Reviews of Elephant Pepper Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
17 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Elephant Pepper Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
100% success
79% success
86% success
8% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
93% success
21% success
8% success
0% success
0% success
"Elephant Pepper Camp review"
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Buffalo
10 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Elephant Pepper Camp review"
The tent was huge, well equipped and very clean, despite the muddy conditions when we arrived ( we had rain the first couple of days).
The food was tasty and well prepared. Nothing was too much trouble.
We had a great guide, Sammy. He was a true expert having lived all his life in the area. He was also very proficient at making sure the car was well positioned for photography. We saw a cheetah chase. A male cheetah walking through the grass suddenly took off after some baby warthogs that popped up in his path. It was amazing. But not successful, and then the tables were turned when the mother warthog saw him off defending her babies.
There has been much rain in the Mara this February so the grass was extremely long. Sightings were therefore more difficult but we saw loads nevertheless." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya
Buffalo
10 sightings
Cheetah
2 sightings
Eland
5 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
3 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
10 sightings
Spotted Hyena
7 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Elephant Pepper Camp review"
On the way from the airstrip, we were treated to an encounter with a female cheetah plus her two 2 months old cubs. We spent approximately three hours with them before we even saw our tent. So we were late for lunch. Luckily, Ringa, the guide who picked us up from the airstrip, didn’t pay attention to his watch either. We saw this cheetah family several times during our stay, the second time again in the afternoon of our arrival, and the next morning, when she finally had made a kill. During the hunt she had to leave her two cubs behind, and once she dragged her prey into a nearby bush, her first worry was to call for her babies. This went on for several, very long minutes. To see them finally come running and to reunite with their mom was truly worth a sigh of relief.
Another memorable sighting happened on our 3rd afternoon here. Sammy, our guide, found one of the three big prides of lions living in this area, the Acacia pride enjoying the daylight. There were four grown females and four subadult males, and a few meters away there were two sisters with one cub. No matter how he positioned our vehicle, the cub had almost no intention to show her face. Also, the lions were near six giraffes who kept ogling them, but the lions showed hardly any interest in them. So, the lions were just basking in the last rays of the sun, and we were beginning to think this must be the most boring pride of lions we have encountered, and so did the passengers or guides of the other vehicles that one by one left the scene more or less empty-handed. Not so Sammy. He predicted something’s going to happen. And indeed, it did. After watching these sleeping cats for one hour or so, they were waking up all at once, and one by one was moving slowly into the same direction. They got wind of two or three wildebeest at least 1 kilometer away. That was a potential dinner. The lions at first moved very slowly, exchanging glances, but making no sound. At some point, some of them started running, while others staid back and sought cover awaiting the wildebeest running towards them. It was fascinating to watch. Ultimately, the lions didn’t succeed because the wildebeest were just too fast.
The next morning, we saw the two sisters of the Acacia pride again, and this time, the cub was full of energy, wanting to play with her mom and her aunt.
These are just three examples for the many arresting sightings we had at this camp. Another comment is warranted about the food service here. In all five camps the food was delicious and very good or better. But here, the chef was not only remarkable for creating outstanding dishes, he also excelled at creating optical masterpieces.
Finally, I would like to point out that the Maasai Mara is a photographer’s paradise. In four days, I took more than 3,000 pictures in this camp alone." See all these reviews: 20n in Kenya
Buffalo
5 sightings
Cheetah
8 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
9 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
2 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
8 sightings
Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Elephant Pepper Camp "
However we always managed to get out on two drives per day with the afternoon drive usually requiring our guide to exhibit some top level Rally Cross skills!
Again, the staff here were excellent and did their very best to look after us in very trying circumstances. Moses, Francis, Jefferson, Robert and Dickson were class acts and deserve a huge amount of credit.
The accommodation and facilities here are simple but effective, the food is first class and the game viewing given the adverse conditions was very good. We had two of the best leopard sightings we have ever experienced together with a host of the usual safari suspects" See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Buffalo
10 sightings
Cheetah
1 sighting
Eland
7 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Spotted Hyena
6 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Elephant Pepper Camp review"
Food is excellent with 2 great chefs, Peter and Jean Marc delivering superb food. We had a fantastic attentive waiter Simon who looked after us so well and an excellent, experienced guide in Francis. Moses the manager has a great way with guests and staff alike, always positive, enthusiastic and smiling!
One thing to note is that Tent 3 and Tent 4 are either side of the main communal dining and firepit area and some late night noise may be experienced from guests who stay up longer than others!
Some nice touches included a thought for the day left in your tent, pomchos ans well as blankets on the vehicle and hot water bottles in bed!" See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Cheetah
1 sighting
Eland
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Elephant Pepper Camp review"
On arrival at Elephant Pepper we were taken to our tent which was overlooking extensive grass and woodland. Elephants could be seen walking across and through the woodland from the tent. At night we had an elephant walking past the tent, a hippo grazing outside and lions and hyenas calling close by.
On game drives we were lucky to see many lions, 2 leopards and 2 cheetah. Both cheetah stalking but unsuccessful on their hunts.
Saw a family of lions finishing off a zebra kill and two tiny cubs coming out to look at the vehicles and then crying to mum and going back to suckle.
Had a picnic breakfast by the Mara river and another day a surprise full service breakfast again by the Mara river.
The meals were excellent and challenged Elsa's for some of the best we have had in Africa." See all these reviews: 14n in Kenya
Buffalo
10 sightings
Cheetah
2 sightings
Eland
10 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Elephant Pepper Camp review"
On arrival we were met with hot towels and drinks followed by lunch then a full briefing by the camp manager. The monkeys are so clever at getting into tents the zips need to be secured by carbine hook. You could move around the camp freely during the day and staff at night were always there to escort you.
The camp is in a wooded area with views out into the distance where from time to time you could see elephants, giraffes and even a hippo. The camp and the area around was very peaceful which we appreciated compared to the camp in Samburu.
The tent had all the facilities we expected and had a shaded patio area in front. It was short distance from the main area along paved paths. All housekeeping services were very good.
Our guide was Sammy (a local Maasai) for our three night stay. Sammy was friendly and very good as our guide. We went out on morning drives from about 6:30 to about 11am and had breakfast in the bush. Afternoon drives were from about 4:30 to dusk which included a sundowner. At one sundowner I went around to the back of the vehicle and to my surprise saw a hyena sitting quietly five metres away. I alerted the presence of the hyena to Sammy and my wife and they then looked rather sceptically to the back to the vehicle to see I was not playing prank. The sunsets were amazing. On both early morning and late afternoon we needed extra layers on as the conservancy is quite high up and much cooler than the other parks we have been to.
The sighting during our stay included four cheetah family sighting, four lion sighting with one being a large pride with cubs, and leopard sighting which Sammy spotted and other guides touring around had failed to see. At one cheetah sighting the family were finishing off a young Topi and we followed them when they came across a hare which all three chased, but it escaped down a hole in the ground.
Sammy looked very hard for more leopards known to be around, but our luck had run out. There was other wildlife we saw special to the area such as the Masai Giraffe, Topi and Wildebeest.
There were three course lunches and dinner with lunch served in front of the main area buildings where you could see wildlife going by and dinner was served in one of the two restaurant buildings. The food was of good quality and the waiting staff were excellent.
One of the services offered to guests by the Elephant Pepper is an all-day trip to see one of the famous Maasai Mara animal crossing. This would have entailed nearly four hours of driving each way. As we had seen one of these crossing on a previous safari, we decided not to take up the offer and continue with drives in the conservancy.
In summary, the density of wildlife in the northern conservancy was not very high but there was plenty of wildlife to see. The level of services given by all camp staff was excellent. Our guide Sammy was excellent to, very conscious of our safety and marvellous at finding and telling us about the wildlife we saw." See all these reviews: 10n in Kenya
Buffalo
2 sightings
Cheetah
4 sightings
Eland
3 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
4 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
4 sightings
Spotted Hyena
7 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Whole African Wildlife in one Conservancy"
All in all: IT COULDN'T BE BETTER !!!
Conservancies - like Mara North where Elephant Pepper is located - have no fences to the close-by next conservancies or national parks so that the animals can roam free and without boundaries. You can expect the same animals as in the national park but with much less "traffic" and the great opportunity to drive off road. Most of our spectacular sightings wouldn't have been possible without this option!!
The first night we've been the only guests in this wonderful camp - the other two nights in total just 6 of us!" See all these reviews: 16n in Kenya
Buffalo
10 sightings
Cheetah
4 sightings
Eland
10 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
5 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
5 sightings
Spotted Hyena
5 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Great camp in Mara North"
The tents were well spaced and private, with a nice deck from which you can see Zebra, Eland and all sorts of other game. The main area was very nice and the food very good.
On game drives we saw some huge prides of lions, with lots of cubs and two enormous males with big manes. The bird life was probably a little less exciting in this area (but good for widow birds). Because it is outside of the National Park we were able to do a night drive, where we saw springhares, hyena, mongoose and even a zorilla!" See all these reviews: 15n in Kenya
Buffalo
3 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
4 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
1 sighting
Lion
4 sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
5 sightings
Zebra
6 sightings
"Lovely managers"
It was nice to have lunch all together at a big table and the range of salads for the buffet lunch was excellent, innovative, tasty and different every day. The homemade bread was also delicious.
The wildlife was good, but not outstanding, mainly due to the effect of previous torrential rain and the rain and storms we experienced whilst there in the afternoons. On the morning game drives, we did manage to see a variety of animals but not in the numbers we had expected. Our guide told us that many of the herds had moved to areas with shorter grass but it was only when we and the couple we shared the jeep with specifically asked him if some of those areas were accessible to us that he took us up to the higher plateau where we did see the herds of zebra and wildebeest we had expected, along with a larger number of giraffe than we saw anywhere else.
It was very cold there in the evening. The open sided dining tent didn't provide much protection from the cold on the three rainy evenings we had and we ate our dinner in not just a fleece but also our outdoor jackets! The Naboisho camp last year also had an open sided dining tent but we certainly don't remember having to wear coats so it must be down to this year's weather - nobody's fault but it wasn't a very relaxing way to eat your dinner!" See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
Buffalo
1 sighting
Cheetah
2 sightings
Eland
3 sightings
Elephant
9 sightings
Giraffe
6 sightings
Hippo
1 sighting
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
10 sightings
Spotted Hyena
5 sightings
Wildebeest
4 sightings
Zebra
6 sightings
Holiday styles & special interests in Kenya
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Kenya.
Other lodges in Maasai Mara Conservancies
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Kicheche Bush Camp
Kicheche Bush Camp is a smart and intimate tented camp with a relaxed atmosphere and the perfect base in the Mara for keen photographers.
Kicheche Mara
Kicheche Mara Camp has just ten tents and a rustic and comfortable feel. It is set by a stream in a pretty area of the Mara ecosystem's Mara North Conservancy.
Kicheche Valley
Kicheche Valley is a boutique tented camp in a wooded district of the Mara ecosystem's Naboisho Conservancy, with plenty of wildlife in the area.
Naboisho Camp
Naboisho Camp is one of the most luxurious of the handful of camps in the Naboisho Conservancy. It offers day and night game drives, game walks and full creature comforts in the bush.
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara is a small traditional camp that appeals to safari traditionalists, located in one of the Maasai Mara’s quiet conservancies.
Encounter Mara
Encounter Mara is located in the private Naboisho Conservancy – a game-rich area of the Mara ecosystem – and offers a contemporary take on the traditional, low-impact luxury safari camp.
Serian
Serian is a luxury tented camp on the east bank of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy. It is the sister camp of Ngare Serian, on the west bank.
Mara Plains Camp
Mara Plains is one of the very best camps in the Mara ecosystem. Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just outside the Mara reserve, it has access to three wildlife-viewing areas.
Kicheche Fly Camp
Kicheche Walking Wilderness Fly Camp is a temporaray dome tent camp set up for participants in Kicheche's two-day walking safari between Kicheche Valley and Kicheche Bush Camp.
Basecamp Eagle View
Basecamp Eagle View is a community-focused safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy, with a strong emphasis on responsible tourism and a spectacular location.
Porini Lion Camp
Porini Lion Camp is a pioneering, community focused eco-camp, with excellent guides and game viewing, in the predator-rich, Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Hemingways Ol Seki
Magnificently located tented lodge on a bluff looking south across the Naboisho Conservancy toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild is a rustic and traditional safari camp in the Lemek Conservancy, with just three tents and limited electricity.
Offbeat Ndoto
Small and intimate, Offbeat Mara is set in a valley above the (often dry) Olare Orok River within the Mara North Conservancy.
Porini Mara Camp
Porini Mara Camp is a small, pioneering eco-camp in the first private conservancy in the Mara region, with comfortable accommodation and a range of activities.
Ngare Serian
The luxurious Ngare Serian and its sister camp Serian face each other across the Mara River on the western side of the Mara North Conservancy
Basecamp Leopard Hill
With six beautiful tents, Basecamp Leopard Hill is a smart safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Karen Blixen Camp
Karen Blixen Camp sits on a meander of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy, just beyond the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Cottars 1920s Camp
Cottar's 1920s Camp is a classic, luxury tented camp with a 1920s safari theme, located in its own conservancy on the southeast border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Leleshwa
Leleshwa was a delightful, boutique safari camp on the picturesque banks of a tributary of the Talek, with an extensive, little visited game area on its doorstep.
Mahali Mzuri
Mahali Mzuri is a strikingly modern tented camp in the Virgin Limited Edition group, in a remote part of the Mara ecosytem's Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It has lovely views and all the luxuries of a five-star hotel.
Saruni Mara
Saruni Mara is a luxurious permanent lodge, on the remote northern edge of the Mara North Conservancy, with stunning views, good guiding and very private and comfortable rooms.
Mara Nyika
Mara Nyika is one of the newer additions to the Naboisho Conservancy and offers a luxurious and exclusive safari.
Basecamp Wilderness
Basecamp Wilderness Camp is a simple, traditional tented camp, set in a remote valley in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Mara ecoystem.
Mara Bushtops
Mara Bushtops is a luxury safari hotel on a private concession, outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the emphasis on comfort, relaxation and good food and wine.
Mara Toto Tree Camp
Mara Toto Tree Camp is located on a wooded bend of the Ntiakatek River, 1km south (as the pied crow flies) from its sister camp, Mara Plains. It's the offspring of the original "Mara Toto" which was swept away in floods.
Cottars Private House
Cottar's Private House is one of the few truly luxurious, modern private houses in the Mara ecosystem, spoiling its guests with first-rate staff, a swimming pool and wonderful views.
Basecamp Mara Houses
Basecamp Mara Houses consists of three private houses located in the northernmost part of the Mara North Conservancy.
Entumoto
Entumoto is a high-end tented camp, with a swimming pool, situated in a very pretty location on the east side of the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
