Mara Ngenche Camp, Masai Mara National Reserve

The Mara Ngenche Camp is strategically located in the heart of Masai Mara in an intimate and small camp hidden within the riverine forest. The camp is always closed from April to May and this happens every year so as you book a room at the Mara Ngenche camp, you should consider the closed months. Located near the Hippo pool where several hippos can be seen throughout the day and night from the comfort of your room, the Ngenche camp is unfenced which allows animals to move freely around the camp.

The ideal time for staying at the Ngenche is three nights as this is enough time to explore Masai Mara National Reserve and relax in the evenings. The National Reserve can be accessed by both road and air but the best and fastest way is by flying to the Ol Kiombo airstrip which is a 45 minutes’ drive to the Ngenche camp.

The tented rooms at the camp have a Boma feel (Bomas are specially constructed Masai houses) and each of these has a king-sized bed or two queens and they each have a great view of the Talek River and the Hippo pool. The camp previously had 10 tented rooms but due to the high demand from tourists visiting Masai Mara, two more luxurious tents were added adding the total to 12. The tents are usually fully booked during the wildebeest migration months which are from June to late October. Some of the highlights that you should look out for include an insight into the Masai culture by visiting the villages, the annual wildebeest migration view from the camp, the camp has an intimate feel, and the exciting safari activities especially game drives that are offered by the camp.

A sandy pathway through the bushes leads to the 12 spacious tented rooms. All 12 tents are spacious, six of which can be fixed as doubles and the other six as twin or triple rooms. They are evenly spread out giving each privacy needed and the spacing was because when they were being constructed, the vegetation around was not uprooted in any way.

Accommodation at Mara Ngenche Camp

Mara Ngenche camp is among the Atua-enkop Africa luxury camps that own different parties in different parts of Kenya. There are 12 spacious tents that have beautiful views of the River offering comfortable and modern accommodations to the guests. The tents offered are suitable for families, individuals, and groups since it offers accommodation in form of double beds, triple beds, twin beds, and single beds.

Each of the 12 tents is equipped with either a king-size or queen bed, a plunge pool, an en-suite bathroom fitted with a private flush toilet, outside safari showers with hot and cold water, bathtubs, twin porcelain sinks, free bottled drinking water, wooden chairs, and a table, mosquito nets, private verandas with clear views of the Hippo pool, a sitting area, and a deck.

There is a fireplace at the camp where guests sit and share about the day’s activities and it also provides warmth during the cold season. The rooms approximately cost $300 but this can change depending on several factors like the season (peak or low) and the type of room chosen.

Safari activities:

Bush walks and dinner

Guided safari walks

Picnic lunches

Cultural trips to Masai Mara villages

Game drives in a 4×4 safari vehicle: These are offered by well-trained and experienced tour guides with a maximum of 6 people per vehicle.

Sundowners

Birding: this is best done during the wet season when the migratory birds fly to the Masai Mara.

Facilities at Mara Ngenche Camp

The camp offers several services and facilities and these include a continental breakfast, international and local cuisines including non-vegetarians and vegetarians, Kenyan and Indian cuisines, picnics, bush breakfasts, lunch and dinners with all the meals prepared by well-trained chefs in the restaurant at the camp, WIFI can b accessed in all the rooms by the guests for easy communication with friends and family, a well-stocked bar that serves both international and local drinks like cocktails, beers, wines, spirits, whiskeys, and soft drinks. The drinks can either be taken in the bar or on your private balcony overlooking the great views of the Talek River, a craft shop where guests can buy Masai merchandise like jewellery, clothes, bags and shoes, a backup generator, clean bedding, airport pickups, and drop-offs among others.

The lounge tent at the camp is densely furnished with wooden chairs, dark leather sofas, and suede chairs, decorative wall hangings, carved wooden coffee, and woven carpets across the floor to give it a homely feeling. The front lounge has a shaded veranda fitted with chairs and guests get to enjoy evening hours on the veranda watching the sunset with their favorite drinks at hand. It is also a nice place for spotting the Hippo pool and just right next to the lounge is a shop that is housed in a small tent where you can do personal shopping.

The wall hangings are decorated with Masai patterns and just next door, you will still find a well-furnished and stocked bar with animal print designs giving off the authentic African touch. There is also a therapist at the camp who helps with carrying out different treatments like a full body massage. Note that the therapist needs to be booked on time and the cost usually goes for $60 although this can easily change.

The Mara Ngenche Camp is best suited for children above 12 years and this is because it is located on a high River bank of the Talek River although the management makes special expectations on a rare basis. The camp is also fitted with baby cots with the triple rooms acting as family rooms. Water supply is got from a borehole, there are no television sets at the camp, cell phone signals are a bit hard and there is one spot for the signal which is found in one spot and in case you wish to use a computer, there is one in the office that you can use.

Mara Ngenche is a small camp that is rarely visited by guests as compared to the other camps and lodges found within the national reserve. The old-fashioned designed rooms mixed with a modern touch offer independence to the guests and with the friendly staff at the camp, you will be sure to enjoy your safari to the Masai Mara.