Mahali Mzuri
Skilled guides, spa services, boundless grasslands, and stargazing after dusk. Mahali Mzuri is not your typical safari lodge. This intimate luxury safari camp is situated in the exclusive Olare Motorogi Conservancy and provides guests with an unparalleled safari experience in one of the Mara ecosystem’s most wildlife-rich regions. Mahali Mzuri is a perfectly appropriate name—it means “beautiful place” in Swahili.
It’s all in the name of this safari camp. Mahali Mzuri means “beautiful place” in Swahili, and the name couldn’t be more fitting. Located on the northern border of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, this camp is one of just five authorized to operate within the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy for safari safaris. A remarkable variety of wild species, including lions, zebras, leopards, and elephants and wildebeests, can be found in the conservancy. The whole region is alive with activity, and the skilled Maasai trackers and guides at the camp are adept at finding even the most elusive animals. The breathtaking surroundings only heighten the romantic, “Out of Africa” feeling that most visitors have when they visit. You won’t even need to take a long drive to begin seeing game. At the main door of the camp is where the experience begins.
Numerous untamed creatures can be observed throughout the camp. Because multiple lion prides reside inside the conservancy’s boundaries, you might even see a territory war in the wild. They have a history of squabbling over who controls the region. This region is home to over 150,000 wildebeest as well. They don’t seem to be a part of the yearly epic “Great Migration,” preferring to stay put where they are. Up to a million wildebeest, thousands of zebras, gazelles, eland, and topi travel 1,600 kilometers through Tanzania and Kenya during the Great Migration. During the Great Migration, predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas can be observed in high numbers as they take advantage of the massive wildlife parade that is traveling through the region. The Great Migration comes to the conservancy some time between July and September and departs in November to head back to Tanzania’s Serengeti.
In terms of the level of elegance and comfort that Mahali Mzuri offers its visitors, it really is the best. The camp features a warm and welcoming main tent situated in the center, in addition to twelve opulent safari tents. The main tent features a very comfortable and laid-back lounge area with an open fireplace, a book-filled library, iPads available for free guest use, a games console, an iPod docking station, and speakers. You can borrow binoculars for free, but it’s probably best to bring your own. Breakfast and lunch are served at a huge communal table that can seat up to 24 people on the main tent’s spacious deck. The magnificent twelve-meter infinity-edge swimming pool at the camp is one of the most attractive aspects of the common area. The pool may be heated when the weather gets chilly. Mahali Mzuri’s Nasaro Spa is yet another impressive feature of the retreat. Relaxing treatments in the spa tent provide clients with a breathtaking view of the surrounding jungle.
The twelve tented rooms at the safari lodge, which is perched on a ridge above the river, are all exquisitely furnished and comfortable. In the common space, there are six tents, one on each side of the main tent. The distance between the main tent area and the furthest guest tent is five minutes on foot. You will not want to stop staring at the horizon from the breathtaking vista that each guest tent has to offer. The furnishings of the tents, which include dark wood furnishings, plush leather couches, and colorful accents, create a nostalgic safari vibe. Ten of the twelve tents can easily sleep two adults (with a four-poster king-sized bed or two twin beds), while the two larger tents can sleep two more guests who are fifteen years of age or younger. Mahali Mzuri can accommodate a maximum of 24 people at any given time. Africology bath products, a minibar, a Bose iPod dock, a Nespresso machine, complimentary bottled water, and private decks are among the creature comforts and luxuries available to each tent visitor.
Two family safari tents are available, each with a sofa bed for kids to sleep on. In addition, the camp will offer families kid-friendly meals and activities designed especially for kids on safari. For example, kids can enroll in beginner’s archery sessions or take beading lessons from a local Maasai tribeswoman. As children arrive at the camp, they are given their own ‘bushbaby bag’. The pack contains coloring books, games for nature walks, and a cap. During wildlife drives, families consisting of four or more members can also have their own private safari vehicle. Mahli Mzuri welcomes children ages eight and up.
Mahali Mzuri cuisine encounter
The Mahli Mzuri crew goes above and beyond to make sure visitors have an amazing stay, starting early in the morning and ending late at night. Every meal is an exquisite work of art prepared by the camp’s chefs using produce that is procured locally, and the cost of your stay includes all meals and beverages (including exquisite champagne). At any time of day, visitors are free to help themselves to anything they like. Simply notify the camp staff in advance of any special dietary requirements, and they will adjust the meals to suit your needs. The cooks at the camp design cuisines that draw inspiration from both local and foreign cultures.
Freshly made pastries and breads, bush BBQs, champagne picnics, sundowners with delectable appetizers and your favorite libations and cocktails are all to be expected. In the open bush, on your own private deck, or in the shared dining tent, you’ll have visually and gastronomically delightful meals. Hot foods are served a la carte at breakfast, which is often served as a continental buffet. Another option is to stop for a quick snack in the morning before going on an early game drive. An even more exciting option would be to have your guide pack a lunch so you may have a fully catered breakfast in a beautiful part of the bush.
Guests can dine a la carte during lunch, which is typically enjoyed outside on the main deck at separate tables. You can have afternoon tea before going on an evening game drive if you only need a quick nibble before dinner. Dinner is served in the bush at a big communal table, or it can be served in a more private setting for just the two of you. Maasai dancers near the campfire occasionally provide entertainment during supper at the camp. We suggest ordering a Kenyan Dawa from the bartender after an exhausting day on safari. It’s a vodka, lime juice, and honey cocktail. The name means “medicine” in Swahili.
Things to do at Mahali Mzuri
While at Mahali Mzuri, there are a lot of things to see and do. There are a wide variety of activities available at the camp. The cost of your accommodation includes two daily safari game drives. Both early morning and late night game drives are available, each providing a special and thrilling vantage point for seeing wildlife. You can reserve a hot-air balloon safari if you’re ready for something a little more exhilarating (not included in the price of your stay). Consider going on a day trip into the genuine Masai Mara National Reserve if you want to stay in the conservancy for longer than a few days (fee may apply).
Learning more about Maasai customs and culture is another unforgettable experience Mahali Mzuri offers. A short drive from the camp is a nearby Maasai hamlet, where your guide may show you around. A guided tour of a traditional Maasai home and cattle holding area will be provided, and you will even be invited into one of the homes for tea and given a basic lesson in Maa (the Maasai language). During your visit to the Maasai manyatta (village), you will learn more about how the Maasai women build their houses and how responsibilities are divided within families. You’ll get a sense of what daily life is like in a Maasai community from this. You are also welcome to visit the nearby Maasai markets.
