have full English and Continental options, served from a buffet. Lunches are also served from a buffet with fresh al fresco salads, and dinner is a la carte, served in the dining tent. Picnics can be prepared for guests embarking on game drives and bush dinners can also be specially arranged.

Governors’ Camp offers 3 game drives per day, one at sunrise, one in the late morning, and a third in the early afternoon. Having operated in the Maasai Mara for 40 years, their safari guides have an unparalleled knowledge of the area and all its inhabitants. Three of their vehicles have been specially enhanced for photography so guests can capture some timeless moments and can be reserved when booking.

Leave the vehicles behind and take to the savannah with one of the camp’s expert guides and naturalists. Walking the same ground as the animals of the Maasai Mara takes safari to a far more intimate level. While learning all about the plants and their medicinal uses and Maasai folklore, guests can walk in the footsteps of giraffes, elephants, buffalo, hyenas or even lions.

As dawn breaks, ascend into a wildlife adventure like no other. Guests will often find themselves struck by the serene silence and stillness, the perfect setting to take in the wildlife from above without any interference. Upon landing, guests are met with a delicious bush breakfast before they drive back to camp to really finish with a flourish.

Retire to the camp’s peaceful spa tent when it’s time to make the most of the peace and quiet. Guests can choose from a range of restorative treatments including massages, facials, body scrubs, manicures and pedicures.

Not far outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve is a local community called Mara Rianda made up for 48 traditional homesteads surrounding a cattle enclosure. Governors’ Camp encourages its guests to pay a visit to Mara Rianda because they know they’ll be struck by the vibrancy and warmth of the Maasai people and intrigued by a remarkable culture that has endured for centuries. The entrance fee goes directly to the community and its members!

Governors’ Camp believes that you can never be too young to experience the wonders of the Maasai Mara. Mongoose Club strives to educate, entertain and inspire youngsters in ways they’ve never experienced before and leave them with treasured memories they’ll never forget. Kids can try out all sorts of activities like archery, jewellery crafting, and nature walks where they can track animal footprints and learn to identify different plants. And if parents need a little extra break the Mongoose Team, led by Julius the “Chief Mongoose” who will take care of everything.

In 2013 the Governors Collection opened a Health Centre at Mara Rianda and formally handed it over to Community Health Partners Kenya (CHP), who offer healthcare that is affordable, accessible and to a high standard. The Health Centre provides all kinds of care including antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, HIV testing and HIV/Aids treatment, vaccinations, counselling, and advice on nutrition and sanitation.

The facility has made healthcare far more accessible and dramatically improved the quality of health for the Maasai community in the Mara Rianda area. And because of continued support the Health Centre has been able to make even more new additions, such as a maternity block, a portable oxygen concentrator and humidifier, and an electrical suction machine. Guests are more than welcome to visit the Health Centre to see the amazing impacts of quality healthcare for themselves!

Over 6 months, Governors’ Camp hosted a free eye clinic for the local community since eye infections/diseases which can lead to damaged sight and even blindness are unfortunately fairly common in the Maasai region. This can damage people’s livelihoods, impact their families and, in an area populated by dangerous animals, even endanger their lives. Patients from the surrounding Transmara and Narok districts were screened and a surgical team was flown in from the Kwale Eye centre.

A separate team was provided by AMREF to show patients how to care for their eyesight and prevent infections/diseases where possible. During these 6 months, the Mara Eye Clinic screened over 300 patients, treated 141 for cataracts and trachoma, and even successfully restored the sight of 33 people who had previously been blind!

Governors Collection closely works with the Mara Rianda Charitable Trust to support the primary school in Mara Rianda. The school began as a few small huts set up by parents who had sold some of their cattle for the funding. The local community requested the help of the Governors’ Camp Collection and the BBC team from “Big Cat Diaries” and in 2004 the Governors’ Collection set up the UK Mara Rianda Charitable Trust to raise funds for the school. Back then the school had less than 250 children and very basic facilities, and the first request by the headteacher was for chalk for the blackboards.

There are now over 3,000 children receiving an education in Primary Schools. With funding and support, the school has been transformed and expanded to benefit the pupils, teachers and ultimately the whole community. Some of the developments achieved through the efforts of the Trust and Collection include:

• 4 classroom blocks accommodating 17 classes and a library
• A girls’ dormitory with room for 160 girls
• On-site accommodation for 6 teachers
• Fresh water supply and solar power
• Paying of 4 teachers’ salaries
• Support for gifted students through secondary school
• Supplies of books, stationery, desks, cupboards and teaching materials
• Sanitary provisions and protection for girls
• Continued maintenance of school facilities

Governors’ Camp plants an average of 45 trees every month to negate the damage of trees lost to natural causes, such as elephant grazing

Governors’ Camp has undertaken many initiatives to recycle and reduce waste. All waste is carefully sorted and all recyclable waste is taken to be reused where possible. For instance, recycled paper and cardboard are used to make briquettes to fuel the hot water system. All guest rooms and bar areas have been fitted with reverse osmosis water filtration plants so as much water as possible can be safely reused. Plastic bottles, containers and straws are no longer used on the camp and have been replaced with reusable metal and glass containers.