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Tent Interior, Cottar's Camp, Masai Mara, Kenya

Cottar’s 1920s Camp

Safari and Wildlife Lodge
Masai Mara, Kenya

Cottar’s 1920s Camp harks back to the original safari spirit – antique furnishings, marquee tents and cut glass service. In keeping with the original idea when Chas Cottar and sons first launched adventure safaris in 1919, today Calvin Cottar is the fourth generation to continue this family tradition offering a distilled “Out Of Africa” experience.

Why we like Cottar's 1920s Camp

This camp is all about the family and the history behind it. Over the years, the Cottar’s have guided royalty, tycoons and politicians. They remain the first family of the safari business and still know East African adventure better than anyone else.

Sustainability

The Cottar’s Wildlife Conservancy Trust (CWCT) has pioneered an innovative model to conserve land in partnership with landowners. The CWCT has long-term lease agreements in place with more than 6,000 individual landowners. This not only ensures that the land can be re-wilded but also spreads the economic benefits across the wider community, rather than limiting it to a few community leaders.

Besides this, the conservancy employs people from the same community to then manage and protect this land, as well as investing in schools, clinics and boreholes in the surrounding areas. Cottar’s aim is to be successful and sustainable for the next 100 years. And, thanks to this innovative approach, the camp is well on the way to ensuring this.

Facilities

The 10 spacious canvas tents are furnished with four-poster beds, fine linen, feather duvets, and claw foot baths. At night, the camp takes on an even more evocative feel with hurricane lanterns dotted all around. Dinner, like everything else in camp, is a lavish affair – fine-dining by candlelight and always silver service, maintaining a family tradition that has lasted for over 80 years.

The nearby private house is an even more decadent affair, suitable for family gatherings. Booked on an exclusive basis, it comes complete with its own 25-metre pool. The five en-suite bedrooms all offer spectacular views of the savannah and there is a dedicated staff of eight to look after you.

Activities

Cottar’s offers a range of a similar range of activities to many safari camps in the region, but it is renowned for the quality of its guiding. It currently employs three gold-standard guides – the most of any camp in Kenya. Activities include:

Day and night game drives
Guided bush walks
Cultural visits to local Maasai village
Massage and spa treatments
Running with a Maasai warrior
Canvas bush bath

Read more

Guides/Guiding
Conservation
Cultural
Game Drive
Safari
Walking and Strolling
Migration

£££££

Cottar’s 1920s Camp is located on the southeastern edge of the Masai Mara, close to the border with Tanzania. It is outside of the national reserve, located within the Ol Derikesi Conservancy. Game drives take place in the conservancy and the reserve, but the lack of neighbouring lodges means that this part of the reserve is relatively quiet.

Cottar's 1920s Camp, Masai Mara, Kenya

Masai Mara, Kenya

Masai Mara, Kenya

Masai Mara, Kenya

Masai Mara, Kenya

Masai Mara, Kenya

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Where to stay

Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.

House in the Wild £££££

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Tucked away in Naretoi on a 1,000-acre private estate within the Enonkishu Conservancy, House in the Wild sits on the banks of the Mara River.

Lewa Safari Camp £££££

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Sprawling over the rolling plains north of Mount Kenya, Lewa Safari Camp is charming and homely with an excellent reputation.

El Karama £££££

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El Karama – meaning ‘treasured possession’ in Swahili – is a small, family-run lodge with a reputation for great, home-produced food and impeccable sustainable travel credentials. Murray and Sophie live on-site with their two young children and provide one of the most heartfelt safaris in Kenya.

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