Naibor Camp: Our full report

Naibor Camp comprises three interlinked tented camps – Main Naibor, Little Naibor and Naibor Wilderness – ...

... nestled in a small stretch of woodland on the banks of the Talek River, in the heart of Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve. Each offers varying degrees of luxury to accommodate different tastes and budgets. The same team serves all three camps and all guests have access to the same central areas.

Naibor Camp's location on the south side of the Talek River is special. Most of the camps in this area are on the north side of the river and there are just two crossing points. This means guests have peace and quiet in the early mornings and evenings – a quality that makes all the difference to your safari experience in a reserve as busy as the Maasai Mara. The woodland is orange leaf croton and greenheart trees and the presence of lions adds to the atmosphere, especially at night.

The camps' communal area – comprising a large mess tent with partially separated rooms – is located between Little Naibor and Main Naibor beneath shady trees. In the evenings the rooms can be closed off to create smaller cosy lounges and dining rooms, but during the day the canvas drapes are fastened back for an open-plan feel. The minimalist pale wooden furniture and low-slung sofas are more contemporary than most tented safari camps.

In front of the communal area, a short path leads down to the Talek River, where you'll find a fireplace, chairs and often tables set for lunch. The trees provide a shaded place to relax and watch the hippos wallow in the water. There is also a large deck area, complete with a sundowner bar, large bean bags and sofas.

Further relaxation can be found in Naibor Camp's spa tent, where a trained therapist can do manicures, pedicures, waxing and massages. When we last visited, an hour's full-body massage cost US$60 (half an hour is US$35) or you can enjoy a complimentary neck massage before dinner.

The tents at Naibor Camp vary quite a lot in style and size.

The seven 'Luxury Tents' (five doubles and two twins) at Main Naibor are comfortable and stylish, with chunky fig wood furniture, cream canvas and high ceilings creating a spacious feel. The double or twin beds are large and comfy, and triple tents for children can be arranged on request.

These tents are approached from the back, so the first thing you see is the open-sided veranda with a comfortable day bed overlooking the river. We loved the pale rustic wood, which feels both in keeping with the natural surroundings and very stylish. Rugs cover the canvas floor and there is hanging space for clothes, LED lights on the bedside tables and a radio in case of emergencies. All tents also have UK style charging points.

A small step up at the end of each tent leads to an en-suite bathroom on a wooden deck. It is equipped with running water, flush toilet and a safari style shower – with ample hot water brought on request by your tent attendant. Just outside of the tent is a washing station, with a pair of twin washbasins set into a wide wooden table beneath a mirror, and large metal jugs which are regularly re-filled.

The two 'Luxury Suites' that make up Little Naibor offer a lot more space and privacy. Two bedrooms (a twin and a double) flank a central living room making them ideal for a family or group of four friends. These suites are decorated in a more exotic style, with Persian rugs on the polished wooden floor, an ornate mirror in the bathroom and dark-wood furniture mixed in with the pale-wood items. They are large and spacious and an additional bed can be added if needed.

The living room has a large sofa with cream cushions, a coffee table, two lounging chairs and large floor cushions. The bedrooms include hanging space for clothes, LED bedside lamps and a campaign-style chair in the corner. Each has its own en-suite bathroom with running water, a single metal basin set into a dark-wood surface, a flush toilet and a large safari shower. Each suite at Little Naibor also has the big advantage of its own private vehicle and guide.

Finally, the three 'Classic Tents' at Naibor Wilderness, are a slightly lower-cost option and are ideal for a group of up to six people travelling together, as the camp can be booked on an exclusive basis. The tents are a little smaller than those at Main Naibor, but set back a little further from the river, and the furnishings are much simpler. One faces the river, while two are set a little further back and face into the bush. Each tent contains a wrought-iron bed, open-sided iron wardrobe, wooden table and director's chairs on the veranda. Hot water is provided in the mornings for a canvas washbasin on the veranda and the en-suite bathroom has a flush toilet and bucket shower.

Naibor Wilderness also has its own mess tent and central dining area, with several members of staff based here to serve refreshing drinks. Guests staying at Naibor Wilderness are welcome to use the communal areas at main Naibor. The two camps are around a seven minute walk away, and staff will escort you between the two.

Activities at all three Naibor Camps focus on wildlife drives: either full or half days. On a previous visit, our drives were led by engaging, qualified guides, who tried their utmost to give us a good wildlife-viewing experience. The six vehicles are all fully open sided, seating either four or six guests. Naibor usually tries to keep guests with the same guide throughout their stay, and where possible will allocate groups a private vehicle, though this cannot be guaranteed in high season. Guests staying at Little Naibor are guaranteed a private vehicle.

For birders guided bird walks can be arranged around the camp, accompanied by an experienced wildlife guide. As these are not with an armed ranger you are restricted to the immediate area around Naibor, however a surprising amount of wildlife can be seen around the camp and Talek River.

With advance notice, it is possible to arrange hot air balloon trips that cost around US$500 per person and visits to a Maasai village for US$20-30 per person, which is donated to the village. The camp can also provide bush breakfasts for an additional cost. Walking safaris accompanied by an armed ranger can be arranged within Maasai community land, however there is a lower chance of seeing big game here.

Our view

Naibor's location in the heart of the Mara is perfect for people who like to be in the thick of the action. The camp offers a variety of experiences. Main Naibor and Little Naibor have spacious, stylish tents, while Naibor Wilderness offers great value and an ideal private option for groups who can occupy all three tents. All are very well run with good food, guiding and service – although at full capacity Naibor might feel a little busy.

Tamara Hoskyns-Abrahall

Kenya expert

Geographics

Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Ideal length of stay: We recommend three to four nights.
Directions: It is a 90-minute flight from Nairobi to Olkiombo airstrip in the Mara. From there, it is a further 30-minute drive to Naibor Camp, across the Talek River. In the wet season (November–June), if the river is really high, there are vehicles stationed on both sides with a footbridge across.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Food quality: On our latest visit we did not stay long enough to dine here but on a previous trip we enjoyed the food at Naibor – it was very tasty and well presented and they will happily accommodate most dietary requirements.

Breakfast in camp consists of a buffet of cereals, fresh toast, fruit, yoghurt and a hot breakfast cooked to order. Alternatively, there is usually the option to take a packed breakfast, which would include similar food items, but with cold boiled eggs and sausages instead of the hot food option available in camp.

A buffet lunch is usually served at separate tables down by the river. Expect dishes such as quiches, homemade pizza, pasta salad, green salad and similar cold light options. A fresh-fruit salad rounded off our tasty meal.

Before dinner guests tend to gather on the deck or in the lounge tent for drinks and nibbles before being seated at individual tables. Dinner is typically a three-course set menu, although dietary requirements and preferences can be catered for with advance notice. When we previously stayed here we started with a red pepper and tomato soup, followed by a sizzling cooked-to-order steak impressively dished up on a hot stone and served with vegetables and a choice of peppercorn sauce, mushroom sauce or garlic butter. Desert was then a very decadent tiramisu!
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Naibor Camp will happily arrange for people to have dinner in their tents.
Drinks included: All soft drinks, house wines, beers and spirits are included. Premium brands cost extra.

Special interests

Honeymoons: A stylish camp in the heart of the Mara; Naibor offers luxury, attentive service, and an unbeatable location for your Kenya honeymoon. The tents are private and cosy, and you’ll enjoy meals on the bank of the Talek river whilst watching the resident hippos in the river below.; See ideas for Honeymoons in Kenya

Children

Attitude towards children: Naibor will gladly accept children, but ideally they should be over the age of eight. They recommend that the Little Naibor suites are better for families, who then have the use of a lounge that is away from the main area, and exclusive use of a vehicle.
Property’s age restrictions: There are no specific age restrictions at Naibor.
Special activities & services: Naibor can arrange early dinners for children. Child friendly activities can be arranged, such as traditional beading or the team can show children how to use Maasai bows and arrows.
Equipment: Naibor has a cot and there are small canvas beds that can be added to rooms. They can’t offer any childcare, but a night-watchman (with no formal child-care qualifications) can keep an eye on children if parents want to come down for dinner.
Generally recommended for children: We feel that Naibor Camp is better suited to families with older children. It is quite a smart tented camp and although it isn’t too formal, it still has quite an adult atmosphere. In addition, the camp isn’t really geared towards families: though the suites have good sleeping arrangements there aren’t any activities, beyond wildlife watching, for smaller children to do.

Communications

Power supply notes: Naibor Camp runs off solar power, but also has a back-up generator which is usually on used for the workshop. There are UK style charging points in the tents which can be used throughout the day.
Communications: There is WiFi in the lounge tent that guests can use for free, although this is not available in the individual tents.
TV & radio: There is no TV at Naibor Camp, but for special sporting events, guests will be welcome to watch the staff TV.
Water supply: Other
Water supply notes: Naibor has a spring for its water supply. Mineral water for drinking is brought in from Nairobi.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: Naibor has first-aid kits in the camp and in each of the vehicles. The managers have some first-aid training. There is a doctor based at the nearby Mara Intrepids Camp who can be called, and the camp has links to flying doctors in case of emergency.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: Naibor Camp has guards patrolling the property day and night. Guests are escorted back to their rooms after dark.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in all the rooms at Naibor Camp.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Hot air ballooning

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: A full complimentary laundry service is available, but female underwear isn’t accepted. Items are hand washed, line dried and charcoal-ironed.
Money: Naibor Camp has a central safe where guests can stow their valuables. They can exchange small amounts of currency; though this largely depends what cash they have in camp at the time.
Accepted payment on location: Naibor Camp can accept cash payments in US dollars, Kenyan shillings, euros and pounds sterling. They can also accept Visa and MasterCard, but when we last visited they were applying a 5% surcharge. AMEX is not accepted.