Basecamp Explorer Masai Mara | Luxury Safari Camp in Kenya

When Dawn Breaks on the Mara Riverbank

The first rays of light scatter across the Talek River, painting silver ribbons on water gently stirring under a sky still surrendering to dawn. From your raised riverside tent, you hear the distant roar of a lion, the haunting call of hyenas, the rustle of acacia leaves stirred by a soft breeze. This is Basecamp Explorer Masai Mara — where wildlife moves with rhythm, culture lives with conviction, and your senses awaken in a place born of both ancient tradition and modern sustainability.

Here, mornings begin not with alarms but with footprints—zebra tracks through dew-kissed grass, hippos submerged just beyond your private balcony, Maasai herders guiding goats across the plains as vultures wheel overhead. Each moment feels effortless and vital, as though you’ve slipped into a story as old as the Mara itself.

Discover Basecamp Explorer: A Safari Experience That Resonates

Basecamp Explorer Kenya is more than a luxury camp in the Masai Mara—it’s a doorway into Kenya’s extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and people. Designed for travellers who seek more than a checklist, the camp brings together immersive wildlife, conservation and community — with comfort, authenticity, and style.

Here are the essentials that make Basecamp Explorer stand out:

Location & Setting

Situation: Along the banks of the Talek River, bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve. The river acts as a natural boundary — on one side, lush riverine forest; on the other, the expansive Mara plains.
Accessibility: Roughly 255 km from Nairobi, about a 5-hour drive, or a 45-minute flight to the nearest airstrip (Mara Olkiombo), followed by a short transfer.

Accommodation

Accommodation with a View

Tents: Riverside tents built on raised wooden platforms. Each comes with en suite bathrooms featuring solar-heated safari showers, private balconies overlooking river and reserve. Open-air showers are also a highlight for those seeking intimacy with the wild.
Family Options: Family Riverside Tents with two sleeping wings and shared bathroom space — ideal for travellers with children.
Privacy & Views: Dense foliage along the riverbank gives each tent privacy, and views extend into the Mara—whether plains, river, or sky.

Wildlife & Activities

Engaging Activities and Exceptional Experiences

Big Five & More: You are steps away from phenomenal wildlife viewing. Big Five, predators, abundant herbivores, and if you visit during July-October, the Great Wildebeest Migration and dramatic river crossings.
Game Drives: Shared game drives into Masai Mara National Reserve via Talek Gate (approx. 2 km from camp). Dawn and dusk drives maximise sightings.
Guided Nature Walks & Bird Watching: Explore the riverine forest, river banks, spotting birdlife and learning about ecosystems restored through camp’s eco-projects.
Cultural Encounters: Maasai village visits; interactions with local youths and women’s groups. Learn about their culture, crafts, and how Basecamp supports conservation and community livelihood initiatives.

Facilities & Comfort

Dining & Relaxation: Restaurant positioned by the Talek River with panoramic views over the savannah. Cuisine combines international and local flavours; bush meals and sundowners under the stars.
Sustainability: Solar-heated showers, bio-flush toilets, tree-planting and habitat revival projects in and around Basecamp. High priority on low-impact guest experience.
Family-Friendly: Family tents, kid-oriented activities (crafts, nature walks), plus the opportunity to educate young travellers about conservation and wildlife.

Best Time to Visit & Practical Info

When: Peak wildlife viewing from June to October (including wildebeest migration), and also December-March for dry seasons and breeding activity.
How to get there: Fly or drive from Nairobi; internal flight to Mara airstrip followed by transfer, or by road across well-maintained routes. Private transfers usually arranged by the camp operator.
What to bring: Lightweight clothes, layers for early morning chills, good walking shoes, binoculars, camera, insect repellent. Respectful clothing for community visits.

Why Basecamp Explorer Leaves A Mark

This is not just another safari lodge—it’s an experience that stays with you. You’ll leave with stories: the crackle of a campfire under a Milky Way sky; the smell of rain-warmed earth; seeing calves sip river water at dawn; gaining insight into Maasai traditions; knowing that your stay contributes to wildlife corridors and community projects.

By blending luxury, authenticity, sustainability, and immersive wildlife, Basecamp Explorer Masai Mara delivers a safari that is both unforgettable and responsible.

Basecamp Masai Mara Rates

Rates from 03 January 2025 to 02 January 2026	High Season	Mid-Season	Low Season
14 Riverview Tents – per person per night sharing basis	400	300	250
1 Honeymoon Tent – per person per night sharing basis	400	300	250
2 Family Tents – per person per night sharing basis (5 pax)	400	300	250
Child aged 5-16* per night sharing basis	200	150	125
Single occupancy per night	520	390	325

Masai Mara Park Entry Fee

Masai Mara Reserve Entry fees** per person per night (01 Jan – 30 June 2025) Adult USD100 & Child aged 9-17 USD 50-Child aged 0-8 Free of Charge
Masai Mara Reserve Entry fees** per person per night (01 July – 31 Dec 2025) Adult USD200 & Child aged 9-17 USD50 -Child aged 0-8 Free of Charge

Seasons:

High:July, August, September & 20 December 2025 – 02 January 2026
Mid:03 January – 29 February, June, October & 01 – 19 December 2025
Low:March, April, May & November 2025

Included

Full-board – all meals & accommodation
Shared day game drives in open-sided vehicles
Picnic excursions
Bird walk along Talek Trail
Return airstrip transfers
Mineral water
Garden dining
Private dining at the platform subject to availability
Tea & coffee service in own tent
Unlimited internet in the tents
Young Explorers Club – family activities (upon request and bookable in advance).
Visiting SBC’s Conservation & Community projects; Enjoolata Awareness Centre, Basecamp Maasai Brand, organic garden tour, tree nursery bookable in advance
VAT & taxes

Excluded

All drinks (excl. bottled mineral water)
Bush meals & sundowners at a scenic spot
Temporary Flying Doctors Evacuation cover
Selected laundry service
Masai Mara National Reserve entry fee (USD 100-3200 per adult per day based on season – contact us for child rates)
Maasai Manyatta village visit (USD 30 pp)
Late departure fees (USD 150 per adult / USD 75 per child)
Extra lunch/packed lunch on day of departure (USD30 pp)
Exclusive use of safari vehicle & guide (USD 350 per day)
Own private guides (USD 60 per day)
Gratuities to staff & guides
Anything of a personal nature, any payable extra services, activities & extras
All statutory increases beyond our control

NOTES

All rates are in USD and per person per night
Rates are subject to change with notice.
Accommodation is subject to availability.
*Children under the age of 5 stay free of charge when sharing with parents/adults. See the Child Policy section in the accompanying Booking Procedures, Terms & Conditions.
**Masai Mara Reserve entry fees are subject to change.
No Easter, Christmas or New Year supplements.
All guests travelling to Saruni Basecamp must have comprehensive travel insurance, medical insurance and emergency evacuation coverage.
Masai Mara Reserve entry fees are payable for all nights.
Exclusive use of the vehicle is payable at an extra cost.

Special Offers

Some times more is less! For the Long-Stayer, we have a series of Pay/Stay Special Offers that allow you to stay longer – and pay less!

If planning an impromptu Kenya safari experience is more your thing – then take advantage of our Last-Minute Offers.

Celebrating your nuptials with a unique and memorable honeymoon – our gift for the happy bride is a generous one!

Read on to see our current Special Offers

For reservations and to learn more about the special long-stay offers and honeymoon packages, visit Basecamp Masai Mara, or connect with us directly for personalized assistance.

Whether it’s the pulse-pounding excitement of the Great Migration, the quiet reflection by the riverside, or participating in a tree-planting ceremony, Basecamp Masai Mara invites you to become part of a story that aims to preserve the beauty of the Masai Mara for generations to come.

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