The tent flap is still zipped when you hear it: a deep, rolling call from somewhere past the acacias, answered by another. By the time your coffee arrives on the veranda, your Maasai guide is already at the vehicle, pointing at fresh pugmarks in the red earth. Today you will follow them on foot.
Naboisho Conservancy camps are a handful of small, owner-run tented camps on around 50,000 acres of Maasai-owned land beside the Masai Mara National Reserve. The main choices are Naboisho Camp, Encounter Mara, Kicheche Valley, Mara Nyika, Ol Seki Hemingways Mara and Saruni Eagle View, all offering walks, night drives and big-cat viewing.
Sense of Adventure is a Nairobi-based safari company at Mountain Mall on Thika Road, licensed by Kenya’s Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA1/47/C01/77087). We plan tailor-made luxury Kenya safaris across the Mara and its conservancies. This guide compares the main Naboisho Conservancy camps, explains how walking safaris and night drives work here, and helps you choose the right camp and season.
Table of Contents
✅ Naboisho Conservancy Camps: The Quick Answer
- Top pick overall: Naboisho Camp by Asilia, nine tents with walks, night drives, fly camping, a pool and a spa.
- Best for couples: Mara Nyika by Great Plains, just four suites, with drinks, park fees and scheduled flights included.
- Best for families: Saruni Eagle View or Encounter Mara, both with family tents (Encounter Mara takes children from five).
- Best value luxury: Saruni Eagle View, with published rates from about USD 600 per person per night.
- Best for walkers: Kicheche Valley, six tents with bush walks, wild camping and even guided runs.
- Best time to go: July to October for the migration; January to March for cubs, green plains and lower rates.
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Why Naboisho Conservancy Camps Are Different
Naboisho Conservancy camps are different because the land belongs to more than 500 Maasai families who lease it for wildlife, so visitor numbers are kept deliberately low and you can walk, drive off-road and go out after dark.
Naboisho means “coming together” in Maa, the Maasai language, and the name fits. Landowners pooled their plots so that wildlife could move freely between the national reserve and the Loita Plains. The conservancy now borders the reserve, Olare Motorogi and Ol Kinyei, and it is known for one of the highest densities of wildlife in the Mara region.
Inside the reserve, vehicles must keep to tracks, there are no walks and the gates close at dusk. At Naboisho Conservancy camps, guides follow conservancy rules instead. That is why many travellers who have already seen the reserve choose a conservancy second time round. Our guide to Mara North vs Naboisho vs Olare Motorogi compares the three big northern conservancies side by side.
The 6 Best Naboisho Conservancy Camps Reviewed
These are the six Naboisho Conservancy camps we recommend most often, the core of luxury accommodation here, with facts checked against each camp’s own website in October 2026.
1. Naboisho Camp (Asilia Africa)
Why we love it: Naboisho Camp carries the conservancy’s name and is the flagship of the Naboisho Conservancy camps. It has nine tents, including two standalone family suites with their own lounges, plus a pool and a spa tent. It is open all year, and Asilia’s guides run morning, afternoon and night drives as well as walks.
Best for: honeymooners, families with children from five, and anyone who wants every activity in one place. The moment you’ll remember: a night in a fly camp under canvas in the bush, available from June to March for guests aged 12 and over, with a minimum three-night stay.
Practical facts: the nearest airstrip is Mara Ol Seki, about 45 minutes by road, and transfers are included. Published rates start from about USD 1,240 per person per night in the November to mid-December “secret season” and about USD 2,250 in high season (2026, varies by season), full board. Conservancy fees, Asilia’s conservation charge and balloon flights are extra. Trade-off: the 45-minute airstrip transfer.
2. Encounter Mara (Asilia Africa)
Why we love it: Encounter Mara is the most classic of the Naboisho Conservancy camps: ten tents, including two family tents, set in acacia woodland. It has a light footprint, a syntropic garden and food sourced locally where possible. Night drives are included in the rate.
Best for: first-timers and families who want a classic camp feel without the top-end price. The moment you’ll remember: switching off the spotlight on a night drive and listening to the bush breathe around the vehicle.
Practical facts: children from five; Mara Ol Seki airstrip is about 45 minutes away, with transfers included. Published rates start from about USD 710 per person per night from November to mid-December and about USD 940 in high season (2026, varies by season). The camp is open June to April and closed in May. Trade-off: no pool.
3. Kicheche Valley Naboisho
Why we love it: Kicheche Valley is one of the smallest Naboisho Conservancy camps, with just six raised tents on a secluded hillside, five standard and one family suite. It runs on 24-hour solar power, has a small spa tent and serves dinner under the stars or at a hosted communal table.
Best for: photographers and active travellers. The moment you’ll remember: a guided run across the plains at first light, or a night at a wild camp after a day on foot.
Practical facts: day and night drives with Silver-rated guides in custom 4x4s, guided bush walks, wild camping, Maasai beading lessons and balloon flights through Hot Air Safaris. Kicheche publishes rates from about USD 785 per person sharing per night (varies by season). Trade-off: only six tents, so it fills months ahead in peak season.
4. Mara Nyika (Great Plains Conservation)
Why we love it: Mara Nyika is the most intimate of the Naboisho Conservancy camps, with four suites, a two-bedroom family suite and the private Sambuk Suite. Vehicles carry a maximum of four guests, and you can borrow professional cameras at no charge.
Best for: honeymooners, photographers and couples marking a big anniversary. The moment you’ll remember: a cook-out in the bush beside Great Plains’ vintage G-wagon, followed by a Maasai dance lesson around the fire.
Practical facts: published rates start from about USD 1,745 per person sharing per night (2026, varies by season). That includes park and conservancy fees, all drinks including champagne, laundry, transfers from ol Seki airstrip and, on a two-night minimum, scheduled flights from Wilson. Balloon flights are extra. Trade-off: rarely available at short notice.
5. Ol Seki Hemingways Mara
Why we love it: Ol Seki Hemingways Mara is the pick of the Naboisho Conservancy camps for private villas, on a gentle hill overlooking the plains. It has eight Nina tents and two exclusive-use villas, Simba and Chui, each with two en-suite bedrooms, a lounge, a private plunge pool, and its own chef, guide and vehicle.
Best for: families and celebration groups who want a private villa, and seniors who prefer a short transfer. The moment you’ll remember: a starlit dinner by the fire, then falling asleep to the sound of lions on the plain below.
Practical facts: game drives, guided walks, community visits, children’s activities and balloon flights. The airstrip is about ten minutes from camp, one of the shortest transfers in the conservancy. Hemingways does not publish standard rates on its camp page, so message us for current rates. Trade-off: night drives are not listed on the camp’s own page, so ask us if they matter to you.
6. Saruni Eagle View
Why we love it: Saruni Eagle View has the widest views of all the Naboisho Conservancy camps from its escarpment. It is a founding member of the conservancy, holds a Gold eco-rating from Ecotourism Kenya, recycles 96% of its general waste and employs more than 80% of its staff from the landowner community.
Best for: families, value-minded luxury travellers and anyone who cares about how their money is spent. The moment you’ll remember: sundowners on the escarpment as the plains turn gold and the first hyena whoops start.
Practical facts: nine double tents and two family tents on raised platforms; shared day and night drives, walking safaris for guests aged 18 and over, balloon flights, bush meals and massages. Tent 5 has very low steps for guests with limited mobility. Published rates start from about USD 600 per person per night (2026, varies by season). Trade-off: game drives are shared unless you book a private vehicle.
A seventh option: Porini Mara Camp sits in neighbouring Ol Kinyei Conservancy, and Gamewatchers Safaris says its guests may also drive in Naboisho. It suits travellers who want both conservancies on one stay.
Naboisho Lodges Compared
This table compares Naboisho lodges at a glance, so you can see which of the Naboisho Conservancy camps fits your style and budget.
| Lodge | Setting | Style and size | Best for | Signature experience | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naboisho Camp | Open plains | Tents, 9 incl. 2 family suites | All-rounders, families 5+ | Fly camping and night drives | $$$$$ |
| Encounter Mara | Acacia woodland | Classic tents, 10 | First-timers, families 5+ | Night drives included | $$$$ |
| Kicheche Valley | Secluded hillside | Raised tents, 6 | Walkers, photographers | Wild camping and guided runs | $$$$ |
| Mara Nyika | Conservancy plains | Suites, 4 plus 2 private suites | Honeymooners, photographers | Free camera loan, G-wagon cook-out | $$$$$ |
| Ol Seki Hemingways | Gentle hill | 8 tents, 2 private villas | Families, groups, seniors | Villas with plunge pools | $$$$ |
| Saruni Eagle View | Escarpment | Tents, 9 plus 2 family | Value, families | Escarpment sundowners | $$$ |
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The People Behind the Stay
Naboisho Conservancy camps exist because more than 500 Maasai landowners chose to lease their land for wildlife, and your stay helps pay those leases.
Asilia explains that all tourism fees at Naboisho go to running the conservancy and to lease payments for the Maasai landowners. Saruni says its camp supports over 500 Maasai families through land-lease fees, jobs and sustainability projects, and guests can visit the Enjoolata Awareness Centre and the Basecamp Maasai Brand workshop. Great Plains sponsors the Naboisho Women’s Group, whose bead, honey and soap projects involve 105 households.
Then there are the guides who make Naboisho Conservancy camps special. Most grew up herding cattle on these plains and can read a footprint, an alarm call or a shift in the wind long before you notice anything. Kicheche’s guides are Silver-rated, and walking guides at every camp carry years of training. Chefs, room stewards and night watchmen are mostly from nearby villages, so the jobs stay local.
Expert tip from our Nairobi team: at Naboisho Conservancy camps, ask for a community or school visit rather than a staged village show. The best visits are led by people from the conservancy itself, and they give you a far more honest picture of daily Maasai life.
Walking Safari Masai Mara: Why Naboisho Is the Place
For a walking safari in the Masai Mara, Naboisho is one of the best places to go, because walks are allowed here but not inside the national reserve.
At most Naboisho Conservancy camps, a typical walk lasts two to three hours after breakfast, led by an armed ranger and a Maasai guide. You move slowly, in single file, stopping to read tracks, smell crushed leaves and watch how giraffe and zebra react to people on foot. Big cats are seen from a respectful distance, if at all; the point is the detail.
Age limits apply. Saruni Eagle View walks are for guests aged 18 and over, and fly camping at Naboisho Camp is for 12 and over. Read our full guide to walking safaris in the Masai Mara, and if you would rather explore on horseback, see our horseback safari Kenya guide.
Mara Naboisho Accommodation by Traveller Type
The best Mara Naboisho accommodation, and the right choice among Naboisho Conservancy camps, depends on who is travelling and what matters most to you.
- Honeymooners: Mara Nyika for privacy, or Naboisho Camp for a pool and spa. See our best honeymoon lodges in Kenya.
- Families: Encounter Mara and Naboisho Camp (from five), Saruni Eagle View family tents, or an Ol Seki villa. Check our safari minimum age guide.
- Photographers: Mara Nyika, with free professional cameras, or Kicheche Valley.
- First-timers: Encounter Mara, a classic camp with night drives included.
- Celebration groups: take an Ol Seki villa, or book out Kicheche Valley’s six tents.
- Seniors: Ol Seki Hemingways for the ten-minute airstrip transfer, or Saruni Eagle View’s low-step tent.
Not sure whether a tented camp suits you? Our guide to tented camps vs lodges explains what to expect, from bucket showers to bedside power.
How We’d Plan It: 4 Nights at Naboisho Conservancy Camps
Four nights at Naboisho Conservancy camps lets you walk, drive at night and spend a full day in the reserve without rushing.
- Day 1: fly from Wilson Airport to the Mara, transfer to camp for lunch, then an afternoon drive that rolls into your first night drive.
- Day 2: a morning walk with a Maasai guide, a lazy siesta, and a sundowner drive.
- Day 3: an optional dawn balloon flight, then a full day in the national reserve with a picnic lunch.
- Day 4: a community or school visit, time at the pool or spa, and a final night drive.
- Day 5: one last morning drive, then fly on to Laikipia, Lamu, Zanzibar or home.
Our Laikipia & Masai Mara Walking Safari (7 days) pairs a Mara conservancy with Laikipia, from USD 4,200 per adult. For a shorter celebration, the Celebration Safari – Masai Mara Conservancy (5 days) starts from USD 2,950 per adult sharing. Browse all our Masai Mara safari packages.
We can build any of these Naboisho Conservancy camps into a tailor-made private Kenya safari, subject to availability. To compare the wider Mara, read our guides to luxury lodges in the Masai Mara, Mara North Conservancy camps and Olare Motorogi Conservancy camps.
Best Time to Visit Naboisho
Naboisho Conservancy camps are rewarding all year thanks to resident predators, while the migration adds drama from about July to October.
- January–March: green, warm and excellent for cats and young animals; secret-season rates at many camps.
- April–May: the long rains; Encounter Mara closes in May, while Naboisho Camp stays open with its lowest rates.
- June: grass drying, quiet camps and the first herds arriving.
- July–October: Great Migration season and peak rates; book 9–12 months ahead.
- November–mid December: short rains, lush landscapes and good value.
- Christmas and New Year: peak demand; small camps fill very early.
For month-by-month detail, see our Kenya weather by month guide.
Getting There, Luggage and Fees
Most guests fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to the Mara in about an hour, then drive 10 to 45 minutes to camp; by road, allow five to six hours from Nairobi.
Naboisho Conservancy camps use nearby airstrips: Asilia uses the Mara Ol Seki airstrip, about 45 minutes from its camps, while Ol Seki Hemingways is about ten minutes from its airstrip. Light aircraft take soft bags only, within strict weight limits; read our guide to safari luggage weight limits. If you prefer to drive, our Kenya safari from Nairobi guide explains the route.
Conservancy fees work differently at each of the Naboisho Conservancy camps. Asilia’s rates exclude conservancy fees and its conservation charge, while Mara Nyika includes park and conservancy fees. If you spend a day in the national reserve, reserve fees apply for that day; camp-published 2026 figures show USD 100 per adult from January to June and USD 200 from July to December. See our 2026 park fees guide.
What Is Included and What to Pack
Most Naboisho Conservancy camps include full board, shared activities and airstrip transfers; balloon flights, spa treatments and tips are usually extra.
Inclusions vary. Mara Nyika includes drinks, fees and scheduled flights, while Asilia’s camps quote full board and list conservancy fees separately. Always ask whether drinks and fees are inside the quote. Our guide to full board vs all-inclusive safari explains the terms.
- Comfortable closed walking shoes and long trousers for bush walks.
- A warm fleece or jacket for night drives and early mornings.
- Neutral clothing in khaki, olive or brown; avoid bright white and dark blue.
- Sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and any malaria tablets your doctor advises.
- Binoculars and a camera; at Mara Nyika you can borrow professional kit.
Expert tip from our Nairobi team: if walking is your priority, tell us before we book, so we can match you with one of the Naboisho Conservancy camps whose age rules and walking programme fit your group. It is also worth adding emergency evacuation cover for any remote safari.
Before you travel to Naboisho Conservancy camps, check the latest UK Foreign Office advice for Kenya and find inspiration on Magical Kenya, the official tourism site.
Naboisho Conservancy Camps FAQs
What are the best Naboisho Conservancy camps?
The leading Naboisho Conservancy camps are Naboisho Camp and Encounter Mara by Asilia, Kicheche Valley, Mara Nyika by Great Plains, Ol Seki Hemingways Mara and Saruni Eagle View. Naboisho Camp is the best all-rounder, Mara Nyika the most intimate, and Saruni Eagle View the best value luxury choice.
Can you do a walking safari in Naboisho?
Yes. Guided walks with Maasai guides and rangers are a highlight of Naboisho, unlike the national reserve, where walking is not allowed. Naboisho Camp, Kicheche Valley, Ol Seki and Saruni Eagle View all offer walks, though age limits apply, such as 18 and over at Saruni Eagle View.
Are night drives allowed in Naboisho Conservancy?
Yes. Night drives are allowed in Naboisho because it is a private conservancy. Encounter Mara includes them in its rate, and Naboisho Camp, Kicheche Valley and Saruni Eagle View all offer them. They are your best chance of seeing leopards, hyenas, aardvarks and other nocturnal animals.
How do you get to Naboisho Conservancy?
Fly from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to a Mara airstrip in about an hour, then drive to camp. Asilia’s camps are about 45 minutes from Mara Ol Seki airstrip, and Ol Seki Hemingways is about ten minutes from its airstrip. By road, allow five to six hours from Nairobi.
How big is Naboisho Conservancy?
Naboisho covers more than 50,000 acres of land leased from over 500 Maasai landowners. It is one of the largest conservancies in the Mara, bordering the national reserve, Olare Motorogi and Ol Kinyei, and linking the reserve with the Loita Plains to the north-east.
Is Naboisho good for families with children?
Yes. Naboisho Camp and Encounter Mara welcome children from five and have family tents or suites. Saruni Eagle View offers family tents and a children’s programme, and Ol Seki Hemingways has private villas. Walks and fly camping have higher age limits, so we match activities to your children’s ages.
Is Naboisho better than the Masai Mara National Reserve?
Neither is better; they work best together. Naboisho offers walks, night drives, off-road viewing and far fewer vehicles. The reserve has the famous Mara River crossings from about July to October. Many guests stay in Naboisho and spend one full day in the reserve.
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Related Safari Guides
- › Mara North vs Naboisho vs Olare Motorogi
- › Olare Motorogi Conservancy Camps
- › Mara North Conservancy Camps
- › Luxury Lodges in Masai Mara
- › Where to Stay in the Masai Mara by Region
Official travel & park resource: Kenya Wildlife Service ↗ · Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association ↗
