Watching BBC’s Big Cat Diary is one thing, but experiencing the epic scenes of a cheetah in action is a life-changing event. Witnessing a cheetah with lethal jaws not only bring down but also tear apart an antelope is truly unforgettable.

Camouflaged against a nearby thicket around 3 PM on a game drive led by Raphael Rotiken and Agnes Kelero Mako, courtesy of Ol Seki Hemingways Mara, we encountered a lonesome cheetah. At first, we thought it was just resting. Little did we know it was using its exceptionally keen eyesight (aided by “tear marks” that reduce sun glare while hunting) to scan the sun-drenched grasslands of Naboisho Conservancy for prey. In a scene straight out of a movie, the cheetah quietly sneaked up on an antelope, burst out using its tail as a rudder, tripped the animal with its paw, and eventually suffocated it with a bite to the neck. The cheetah then dragged its prey to a nearby hiding spot to prevent hyenas from stealing its catch.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to Kenya’s highest variety and concentration of the Big Five. Morning and evening game drives are the highlights of any visit, offering sightings of the Big Five (rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard) and big cats (cheetah, leopard, and lion) in their natural habitats. The best part is that you can see them year-round, whether it’s January, June, or October. From July to September, the Maasai Mara witnesses the wildebeest migration, when an estimated two million “wild beasts” move from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s fertile red oat grasslands to eat and mate. This spectacular event attracts over 300,000 foreign tourists annually.

A picture-perfect safari in the wild, complete with savanna landscapes and abundant wildlife, isn’t complete without a stay at Ol Seki Hemingways Mara. This magically peaceful, private safari-themed tented camp consists of 10 en-suite tents with 270° panoramic views of the Mara plains. Ol Seki, named after the “sandpaper tree” which symbolizes peace and harmony for the Maasai people, offers unmatched tranquility and scenic views. Located in the heart of the Naboisho Conservancy, Ol Seki Hemingways provides incredible vantage points for game viewing right from the comfort of your safari chair with a G&T in hand.

The ten stylish tents, all with en-suite bathrooms, are designed to offer secluded privacy and spacious accommodation in safari-chic tones of vanilla and taupe. Each tent has a private deck for stunning sunsets and wildlife viewing. The large family unit tent has two separate units, each with its own lounge, dining area, and kitchenette, along with a 24/7 butler service. The camp’s layout ensures privacy, with each tent set apart from the others by thick bush. At Ol Seki Hemingways Mara, the stresses of city life fade away in the wilderness.

No day at Ol Seki Hemingways Mara ends without a game drive, often culminating in a sundowner with a bottle of Chardonnay and some snacks while watching a breathtaking sunset over the Maasai Mara landscape. Besides animal drives, you can visit the local Maasai community to learn about their culture and buy their handmade crafts. The Maasai are one of Africa’s most culturally distinctive tribes, known for their brilliant red blankets and colorful bead jewelry.

Ol Seki Hemingways Mara camp transforms guests into part of the Maasai community. Visiting the Maasai Mara supports the local hospitality industry, which has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Jimi Kariuki, the tourism board chairman, as many as 7 million Kenyans working in tourism lost their jobs or faced reduced pay. By visiting, you help revive this vital industry.

Back at the camp, Hemingways Ol Seki Mara offers a library with a lounge area overlooking the vast Naboisho Conservancy. On an afternoon when you simply want to take it easy, grab a book and put your feet up as you gaze into the grasslands on the horizon, immersing yourself in the tranquil haven that is the Mara. It is no wonder the Maasai Mara National Reserve has consistently been voted Africa’s leading national park at the World Travel Awards, year in and year out.

Research and various reports indicate that Naboisho has one of the highest densities of lions in Africa. The conservancy also boasts impressive numbers of elephants, giraffes, and other plains game, in addition to hosting some of the rarest animals in Kenya. Most notably, conservancies have less human and vehicular traffic due to the limited number of lodges or camps allowed to operate within these well-protected wildlife sanctuaries. Visitor numbers are tightly controlled, and Ol Seki is one of the few camps in the conservancy. The 200 square kilometers that make up the Naboisho Conservancy are leased from Maasai 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 in the Mara, having defied the odds in a male-dominated field.

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.