Sentinel Mara Camp

8 Deluxe Tents sit tucked away in the shelter of the forest with views overlooking the river and wildlife below. Like the communal areas, the tents have been designed with vintage features and furnishing that create a historic and rustic feel. Every tent has a four-poster double bed, fitted with mosquito nets, storage for clothing, a dresser, a safe for belongings, and an en suite bathroom with a wash basin and shower. Outside, there is a private patio with chairs so guests can relax out in the open air and watch the animals by the river uninterrupted.

Sentinel Mara Camp provides all meals for its guests and the chefs prepare fresh, delicious and beautifully presented dishes daily. Guests can dine in the dining tent or out in the open beside the river whether it’s under blue skies or the stars, enjoy evening drinks by the fire, and take out bush picnics on their adventures.

Game drives make up the heart of the safari adventure. Venturing out into the savannah is the perfect way to experience the Kenyan wilds with high chances to see all the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo – as well as cheetah, hyena, serval, jackal, giraffe and antelope. Your game drives can easily be complimented by a guided walk in the nearby area with Sentinel’s expert naturalist to bring you that bit closer to the wilderness.

As dawn breaks, ascend into a wildlife adventure like no other. Guests 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.

Sentinel camp can arrange for guests to visit the local Maasai village for the invaluable opportunity to meet people of a rich and timeless culture. Learn all about their lives, customs and traditions, potentially from inside their very own homesteads.

Sentinel Mara Camp supports the Mara Meru Cheetah Project through regular donations. 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 project researchers often give talks on cheetah biology and conservation at different camps in the Mara 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.

Sentinel Mara Camp also makes regular donations to the school in Mara Rianta. There are now approximately 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 those giving their support and donations 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

Sentinel has no permanent structures and they are all taken down every year during the rainy season. This allows the vegetation on the camp to regrow with ample help from the rain, preventing any lasting damage on the camp’s location. That way if the camp is ever moved, they’re not leaving behind a worn-out chunk of the environment that can no longer support any wildlife.

All solid waste in separated on the camp so each kind can be recycled or disposed of in the most efficient and eco-friendly way. Plastic, glass and metallic waste gets taken to a recycling centre; paper waste is burnt; and organic waste is used to help plant trees. The camp buys its dry goods in bulk whenever possible to reduce packaging waste while fresh food is packaged in reusable crates.

Solar energy is the sole source of power for the camp and its facilities. Lighting is provided by mobile solar panels, solar lanterns and solar torches that are all rechargeable. 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.