Step into the set of the Lion King: My Masai Mara Safari in Kenya!
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As a safari planner, it’s my DUTY to share the ins and outs of various safari destinations across Africa with my lovely Adventurelust clients! Since I first came to the continent in 2017 and caught the safari bug HARD, I’ve made it my mission to experience as many safaris as humanly possible (I mean, hey, someone’s gotta do it!). Now living in South Africa, I know this landscape intimately and am making a point to explore other destinations, where I work closely with my local on-the-ground partners to organize epic trips in Tanzania, Botswana, Uganda, as well as Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Kenya was actually the first country where I did a proper “safari,” but it was an overland tour in 2019 on my #wakawakabirthday, and I didn’t know the safari scene AT ALL. So now that I’m building out my roster and expertise—especially since Kenya is one of the most popular and frequently asked-about safari destinations—it was time for me to go back and investigate deeper!!
I’m so glad I did, mainly for personal reasons — because the Mara Magic is SO REAL. This place is quintessential Africa, straight out of The Lion King, and the animal kingdom does NOT disappoint. There are animals FOR DAYS; it feels like a never-ending wildlife parade, and you truly strike safari gold in the Mara. It does something different to your soul, for sure.
But it was also an incredible trip for business reasons. After our Epic Adventure Meet-Up in Tanzania, a visit to Manda Bay on Lamu Island in Kenya (a long-time bucket list destination for me), and this safari in the Masai Mara, I feel so much more confident advising and organizing the perfect safari for my clients!!!! I’ve learned there are SO many ins and outs to the safari scene in Kenya, from the National Park to the private reserves and concessions and pros and cons to each, to the different vehicle types and modes of transport for accessing the park, to the different areas as some are wildlife-rich and some are sleepy, there is SO much here that can make or break your safari and since it’s such a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many people that’s why it’s SO important to go through a reliable operator like ME!!! I work with my local partners to ensure you are getting a proper, authentic experience in Kenya!!
I’m incredibly grateful to have built relationships with amazing local partners in Kenya. Along with Manda Bay on Lamu, I’m working with the Safari & Conservation Company to create incredible itineraries & trip packages around Kenya and beyond, as well as specific camps like Roca River Camp and Olive Bush Camp in the Mara National Park. I know that no matter what my clients are looking for, I can deliver an AMAZING itinerary for you!!!
Here’s a bit about my experience at each of the camps in the Masai Mara!
Roca River Camp
I’m not kidding you—this was one of my favourite safari camps I’ve ever visited in my life. Watch my reel here! It checked ALL of my boxes! Epic canvas tents let you hear the hippos honking all night (lol), an incredible layout with the plains and waterhole (hippo hole) on one side and the Mara River (also filled with hippos—are we catching a theme here?) on the other. Breakfasts and lunches are enjoyed overlooking the river, and all the food was delicious. The tents are nestled among the trees, under the shade, and I swear I felt like I was in the fricken Amazon with all the birds swooping and chirping around me! The tents are decorated with old-world safari charm—perfectly comfortable, clean, and modern (even complete with Starlink and plenty of key plug points!). They really thought of everything.
Philip and the team at Roca took amazing care of us, serving up amazing coffee and sundowner stops where I was just pinching myself— I’M IN THE MASAI MARA! The plains and trees are such quintessential African scenes. There were ALWAYS animals around, even visible from camp—buffalo, giraffe, ellies, wildebeest, zebra, and did I mention hippos?
We enjoyed some incredible lion sightings, including one male roaring and posing for us in front of a hot air balloon (which glides right by camp every morning— I don’t want to break my #1 safari rule, but it might even be worth skipping a morning game drive!). We also witnessed some lion cubs playing in the morning light which was so special.
And I can’t mention Roca River Camp without bringing up its resident warthogs—Wanda, Piggly, and Wiggly! So many special experiences here, and I know my clients are going to absolutely love this camp!!!
Olive Bush Camp
From Roca, we ventured deep into the heart of the Mara, and it was so great to pair this camp with Olive Bush Camp. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the food was yummy, and the staff was lovely, but the best part of this camp by far is its location.
Olive Bush Camp is nestled in the heart of lion territory, and we saw IT ALL—a cub playing on her mama’s fresh kill, melting my heart. A male lion roaring at sunrise, sauntering over to meet his brother. The same male mating with a lioness later. Every time we left Olive for a game drive, it was boom—straight into lion o’clock. EPIC.
And the kitty-cat extravaganza didn’t stop there! We had an unbelievable leopard sighting with a perfect angel leopardess named Luluka, who I am now officially obsessed with. She crossed the plains, moving swiftly past herds of gazelles and zebras, always choosing to intersect with our vehicle along her path (I think she loves me too 🥹). We had another INSANE sighting of a mama leopard and her cub perched on a branch, her impala kill dangling poetically off to the side—one of my favourite wildlife photos I’ve ever taken. We even spotted a cheetah to top it off! Hats off to our driver, Masai Mark, for always getting us perfectly positioned and hustling to deliver the sightings we desperately wanted!
Our last night in the Mara was spent at the top of Lookout Hill, where we watched a fiery sunset that just kept getting better and better. It was one of the most magical moments I’ve had in a long time—the Mara Magic is not lost on me.
Each safari destination has its pros and cons, and I’m happy to guide your safari decisions and help you choose the perfect plan for your trip. Let’s set up a call to chat!!
