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Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara

Reviews of Offbeat Mara

Wildlife sightings and reviews

42 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Offbeat Mara and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Dec-2018, 18 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Offbeat Mara.
Lion

100% success

Leopard

76% success

Cheetah

100% success

Wild dog

27% success

Buffalo

100% success

Eland

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Hippo

100% success

Wildebeest

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Spotted Hyena

94% success

Striped Hyena

29% success

Aardvark

7% success

Black Rhino

7% success

Pangolin

0% success

Showing 1-10 of 42
Duration
Arrival date
Mr W & Ms W + kids
NL

"Offbeat Mara review"

4 nights Arrived 8 Aug 2024
"Offbeat Mara was the perfect camp for us. It feels like you're really in the bush with the bucket showers and everything, while still being taken care of so well. The staff was great with the kids, especially James who made every meal exciting for them. Also we enjoyed our tour of the staff area and playing soccer/volleyball with Patrick. And also, going for a short run with James across the plains in the scorching sun was an amazing experience! There was so much to do at camp!

The gamedrives here were also excellent. Our guide, Benson, was great with the kids, being willing to learn Dutch from them and sing along with their silly songs. Watching the three of them have fun in the front seat on our way back to camp is a memory we'll cherish. Aside from all the fun, we also saw a lot of great wildlife on the gamedrives.

We can't wait to return here!" See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Cheetah

1 sighting

Eland

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

10 sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Kelly
Pittsford NY

"Offbeat Mara review"

4 nights Arrived 13 Jan 2024
"I wanted a bush camp experience but I’m not a very good camper. I like some creature comforts and this place fit the bill, with electricity and flush toilets. Hot water is delivered each morning to wash up and you can request hot water for a bucket shower. The tent was thoughtfully decorated and very comfortable, with both indoor and outdoor seating areas.

The property is part of the private Mara North Conservancy, which abuts the Masai Mara Reserve. There is an abundance of wildlife and fewer vehicles than in the reserve. The camp is flexible but the morning drive typically starts at 6:15 am. Breakfast is taken at ~9 am in the bush, continuing afterwards until the return back to camp at around noon. The afternoon drive usually starts at 4:30 pm, ending in sundowners in the bush before returning to camp for dinner at 8 pm.

The guides are excellent at getting guests close to exciting wildlife. The staff provides excellent service and we’re all very personable. I’m pescatarian and the chef took special care to make me delicious meals for me each night. This camp was an excellent complement to Sosian." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Cheetah

Multiple sightings

Eland

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr G.
Winnersh

"Offbeat Mara Review"

4 nights Arrived 9 Jan 2024
"Offbeat Mara is a relatively simple, tented camp that will appeal to regular safari goers. It is well managed and has a team that are welcoming and genuinely keen to make sure you have everything you need. The camp has a very relaxed atmosphere that makes you feel very much at home.

The food was very good indeed. Lunch was normally a good variety of different salads, usually served with one hot dish. Soup was the normal starter at dinner followed by a main course of either a chicken, beef or pork dish that were tasty and full of flavour. Something different every day.

The tents were spacious and very comfortable. Bucket showers are ordered by your guide on the way back to camp and were always hot. Wi-fi and charging points have now been installed in all tents. I stayed in Tent 1 which was quite close to the camp kitchen where staff start their day soon after 4.00am. It wasn't a problem for me but, although they try to be as quiet as possible, some guests may find the proximity to the kitchen a little bothersome.

The guiding here was very good and the camp is close to the area which has most leopard sightings.

If I visit Mara North again I will certainly stay at Offbeat Mara again." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

7 sightings

Cheetah

1 sighting

Eland

5 sightings

Elephant

8 sightings

Giraffe

5 sightings

Hippo

4 sightings

Lion

6 sightings

Spotted Hyena

9 sightings

Wildebeest

8 sightings

Zebra

8 sightings

Mr BG
Newport Coast

"Offbeat Mara review"

4 nights Arrived 22 Nov 2023
"Beautifully upgraded since the flood, they moved upscale since we were there prior to then.

Very good guiding and good food as well." See all these reviews: 10n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr F
Exmoor Somerset

"Offbeat Mara review"

4 nights Arrived 14 Sep 2022
"Outstanding in every way!!!!

We have been blessed to visit Africa several times over the years and Kenya especially remains our most treasured. Returning to Offbeat camp never fails to touch the soul in every way, from arrival to departure Jennifer and the team provide a beautiful welcoming Masai community feel and transport you through an experience which touches all the senses.

Jennifer is such a personality, great hostess and organiser and credit to the camp. Her job made that much more successful because of all the other loyal colleagues who are extremely, friendly, courteous, professional, thoughtful and fun.

Simply stunning location provides great backdrop for this small, clean tented camp. Nothing is too much trouble and where the facilities are perfectly executed. Evening dining is an experience to enjoy sitting and eating with new found friends over delicious food and wine, in and around the great mess tent and outside dining area. Simply stunning!!! Great chef!! If it were not for the early mornings the relaxed fun atmosphere can so easily detain you.

We were so delighted to meet up again with David our guide and friend, whose knowledge, experience, passion and good nature encompass the very essence of this truly spectacular experience. He welcomes all to his homeland with pride. Every game drive he try’s showcasing the wild beauty of all wildlife and the fascinating interactions that occur through life and death. The reserves size facilitates greater peaceful watching with David never rushing. The journey is always so much more rewarding!! We were also privileged to have Benson with us providing his knowledge and spotting skills.

No matter the game drive or amazing walking safari we did, great care for us and the needs of the wildlife and conservation were paramount.

We are truly thankful to Jennifer, David and all the staff for the compassionate manner in organising a tree planting at the site of my wife’s mothers ashes scattering. Having taken place a few years earlier revisiting this spectacular location was deeply moving. Thank you and for the sundowners celebration with other guest afterward Amazing!!!
As always visiting offbeat Mara fulfils every expectation of a spectacular Kenyan experience.

Until the next time thank you again to all." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Aardvark

1 sighting

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Cheetah

Multiple sightings

Eland

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Striped Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wild dog

1 sighting

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Ms S
London

"Offbeat Mara review"

3 nights Arrived 12 Jul 2022
"Offbeat was lovely. Amazing food and community feel, a lot of folks ate dinner together alongside camp management (Jennifer and Carol, who were amazing), and the Mara North reserve itself was great. The tents were very comfortable, although missing a few luxuries (no outlets for phone charging or running hot water) but nothing that wasn't fine for a few days. The staff and other guests were definitely the highlight though, it was wonderful getting to know everyone!" See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report

Buffalo

10 sightings

Cheetah

3 sightings

Eland

1 sighting

Elephant

7 sightings

Giraffe

6 sightings

Hippo

3 sightings

Leopard

2 sightings

Lion

8 sightings

Spotted Hyena

3 sightings

Wildebeest

8 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Mr & Mrs P
Banbury

"Offbeat Mara review"

4 nights Arrived 14 Jun 2022
"Everything at Offbeat Mara was amazing, Jennifer runs a very happy ship and all the staff are very friendly and attentive.

The quality of the tent was above expectation, very roomy and clean and well serviced each day in our absence. The mess tent was a great communal area.

Food was excellent ( I especially liked Jennifer's Vegetable Lasagne but forgot to get the recipe from her!) and drinks service was great too. We totally loved our last night supper around a camp fire and under the stars.

The game drives were simply amazing and our guide, Mooli, was so friendly and knowledgeable. The conservancy was brilliant, as well as all the wild life being in a relatively small area, it was a real advantage to be able to go off the beaten track for special sitings." See all these reviews: 4n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Cheetah

Multiple sightings

Eland

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wild dog

1 sighting

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Dr A.B
Rotherwick

"Offbeat Mara review"

4 nights Arrived 30 Dec 2021
"Offbeat Mara is in an excellent location within Mara North Conservancy. With its own pride of lions on the doorstep (the "Offbeat Pride") plus a resident leopard mother and her two cubs, we saw fabulous game within minutes of every drive.

The team were welcoming, helpful and smiley, and the food delicious. The camp has a relaxed rustic atmosphere, it is unpretentious, small and informal, but also provided fabulous Masai entertainment on New Year's day and an exceptional private candlelit dinner in the bush for my birthday.

Best of all was our Masai guide David who was extremely experienced and knowledgeable. Within 10 minutes of collecting us from the air strip he had found a cheetah and her cub, who we then watched stalk and hunt an impala. He was incredible with the children - making them Masai spears and bows and arrows - and also found the best spots for bush breakfasts and sundowners, always surrounded by wonderful game and spectacular views.

We didn't undertake the trip to the Mara National Park as there was so much to see within Mara North - we weren't missing anything!" See all these reviews: 10n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

10 sightings

Cheetah

6 sightings

Eland

Multiple sightings

Elephant

4 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

3 sightings

Leopard

4 sightings

Lion

10 sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wildebeest

10 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Ms D
Ireland

"Offbeat Mara review"

3 nights Arrived 28 Dec 2021
"Very welcoming and friendly team, especially Bob, Nicolas and Eliz. Everything works smoothly, The bucket showers are ready in minutes!

The variety of wildlife in North Mara is really good: Plenty of lions sightings with the Offbeat pride on the camp doorstep.

I witnessed my first kill (on my 17th safari!), a cheetah taking a male Thomson gazelle to feed her 3 young cubs. It was spectacular!

We were also very lucky to see a pair of wild dogs and followed them for quite a while until darkness." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

10 sightings

Cheetah

3 sightings

Eland

2 sightings

Elephant

6 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

2 sightings

Lion

10 sightings

Spotted Hyena

10 sightings

Wild dog

1 sighting

Wildebeest

10 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

The Lins
California

"Offbeat Mara review"

4 nights Arrived 25 Dec 2021
"Incredible game drives that kept getting better with every drive! Our guides Simon and Kush were phenomenal and got us closer to spectacular animals than other drivers could. We had the most up close and incredible viewings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and all the animals we wanted to see. The entire staff was friendly. Tent accommodations and food were excellent! Hearing lions and hyenas while sleeping in our tent was a once in a lifetime thrill!" See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Cheetah

Multiple sightings

Eland

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Striped Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Showing 1-10 of 42
98%
42 reviews of Offbeat Mara by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
39
2
1
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0
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