Zamara Private

a well-positioned private residence for exploring the Maasai Mara

Zamara Private is located on the northern edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in southwest Kenya.

Zamara Private is set on a hillside overlooking the surrounding Mara landscape, with open views across the grasslands and surrounding hills.

This high end exclusive-use property comprises six suites and is designed for families or small groups wanting private use of the accommodation, with vehicle safaris conducted in the reserve. The surrounding area is typical of the Mara, with open grassland and areas of bush supporting a wide range of wildlife.

Zamara Private is a fully serviced safari residence rather than a traditional tented camp, with a dedicated guide, chef and support team. Its design combines spacious indoor and outdoor living areas with practical safari facilities, including a swimming pool, rooftop terrace and wellness area.

Rooms

Guest accommodation is in 6 spacious suites, comprising 4 guest suites and 2 larger master suites. All have en-suite bathrooms and private outdoor areas, with the master suites offering additional space and larger living areas.

Suites: x6

Activities

Zamara Private provides the following guided activities, not all of which are necessarily included in the room rate …

• Vehicle safari
• Bush meals
• Hot-air balloon safari
• Cultural interaction

Exclusive use vehicle safaris are conducted in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the flexibility to spend part or all of the day on safari. Picnic breakfasts and lunches can be taken in the reserve, while hot-air balloon safaris are available at an additional cost. Unlike the other Great Plains camps in the reserve (Mara Toto Tree Camp and Mara Expedition) this property does not have access to Mara North conservancy.

The Maasai Mara tends to feature in almost all safari trips to Kenya. As well as being the best known reserve, it is also the most productive for wildlife.

The usual stay duration is 4-8 nights split between two camps, less frequently 3-4 nights in just one camp.

Seasonality

The best time of year to visit is generally considered to be the Jul-Oct dry season, when the weather should be reliably good and the wildlife concentrated around the permanent water sources.

The Nov-Jun green season may be much less dependable for weather, but remains really strong for wildlife viewing.

Visitor traffic is less of an issue in this private area, but you can expect the camps to be fully booked during the Jul-Oct and Dec-Jan high seasons. So there can be slight advantages to visiting during quieter periods.

Getting around

You’re most likely to arrive into the Maasai Mara area via the regular light aircraft services that operate from Nairobi, which means that you will travel around the area with a guide and vehicle from the camp in which you are staying.

If you’re staying in more than one camp in the greater Maasai Mara then inter-camp transfers are usually operated by the departing camp and generally pass through wildlife areas for most if not all of their routes.

It’s also possible to travel down from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara by road, which is quite a long and tiresome journey, but not without interest. The trouble is that the better lodges in the Mara will offer you no discount for having your own guide and vehicle along, so you end up paying for both, which works out more expensive than flying down.

a wildlife-rich area of the Maasai Mara