Basecamp Eagle View

1°24’13.9"S 35°20’37.6"E

95% (12 reviews)

Full review Our view Geographics Food & drink Special interests Children Wildlife sightings Communications Sustainability Health & safety Activities Extras

Basecamp Eagle View: Our full report

Basecamp Eagle View is located in a stunning spot, with arguably the best views in the quiet 211km² Mara ...

... Naboisho Conservancy, a Maasai-owned conservancy north of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. It is small, with nine tented rooms set high on a hill. Each of these is cantilevered to the hillside, overlooking plains dotted with acacia trees from expansive, private balconies.

Originally this camp was part of a guide-training facility at the nearby Koiyaki Guiding School. However in 2009, the Basecamp Foundation agreed to help support the guide school and take over the site which was known for three years as Basecamp Wilderness. The camp had a major overhaul in 2012 and re-opened at the end of the year under its new name – Basecamp Eagle View. They have a sister camp near the reserve's Talek Gate: Basecamp Maasai Mara, alongside two others within Naboisho Conservancy itself - Basecamp Leopard Hill and Basecamp Wilderness.

The main areas at Basecamp Eagle View consist of three decks running along one other, all with stunning views over the plains. Shaded by a canvas roof, the lounge and bar have polished stone floors and are elegantly furnished with comfortable sofas, chairs, and large coffee tables strewn with books. Directors' chairs look out across an open-air fire-pit to the views beyond. To the left of the central deck as you look over the plains, lies the newer bar and swimming pool (something of a rarity in the Mara ecosystem) that overlooks the sweeping views. On the deck to the right of the central lounge, the dining area is sheltered by a large sail-like roof of canvas, with separate tables and chairs for individual dining and a buffet table alongside. On our last visit, the walls here were rolled back during the day to allow for a gentle breeze, and shut for evening dining which felt made the space feel cosy and atmospheric in the candlelight.

Spread well apart, the tented chalets are accessed via shrub-lined pathways. We found the rooms smart, incredibly spacious, and nicely designed, containing a large double bed, day bed, sofa, coffee table, and huge writing desk. The bedroom flows into an open-plan bathroom with twin wash basins and a large vanity mirror, a vast bathtub and shower room. We enjoyed how the flushing toilet is cleverly concealed behind one of the bathroom walls and really liked how the bedroom is split over two levels, with the bed located on a higher platform so as to make the most of the unending views beyond. For just the same reason, another highlight of the rooms is the veranda. From here, cooled by the breeze, the views across Naboisho Conservancy are truly breathtaking. Tents 1-4 face west to make the most of the sunset; whilst tents 5-9 face east. These are our favourite, allowing for stunning sunrise views as you wake each morning.

One of the tents (4a & 4b) consists of an enclosed Family Unit with a maximum capacity of five, whilst the remaining Standard Tents have capacity for a third person to use the day beds provided.

Activities at Basecamp Eagle View include safari drives in open-sided 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles where each guest has a window seat. The vehicles take up to five or eight guests, depending on size. The camp can also offer two variations of night drives with the infrared equipment they share amongst their Mara sister-camps (for this reason, it's best to let your Expert Africa specialist know in advance whether you are interested in enjoying a night drive during your stay). The first starts around 4.30pm and continues until around 8pm when you return for dinner. The second sees you return from your afternoon game drive for an early dinner, before setting off again at around 8pm and continuing until 10pm.

Rates at Basecamp Eagle View include the option of a full-day safari into the Maasai Mara National Reserve during high season (per person reserve fees payable). All of Basecamp's properties are very competitively priced and we consider Eagle View to be one of the best value for money properties in the conservancy.

Walking is another option from Basecamp Eagle View, where you set out with both an armed ranger, your guide, and members of the camp's Maasai security team who are equipped with spears. If staying at multiple sister-camps within Naboisho Conservancy, one option is to walk between them. We thoroughly enjoyed this activity during our last visit, when we walked 11km between Leopard Hill and Eagle View, with close sightings of spotted hyena and plentiful plains game en route. We were impressed by the pace of this walk, which felt faster than we are used to on walking safaris, so it's worth noting a fair level of fitness may be required to cover longer distances before the heat of the day sets in. However, Basecamp is also able to do short bush walks from camp, where the walkers are discreetly followed by a vehicle should any guests wish to drive back, and the guides will adjust the pace and routing to suit your preferences.

When we last visited, Basecamp Eagle View had three silver-qualified guides (a Kenyan qualification set between bronze and gold) and three bronze guides – which is the country's 'entry-level' guiding qualification – with two more trainees. Three of their guides were female, which was great to see and seems to be a growing trend in East Africa – long may it continue. All the guides are Maasai from the surrounding communities and had a fair degree of knowledge. The same staff have been with the camp for a number of years, which adds to the home-away-from-home atmosphere, and the camp's links with the guiding school and its focus on sustainability remain just as important.

All the Basecamp properties operate with a strong focus on responsible tourism, and this is one of the reasons we have included them in the Expert Africa programme. They are key funders and supporters of the community Koiyaki Guiding School, located right next to Basecamp Eagle View. This is the only community guiding school in Kenya, and with the help of various supporters, it trains local Maasai in safari guiding. Around 80 percent of the young men and women who have passed through the school have been able to get full-time employment as a result. Basecamp has also installed computers at the guiding school, and when the guides are not training there, the school offers heavily subsidized computer courses to the local community. If you're interested, it's normally possible to make a brief, informal visit to the school: talk to the lodge manager.

Among other Basecamp projects are HIV outreach programmes, a dental programme where mobile clinics offer treatments to local communities and the Basecamp teams, the construction of eight boreholes and tree planting, with 70,000 saplings planted to date.

Our view

Location, community engagement and responsible tourism are the key elements here, which makes for a positive impact stay in the Mara. The views are exceptional for this reserve, where the terrain is generally fairly flat. The camp holds its own in terms of comfort and style against most mid-range camps in the Mara.

Lara Webster

Kenya expert

Geographics

Location: Maasai Mara Conservancies, Kenya
Ideal length of stay: We would spend at least three nights at Basecamp Eagle View, in order to fully experience the Naboisho Conservancy. However if you wanted to spend longer in the conservancy, then consider combining with a few nights in the simpler Basecamp Wilderness, which is just a few kilometres from Eagle View.

If you’d like to experience a different part of the Mara, another alternative would be to combine Basecamp’s Eagle View with Basecamp Maasai Mara, an hour’s drive away near the Talek Gate of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Directions: The flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Ol Seki airstrip takes about an hour followed by around 20 minute drive from the airstrip.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Food quality: When we last visited the camp, we thought the food was unfussy, hearty and although not fine-dining, was really quite good.

For breakfast, we chose from an extensive menu that included fresh fruit, yoghurt and granola, Kenyan porridge, and a cooked breakfast. This included eggs of your choice, bacon, sausages, baked beans, and sweet pancakes.

For lunch we were served a creamy garlicky chicken pasta, followed by homemade banana ice cream.

For dinner we had a thick and tasty bowl of roasted tomato and pepper soup served with a hot bread roll. The main course was vegetable risotto. Pudding was pineapple upside-down cake, followed by tea and coffee.

Dietary requirements can be catered for, but the camp does need advance notice in order to be able to accommodate guests properly.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: With advance notice, Basecamp Eagle View can arrange for guests to eat on their private verandas.
Drinks included: House drinks are included.

Special interests

Solo Travel: With its low rates, Eagle View offers excellent-value and is one of the most economical options for solo travel in the Maasai Mara. The shared activities and welcoming, communal atmosphere mean you’re never left on your own unless you so choose.; See ideas for Solo Travel in Kenya
Cultural experiences: The camp is closely linked to the community guiding school nearby, as well as a local school and women’s arts centre. A few hours spent learning about the lives of the Maasai people is a very worthwhile addition to your stay.; See ideas for Cultural experiences in Kenya

Children

Attitude towards children: Eagle View welcomes children of all ages, though of course are they are responsibility of the parents and need close supervision throughout as the camp is not fenced.
Property’s age restrictions: Children under the age of 15 are not permitted to do safari walks.
Special activities & services: There is a 'Dorobo' club which teaches children how to use bows and arrows and do face painting, and children under the age of 5 stay free of charge when sharing with their parents/adults.
Equipment: Basecamp Eagle View can provide cots and high chairs upon request, and are able to cater for children with a special menu as well as earlier meal times. There are some board games in the lounge, a fun pool to splash around in, and they can also arrange for someone from housekeeping to watch the children should parents which to do an activity without them. However please note that members of housekeeping are not specially trained in childcare.
Generally recommended for children: Basecamp Eagle View is quite a wild camp one interconnected family suite. It is set on a steep hillside, with sheer drops from the verandas and main areas. Expert Africa wouldn't recommend it for children under 8.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Basecamp Eagle View

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Basecamp Eagle View have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Buffalo

100% success

Eland

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Hippo

100% success

Lion

100% success

Spotted Hyena

100% success

Wildebeest

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Cheetah

89% success

Leopard

67% success

Striped Hyena

14% success

Pangolin

13% success

Black Rhino

11% success

Aardvark

0% success

Wild dog

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes: Guests can charge their devices and batteries in their room. A hairdryer is available upon request from reception.
Communications: There is cellphone reception at Basecamp Eagle View, and WiFi is available in all of the guest rooms, but not in the communal areas.
TV & radio: No
Water supply: Borehole
Water supply notes: There is running hot and cold water in the rooms and bottled drinking water is also provided.

Sustainability

Local employment to empower the Maasai

Located on a natural hilltop with remarkable views of Kenya’s Maasai Mara region, Eagle View Camp undertakes a wide range of sustainability practices including the preservation of wildlife and community development, which make the lodge a prime example of eco-tourism in the region. One of the initiatives the lodge is particularly involved in is creating employment opportunities for the locals.

To achieve this, the lodge is a partner of Koiyaki Community Guiding School, which offers training courses for students aiming to become guides. Nevertheless, with a cost of 2300USD for an 18-month programme, students are almost entirely dependent on outside funding. Through its mother company, Basecamp, Eagle View offers work placement opportunities and is annually sponsoring two students. Additionally, the lodge is sponsoring employees with great potential. One example is Manfred, who started off as a housekeeper in 2000, and in 2006 passed his Guide Certification Exam sponsored by Basecamp.

Offering training is especially important, as Maasai guides make guests’ experience more authentic by immersing them in their cultural values as well as the tribe’s ethnic traditions. Fundamentally, the gratifying interaction between travelers and locals creates mutual benefits for both parties. Manfred in particularly is a strong believer that it is his responsibility to educate the guests in eco-living and sees the sharing of cultural differences a way to learn and evolve.

By supporting community employment and empowerment, Eagle View not only allows locals to generate income, but also ensures that the cultural differences of Maasai community are shared. It therefore comes as no surprise that Eagle View is a Silver Eco-rated camp, named one of the Top 25 best Eco Lodges in the World by National Geographic Traveler 2013.

See more great sustainability projects in Kenya

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: All the staff at Basecamp Eagle View have basic first-aid training, and there are first-aid kits in the vehicles and at camp. The nearest doctor or hospital is in Talek, 20km away and about an hour by road.

The camp has links to the flying doctor service for more serious emergencies.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: Basecamp Eagle View has several askaris patrolling the camp for animals, and guests are escorted to their chalets at night.
Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are installed in every chalet and in the main areas, and all the staff are trained to use them.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Private activities

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Full laundry service – included (with the exception of ladies' underwear).
Money: There are safes in every guest room, and by reception.
Accepted payment on location: Guests at Basecamp Eagle View can settle their bill using Visa cards without any surcharge, though MasterCard and Amex are not accepted. Cash payments can be made in US dollars, Kenyan shillings GBP sterling and euros. A staff gratuity box is located by reception.