Mara Plains, Maasai Mara

INTRO

Mara Plains sits on the edge of the Maasai Mara, with just seven tented suites raised on wooden decks above the savannah. Part of the Great Plains Conservation collection, it’s a serious spot for big cat sightings – lions, leopards, and cheetahs move through camp with regularity.

LOCATION

Mara Plains sits within the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, which borders the northern edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The conservancy model keeps vehicle numbers low while maintaining access to some of the highest concentrations of big cats on the continent. Fewer vehicles, more wildlife. It’s a straightforward trade-off that makes a real difference on the ground.

YOUR ROOM

Each suite is raised on timber and wrapped in canvas, with design details drawn from East Africa – railway sleeper floors, folding brass-trimmed doors, and vintage traveling trunks. Bedrooms open onto private verandahs facing the plains, and bathrooms feature copper bathtubs alongside indoor and outdoor showers. Leather, woven textiles, and warm metal finishes give the interiors a lived-in feel – considered rather than polished, comfortable rather than showy.

WHO IT SUITS

Mara Plains welcomes families with children six and older, and the two-bedroom Jahazi Suite gives families their own dedicated space. But couples and photographers tend to do particularly well here. There’s no fixed schedule, no set mealtimes, and game drives adapt entirely to what you want to see and when. Early starts for golden-hour light, slower mornings followed by longer afternoon drives – your routine takes shape around your interests, not the other way around.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Every suite comes with professional camera equipment for the duration of your stay, and all images are downloaded and gifted to you before you leave. That alone sets Mara Plains apart. The Olare Motorogi Conservancy runs the lowest vehicle density in the Mara region while hosting the highest concentration of big cats in Africa – which means sightings without the audience. The camp’s private traversing rights also extend access across neighboring conservancies, opening up territory for game viewing that most comparable camps simply can’t offer.

SUSTAINABILITY

Mara Plains operates within Great Plains Conservation’s broader environmental framework, which covers anti-poaching initiatives and habitat restoration across their properties. The conservancy model itself – funded by tourism levies paid directly to Maasai landowners – has helped restore predator populations and keep migration corridors intact. Guides and hospitality teams are drawn primarily from surrounding communities, ensuring that the people who know this landscape best are the ones sharing it with you.