Into the Heart of the Mara
You don’t fly into the Masai Mara as you drift into it, slowly, breath by breath. A light aircraft touches down on grassy airstrips that feel more like meadows than runways. The further you go, the more the world behind you disappears, until you find yourself deep inside one of Africa’s most iconic reserves.
This is the Mara. In a private concession in the heart of it all, the Mara you dream of.
At the Foot of the Escarpment
The first 2 nights we spent in a camp that sits nestled at the base of an escarpment, timeless in design, with a balance of simple elegance and warmth.
It’s not just the canvas and the polished floors that impressed me, it was the rhythm. Wake up to bird calls, sip Kenyan coffee brewed fresh from the lodge’s own garden and walk through the herb-scented shamba while breakfast takes shape in an open kitchen filled with laughter and the smell of firewood.
Game drives begin the moment you step out there are no long transfers, no traffic. Just you and this wide, open canvas of golden grass, acacia trees and wildlife at every turn. Giraffes striding through the morning haze, lions lounging under shade, cheetahs scanning the horizon. You don’t need to chase sightings here as they find you.
Out of Africa, Reimagined
After the 2 nights, we shifted next door, but it felt like stepping back in time. Our next stay had a different charm: polished silver, deep leather armchairs and copper bathtubs that gleamed under the afternoon light. Think old-world explorer meets contemporary comfort. Out of Africa.
Here, each tent felt like a private retreat, complete with a personal butler who always seemed to know exactly when to appear with a gin and tonic or a fresh towel. The landscape was still the same, vast and wild, but the light felt different, more golden.
Beyond the Game Drive
Evening drives stretched into night, when hyenas cackled and the stars came out like pinpricks through velvet. We dined under the open sky, sometimes out in the bush with a fire crackling beside us, other times back at camp where candlelight flickered against crystal and canvas.
One thing you must do here? Take a bush walk. It’s a chance to truly connect with the land and to feel its texture, hear its quiet. Walk alongside a Maasai guide and learn how they live in harmony with the animals, how they read the landscape, how every sound, track and tree has meaning. It’s humbling and grounding in ways no vehicle can replicate.
Our personal RefinedRoutes tip: Don’t be shy to ask the chef for a traditional off-menu Kenyan dish. It’s one of those insider touches that transforms your experience it’s the kind of flavour that lingers long after you’ve left
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Laikipia, Becoming
From here, you’ll journey north, into a more remote and rugged part of Kenya. The landscapes shift: rocky outcrops, dry riverbeds and ancient trees replacing the open grasslands. In this secluded corner of Laikipia, a new lodge is being created, one that promises to blend effortlessly into its wild surroundings. Currently in the final stages of completion, it’s expected to offer sculptural, organic architecture that mirrors the granite kopjes around it. Interiors will reflect the local Samburu culture, with earthy materials, warm textures and thoughtful details. Luxury and grand suites are to feature private terraces and plunge pools overlooking vast, untouched plains. The conservancy itself holds the potential for rare and intimate wildlife encounters: From wild dogs to the elusive melanistic leopard. Your mornings begin with sunrise coffees in the open air and game drives across a landscape that feels beautifully off the map. We believe it could become one of Kenya’s most soulful, meaningful escapes. This journey through Kenya was not just about the animals or the luxury, though there was plenty of both. It was about the feeling. The quiet mornings. The dust on my shoes. The way fire smells at dusk. The deep, uninterrupted breath I hadn’t realised I needed.
Africa always changes you - but this part of it? It rooted itself deep.
Wild, Personal, Unforgettable
Ready when you are - I will help you experience Kenya as I did. Reach out to me.
