Discover the New Mara Toto Tree Camp in Kenya
Kenya’s Maasai Mara has always been a dream destination for wildlife enthusiasts and luxury travelers alike. Adding to its allure is the newly opened Mara Toto Tree Camp, a stunning lodge that promises an unforgettable experience in the heart of the African wilderness. Opened in July 2024, this camp is already making waves for its unique blend of luxury, eco-friendliness, and immersive safari experiences.
A Jewel in the Maasai Mara
Nestled along the serene Ntiakitiak River, Mara Toto Tree Camp offers breathtaking views and close encounters with the region’s diverse wildlife. The camp features four elevated tents, each designed to provide guests with a luxurious yet intimate connection to nature. From your private deck, you can watch hippos wallowing in the river, vervet monkeys playing in the trees, and bush babies making their nocturnal rounds.
The rooms at Mara Toto Tree Camp
Each of the four tents is a private treehouse with stylish sitting areas of leather loveseats, terraces with hanging chairs, and massive bathrooms decked out in glowing lanterns. There’s no air conditioning, but a fan circulates air, and tents stay cool overnight.
All tents are big enough to accommodate two separate beds if needed, though Tent Four is the largest. Complimentary mini bars are housed in weathered wooden cabinets and filled with Tusker, the local Kenyan lager, homemade cookies, and the ginger-based East African soda, Stoney Tangawizi. Other things to love are a selection of gym equipment (including weights and a stationary bike) and Great Plains toiletries smelling of orange, grapefruit, and marula. As with most high-end safari camps, laundry service is complimentary (which is a big help considering weight restrictions on light aircraft).
Food and Drink at Mara Toto Tree Camp
You will eat very well at Mara Toto Camp, and all-inclusive rates include meals, drinks, spirits, and wine (including upmarket international Champagne like Taittinger).
A cold breakfast is usually prepared for the morning game drive, but you can request a more fancy “bush breakfast,” where a mobile kitchen comes to you in the bush and a chef whips up hot eggs and tangy mimosas. Lunch is typically back at camp, with a new set menu of light every day and fresh fare. (There’s a general menu, too, if the set menu isn’t to your taste).
Expect sundowners on evening game drives, complete with your drink of choice (try a G&T with Great Plains’ own South African-distilled gin) and a brass tiffin filled with homemade snacks like polenta chips and spiced nuts. Dinner is back at camp, with perhaps a sparkling South African wine in front of the fire first. There’s usually a creamy vegetable soup to start, and three choices of mains (meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes like rich risottos or spooling piles of noodles or pasta), plus moreish desserts like homemade strawberry ice cream, sticky toffee pudding, or turmeric lemon posset.
Activities and Experiences at Mara Toto Tree Camp
Camp guests get twice-daily game drives (one in the morning and one in the evening) in an open-sided Land Cruiser driven by a private guide. Drives are done in both the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the far-less-busy Mara North Conservancy, which is land privately owned by the Maasai but part of the same ecosystem.
Other activities include sunrise hot air balloon flights and private photographic guides. (Each tent is outfitted with pro-level binoculars and cameras for your trip, with photos downloaded onto a USB stick upon departure). Alongside the communal dining and lounging space, there’s also a Great Plains Safari Boutique. Don’t miss the hand-beaded treasures made by the Naboisho Women Craft Centre.
The Spa at Mara Toto Tree Camp
Treatments like massages, scrubs, facials, and even manis and pedis are done in room, using natural, raw ingredients like jojoba, rose hip, and African potato. After the treatments, warm baths are drawn, infused with lavender oils and muscle-slackening bath salts.
Family-friendly Offerings at Mara Toto Tree Camp
Like all Great Plains camps, Mara Toto Tree Camp is open to guests aged 6 and up. Kids receive a Young Explorers pack, including an activity book and a safari journal, and guides modify game drives to accommodate their interests and attention spans. Mini hand and foot massages are also available for young explorers.
Accessibility and Sustainability at Mara Toto Tree Camp
There is no need to choose between sustainability and luxury here: Natural and recycled materials add to the safari-chic aesthetic, and the camp runs almost entirely off solar power and is equipped with a water filtration program. (Don’t even think about single-use plastics.) Great Plains also has its own foundation, contributing to conservation and benefiting the local communities.
Ground Transportation throughout the Mara Toto Tree Camp tour will be provided by Responsible Tourism Company.
Location of Mara Toto Tree Camp
Mara Toto Tree Camp is located in the middle of the bush on the border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Olare Motorogi Conservancy. This camp is about a 45-minute drive through the bush from Ol Kiombo Airstrip and about an hour’s flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
Mara Toto Tree Camp is more than just a place to stay; it’s an experience that connects you to the heart of the Maasai Mara. With its eco-friendly design, luxurious accommodations, and commitment to conservation, the camp sets a new standard for sustainable luxury in Kenya. Whether you’re exploring the vast savannahs, learning about local wildlife, or simply soaking in the natural beauty, Mara Toto Tree Camp promises an unforgettable journey into the wild.
For more information about the Mara Toto Tree Camp, be sure to reach out to us at Responsible Tourism Company.
