Kenya Safari Vacation in Bateleur Camp: Masai Mara

Have you considered taking a Kenya Safari Holiday taking in the Masai Mara?If you are wanting to see as much wildlife as possible, then you should consider the leading class Bateleur Camp at Kichwa Tembo. . . and here is why it must be a mandatory part of your high-end African safari. If you are taking a Kenya Safari Holiday, then you need to want to see the Great Migration between June and October, and the Bateleur Camp overlooks the sweeping Masai Mara plains, where throughout the migration you can witness the enormous passing crowds of animals. Bateleur camp has actually been deliberately created to provide the feel of the Kenya Safaris of the 20’s and 30’s and the nine (9) tented suites in each of the two camps certainly do that.

The suites being in a lavish forest kept wet by the river, and are classically sophisticated with polished wood floorings, ensuite restrooms with glass walled showers, twin hand basins and a separate flushing toilet. Add to this a personal butler to cater to your every whim, it is easy to see how your Kenya safari holiday in the Masai Mara becomes a leading luxury African Safari! When we come to the public areas of the Camp, the sitting area is full of antiques and artifacts, and you can eat indoors consume outdoors. In addition no kids to interrupt your serenity!

The great thing that is so excellent about Bateleur is the situation overlooking the Masai Mara, so the activities will be geared to tailored extent to level time of year, dominated by controlled great migration. You will go on early morning, and afternoon game drives, always with a certified guide in your own open safari vehicle, so no having to stand to view. Add to this night drives in Kichwa Tembo’s private concession, bush strolls, Masai neighborhoods, hot air ballooning, and you will have the safari of your life here. Check that one off the “Bucket list!”

To cap all of it you can select early morning bush breakfasts, romantic sundowners looking out over the Masai Mara, and candlelit suppers reflecting upon a day on the Mara river. This safari camp likewise has the huge advantage of remaining in the special West Mara, so at no time will your safari be in the company of dozens of other Lorries. Bateleur Camp is a must as part of your Kenya Safari Holiday, and if it is a high-end African Safari you want, do not miss it! Add to this a personal butler to cater to your every whim, and it is easy to see how your Kenya safari holiday in the Masai Mara ends up being a leading high-end African Safari!

When we come to the public areas of location(s) Camp, the sitting area is full of complete and artifacts, and you can eat indoors consume inside your home. In addition no children to disrupt your tranquility! The great thing about Bateleur is the situation overlooking of the Masai Mara, so the activities will be geared to tailored extent to the time of year, dominated by controlled great migration. You will go on morning and afternoon game drives, always with a qualified guide in your own open safari Lorry. Allow us to translate; No having to stand to see the incredible creatures and scenery before you!

THE MASAI MARA NATIONAL PARK

The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in the whole of Africa. At times and in certain places it can get a little overrun with tourist minibuses, but there is something so special about it that it tempts you back time and again.

Seasoned safari travellers, travel writers, documentary makers and researchers often admit that the Masai Mara is one of their favourite places. So why is that? Perhaps it is because of the ‘big skies’, the open savannahs, the romance of films like ‘Out of Africa’ and certainly because of the annual wildebeest migration, the density of game, the variety of birdlife and the chance of a hot air balloon ride.

Also because of the tall red-robed Masai people whose lifestyle is completely at odds with western practices, and from whom one learns to question certain western values.

A combination of all these things plus something to do with the spirit of the place – which is hard to put into words – is what attracts people to the Mara over and over.

The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long, from Ethiopia’s Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into Mozambique. Here the valley is wide and a towering escarpment can be seen in the hazy distance. Most of the game viewing activities occur on the valley floor, but some lodges conduct walking tours outside the park boundaries in the hills of the Oloololo Escarpment. The animals are also at liberty to move outside the park into huge areas known as ‘dispersal areas’. There can be as much wildlife roaming outside the park as inside. Many Masai villages are located in the ‘dispersal areas’ and they have, over centuries, developed a synergetic relationship with the wildlife.

There are four main types of topography in the Mara: Ngama Hills to the east with sandy soil and leafy bushes liked by black rhino; Oloololo Escarpment forming the western boundary and rising to a magnificent plateau; Mara Triangle bordering the Mara River with lush grassland and acacia woodlands supporting masses of game especially migrating wildebeest; Central Plains forming the largest part of the reserve, with scattered bushes and boulders on rolling grasslands favoured by the plains game.

ANIMALS & BIRDS

In a short stay during the wildebeest migration you could see thousands of animals, at other times there are still hundreds. The plains are full of wildebeest, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle. Also regularly seen are leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance.

Every July (or sometimes August), the wildebeest travel over 600 miles (960km) from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains, northwards to the Masai Mara and the Mara River is the final obstacle. In October or November, once they have feasted and the grass has all but gone, they turn around and go back the other way.

The Mara birds come in every size and colour including common but beautiful ones like the lilac breasted roller and plenty of large species like eagles, vultures and storks. There are 53 different birds of prey.

Altitude is 4,875-7,052 feet (1,500-2,170 metres) above sea level, which yields a climate somewhat milder and damper than other regions. The daytime rarely exceeds 85F (30C) during the day and hardly ever drops below 60F (15C) at night.

Rainy Season: It rains in April and May and again November and this can cause some areas of the Mara to be inaccessible due to the sticky ‘black cotton’ mud.

Dry Season: July to October is dry and the grass is long and lush after the rains. This is a good time to come and see the huge herds of migratory herbivores.

Hottest time: The warmest time of year is December and January.

Coldest Time: June and July are the coldest months.

MASAI MARA SPECIALITIES

- - - - Wildebeest Migration
      - Hot Air Ballooning
      - Huge savannahs of golden grasslands
      - Big skies
      - Rift Valley escarpment
      - Lion sightings