Mara Expedition Camp sits in a small bend in the Ntiakitiak River, where thick forest meets savannah, and just a few kilometres from its sister camp, Mara Plains. Mara Expedition Camp is a magical revisiting of the past, drawing from the designs of Africa’s original explorers and designed for those who search for East Africa’s romantic safari era. Here, you will experience the best of both worlds: the intense action of the Maasai Mara ecosystem, as well as the more private 70,000-acre Mara North Conservancy. Mara Expedition Camp is a stylish experience and adventure camp that is unique to the industry and that fits the service levels, specialised guiding and design that has become associated with Great Plains Conservation.

It is safari chic with five light and airy, spacious canvas tents, each with en-suite bathrooms where you enjoy piping hot water from huge brass ‘safari showers’ to a chorus of hippos lazing nearby. It is set down low, hidden from lights and noise and any sign of mankind. Under the grove of Africa ebony trees, its humble main area is lit by lantern and candlelit, simple in design, but just enough for all the comforts. This camp’s ambiance and ‘back to the classics’ safari design will be a sure hit with private groups, and safari aficionados.

The camp is locally famous for its leopard residents wandering the riverbanks. And is positioned to take best advantage of two migrations – the famous annual Serengeti migration and the green season migration from Loita Plains, an additional 50,000 wildebeest and over 100,000 zebras vying for grazing rights. Mara Expedition Camp is a place for the ardent safari-goer. Full days, with picnic breakfast (and often lunch, too), traverse some of Africa’s richest game country, renowned for extraordinary predator density and frequent hunts. Access to both the Masai Mara Reserve and Mara North Conservancy give guests options of more privacy.