Mara Bushtops

At Mara Bushtops, no expense was spared in their 12 Luxury Suites. Every tent boasts a private, spacious deck opening up to beautiful views of the plains and the Siana hills. Guests are within an arm’s reach of relaxing in their lounger, soaking in their private hot tub and gazing at the wildlife by day and the stars by night through a specially provided telescope. Each Luxury Tent-Suite also includes Bushtops’ signature bedding, indoor and outdoor showers, bathrobes, complimentary toiletries, a safe for valuables and a hairdryer.

The Leopard Suite is Mara Bushtops’ most elaborate tent, ideal for families of up to 6. It uniquely overlooks the salt-lick and all its visitors. The suite’s central lounge connects the two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and room for an extra third bed. The Leopard Suite comes with a private campfire, wine wall and mini bar, as well as Bushtops’ signature bedding, indoor and outdoor showers, bathrobes, complimentary toiletries, a safe for valuables and a hairdryer.

Mara Bushtops proudly combines the warmth of their staff with comfort and excellent cuisine to create the finest of dining experiences. The restaurant overlooks the salt-lick, ‘one of Africa’s most enchanting locations’ for eating and drinking. Guests can eat whenever and wherever best suits them, and can select from vegetarian, vegan and local cuisine menus. Chefs are also able to cate to any special dietary needs. A discreet fully-stocked wine cellar sits waiting underneath the restaurant, offering world-renowned vintages from South Africa, France and beyond including exclusive wines from private vineyards.

In the Maasai Mara no two days are the same and every game drive is an adventure of its own. Many animals prefer different times of day so Mara Bushtops offers morning, afternoon, evening/night-time and even full-day game drives (supplied with picnics!) so guests can have the fullest experience possible.

One of the great advantages of being within a private reserve is that guests can take guided walking tours right out of the camp, where all you’ll need is a sense of adventure and a good pair of shoes! There are 6 walks to choose from, each with the chance to get closer to herbivore herds than ever before.

For those ready to rise at the crack of dawn, Mara Bushtops offers an hour long aerial tour of the plains with unforgettable views of the herds and rising sun. A Bush champagne breakfast is ready and waiting for the landing party, after which guests to choose to head off for a game drive or return to camp.

Mara Bushtops offers a range of delights at their renowned spa village, embracing signature Amani treatments and luxuries, including massages, hydrotherapy and holistic skin and body treatments, a sauna, Rasul steam room, a hot tub, and a cool plunge pool. The spa is topped off with a fully equipped fitness facility.

Discovered by the Mau Mau in the 1950s, Kakiya cave is now a part of everyday Maasai communal life. To the present day it is still used for rituals and the preparation of traditional medicines. Guests can learn all about the cave’s exciting history, its artwork and its role as a ‘hidden centre of worship, sacrifice and communal gathering’.

Visiting a Maasai village opens up insight to a unique way of life and rich culture. During the 2 hour tour, guests will have the chance to meet locals, learn about the day-to-day life in the village and browse authentic Maasai artefacts and trinkets.

The Bushtops Bushcraft challenge is here to introduce youngsters to local culture, the importance of conservation, local flora and fauna, and even basic survival skills. Activities include learning to safely make a fire without matches or a lighter, animal spotting checklists, spotting animal tracks and bones, archery, baking and more!

Alongside the promise of luxury, Mara Bushtops is committed to responsible guardianship. Bushtop camps operate as partners with local tribes, making sure to always respect their rights, while also ‘paving a path to a mutually sustainable future.’ Working with village elders they established protected areas and management plans for the 10,000 acre Conservancy leased at Mara Bushtops. Land is maintained with a careful balance between wildlife conservation and cattle grazing so that neither suffers. Rent paid by the camp for the land goes towards funding healthcare, employment, everyday livelihoods, education projects and managing livestock.

As part of supporting local communities, all Bushtop camps work closely with local schools. Combined with sponsorships from guests, hundreds of children have been able to receive an education. So far at the Mara Bushtops local school, piped water from a spring has been installed, a classroom has been refurbished and funded to create and equip a computer lab, and donations have been made towards a new classroom within a new 3-classroom block and helped to fund the ongoing building of a new dining hall. This ongoing involvement has also supported an environmental club that enables local children to go on game drives, planting trees to counter-balance carbon emissions, and helped to initiate a programme designed to promote awareness of gender equality and community balance among the next generation.

All resources are managed with the greatest of care to ensure a minimal impact on the environment. The camp’s power is supplied by solar panels and eco-friendly batteries, which combined produce enough power to run the camp for an average of 20 hours each day. A generator provides backup power when needed to ensure continuous comfort for guests.

All biodegradable waste is composted and other types of waste are recycled. Water is recycled and conserved through using wetlands. The camp also buys its supplies in bulk to reduce packaging and all supplies are transported in reusable boxes.