About this hotel
General information
Mahali Mzuri is Virgin Limited Edition’s small tented camp on the side of a green valley in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, part of the wider Masai Mara ecosystem. Its twelve tented suites are spread along the slope, each looking out across plains that lie on the route of the great wildebeest migration. The interiors take their cue from Maasai culture and craft, with local art, beadwork and warm natural textures.
The heart of the camp is the main tent, with its dining room, a lounge with a fireplace and books, the bar and an open-air fire pit; lower down, towards the valley floor, sit the heated pool and the spa. The conservancy is run with the Maasai community and keeps visitor numbers low: its five camps share just 94 beds, and the number of vehicles at a sighting is capped. Stays include all meals and drinks, alcohol among them (a few premium brands aside), two game drives a day, laundry, airstrip transfers and Wi-Fi. The camp is open all year and welcomes children from the age of two.
Location
The camp lies in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, north of the Masai Mara National Reserve and some 240 km west of Nairobi. Scheduled flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi reach Olare Orok airstrip in about 50–60 minutes, followed by a drive of around 20 minutes; transfers between airstrip and camp are included. Charter aircraft can land on the conservancy’s own airstrip, also 20 minutes from camp, and the road journey from Nairobi takes 5–6 hours.
Spa
Nasaro Spa, its name meaning “refuge” in Maa, is a treatment room close to the valley floor with a sweeping outlook over the bush. Massages, facials and body treatments use D'VINE, a Kenyan skincare line made with natural oils, butters and botanical extracts. Signatures include the Nasaro Misuli deep-tissue massage, the Soul of Africa ritual of exfoliation, mask and body oil, and the Enchirtt hot-stone massage; a gentle relaxing massage is offered for children.
Sports & leisure
Twice a day, at dawn and in the afternoon, Maasai guides lead game drives across the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, home to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, zebra, impala and gazelle, more than 300 bird species and around 150,000 wildebeest that stay on these plains all year. The camp also offers:
- night drives in search of nocturnal animals;
- guided bush walks with a Maasai guide, including a faster-paced option;
- dawn hot-air balloon flights with a champagne breakfast, run by an outside operator at extra cost;
- breakfasts and dinners out in the bush, and sundowners at scenic spots;
- the weekly Maasai market on Thursdays, 20 minutes from camp, and the Maa Trust beading workshop, where guests can make their own bracelet or necklace;
- a community tour of a Maasai homestead and a local school, with proceeds going to village families;
- Maasai guides explaining how their people read the night sky;
- traditional Maasai skill games, archery among them, for guests aged 12 and over;
- exercise kit – yoga mats, skipping ropes, weights and a step – brought to the tent or the poolside;
- a shop with local crafts, gifts and clothing.
For children
There is no fixed children’s programme; activities are shaped around each child or group. Young guests can follow a tracking treasure hunt, set off on a small nature safari looking for insects, lizards and birds, and end the day with a bedtime story over milk and cookies. A gentle children’s massage is available, and the kitchen prepares children’s dishes to suit their tastes and dietary needs.
Restaurants & bars
The cooking moves between pan-African dishes, Kenyan barbecue, Swahili specialities and familiar international plates, built on local, seasonal produce, some of it from the camp’s own garden, with honey from its own hives and bread and pastries baked every morning. All drinks are included.
- main dining tent – breakfast, lunch with views down the valley, afternoon tea and dinner;
- Mahali Mzuri Bar & Lounge – bar and lounge with an always-open honesty bar, signature cocktails and nightcaps;
- fire pit – wine and dinners by the fire;
- poolside – open-air lunches and dinners;
- wine tasting room – wine tastings;
- private dining – candlelit dinners on the tent’s own deck or out in the bush.
Swimming
A heated 12-metre infinity pool looks out over the plains, with Nasaro Spa and an open-air dining area alongside.
Rooms
Twelve tented suites – eleven Luxury Tented Suites and a single Family Tented Suite – stand apart from one another along the valley slope, some up to a 10-minute walk from the main tent. Their decoration draws on Maasai culture, with local art, beadwork and natural materials.
Every tent has air conditioning and heating, a king-size bed (twins on request), a sitting area, a bathroom with a freestanding tub and walk-in shower, a large deck with panoramic views, a complimentary minibar, tea and coffee, Africology toiletries, robes and slippers, a hairdryer, binoculars, torches, hot-water bottles and extra blankets, a safe and Wi-Fi.
Luxury Tented Suite
A tented suite with a king-size bed that can be split into twins, a sitting area and a bathroom with a freestanding bath and walk-in shower. The large private deck and the bathroom both face the plains; for two guests.
Family Tented Suite
The camp’s one family tent, with a central living area, a king-size bed (can be twinned) plus two twin beds and two bathrooms, one with a walk-in shower and one with a freestanding bath. A private deck looks over the savannah; for up to four guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.