Mara Intrepids is a short drive from the Mara River, where more than a million wildebeest and zebra make their perilous migration crossing every July and August. For the remainder of the year, the camp offers some of the world’s finest game viewing. These include large local populations of plains game, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and all the Big Cats. Overlooking the Talek River, at the very confluence of the Masai Mara’s four game viewing areas. Mara Intrepids enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the world’s best known wilderness in Kenya. In fact, in 2004, some 75% of the footage for the BBC’s famous Big Cat Diary was shot in the vicinity of the camp.
Next to the main bar is a fully equipped conference room. In the evening Maasai naturalists deliver slide shows on the local culture and wildlife here. And it is where corporate and team building groups can indulge in a spot of ‘bush business’.
There is a small boutique shop with souvenirs and safari essentials and free WiFi in public areas.
Mara Intrepids has the best kids club in the region for cultural and wildlife edutainment. Recommended for children accompanying their parents on safari this family program provides a fun and exciting opportunity for the kids to learn about the wild from Maasai naturalists who specialize in plants, wildlife, and survival skills. Heritage’s Adventurers’ Club for kids (2 – 12yrs) and Young Rangers’ Club for intrepid teenagers (13 – 17yrs).
Kids catching butterflies
Mara Intrepids Accommodation
The 30 x luxury tents are widely spread across a large riverside site. This ensures optimum privacy and peace. Each luxury tent is approximately 26 sq. meters. With large four poster beds and handsome reproduction furniture – classic style of the grand African safaris. They can either have a queen size bed or twin beds. They have 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.
There are tea/coffee making facilities, insect repellent, and safety deposit boxes in each of the luxury tents.
Luxury tent
Two of the tents are family tents, with two bedrooms on either side of a spacious lounge, and can accommodate up 5 people.
Family tent separated by a lounge
Activities at Mara Intrepids Camp
Game Drives
Mara Intrepids Camp offers three guided drives in the game reserve every day. Free with every stay. The early morning safari is from 6 am to 9 am. The mid morning is after breakfast. While the late afternoon is from 3.30 pm returning to camp at sunset. Or you can indulge in a full day game safari to the Mara River with a packed picnic breakfast and/or lunch. The 4×4 safari jeeps allow for more legroom. Additionally the roof racks open for the best game viewing and photography.
Photographic Safari
Brimming with vibrant cultures, iconic landscapes, and an array of fascinating wild creatures, Kenya is an ideal setting for a photo safari. Rolling grasslands teem with dazzling herds of zebra, giraffes canter against the silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Maasai people carry on their traditions.
CheetahLeopardLions
Nature walk
A two hour nature walk with a Maasai naturalist after breakfast. They will help you identify more than 30 species of plants, and spot a variety of birds. While picking up some survival tips like knowing how to behave in the presence of wild animals.
Maasai Cultural Activities
Mara Intrepid Camp is very much connected with the local culture. It encourages interactions with the local Maasai village. Visit the traditional homes, called Manyattas, and learn about traditional Maasai life. They offer lectures and slide shows on the Maasai Culture and human-wildlife issues and solutions. Plant a tree with the local residents.
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Enjoy the thrill of an early morning hot air balloon ride where you can enjoy the spectacle of the Masai Mara sunrise and the aerial view of big game scattered across the rolling plains of the reserve. Provided at an extra cost.
Wining and Dining
There is a large dining room under a traditional Makuti thatch roof. You can enjoy breakfast and lunch on a breezy terrace beside the riverfront swimming pool.
Instead of meeting at the bar for a drink, why not meet somewhere in the Mara for a sundowner where you can sip a cocktail and watch the sun melt in the horizon. Evenings in the Mara come alive with the night animals like the bat-eared fox, the owls and the big cats like the lion and the leopard stirring to hunt under the cover of darkness. You simply cannot miss to drink a toast to Africa’s incredible diversity of wildlife.
If dining at the camp proves a tad too tame, you can head out to wilder settings and enjoy sumptuous bush breakfasts and dinners in the bush. Perhaps within sight of a lion or a herd of elephants or the hippos snorting in the river below. It’s the ultimate African appetizer.
Ecotourism
As one of Masai Mara’s most established camps, Mara Intrepids enjoys a very close relationship with the local Maasai community, from which most of the staff hail. Together with its sister camp, Mara Explorer, part of the fees are channeled into local community initiatives. Including environmental awareness training, the establishment of medical clinics, and financial support for primary schools, churches, and women’s groups. The camp itself is run on strict Eco principles. Hot water is generated by burning used coffee husks. Biodegradable waste is mulched for compost. And all wastewater is recycled through the camp’s own on-site constructed wetland.
How to get to Mara Intrepids
Mara Intrepids is about a six hour drive from Nairobi. Therefore most guests fly into the camp. The camp is only a 45 minute flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to the all weather airstrip, Ol Kiombo.
When to visit Mara Intrepids
Seasons run as follows: Summer is from September – April with highs of 34˚C / 194˚F and lows of 20˚C / 68˚F Winter is from May – August with highs of 25˚C / 77˚F and lows of 11˚C / 52˚F There are two rainfall seasons. The long rains are from April – May, and the short rains are from November – Mid December.
The wildebeest migration is in the Masai Mara between July and September so this is obviously the best time to visit. However, there is still excellent game viewing all year. Especially lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Mara Intrepids Accommodation Rates
Mara Intrepids now uses the best available rates so we can’t publish here.
NB: Over Easter, high season rates shall apply
The rates are full board, per person per day, which includes three lip smacking meals, accommodation in en suite luxury tents, three game drives a day, and free adventurers’ club membership for the children (from 3 – 11-year-olds).
The rates exclude transport to and from the Masai Mara, Park Fees, drinks, and other extras.
The award-winning Cottar’s Safari Camps are situated in the private conservancy, bordering Maasai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti, Tanzania – rates and offers
