Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp is a small and exclusive camp, located in the heart of the Mara North Conservancy. This means it is away from other lodges in the Masai Mara. Therefore, Elephant Pepper Camp is the perfect base from which to escape the crowds and explore the wonders of the Mara.
The camp’s remote location allows the stars to shine bright at night, undimmed by harsh lighting. Guests enjoy the unique experience of listening to the sounds of lion, leopard and hyena foraging and hunting. All whilst being cosseted with traditional and modern comforts such as a campfire and cozy duvets.
Upon waking, tea and freshly baked biscuits ease guests into a morning of game drives. Or bush walks across the conservancy in the company of highly experienced local guides and wildlife rangers. Blankets warm the guests on night game drives back to camp after sun downers in the bush. Delicious Northern Italian cuisine, fresh baking and sensational salads complete the rustic luxury sensation. Wi-Fi internet is available in the main areas.
Condé Nast Traveler has announced the results of its annual 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. Elephant Pepper Camp Masai Mara, ranked #29 in in the “50 Best Resorts” overall global list. And #4 in the Top 15 Resorts in Central & Eastern Africa.
The spacious (40m2), luxury, en suite safari tents offer either twin or double beds. They have a very classy and elegant feel, combining campaign furniture, with dark wood and intricate brass fittings.
The tents are set underneath a grove of fig and Elephant Pepper Trees and are spaced out to ensure privacy. From your personal verandah or hammock you can watch wildlife roam on the savanna plains.
Luxury Safari Tent
All tents can fit one extra bed, to accommodate children under the age of 16 years. For families we recommend our brand new Family Tents.
Honeymoon / Family Tents (x 2)
Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp’s two Honeymoon / Family Tents are the ideal accommodation for couples that want extra space and privacy.
The spacious suites each comprise of an en suite master bedroom and a sitting room, which can be converted into a second bedroom for children under the age of 16 years. The lush bathrooms have double wash basins, flush toilets and hot water showers.
Located at either end of the camp, the Honeymoon / Family Suites offer spectacular views over the savanna plains from your private veranda.
Lounge of the honeymoon tentFamily tent
Masai Mara Family Safari ↓
Maasai with toddler
Families are welcome at Elephant Pepper Camp and there is a children’s menu. Kids are called young explorers here and get the most educational experience while having the best fun. From fiercely contested croquet matches in the lazy afternoons, or roasting marshmallows around the camp fire. To walks identifying tracks and droppings. As a memento of their adventure, children can take home their very own cast from the tracks they discovered!
They will also learn about the trees, flowers, grasses, insects, birds and bird calls, and mammals. Warrior training will teach them how to make a fire, make and use a bow & arrow, throw a rungu*, and track wildlife.
*a wooden throwing club or baton
During normal term times, school visits are a highlight too.
Croquet
Child Policy
Child Policy at Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp
Children under the age of 12 year sharing with an adult
Child(ren) free of charge plus adult single rate
Children aged 12-17 years in their own room (2 minimum)
75% of the adult sharing rate
Child(ren) aged 12-17 years sharing with 1 adult
50% of the adult sharing rate for the child , adult per person sharing rate
Child aged 12-17 sharing with 2 adults
Triple rate applies
*Child aged 12-17 sharing with 2 adults Family room rate to apply at Star beds *Child policy applies in all the Elewana properties except Kilindi where there are no children allowed. For the activities the child rates start from 3 to 17 year old.
Sustainability and Conservation information ↓
Mara North Conservancy
Elephant Pepper Camp was fundamental in founding the 283 km2 / 70,000 acres Mara North Conservancy (MNC). This is one of the largest community and private sector managed conservancies in the world. And, one of Kenya’s most successful conservation models.
Community
Mara North Conservancy is an exclusive safari destination in a prime wildlife area. Whilst guaranteeing over 800 Masai landowners stable revenue, transparent financial management and the preservation of the ancient balance between wildlife and traditional pastoralism.
Elephant Pepper Camp has always worked directly with the community in this area since the late 1980s. Ensuring that the landowners benefit with a fair income from tourism.
With fixed payments coming in, these landowners have opened bank accounts, are able to plan their expenditure and even start accumulating savings. This helps them to set up local businesses and invest in the education of the future generation. Elephant Pepper Camp also employs over 80% of its staff from the surrounding communities.
Being able to really make a difference to the lives of children in a rural community can be a life changing experience and unforgettable memory from your safari in Kenya.
Giving Back
Elephant Pepper Camp and the Land and Life Foundation works closely with Ololomei Primary School. They identify and address the school’s most urgent needs. Very few of the children had any access to text books when the support program began. However, thanks to the generosity of a great number of visitors, we were able to donate text books and repair and reconstruct some classrooms.
To find out more about how you can get involved, please contact us.
If you are considering bringing donations from abroad, visit the Pack for a Purpose website for very specific advice on what is needed. Please do note that when flying within Kenya, the internal flight weight restriction is 15kg and may therefore limit what you can carry with you to the camps and donate to the rural communities in person. We can always, however, donate anything over and above your weight limit on your behalf at a later date.
Sustainability
Elephant Pepper Camp is one of only six camps in Kenya to have been awarded “Gold Level” Eco Rating by the internationally recognized civil society organization Eco Tourism Kenya. The camp achieves environmental best practice by combining old fashioned safari camp know-how with the latest technology, leaving a minimal footprint. Almost invisible under the Elephant Pepper trees with completely removable tent structures, the camp relies entirely on solar power and uses only LED lighting.
Rubbish is responsibly disposed of or recycled and separated glass is sold to the recycling plant ‘Central Glass’ in Nairobi.
Activities at Elephant Pepper Camp
The Elephant Pepper Camp guides are based in camp, in the Masai Mara. They know their backyard intimately. All the guides are Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified. Some of their guides have guided in this area for 20 years! Mara North Conservancy, is a privately managed conservancy in the core of the Masai Mara.
Why is the game viewing in Mara North Conservancy better than in the Masai Mara Reserve?
Being a private conservancy, the Mara North exists alongside the local farmers and their cattle. Cattle are not allowed into the Masai Mara Reserve. This means the grass is high between the months of November through to June, which the wildlife don’t enjoy. Therefore, the plains game, followed by their predators tend to avoid the Masai Mara Reserve. Opting for the balanced grazing of the conservancy with its lush short green grass.
During the months of July to October, when the zebra and wildebeest migration flood into the whole Mara Eco-system, the grass in the Reserve is trampled and eaten. Therefore, game viewing is similar within the Reserve and within the Conservancy at this time.
Game drive with a variety of wildlife
More information on activities ↓
Game drives
The Mara North Conservancy is restricted to those vehicles belonging to lodges within this conservancy. Meaning Elephant Pepper guests have this outstanding part of the Masai Mara, almost to themselves. Game driving is outstanding. With a resident pride of lions, cheetahs and leopard. And of course, the famous zebra and wildebeest migration surrounding camp between July – October. Being private, yet central to the vast Masai Mara Eco-system, the Elephant Pepper guides have easy access to the reserve, zebra and wildebeest crossings, and outstanding game viewing within the conservancy.
Being in a private conservancy, Elephant Pepper Camp also is able to offer pre dinner game drives with red-light spotlights. This opens up a whole new world to day time game drives. As this is when you can spot hunting predators, and night active aardvark.
Elephant Pepper Camp has open game drive vehicles. The current fleet are new, specially fitted, 4×4 Toyota Land Cruisers. The vehicles are unrivaled with feature enhancements specifically designed for comfort and photography. Open sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets.
The camp is close to leopard gorge, the famous setting for BBC’s Big Cat Diaries. This is the best part of the Masai Mara. A year round game viewing experience like no other!
Game drives are included in Game Package. Guests will share game drives unless “exclusive use of vehicle” has been pre-booked at an extra charge.
Cheetah
Migration River Crossings
The great annual migration is when thousands of zebra and wildebeest head north from the dry Serengeti plains. They are looking for fresh grazing mill around the whole of the fertile Mara Eco system. They stay for as long as the grazing lasts. Usually about 4 to 5 months. The Mara River crossings happen during the middle of the day. When the animals are thirsty, they come to the river to drink and are pushed across by the crowds of animals behind them.
We recommend staying out for the whole day with a picnic lunch. The Elephant Pepper Camp guides know all the crossings, including the smaller private areas that you can enjoy a few hours by the river away from the crowds.
One visit to the Masai Mara National Reserve is included (per 3 night stay) while on game package. Additional visits to Masai Mara National Reserve are at an additional cost.
Guided Bush Walks
Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things. Animal tracks, flowers and micro-ecosystems. The guides enjoy sharing their knowledge and can take you on a delightful ramble from camp. A whole new perspective of the Eco-system around you.
Bush Walk
Hot Air Balloon
Hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara are also available at an extra cost.
When to visit Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp – Wildebeest Migration and Birding Safari
The Masai Mara ecosystem holds one of the highest lion densities in the world and they are seen in the area all year round. It hosts over 95 species of mammals and 570 recorded species of birds. The best time for a birding safari is between November to March.
Elephant Pepper Camp is an ideal destination, at any time of the year, for those wishing to enjoy exceptional game-viewing.
July and August: Visitors will see thousands of wildebeest and zebras crossing the rivers into the Masai Mara from the Serengeti. Particularly in July. This also makes it a great time to view birds of prey and big cats such as lions and leopards! This is probably the busiest time in the Masai Mara.
September and October: With most of the migration now enjoying the fresh grasses of the Masai Mara, it is still a very popular time so can be very busy. The herds have begun to make their way back to the Serengeti.
November – June: Most of the migration animals have returned to Tanzania. However, many animals remain in the Masai Mara. It is a great time for birding.
Getting To Elephant Pepper Camp
Mara North Airstrip is a 30 minute drive from camp. Musiara airstrip is a 1 hour drive from camp. Both are a 45 min flight from Wilson airport. There are several daily flights departing Nairobi Wilson Airport. There are also daily flights from Shaba / Samburu / Lewa / Nanyuki / Meru / Mombasa /Ukunda (Diani) / Amboseli. We can also arrange private charters from anywhere.
Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp Accommodation Rates
2024 Elephant Pepper Camp Game Package Rates
Per person sharing
Single room
Family / Honeymoon Suite
High Season: 1st July to 31st October and 20th December 2024 to 3rd January 2025
$920
$1,380
$2,300
Mid Season: 4th January to 31st March, 1st to 30th June and 1st November to 19th December
$656
$983
$1,638
Green Season: 1st April to 31st May
Due to popular demand, the camp will stay open in 2024. Use Mid Season rates.
Elephant Pepper Camp offers game package rates. This includes: Accommodation, All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), Soft drinks, beer, house wines and selected spirits, teas, coffees and refreshments (on the property), Laundry services, Scheduled and shared game drives, Activities including guided walking safari, Bush sun downers, and breakfasts, Transfers to and from designated airstrips.
Rates exclude park fees, champagne, private cellar wines and premium spirits.
Elewana Elephant Pepper Accommodation Special Offers
Offers cannot be combined unless specified.
Elewana Circuit Discount
Elephant Pepper Camp is part of the Elewana Collection. A collection of luxury boutique lodges, camps and hotels in iconic locations across Kenya and Tanzania. Stay longer at any combination of these properties and get great discounts in 2024: 6+ nights: 10% 9+ nights: 15% 12+ nights: 20%
Valid in mid and low season at Arusha Coffee Lodge until 31st May 2024* but all year at all other Elewana properties.
*1st November 2023 until 19th December 2024 and 4th January to 31st May 2024.
Get an extra 5% discount when you return to any Elewana property. Plus a 20% discount on Spa treatments*. *Spa services not available in Masai Mara and Serengeti
Honeymoons
There is nothing more romantic than a safari! Safaris are already an unforgettable, once in a lifetime and pampered experience. With incredible sunsets, romantic tents with spectacular views, and relaxed al fresco dinners.
So, if it is your honeymoon, then all the tents at Elephant Pepper Camp are romantic with lovely views. However, the camp also has a Honeymoon Suite ideal for that very special romantic safari.
There is often upgrades for honeymooners at Elephant Pepper Camp – do check with us if we can arrange something extra special.
Weddings
Over the years, Elephant Pepper Camp has hosted many beautiful weddings, blessings, and renewal of vows for guests.
From small simple ceremonies involving merely a glass of champagne at the end of a game drive. To elaborate three day events, with over 15 guests taking over the whole property.
The award-winning Cottar’s Safari Camps are situated in the private conservancy, bordering Maasai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti, Tanzania – rates and offers
