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Speke's Camp

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Traditional small safari camp
- Very atmospheric
- Great location
- Best value in the Mara

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Overview

Speke’s Camp is a small owner operated tented camp with a lovely colonial era feel and very personal service offering good value in a cracking location between Mara North Conservancy, Olare Orok Conservancy and the main Masai Mara Reserve. It is a set up as a traditional small atmospheric safari camp, fully inclusive with candlelit dinners, evening drinks around a big open fire and sundowners on game drives.

Speke’s Camp is the last camp on the Olare Orok River before it leaves Mara North and enters Mara Reserve. Game drives take place in the main Masai Mara Reserve.

There are eight tents in total, consisting of 4 doubles, 2 twins and 2 family tents (sleeping up to a family of four). The tents are situated within an area of light woodland and come elegantly furnished with a refreshingly light and airy feel. Tents all have ensuite bathrooms with sit down flush loo and bucket showers. Outside the tents have a small shaded veranda space with seating – most look onto or into woodland. There are plenty of shaded spots within the site.

The mess area containing a large communal dining table and lounge area is very elegantly done and is easily the equal of other camps which come at a much higher price tag.

Being a small camp, there is no formal timetable of game drives. Full day game drives in the reserve are possible, but morning game drives, lazy afternoons around the camp and a late drive with sundowner works better for families and those with a more relaxed agenda. In the evening, drinks are served around the camp fire and weather allowing candle-lit dinners are served outside.

We found the guides to be superb on our game drives at Speke's Camp (amongst the best we have come across in Kenya). The Camp shares guides with its sister company, a walking safari specialist, so the guides tend to have fantastic knowledge of the bush.

Speke's Camp can work well for families. There are a variety of tent sizes (sleeping upto a family of four, five at a squeeze) and families get a private safari vehicle and guide, which is a huge bonus that usually costs a lot extra. This allows families to set the pace to suit the children. The communal mess area is a nice relaxed place to read and play games. However, please note there is no swimming pool. And it very important that families understand that the camp is not fenced and animals can wander through camp. Whilst it is true that the wildlife tends to stay away from humans and camps (they are very wary of the local Maasai people), parents will need to keep a close eye on children and not allow them to wander off or play independently.

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What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • We had a great time - even with the flight between Governors and the coast being two flights and a car! We also experienced a power cut At Nairobi airport on the way home so 2+ hours late taking off. Governors. Wonderful people and dealt with the flight delay very well - taking us back and letting us know that we could stay there if the flight was delayed overnight. The game drives were excellent and our guide (Erick) obviously very experienced and managed to find all the key animals - no rhino in that part of the Masai Mara but everything else in abundance - never seen so many herbivores (many many elephants as well as all the others) as well as two prides of lions. Could not have asked for more. The ‘tent’ was excellent and comfortable and well serviced. The only ‘complaint’ would be that the food - especially dinner - could be improved (I think we got a bit bored of soup as a starter for every meal bar one) and the main courses were not at the same level as Kinondo Kwetu and while all were explained there was no choice offered. The breakfasts were just what was needed after an early game drive. Kinondo Kwetu. What a great location and the welcome when we arrived at just gone 11.00pm was better than you could have ever thought possible - they we’re disappointed that we did not at that time want the full dinner experience! The rooms we’re comfortable. The food was excellent but again no choice was offered - other than for allergy reasons (which we do not have). May be some choice would be nice. Having said that the food we did have was excellent as were the wines (albeit a short list!) and other drinks. There were (as you know) lots of facilities/sports options - but we spent our time relaxing which was exactly what we needed and there were lots of places to do that. Overall. We would go back to both places - perhaps a few more nights at Kinondo Kwetu next time but 3 nights at Governors was perfect for us. Thank you for organising and recommending both places. That you and your colleague for trying to find out about the plane (flat tyre) but communication by the flight company left a lot to be desired (Governors were furious that they were not told and had taken us to the airstrip). Phil

    MissingPhilip R reviewing Masai Mara Safari & Kenya Beach on 01 September 2023

  • We had the most incredible time thank you. We loved Karen Blixen camp and felt part of a family there, it was incredibly special. And Breezes was very relaxing.
    We can't fault all the transfers and the moment we were greeted on the tarmac at Nairobi airport we knew we were going to be well cared for.

    Thank you so much to you and all the Tourdust team for making it such a happy and memorable trip.

    MissingZoe A reviewing Masai Mara Safari & Kenya Beach on 27 August 2019

  • We had an amazing trip. Everything was well thought out and so much fun. What a great way to truly see the country and learn the culture.

    Joseph was the perfect guide. Very kind, professional, knowledgeable and patient. The kids loved Joseph and keep asking when will they meet him again. He found the Big 5 for us which was unforgettable! Please pass along our appreciation to Joseph.

    Maji Moto was also another incredible experience. They had great customer service and we loved experiencing their culture.

    Sunbird was absolutely beautiful and I wish we had more time there. We loved the view of the lake!

    One suggestion to make the trip even better for other guests in the future would be to have a cooler with drinks and snacks in the Jeep at all times because a ton of driving is involved and it would be helpful to have a cold drink and snacks during the long trip.

    Thanks again for organizing this experience of a lifetime for us!

    MissingBrandon H reviewing Maasai Family Adventure on 12 June 2019

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