Olkinyei Mara Tented Camp — Hotel in Siana ward

Fantastic little gem of a camp right next to the talek gate.

The camp and rooms were a lot nicer than we were expecting. I think they are constantly improving and upgrading.

Tents: We stayed in the most basic tent type and it was great. We booked two tents and each had a double and single bed. The beds were comfy and had lovely clean, cosy bedding. The bathroom was basic but did the job, lovely products provided. Drinking water in the rooms and for brushing teeth, it was replenished every day. Strong WiFi in rooms.

Food: We had the packed breakfast both days and it was perfect. Our driver Dennis found great spots to set up the breakfast buffet. We had lunch packed one day and back in camp another. Again lovely, and we appreciated the break midday. The dinner was limited but everything was very tasty. There was always a nice soup followed by curry, rice, and veg, and then a cake for dessert. There was always tea and coffee available.

Safari: We used Dennis, booked via the camp. He was amazing. He could spot things miles away and we saw everything except a rhino. He was also great company and very fun. I think we paid $260 per day for the whole day. We started at 6am and on the first day we were shattered and came back to camp around 4.30, the second day we decided to have a break back at camp for lunch and then had an afternoon/sunset drive. That worked well.

Getting there: We booked a driver, Francis, via the camp. We were collected from Navaisha and returned to Nairobi. It cost around $450 for 4 of us, so a lot cheaper than flying and didn’t take that much more time overall.

The camp is small and there isn’t much to do other than safari so with two teens in tow we were worried about getting bored. But as we were out on safari most of the time it was fine. We had early-ish evenings so didn’t really have any time to fill. Everyone seemed to return to their tents straight after eating so we felt a bit in the way staying in the bar, like we were keeping the staff up.

Special mention to Dalmaz who is a joy. He brightened every meal time and was always popping up with his big smile. All the staff were so friendly and kind, we felt very safe there.

On our last evening we were lucky enough to see all the staff do a traditional Masai performance. They pulled my son up to join in and he was thrilled, said it was the best time of his life!

We stayed in July and the weather was perfect. Cool night and low/mid 20s during the day. We were a bit cold on the first morning so asked to borrow blankets on the second morning which really helped. Would be a nice touch if these were provided to use in the safari trucks. Perhaps they are during colder weather. Bring cosy clothes for the mornings and change into shorts for...

We booked through Booking.com. The pictures from the "standard" Deluxe tents are not accurate. Many of the pictures are from the Deluxe Suite (Luxury) tents. Carpets, chairs etc are not available in the DeLuxe tents even though depicted on Booking. The picture from the restaurant with a white ceiling is not accurate. The restaurant is dark and cave like.

We booked 4 tents. In one tent the shower did not work. In three tents the toilet where not really working well. We hade to help the kids (14 years old) with the flushing bu lifting the cistern lid and manually flush. The lunch box was terrible: one piece of white bread with eggs, small piece of banana and small piece of chicken.

We notified the Camp in advance that we had a 17 year old son who is vegetarian. The Chef only took away the meat and served extra veggies, which is not OK. We had a chat with the chef, must admit that he did what he could with limited resources. They did not have any cheese (Halloumi, feta) or cream or beans to replace at least some of the protein. But they did a really tastu coliflower/tomato curry as a try to satisfy us ;-)

We booked 3 nights but left after 2. The host was very understanding and offered os a complimentary night in the luxury tents some time in the future. Our plans for new year was ruined but we managed to get back to Nairobi and celebrated there instead.

The main downside is the non functioning toilets and showers. With very limited energy the food could be improved (fresh fruitsalad for everyone at breakfast and coffe without limitations), veggie food. The pictures from the tents...

From the very beginning, the communication and organization were flawless. I booked everything through the camp, including a pickup and drop-off from Nairobi, which cost $250. While I might have found cheaper options elsewhere, I wanted to ensure that I used someone familiar with the location, and I’m so glad I did. The driver even arrived two hours earlier than planned. Sandra, who arranged everything, was an absolute gem. She communicated clearly, honestly, and even warned me about bank charges upfront, so there were no surprises.

Once we got to the camp, I was impressed. The deluxe tent we stayed in was spacious, comfortable, and beautifully set up.

We also booked a full-day safari, and Dennis, our driver, was incredible. He was kind, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about his work. He made sure we saw as much wildlife as possible . The safari cost $250 (not including entrance fees), and it was worth every single penny.

The food at the camp was good and enough. Every meal was delicious, plentiful, and varied , we never ate the same thing twice.

What truly makes Olkinyei stand out, though, is the people. The staff are simply exceptional. This isn’t a massive resort, but that’s what makes it so special. Everyone is attentive, warm, and ready to help with anything you need.

Thank you to everyone at the camp for making our trip so unforgettable. I can’t wait...