Top 4 Tented Camps In Kenya For An Intimate Or Romantic Safari
Imagine endless miles of golden grasslands stretching to touch the sky in the horizon. Imagine scattered acacia trees in that horizon with flocks of birds descending on the wobbly flat tops seeking resting spots for the night. Imagine the red African sun setting behind the silhouettes of giraffes, zebras and buffaloes. The tails of warthogs stick above the grass like aerials of a vehicle seeking for solace. The sky is streaked with pink and orange colours as day turns to dusk. The first bright stars begin to shimmer as the sky fades from blue to black. The roars of the lionesses colonize the distant air, evidence of their success and a not-so-luck prey. Dinner is served for the predators. Miniature glowing green lanterns rise in dozens from the savannah grass. The fireflies are the first to awaken as Africa gets ready for bed. All is quiet except for the sloshing of the Mara River, whose bank you overlook as you stand on the balcony of a beautifully crafted Mahogany cabin. As the fireflies are strewn in the air, three feet above you, the frogs in the riverbank begin their intermittent baritone croaks woven together with the whistles of unseen crickets. A cool evening breeze sweeps up your face and shivers your body. You contemplate returning to your warm, furnished room before a light blanket wraps around your shoulders. You turn to face the love of your life. They hand you a sundowner as they hold you close taking in the spectacular view. It’s private, it’s quiet, and it’s perfect-an ideal getaway for a man and a woman in love, spending intimate time in the natural beauty of a romantic safari.
Such places exist. As you dream about them, spare time and money with your beloved to make it a reality in any of the following places:
SANCTUARY OLONANA SAFARI CAMP
Olonana is an award-winning camp that borders the legendary Maasai Mara. The safari camp stands at the doorstep of one of the Seven Wonders of the World- the Great Wildebeest Migration! A couple can enjoy a private view of this attraction using hot air balloon flights or game drives. Olonana offers bush dinners in the wild savannah, sundowners as you catch breathtaking sunset views. Visitors also get to enjoy cultural visits of local communities such as the Maasai, after whom the area and river is named.
GOVERNORS’ IL MORAN CAMP
For luxury away from the concrete jungle, a couple will love the intimate Il Moran camp. It is considered to be the premiere camp in the Maasai Mara. The camp is situated in the heart of the Maasai Mara Game reserve. Couples will enjoy game views courtesy of the professional guides and drivers in the wild savannah. Getting an aerial view of the African landscape is possible through the hot-air balloon rides. For those who prefer walking, trained and professional guides will walk you through the Africa terrain as you interact with the wild and nearby cultural communities. Being in the heart of the Mara, visitors will catch clear views of the Great Wildebeest Migration between July and August.
COTTAR’S 1920’s SAFARI CAMP
Take your beloved back in time. With the romantic thrill feel of an Indiana Jones experience (except the guns, bombs and explosions), Cottar’s Safari Camp gives you a private and quiet tented camping experience. The camp fuses exquisite service and luxury with a historical feel, making it the perfect getaway geographically and chronologically. The camp is located 1 kilometre away from the Maasai Mara and boasts of the following features: game walks, cultural interactions with the Maasai community, day and night drives. Couples can also request for customized safari baths/showers in the savannah wild.
KICHWA TEMBO
Kichwa tembo is arguably the best loved safari camp in Kenya. It has two sites, one with sweeping views of the Maasai Mara plain and the other in a forested region. The former, Bateleur Camp, is often called vintage Africa. It boasts of well-furnished vintage rooms right next to popular spots such as where the famous film Out of Africa was filmed. For a romantic getaway, couples will enjoy the butler service in Bateleur. The wildlife is diverse here and the view of the Great Wildebeest Migration is to die for. Kichwa Tembo tented camp lies not far from the path of the Great Wildebeest Migrations. Couples can take walks into the wild by the Mara river or get magnificent towering views from the Oloololo Escarpment. Kichwa Tembo has a swimming pool where one can catch great sweeping views of the wild. Couples can also literally watch wildlife such as warthogs graze ten feet away from their tent.
So, the sun has set, the sundowner glass is empty, dinner has been served and you and your beloved return to your room. Which shall it be?
