Mahali Mzuri

10 of the tents at Mahali Mzuri are Standard Tents, which are able to fit either a king-size bed or 2 twin beds depending on your requirements. All tents come with a private balcony where guests can take in the scenery and are spaced out so guests can enjoy maximum privacy, but no tent is more than a 5 minute walk away from the central camp. Every Standard Tent comes with its own en suite bathroom, bathrobes & slippers, tea & coffee making facilities, snacks, a complimentary minibar, torches, ponchos, extra blankets, a hairdryer, British-style 3-pin power sockets, sun-cream and insect repellent.

2 of the tents have been specially designed to accommodate families with children. There is a comfy four-poster king-size bed in the bedroom and 2 additional beds can be set up on the sofas in the enclosed living room. For younger children a cot bed can be provided and there’s even space for a roll-away bed for a nanny. As with Standard Tents, the Family Tents have private balconies so families can enjoy the beautiful scenery and are similarly spaced out for ensured privacy, but are no more than a 5 minute walk from the central camp. Every Family Tent comes with its own en suite bathroom, bathrobes & slippers, tea & coffee making facilities, snacks, a complimentary minibar, torches, ponchos, extra blankets, a hairdryer, British-style 3-pin power sockets, sun-cream and insect repellent.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all provided at Mahali Mzuri. The chefs have worked to create a menu that includes dishes from various cultures and cuisines across Africa. Food is sourced locally and all breads and pastries are freshly made every day. The restaurant offers both hot and continental dishes at breakfast. Guests can dine privately or communally, and can even opt to have a bush BBQ, a poolside lunch, or a picnic at sunset. All dietary needs can be catered to by the chefs.

Mahali Mzuri offers game drives twice a day with unmissable opportunities for wildlife sightings and vibrant scenery. Guests can also venture out on an additional night-time game drive and glimpse the nocturnal residents of the conservancy. Private vehicles are available for game drives and can be pre-booked.

Mahali Mzuri is just a 10 minute drive away from a local Maasai village, where guests are more than welcome to visit during their stay. Learn about the daily life, traditions and customs of the locals. The mornings and evenings are the best times to visit if guests would like to lend a helping hand with milking the cows or herding the game into their paddocks. The local school is just another 5 minutes down the road for guests to visit.

If you need to unwind and that extra bit of pampering, treat yourself to a trip to Nasaro on the valley floor. The spa offers a range of treatments and uses ‘Africology ethical skin care products to capture the rejuvenating and healing essences of Africa’. Some of the treatments that are available include:

• Deep tissue massage
• Oil massage
• Facial treatments
• Aromatherapy
• Manicures & pedicures

There’s an outdoor heated infinity pool, perfect for ‘a leisurely swim or a refreshing dip.’

In 2006, a unique land structure was developed within the conservancies with two core aims – to extend the reach of protection to the wildlife in the National Reserve and to provide support to over 1500 Maasai families. Forming the land into conservancies has been the most effective means of reaching sustainability goals and ‘preventing the fragmentation of such an important environmental resource’.

The conservancies make sure landowners are protected financially and receive fair incomes regardless if tourism rates fall. This means that members of the community have stable income for themselves and their families. As a result, the local area can thrive on low-density tourism, which in turn is better for the environment and prevents the risk of over-development.

There are 5 safari camps within the conservancy and Mahali Mzuri is the only one allowed to take guests on game drives in the area, ensuring minimal pollution and disturbance of the wildlife. Together, all the safari camps have agreed to a shared code of conduct to make sure that the land doesn’t become over-developed and that tourism doesn’t become too dense – only 94 guests are able to stay in the area at one time to maintain that minimal impact on the environment, as well to enhance that authentic and tranquil experience for guests.

The Pack for a Purpose initiative is an excellent chance for travellers to make a lasting impact that will hugely benefit the local community. If guests are able, they can pack extra school and medical supplies to give when they reach their destination. Mahali Mzuri supports the Enkenju – Enkoirien Primary School with currently 120 students. Donations made by travellers have already helped to supply children with books, stationary, maps, dictionaries, and to fund sustainable innovations such as solar powered lights and technology.

The experiences at Mahali Mzuri were made possible through the investments made by Sir Richard Branson and others after being alerted to environmental threats to the Maasai Mara ecosystem. These investments have gone a long way to protecting local communities, families and local wildlife.