The jewel in the Governors’ Private Camp crown; for those who want an exclusive taste of the Governors’ experience. Governors’ Private Camp can only be booked by one family or group at a time, so it’s yours to enjoy, as the name suggests, in private. It means up to 16 people have, to themselves, a beautiful bend of the Mara River. They have picked a spot where animals come to drink, hippo laze in the shallows, elephant bring their calves for a playful dip. The forest around the camp is home to many beautiful birds from rare Trogans and Turacos to nesting Hornbills. Personal attention is the hallmark of a stay here. You benefit from our very best guides and trackers, whose knowledge of the Reserve is unsurpassed. Backed by the vast resources of the Governors’ Family of Camps this is the ultimate safari.
Governors’ Private Camp only has eight tents ensuring peace and privacy at Governors’ Private Camp. Large comfortable tents are designed to offer guests the traditional safari experience of times gone by. The tents are luxurious with handmade furniture.
Governors’ Private Camp bathrooms have hot and cold running water shower and basins and flush-toilets. The tents at the Governors’ Private Camp are positioned on wooden platforms with extended verandahs. There is electric lighting in the tent and charging facilities and a new bar and dining tent overlooking the Mara River with wifi. The food is delicious, our desserts have been called “sinful”, and the drinks all free, except for champagne. Meals are served on fine china and crystal. You can even tailor your own menus with our Executive Chef. Governors’ Private Camp is booked exclusively by one family or group, the minimum requirements are four pax to book the Governors’ Private Camp for three nights.
Governors’ Private Camp properties combine superb locations in the Masai Mara with custom designed vehicles and exceptionally highly trained and experienced guides to give our clients un-matched game-viewing and photographic opportunities in the world’s prime wildlife area. They are in the heart of what is widely considered to be the best game viewing area of the Masai Mara. Their vehicles are custom built 4 wheel drive landrovers. They take you out twice a day on a game drive into the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve and surrounding areas. Their driver-guides are hand-picked and nurtured by us. They undergo a continuous guide training scheme mentored by experts in the field. Having operated in the Masai Mara for 40 years our driver-guides have an un-paralleled knowledge of the reserve combined with a deep understanding and respect for the sanctity of this wilderness area, its flora and its fauna.
Wildebeest Migration
After the rains when the first flush of grass turns the Masai Mara’s golden savannah green, the most mesmerising wildlife spectacle anywhere takes place here: The Great Wildebeest Migration. Between the months of July and October one and a half million wildebeest, accompanied by vast numbers of zebra and gazelles make the long and dangerous trek from drier lands in Tanzania, northwards to this corner of Kenya. Lines of animals stretch as far as the eye can see across the plains. They come to give birth to their young and the grasslands echo with the sounds of the new-born. It is a time of plenty. But it is a time too when the predators are drawn from all around. High above on the hot winds the carrion birds, the vultures and eagles, soar. In the long grasses lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena prowl. Most dramatic of all is the moment when the migration arrives at the Mara River. They must cross it to reach the rich grazing. As the animals throng, crocodiles cruise the waters. Then the bravest takes the plunge into the swirling currents and thousands follow. Situated right inside the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Governors’ Camps are ideally placed to let you to be at the heart of the Great Wildebeest Migration. On many occassions they have seen the wildebeest cross the Mara River right in front of Governors’ Private Camp.
Governors’ Private Camp Collection offers Hot Air Balloon Safaris over the Mara River, plains and forests of the Masai Mara. The adventure begins just before dawn. Departure is from a perfect natural launch site behind Little Governors’ Private Camp, and flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crews inflate their craft. The first, pink tongues of sunlight flicker across the skies as the hot air balloon fills, then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a wildlife viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness: the silence as you float above the plains, the forest and the rivers of the Masai Mara. Even if you’ve flown elsewhere, this is a unique experience that Governors’ Private Camp offer. The flight lasts an hour or so, drifting wherever the air currents take you, and with ample opportunities for photography and video filming. Then your Kenyan Hot Air Balloon Safari finishes with a flourish. In the time honoured tradition of balloon flights the world over, you toast your return to earth with a champagne breakfast, cooked wherever you land. The Balloon Safari ends with a transfer back to Governors’ Private Camp. They also offer Hot Air Balloon Safaris for those staying at other select Masai Mara Camps.
Just outside the Masai Mara National Reserve is a traditional Masai community called Mara Rianda. There is a traditional Masai homestead or Manyatta which consists of 48 traditional houses surrounding a cattle enclosure. We encourage clients to visit this manyatta if they are interested in Masai culture and would like to experience a way of life unchanged for centuries. Visitors are always struck by the grace and beauty of the Masai people, and the colourful lifestyle they lead. . There is also a bustling curio market where guests can buy traditional Masai beadwork.
Governors’ Private Camp is very proud of the relationship they have nurtured with the Masai community neighbours.
In October 2006, to assist these communities to conserve their local woodland habitat and help provide a reliable source of fuel for the community, Governors’ Private Camp built the first biogas project at one Manyatta. This provides the residents of the Manyatta with methane gas to cook on. The gas is generated from the cow dung which accumulates in the centre of the Manyatta as the Masai keep their cattle here at night for security. The Biogas plant has helped remove vast quantities of dung from the centre of the manyatta, thus reducing the number of flies, and fly-born diseases and it has given the community a fuel to cook on. Fuel is an important conservation issue for the Masai Mara as previously the women would go out everyday and cut wood to cook on, now they no longer need to do this the acacia woodland surrounding the Manyatta is begging to flourish and return to its natural state. This has also freed up time that could be used in a more economically productive way for the women.
In order to visit the Manyatta guests must pay for an entrance ticket, which is obtainable from Governors’ Private Camp reception. This ticketing system was initiated by Tribal Voices project to ensure that as much revenue as possible goes to the manyatta and ensures a secure and transparent revenue stream for the community. This money is extremely important to the community and they have used it to build a nursery school for 120 children aged between 3 – 5 years. They have built two classrooms, accommodation for 3 teachers and a toilet facility. They have also paid for desks for the school. The money from the ticket entry also helps the community members to buy food, pay for secondary school for their children, and pay for cows the mainstay of the Masai economy. During times of drought when Masai cattle suffer the money earnt from ticket sales helps the community enormously to stay on their feet. Overall this revenue supports 98 different families comprising of 300 individuals.
Why not add a day or overnight trip to the beautiful unspoilt Island of Mfangano on Lake Victoria onto your safari?
Lapped by the waters of Lake Victoria, shaded by giant fig trees and lost to the world, Mfangano Island Camp is an oasis of tranquility, an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Your first view is of beautiful tropical gardens set on a secluded bay. Lawns hug the waterline, flowerbeds and rock gardens surround the camp and enormous boulders sit at the water’s edge, a perch for cormorants or giant monitor lizards to sun themselves. There is fantastic birdlife which you can enjoy from the comfort of the camp as cormorants dive for fish nearby or spread their wings to dry in the sun and Fish Eagles call from the treetops.
If all you desire is to laze in the sunshine, each room has it’s own private veranda with sun beds. Or there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied. The food is as fresh as can be, fished from the lake (hopefully by you!) or picked fresh from the island’s vegetable gardens and orchards.
Mfangano Island Camp has six double-bedded cottages situated right on the lakeshore. Each room has been built in the Luo tribal style, with banana thatch and natural clay. All offer spectacular vistas across the lake with picturesque dhows sailing by. The rooms are light and airy with four-poster beds. Mfangano Island Camp has a stunning honeymoon suite if you are looking for something very special. From your bed you have almost a 360 degree view of Lake Victoria. From the dining and lounge area you can sit and enjoy the life of the lake as it goes by. There is also a horizon swimming pool located right on the lakeshore.
Day trip
You depart the Masai Mara on an early morning flight to Mfangano Airstrip (30 minute flight). Arrive at Mfangano Island and take a boat trip to Mfangano Island Camp in time for breakfast. Spend the rest of the day exploring Lake Victoria, (the world’s second largest fresh water lake), fishing with good chances to catch the giant Nile Perch, bird-watching, visits to see the local ancient rock art, boat rides or walks to the local island villages, or enjoy the prolific birdlife in the camp’s indigenous garden, or sit by the pool reading a book. After a delicious alfresco lunch you will be returned to the airstrip by boat for your flight back to the Masai Mara. The flight to the Mara will land in time for an afternoon game drive or will connect with the afternoon schedule flights back to Nairobi if you are departing Masai Mara the same day.
Overnight Trip
You depart the Masai Mara on an early morning flight to Mfangano Airstrip (30 minute flight). Arrive at Mfangano Island and take a boat trip to Mfangano Island Camp in time for breakfast. Spend the rest of the day exploring Lake Victoria (the world’s second largest fresh water lake), fishing with good chances to catch the giant Nile Perch, bird-watching, visits to see the local ancient rock art, boat rides or walks to the local island villages, or enjoy the prolific birdlife in the camp’s indigenous garden, or sit by the pool reading a book. After a delicious alfresco lunch you have the afternoon to explore the lake or relax in the camp. Dinner and overnight the following day you have the whole day to relax at the lake before you are returned to the airstrip by boat for your flight back to the Masai Mara. The flight to the Mara will land in time for an afternoon game drive or connect with the afternoon schedule flights back to Nairobi if you are departing the Masai Mara on that day. Day and overnight trips to Mfangano Island Camp can be booked direct in camp or prior to arrival.
” arrived at the camp last year, very friendly staff, helpful couldn’t do enough for you. Very nice tent with ensuite bathroom. The food was exceptional and the rangers very knowledgeable on my first day saw male lion and cubs, leopard and cheetah this was awesome. Hot air balloon ride was also a highlight and the champ breakfast was delightful. Will definitely go back in the next couple of years ” – cecileh70
” This is the place to go for serious game lovers. Our driver/guide Duncan a local masai was passionate of Mara, shared with us the wealth of knowledge he had, took us on some amazing game drives and we saw all we wanted to see. He did make our experience an unforgetable one. All the staff at Governors are dedicated to the place and making your stay very comfortable. James who kept our tent tidy, woke us every morning at 6 with a tray of tea and biscuits. Michael, our waiter looked after us really well. Joseph at the bar, always chatted to us and made sure we were okay.The gentleman at the reception always came to us everyday to check that we were enjoying ourselves. We will definately return to Governors Camp. ” – shah236
” We’ve been really surprised with high quality and standard in this camp in the middle of nowhere. It was amazing experience – eating supper under sky full of stars or sleeping in very nice tent with hippos walking next to it. Lots and lots of wild animals, amazing breakfast while on safari with zebras running in close distance. Luckily lions haven’t been interested in us too much 🙂 Lifetime experience! ” – wojciechowska-anna
