Overview
Under the acacias
On the edge of the savannah within the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, bordering the famed Maasai Mara reserve in southwest Kenya, Encounter Mara is a classic East African setup.
The camp has 10 spacious and comfortable tents, including a family unit, under the shade of acacia trees. All have en suite bathrooms, flushing toilets and hot-water bucket showers, along with a cool veranda and day beds where you can watch zebras amble to the nearby saltlick and a giraffe strut through camp.
The community-owned conservancy, home to just eight camps, has an award-winning sustainability model as well as hosting a wildlife density greater than the neighbouring National Reserve making for a true Mara experience without the crowds.
Facts
At a glance
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Ten tents including family tent
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Dining mess
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Lounge
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Fire pit
Experiences
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![Encounter Mara16]()
Game drives
There are two game drives a day, at dawn and dusk. Being in a private conservancy allows off road driving to get a closer look when we spot something in the bush and drives after dark, which means better chances of spotting nocturnal animals.
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![Encounter Mara8]()
Cultural and community visits
Most of your guides are from the local area and are more than happy to talk about their culture and show you around their village.
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![Encounter Mara7]()
Family safaris
Encounter Mara welcomes families with children over the age of 5 and there are a number of child-friendly activities such as bow and arrow shooting and educational bush walks.
Community & Culture
The camp is located within Naboisho Conservancy and plays a significant role in the conservancy operations by paying monthly conservancy lease, and bed night fees to the Maasai landowners.
Through its mother company Asilia, the camp is currently sponsoring a livestock grazing plan project where the local people are sensitized on sustainable grazing and livestock model based on rotationally land use grazing plans. There is also an awareness creation and mentoring program for nearby schools (Olesere and Mbitin primary schools) whereby students are offered game drives and classes on wildlife and nature conservation issues.
The camp purchases from the locals where possible and appproximately 70% of the staff is also from the local Maasai community.
Conservation
The camp partners with the conservancy on wildlife monitoring initiatives. This includes the Mara Predator and Mara Cheetah projects, involving visitors and guides to monitor the cats, record sightings and other information for the projects.
Footprint
Asilia, which has been carbon neutral since 2009, runs sustainable operations by installing solar power systems and solar water boilers in its camps. Their carbon offsetting includes safari vehicles, their global offices’ electricity usage and even international flights taken by management. They have reduced their plastic waste by 63% over the last four years. Instead of plastic bottles, guests are given personalized stainless steel bottles. They eliminated single-use plastics in 2018 and even cling film and earbuds are not allowed in camp.
Encounter Mara is built with a low environmental footprint and blends in with the local surrounding with minimized footprint. The camp is mainly powered by solar energy which is fixed with a power inverter battery system. They also utilize sustainable water and waste management processes.
Example trips
Get inspired
Browse our example trips and get in contact to start planning your very own adventure.
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Example trips
Get inspired
Browse our example trips and get in contact to start planning your very own adventure.
What makes us different
Why Niarra
Niarra Travel is a forward-thinking travel company headquartered in London born out of a passion to do things differently.
In Swahili, a Bantu language spoken by millions in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, the name Niara means "with utmost purpose" and our team are united by a passion for exploration and a belief that the right kind of travel can make the world a better place.
Our Travel Researchers are here to create incredible trips with a positive impact for you.
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Unforgettable experiences
Creating your trip is entirely collaborative and our Travel Researchers are here for every step.
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Positive impact
Curated sustainable experiences and accommodation that maximize the benefits to local people and place.
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Fairness and transparency
An open, competitive pricing structure that ensures more money goes to where it's needed in the destination.
