Freeman Safaris
‘Yesterday’s Safaris Today’
Masai Mara Camp
The camp is situated right in the heart of the Mara, surrounded by trees and totally out of sight. I love the camp as it couldn’t be more ‘yesterday’ than anywhere else in the Park. It is truly unique and we share it with the game; the elephants, the lions who roar and the leopards who cough through the night - we often see them on our way into and out of camp. Hippos graze within earshot - after all, we are only borrowing the site from them. Don’t worry, though, as one of our Masai askaris guards us throughout the night. Mind you, I’ve heard a few stories around the breakfast table and often wonder if I were in the same camp!
When I say that the camp is ‘right in the heart of the Mara’ I should emphasise that every place worth visiting is within half an hour or so’s drive from the camp. Our area is ‘where no white mini-buses fly’ and you really do need fully capable 4x4s to cross the rivers and gullies.
Ever since I started enjoying the Mara my ambition was to secure a camp in the middle of park where all the action takes place. Yes, there are advantages to living outside the park as I did for many years, evening game drives as well as walking mornings but I have to say none of that equals the pure magic, the sheer convenience of being right in the middle. The downside to living outside is the travelling to and fro, the human noises of barking dogs, braying donkeys and traffic!
As we enjoy a cheetah in the evening I see those who stay miles out having to leave early. I just don’t understand people who spend a small fortune visiting the Mara and end up staying miles out, travelling 2 hours each way. I hope this doesn’t happen to any of you.
The tents look out over the Olare Orok River which runs south into the Talek River where the ‘Big Cat Diary’ was shot. The mess tent has a great view of a large pool full of hippos who keep us entertained while we sit around the camp fire in the evenings. From here we also see all sorts of birds - green pigeons feeding in the fig trees, black-and-white casqued hornbills nesting nearby, resident woodland kingfishers calling and seen close by, pied kingfishers hovering over the water, an occasional giant kingfisher streaking past and quick glimpses of a Hartlaub’s or Schalow’s turaco. This is just a sample of the sightings we have had and you should be prepared for anything!
The camp is truly eco-friendly. After all, we are not the true owners here and we leave nothing when vacating the site for the rains. We use the hippo paths between the tents along the river front. We leave the site as we find it. As you will read elsewhere on my site, being eco-friendly does not mean uncomfortable. We have all conveniences with a loo in the tent, electric lights, electric showers, all run by solar power. It just means it ain’t as posh as a permanent camp with all the falsehood of what some call luxury. That is not my style and as yet I have had no complaints.
Let me quote John and Sandra They have loads of southern Africa experience and have just completed a safari with me. They say “your Mara camp is the best we have ever stayed in and we just love it here”.
"We head back to camp arriving just after last light, a welcome sight with the fire going and lamps outside each tent. Tea and then off for a shower and sort out. Another superb dinner, this time tilapia fish cooked in a Amani special sauce, as usual had to have seconds, followed by bread and butter pudding. He always amazes me just how he can cook such meals in the bush. Nothing is ever from a packet and despite the timing it’s always perfect. "
Marc
© Freemansafaris.com
There can be up to 30 or more hippos in the pool beneath the mess area. They provide constant entertainment and there is a shady, cool, covered observation area at water level for observing and photographing them. The action is often quite exciting!
We frequently depart or return to camp to find animals in the riverbed, especially when the water level is low. Here waterbuck and impala graze immediately below the camp area
