The first thing you need to do before reading any further is book your stay at the Mara Eden Camp, preferably for as long as you have in the Masai Mara, then extend it some more.
We stayed at the camp for the nights of the 17th, 18th and 19th of August 2011 and can honestly say the service, the people, the location and the experience was one of the best we have ever received. This two week trip to Kenya and Uganda was our honeymoon and the only other place that has offered equal service was the 5 Star Luxury Hotel where we were married on a beach in Thailand.
All the staff at the camp were spot on, I completely believe it is the people that make somewhere truly special. As we currently live in the UAE we have been lucky enough to spend time at what should have been some of the countries best hotels, restaurants and establishments whether it be an overnight stay, dinner or a sightseeing visit, we have often left feeling slightly if not totally disappointed, and it is the service or lack of, that has caused this. At Mara Eden Camp you do not need to worry or have any fear on this score, even in the slightest. You will be looked after and made to feel completely welcome.
Jay and Munir are the owners and run the camp, they have spent a lot of time and effort building and setting up the camp and it shows. Their staff have been trained to exceptionally high standards and are always there when you need something, but nothing is overbearing or in your face. Jay is like superwoman and seems to never sleep, her sole mission is making your few short days there the most pleasant, perfect and relaxing time. She takes a genuine interest in your well being and who you are. By the end of your time at the camp you feel like you have made friends and not just been another one of their guests.
The Luxury tents that will be your home for however long you are lucky enough to stay are truly luxurious. Working as an outdoor instructor I’ve spent many days carrying my tent and all my luxury items on my back, largely in the wind, rain and snow. So you would have thought anything would be luxury after that, but we have upgraded to Glamping (Glamorous Camping) over time, this is where you have a nice big car or van, duvet and airbed, then wonder how you are supposed to get in it as well and drive it due to the kitchen sink taking up a bit too much space. Eden take it to a whole knew level and no other camping experience will be quite the same again.
The tents are built onto wooden raised platforms; we think this is to stop the hippos and water buffalo coming in to share your bed and amenities, as it is extremely cosy and comfy. Each over look the river and Masai Mara game reserve, where you have handmade wooden table and chairs on your own balcony/veranda to sit and enjoy the views and game when you are lucky enough. Jay and the team will even organise for you to take your breakfast or dinner there too, we did so for breakfast on our last morning, it didn’t help though when we had to say goodbye.
Inside the tent we found everything we needed from slippers, dressing gowns, a personalised welcome note and even a bottle of red. The bed was strewn with flowers (it was our honeymoon after all). It was the finish and the detail though that was really exceptional, only the pictures can describe it accurately. What they provided wouldn’t fit into my car now, and in the bathroom you would wonder how Munir pulled it off, in what essentially is still a tent. After everything they have done to make the tent luxurious you still have that tent feel, that great feeling of being under canvas, of being outdoors that no hotel room can ever provide. I shall use the words again “spot on” about sums it up.
As you are out in the wilderness and next to the river and game reserve, you shouldn’t be to surprised to see or hear a number of different wild animals. We had what we thought at the time was a hippo rubbing itself up against the tent one evening, it wasn’t until the morning when we saw the tracks, we realised it was a water buffalo, still pretty hefty and potentially dangerous. Due to this at night you are escorted around camp by Eden’s own armed guards. They essentially keep the animals away from you at times your not expecting to be viewing them. If no one is near when you need, you can blow the whistle provided in your tent and one or two of the guys will be there with torches to light your way.
The other main area of camp apart from your tent is the bar and restaurant area. Here you will be provided with really excellent meals, often three courses, served to your table. There is also a table with a never-ending supply of tea, coffee and hot chocolate, always welcome after your early starts seeing the game. Our first meal was lunch and was extremely welcome after our journey. The table had been setup outside near the fire pit and was the perfect way to start our stay, good food and beers in the sun. The rest of our meals, apart from our last breakfast were taken in the restaurant/bar area due to the wet weather. Here you can meet, mingle and sit with the other guests or spend time with your own group.
Again through out everything is done really well. It is only a small camp, but you will probably find you will prefer this and the individual touch that you will no doubt receive. During your game drives you will most likely be taken to some of the more expensive and larger hotels inside the park for a buffet lunch, I shall leave it to you to decide which you prefer, but I know which we did.
The only down side was the drive to the camp, which during the wet was a pretty interesting drive through streams in spate, turning a 20 minute drive from the park gate into one a fair bit longer and precarious. You can’t forget you are on safari and not doing the supermarket run, so shouldn’t expect a tarmac road all the way. We did hear that during most of the year there are better and closer crossings that can be taken. The camp is new and road access will also improve, but people often say its not where you are going but how you get there, I guess with a good off road journey you have a double bonus, as the drive is well worth the destination.
I wasn’t surprised to read in other reviews that the team at Eden Mara had gone out of their way to look after stranded tourists, let down by dodgy and incompetent tour operators. Jay and Munir had done just the same when we first arrived for another group, that had been pretty much dumped and let down constantly by their own tour operator. They will do anything to ensure your whole trip is a success and not just your time at Eden. I would save yourself time and bother and contact them and see if they can organise, or at least advise on your whole trip to the Masai Mara from pickups, drivers, vehicles and lodging. They can also sort you out with a pretty awesome champagne breakfast balloon safari too. Highly recommended.
Tash and Dave