Real life Lion King

Recommending where my clients go and which camps they stay on a safari makes a huge difference to the enjoyment of what can be a very expensive holiday – which is why I jumped at the opportunity to invest in my knowledge of Kenya and take a 6 night trip in November. I was excited to learn more about Cottar’s 1920s Camp as I knew they were a member of the Long Run and therefore one of the world’s best sustainably managed private protected areas. We spent 2 nights in Nairobi - the direct flight from London arrives late so I always recommend spending a whole day and further evening before heading off on safari. I now have lots more attractions and recommendations for my clients visiting this vibrant destination – the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are musts, but we also visited the Opportunity Factory for some retail therapy. This is a fabulous facility bringing together Kenyan craftspeople from local communities and enabling them to connect with markets both in Kenya and internationally. The luxury Kenyan brand SandStorm produce their safari inspired leather goods here, and it is also home to ceramics, stained glass, and the iconic Kenyan beading. I had a show round of the Instagram-famous Giraffe Manor, and although you may have to wait up to 4 years to secure a booking to stay overnight here, I discovered they have a beautiful wellness facility called The Retreat which can be booked as a day room for guests transiting through Nairobi with a late flight home. Our base in Nairobi was a beautiful boutique property in the Karen area, and we had a great driver who took us around and looked after us really well for the whole time we were there. The following morning I overcame some trepidation about small 12 seater planes and enjoyed the 40 minute safari flight to the multi-award winning Cottar’s 1920 Camp – with its own airstrip in the heart of Lion King country and the 7608-acre private Olderkesi Conservancy bordering the famous ‘seventh’ natural wonder of the world, the Maasai Mara and the Tanzania Serengeti game reserve. The Mara conservancies are Maasai owned group ranches that have joined forces to conserve a total area nearly the size of the Maasai Mara National Reserve itself, covering 1,450 km2 (560 square miles) across fifteen conservancies. The wildlife in the conservancies is comparable to that of the main Maasai Mara game reserve, and in some areas predator densities are even higher than in the central reserve. Because there are fewer camps, the conservancies offer a more exclusive experience than the central reserve, we didn’t see a single other vehicle on our game drives, and could stay as long as we wanted on sightings. The conservancy approach is widely regarded as the way forward for wildlife conservation and eco-tourism in Kenya, as it not only secures vital space for wildlife but also includes the local population as custodians of their national heritage. This has been vital for the conservation of the whole greater Mara wildlife corridors, and the prosperity of many hundreds of Maasai families. On arrival we immediately felt like we were stepping back into a bygone era of authentic safaris – intrepid explorers here to chart unknown lands! The 1920’s theme extends to the Vintage Rolls Royce which came to greet us at the airstrip, and on arrival at the Camp, the Explorer’s Tent tells the story of the 100 year history that the Cottar family have in East Africa. The Mess Tent is adorned with beautiful interiors and is where meals and drinks are served, while zebra, impala and eland graze on the lawn in front of you. There are 5 luxury double canvas tents, as well as 4 family tents and 2 honeymoon tents, and a private 5 bedroom Bush Villa. The interiors have beautiful furniture, with a nod to the 1920’s era and I particularly loved the traditional canvas bush bath set up on the patio, filled with bubbles to watch the sunset! It is a very personalised experience, rather than having the set 2 game drives early morning and late afternoon, we did this and more - full day drives into the Mara with a picnic lunch, visits to the local village, bush walks, as well as having an amazing breakfast set up out in the bush, complete with champagne and omelette station! What sets Cottar’s apart from the (very many) other camps in the Masai Mara area is the unwavering commitment to conservation - the Camp operates under the guidelines of The Long Run’s 4Cs: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Each guest’s visit contributes directly to the sustainability of conservation and social development efforts. These include the restoration of the natural environment to a pristine condition, re-establishment and protection of biological diversity, anti-poaching, on-site research and rehabilitation projects, the provision of health-care services and a local pre-school. Read more about the Cottar’s Wildlife Conservation Trust (CWCT) here: https://cottarswildlifeconservationtrust.org/ supporting projects such as Community Rangers (including the first 10 female rangers in the Mara), Raptor Rehabilitation Centre – responding to the significant threat of poisoning, and a Bee Project which generates income for local women groups. The positive impact activities which are available to guests at Cottar’s are fantastic and sure to engage all members of the family – • Maasai Warrior School • Learning with female conservation rangers • Reforestation seedball dispersal activity • Kids entomology safari • Medicinal and/or foraging bush walk • Wilderness run/walk with a Maasai warrior • Stargazing experience • The Explorer’s Tent educational visit For me, learning about the threats to the wildlife, the Maasai way of life and what can be done to combat them was the most rewarding experience – and absolutely critical if we want our children and grandchildren to be able to travel to see these landscapes and wildlife in the future. There is so much more to say – please do get in touch and let me help you plan the perfect safari for you – a honeymoon, family holiday or bucket list adventure.