Sitting above a bend in the Talek River, at the
confluence of the Maasai Mara's four game-viewing areas, the Mara Intrepids
camp enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the entire Mara ecosystem.
Intrepids is a short drive from the Mara River, where up to 1.5 million
wildebeest and zebra make their migration crossing every July and August.
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| Take a dip or a nap at the swimming pool |
Besides migration period, the camp still offers
some of the world's finest game viewing, with large local populations of plains
game including, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and all the Big Cats. In 2004 for
example, some 75% of the footage for the BBC's famous Big Cat Diary was shot in
the vicinity of the camp.
The camp is run on strict eco-principles, with
hot water generated by burning used coffee husks, biodegradable waste mulched
for compost, and all waste water recycled through their own on-site constructed
wetland.
Mara Intrepids boasts of 30 luxurious tents that
are widely spread across a large riverside site to ensure you experience
optimum privacy and peace. Each tent is furnished in classic style of grand
African safaris, with large four-poster beds and handsome reproduction
furniture, offset by modern en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, flush toilets
and all modern amenities. Each tent sits on a shady raised platform, with
sweeping views over the riverbanks where a large variety of animals come to
drink.
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| Mara Intrepids Family room |
At night, the restaurant is visited by wide-eyed
bush babies some of which are melanistic. A separate dining area is sometimes
used for larger groups travelling together, and bush breakfast, sundowners and
bush dinners can also be arranged.
Game drives are always a delight here as they
don't get much better than in this central triangle of the Maasai Mara. Lion,
cheetah, buffalo, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox and various
antelope are conspicuous in the plains that divide the rivers, whose confluence
lies close to the main crossing point used by tens of thousands of wildebeest
during the annual migration. This part of the reserve receives fewer visitors
than the eastern part and as such it is possible to drive long periods without
seeing another vehicle. The lodge also offers nature walks and cultural visits
to local Maasai Manyattas. They have hot air balloon safaris that leave before
dawn. The Adventurers Club runs various activities for kids.
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| Another room at the camp |
As one of Mara's most established camps, Mara
Intrepids enjoys a very close relationship with the local Maasai community,
from which most of the camps staff hail. Together with a sister camp, Mara
Explorer, Mara Intrepids channels part of its income into local community’s
initiatives, including environmental awareness training, establishment of
medical clinics, and financial support for primary schools, churches and
women's groups.
Mara Intrepids is 298 kilometers from Nairobi and
is served by an all-weather airstrip by which the camp can be reached within 45
minutes from Nairobi. Daily scheduled flights are available from the Wilson
airport and other safari destinations on your itinerary.
