Little Governors’ Camp

The 17 canvas tent suites are nestled away on the edge of the forest looking out over the waterhole where animals regularly come to visit, which guests can watch from their private verandas. Tent 17 is the furthest from the camp making it ideal for honeymooners, couples or those simply seeking that little extra bit of privacy but there is still ample space between all the tents.

All of the Tent Suites have a double or twin beds with an en suite bathroom separated by a canvas wall, complete with a hot shower, complimentary toiletries and bathrobes. Guests are also supplied with a cosy seating area, a desk, storage for belongings, and ports for charging various devices. The toiletries provided by the camp are a lovely range of Cinnabar Green products – shampoo & conditioner, shower gel, soap and body lotion – that are all handmade in Kenya with natural ingredients.

All meals are prepared by the camp and served in or outside of the dining tent. Breakfasts have full English and Continental options, served from a buffet. Lunches are also served from a buffet with fresh al fresco salads, and dinner is a la carte, served in the dining tent. Breakfasts and lunches are often served just outside of the dining tent, where the resident family of warthogs frequently wander amongst the tables and sometimes even elephants come to visit! Picnics can be prepared for guests embarking on game drives and bush dinners can also be specially arranged.

Little Governors’ Camp offers up to 3 game drives per day, one at sunrise, one in the late morning, and a third in the early afternoon, and typically take place in the Musiara region of the reserve. Many guests like to go for a longer drive in the early morning and take a breakfast picnic with them. Having operated in the Maasai Mara for 40 years, their safari guides have an unparalleled knowledge of the area and all its inhabitants. Their vehicles are great for photography so guests can capture some timeless moments.

As dawn breaks, ascend into a wildlife adventure like no other. Guests will often find themselves struck by the serene silence and stillness, the perfect setting to take in the wildlife from above without any interference. Upon landing, guests are met with a delicious bush breakfast before they drive back to camp to really finish with a flourish.

Leave the vehicles behind and take to the savannah with one of the camp’s expert guides and naturalists. Walking the same ground as the animals of the Maasai Mara takes safari to a far more intimate level. While learning all about the plants and their medicinal uses and Maasai folklore, guests can walk in the footsteps of giraffes, elephants, buffalo, hyenas, or even lions.

Retire back to your tent with the spa specialist when it’s time to make the most of the peace and quiet. There’s a great range of relaxing, restorative treatments to choose from including massages, facials, body scrubs, manicures and pedicures.

Little Governors’ Camp encourages its guests to pay a visit to the local Maasai village because they know they’ll be struck by the vibrancy and warmth of the Maasai people and intrigued by a remarkable culture that has endured for centuries. The entrance fee goes directly to the community and its members.

In 2013 the Governors Collection opened a Health Centre at Mara Rianda and formally handed it over to Community Health Partners Kenya (CHP), who offer healthcare that is affordable, accessible and to a high standard. The Health Centre provides all kinds of care including antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, HIV testing and HIV/Aids treatment, vaccinations, counselling, and advice on nutrition and sanitation.

The facility has made healthcare far more accessible and dramatically improved the quality of health for the Maasai community in the Mara Rianda area. And because of continued support the Health Centre has been able to make even more new additions such as a maternity block, a portable oxygen concentrator and humidifier, and an electrical suction machine. Guests are more than welcome to visit the Health Centre to see the amazing impacts of quality healthcare for themselves!

Governors Collection closely works with the Mara Rianda Charitable Trust to support the primary school in Mara Rianda. The school began as a few small huts set up by parents who had sold some of their cattle for the funding. The local community requested the help of the Governors’ Camp Collection and the BBC team from “Big Cat Diaries” and in 2004 the Governors’ Collection set up the UK Mara Rianda Charitable Trust to raise funds for the school. Back then the school had less than 250 children and very basic facilities, and the first request by the headteacher was for chalk for the blackboards.

There are now over 3,000 children receiving an education at Mara Rianda Primary School. With funding and support, the school has been transformed and expanded to benefit the pupils, teachers and ultimately the whole community. Some of the developments achieved through the efforts of the Trust and Collection include:

• 4 classroom blocks accommodating 17 classes and a library
• A girls’ dormitory with room for 160 girls
• On-site accommodation for 6 teachers
• Fresh water supply and solar power
• Paying of 4 teachers’ salaries
• Support for gifted students through secondary school
• Supplies of books, stationery, desks, cupboards and teaching materials
• Sanitary provisions and protection for girls
• Continued maintenance of school facilities

Since the beginning of the 20th century the cheetah population has fallen dramatically because of human activity, meaning it’s vital to understand the impact of human interference on cheetah populations in order to mitigate the damages done and protect the remaining cheetahs. The camp plays a critical role in data collection for Dr. Elena Chelyseva and her team through reporting sightings and observing cheetah behaviours.

The project researchers often give talks on cheetah biology and conservation at the Mara camps for the benefit of both guides and guests, who are encouraged to participate in the Project – photographs of cheetahs from game drives are especially helpful for the team.  Dr. Elena is happy to accompany guests on game drives if they would like to learn more about cheetahs and their conservation.

Little Governors’ Camp has undertaken many initiatives to recycle and reduce waste. All waste is carefully sorted and all recyclable waste is taken to be reused where possible. For instance, recycled paper and cardboard are used to make briquettes to fuel the hot water system. All guest rooms and bar areas have been fitted with reverse osmosis water filtration plants so as much water as possible can be safely reused. Plastic bottles, containers and straws are no longer used on the camp and have been replaced with reusable metal and glass containers.

Little Governors’ Camp runs primarily on solar power after installing a number of solar panels on the roofs around the camp. They use energy-saving bulbs and LEDs, and all water is heated by solar energy. This has a really beneficial impact on the environment because solar energy is the most efficient renewable energy source, reduces air pollution in replacing fossil fuels and it doesn’t require water to make energy. The camp has also installed a carbon counter in the reception so they can keep a close track of how much carbon has been saved by using solar energy.