It’s one thing to watch BBC’s Big Cat Diary but it’s totally a wholesome life changing experience to see live in action epic scenes of a cheetah with lethal jaws not only bring down to the ground but tearing apart an antelope. Camouflaged against a nearby thicket at around 3pm while on a game drive led by Raphael Rotiken and Agnes Kelero Mako courtesy of Ol Seki Hemingways Mara, we came across this lonesome cheetah who for all we thought was just chilling. Little did we know that it was using its exceptionally keen eyesight ( cheetahs have “tear marks” to help them reflect the glare of the sun when they are hunting) to scan the sun-drenched grassland of Naboisho Conservancy for signs of prey. In what was to be one of the most exciting action-packed scenes straight out of a movie, the cheetah quietly snuck up on this antelope as we watched in awe, burst out using its tail as a rudder, tripping the animal with its paw, and eventually suffocating the prey with a bite to the neck for a few minutes and finally dragging it to a nearby hiding spot so no hyenas steal its hunt.
Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to Kenya’s highest variety and concentration of the Big 5. Morning and Evening game drives, which are primarily the highlight of your visit, are a sure bet to see the coveted sightings of the Big 5 (rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard) and the big cats (cheetah, leopard and lion), which we are so blessed to have in Kenya, in their natural habitats. The best thing about this is all year round, you get to see them, doesn’t matter whether its in January or June or October. In July though, through to September, most people go to the Maasai Mara to witness the wildebeast migration, when an estimated two million of the “wild beasts” trade the Tanzania Serengeti for Kenya’s fertile red oat grasslands to eat and mate, a mind blowing spectacular sighting that attracts more than 300,000 foreign tourists a year.
A picture-perfect safari in the wild loaded with savanna & wildlife of jaw-dropping landscapes and spectacular fauna 24/7, isn’t complete without you staying at Ol Seki Hemingways Mara, a magically peaceful private safari themed tented camp consisting of 10 ensuite lovely tents with 270° panoramic views of the Mara plains.
Ol Seki, we are reliably told, is a maasai word that means ‘sandpaper tree’, a tree that symbolizes peace and harmony for the Ma people. It is this peace and tranquility that you get and enjoy while staying at Ol Seki.
Located in the heart of the Naboisho Conservancy which borders the Maasai Mara Reserve, Ol Seki Hemingways gives you unmatched scenic views from the sunken deck overlooking the small watering hole offering an incredible vantage point for game viewing right from the comfort of your safari chair with a G&T in hand. It is literally a photographer’s and naturalist’s playground what with the pool deck having an infinity edge overlooking the Plains across. Picture perfect for your Instagram feed, guaranteed to get you 1000 likes and more, for the social media savvy generation.
At Ol Seki Hemingways, the stresses of a busy city work life are smoothed away in the wilderness, perfect for those looking to get away from the crowds that the Maasai Mara can attract. The ten stylish tents, all with en-suite bathrooms, and each one expertly designed to offer secluded privacy and spacious accommodation in safari-chic muted tones of vanilla and taupe, sit on a private vantage point up on the rocky escarpment offering a 270° view of the bush from your bed which takes in the slope of the acacia scrub where animals graze in the shade of the sparse trees. Each tent has a private deck for you to enjoy a stunning sunset or view animals and birds in their natural habitat. There is one large family unit tent, with two different units, each having its own private lounge, dining area, and kitchenette and benefits from having a butler 24/7. In addition, the camps layout guarantees guests lots of privacy as each tent is set apart from the other with a thick bush in between.
When you descend on the Mara, nothing can prepare you for the raw display of nature (wildlife in plenty you literally click your camera away at every sight, countless times) whether it’s in the morning or early evening while having a meal in the wild. A morning game drive is concluded with a relaxed scrumptious bush breakfast out in the wild prepared by incredible staff at Ol Seki Hemingways. The hills and plains in the background feed your mind with the wild beauty and fresh air in the morning.
Back at the Camp, Hemingways Ol Seki Mara has a library with a lounge area that overlooks the vast Naboisho conservancy. On an afternoon when you simply want to take it easy, grab a book and get your feet up as you steal sight and gaze into grasslands in the horizon as you immerse yourself in the tranquility haven that is the Mara. It is no wonder Maasai Mara National Reserve has consistently been voted Africa’s leading national park at the World Travel Awards year in, year out.
Research and various reports indicates that Naboisho has one of the highest densities of lions in Africa. The conservancy also has impressive numbers of elephant, giraffe, and other plains game in addition to hosting some of the rarest animals in Kenya. But most of all, conservancies have less human and vehicular traffic thanks to there being fewer lodges or camps allowed to operate in this well protected wildlife sanctuary. Visitor numbers are tightly controlled in the Conservancy and Ol Seki is one of the only few in the conservancy. The 200 square kilometres that make up the Naboisho Conservancy are leased from Masai landowners and Ol Seki recruits many of its staff locally.
Fun Fact- Agnes Kelero Mako, from Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp, is one of the few female safari guides you will ever come across in the Mara. She has defied the odds to make it in a field that is dominated by men.
No day at Ol Seki Hemingways Mara ends without a game drive and the highlight of many tourists, a wonderful sundowner with a bottle of a Chardonnay sitting on ice and some biting while you watch one of the planet’s most beautiful sights – a sunset as it goes down over the Maasai Mara landscape. This is what magical moments are made off, unforgettable safari in the bush. Like they say, ‘There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.’
At Ol Seki, its not just the animal drives that occupy your itinerary, but also cultural visits to the local community to get to see and appreciate their works and learn about the Ma culture. This tribe is without a doubt, one of the most culturally distinctive tribes in Africa, easily recognizable for their brilliant red blankets and colorful bead jewelry that largely forms a part of the Kenyan identity. Here you get to also buy their work, right from the source.
Ol Seki Hemingways Mara camp is the place where guests become more than visitors, they become part of the Maasai community.
This season or any other, visit the Maasai Mara for its rich diversity of wildlife. Its right here within reach. Most importantly, you get to support the hospitality industry in the Mara that has been hit hard by the Covid pandemic and lock downs. According to Jimi Kariuki, the tourism board chairman, as many as 7 million Kenyans working in tourism and tourism-dependent jobs lost their jobs or were put on reduced pay. Let’s all play a part in reviving this vital industry.