Rating: Deluxe
At Bateleur Camp you can experience the elegance of a bygone era, with antique furniture, polished wooden floors, leather sofas and soft lamp light setting the scene. Combine this with sweeping views over the Masai Mara and you have a truly magical place to stay on your Kenyan safari.
The tented suites are secluded, offering privacy whenever you want it. Rooms are very spacious, with seating areas and lavish en-suite bathrooms. Sit back on your private veranda and enjoy the special 'Out of Africa' views. Should you want for anything, your personal butler is a just call away, ready to offer assistance.
Activities include twice daily game drives, guided bush walks and night drives. You can also be able to visit a local village to spend time Maasai people, learn about their culture and day-to-day lives. While in camp there's time to relax in the lounge, catch up on some reading, sip a chilled drink and enjoy a cooling swim in the lap pool.
Meals are plentiful, starting with a breakfast of cooked eggs, tasty waffles, cold platters and fresh fruit. Lunch tends to be a light meal, leaving room for afternoon tea and cakes, while dinner is served by the camp fire. Your day is rounded off with a nightcap under the stars, as you prepare for sleep and look forward to the next day's adventures.
Open: Bateleur Camp is open all year.
Location: Bateleur Camp is at the base of the Oloololo escarpment, part of the rim of the Great Rift Valley, in the Kichwa Tembo private concession which borders the Masai Mara National Reserve. Kichwa Tembo is the closest airstrip, a half hour drive away.
Rooms: There are 2 separate camps at Bateleur, each with 9 tents. These are roomy with solid wooden floors, overhead fans, safe, hairdryer, an en-suite bathroom, an indoor seating area, a private deck and private butler service. There is ample space for storing clothes and luggage. A 'gym in a basket' with weights, a skipping rope and yoga mat is available on request for a private work out.
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives in Kichwa Tembo concession, bush walks, night drives, village visits and hot air ballooning are all offered. Some activities incur an additional charge, to be paid locally. Bateleur Camp is perfectly placed for observing the annual wildebeest migration.
Facilities: The lounge has soft leather sofas, chandeliers and antiques. There is a selection of books you can dip into at leisure. Most meals are served out in the open air and bush breakfast and sundowners overlooking the Rift Valley can be arranged. The lap pool offers opportunities for gentle exercise. The camp provides a daily laundry service.
Dining: Meals are eaten at individual tables.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome. There are 2 triple tents. Those aged 5 and younger cannot take part in regular game drives, children aged 6 to 11 can take part in regular game drives at the discretion of the camp manager. Baby sitting can be arrange (at extra charge).
Health: This is a low-risk malarial area.
Communication: There is Wi-Fi in guest tents and main areas.
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0"Bateleur Camp is a very good luxury safari camp. The staff are very welcoming and professional, and the guides knowledgeable and interesting to talk to. This is a matter of taste but I found the experience a little more like staying at a hotel than a camp - I felt slightly distant from the landscape and wildlife while in the camp itself, but the game drives were very good. Two members of staff deserve an extra-special mention. Milka Kerubo, the camp manager, was kind enough to have dinner with me a couple of times (as I was travelling alone) and told me fascinating stories about growing up in the Maasai culture. Wilson Naitoi was my guide for all the game drives and a guided walk, and was extremely knowledgeable and interesting to talk to."