Basecamp Eagle View — Local services in Siana ward

We were the first international tourists since the reopening of the borders in Kenya. We stayed here at Eagle View from August 10 to August 12 and then moved on to Basecamp Leopard Hill where we stayed from August 12 to August 15.

COVID-19 measures: The camp implemented several measures in connection with the Covid-19. Upon checking in at Eagle View, all guests must first sanitize their hands. Guests’ temperature is then measured. In addition, all staff and guests must wear masks at all time. Sanitizers are also provided in all facilities and tents. We felt that these measures were adequate and appropriate in the context of the current Covid-19. In any event, given the remoteness of the camp and the low amount of tourists these days, we felt much safer here regarding Covid-19 than in our original country (France).

Eagle View: As you can guess from the name, the view from the reception/common areas/restaurant is the highlight of the camp and it is absolutely spectacular! You can see animals roaming around all day (especially zebras, warthogs, giraffes, wilderbeests and gazelles).

There is fast wifi available in reception/common areas/restaurant.

The tents are spaceous and comfortable. The bed in particular is large and the mattress is of great quality. There is an indoor and an outdoor shower and we never lacked of hot water during our entire stay. Amenities (shower gel, shampoo and conditioner) were provided and the staff placed hot water bottles inside the bed every evening which we really enjoyed.

Staff: All the staff (reception, waiters, guards, kitchen staff, etc.) was extraordinary - friendly, polite, kind, really they could never do enough for us! Antony the camp manager was amazing as well: He was always at our service and ready to assist at any time of the day (whether at 6 am when we woke up or at 7 pm when we came back from game drive!).

Food: Chef Benson’s food was out of this world! Every meal was carefully designed and consisted of a starter (soup or salad), a main (beef, pork, chicken, lamb or fish, together with a choice of roasted vegetables, rice, potatoes, etc.) and a dessert (various cakes, fruits, etc.). We did not expect to eat so well in the middle of the savannah - we still talk about how good it was, even two weeks after we left! Antony also arranged for a special candlelit dinner on our last night - this was a very thoughtful attention and we enjoyed it a lot!

Guide: Our guide Caleb was without any doubt the best part of our safari! He was our guide for the whole duration of our safari (at Eagle View and then at Leopard Hill). On top of being super friendly and enthousiastic, he is cleary very experienced - his ability to spot animals kilometers away always astonished us (we personally always confused stones for lions, even after several days of game driving…) and his driving skills were perfect as well (which is far from being an easy task in these bumpy roads). He always answered all our (numerous!) questions with very clear and detailed answers and provided us with all the information we needed during the whole safari. We still remember very fondly of him!

Mara Naboisho: Mara Naboisho Conservancy was particularly enjoyable considering the low number of cars (we only saw 3 different cars in the space of 5 days) and the super high density of animals (especially lions, but also giraffes, elephants, buffalos, zebras, etc. - the only animal missing is the rhino!). We also saw many lion cubs, which was particularly cute!

Conclusion: We cannot recommend Eagle View enough! The Covid-19 restrictions were easy to navigate (Covid-19 test in the country of origin, 72 hours before flying; basic checks at the airport, etc.) and the measures taken by Basecamp were clearly appropriate enough to make us feel safe at all times. We feel that anyone hesitating to book a safari this year (or next year) should definitely take the plunge and book! We also want to add that we did another safari in a different reserve in Kenya (Amboseli) and it was far from being as good as our safari...

Upscale safari experience in the Naboisho Conservancy! We just left Eagle View in the Naboisho Conservancy after spending four amazing days at this upscale tent camp high on a ridge overlooking spectacular views and endless wild game. We already miss it! After spending time in the Masai Mara Reserve, it was a breath of fresh air to experience the adjoining private conservancy. In the reserve, you are competing with literally hundreds of safari vehicles all racing around in search of the best sights. Because only eight camps are licensed in the conservancy, it's a whole different experience. The access roads are better maintained (that means a smoother ride), the animals seem calmer and the overall experience seems better for everyone. If you come all this way, spend a few extra bucks and stay in the conservancy, you won't regret it! It's good to know that a portion of your nightly bed fee at Eagle View, your daily conservation fee and a portion of the profit from the camp operation funds the 600 local Masai families that have granted their 123,000 acres to the conservancy. It's a true win/win. The animals live in a better space, the locals get direct income and the camp owners are able to offer guests a truly better safari experience.

In addition to constant animal sightings, we saw three leopards. Wow!!! The BaseCamp Explorer team was instrumental in creating the Naboisho Conservancy and designed, built and now runs Eagle View camp. An incredible commitment to the region for generations to come.

The camp consists of nine luxury tents, each with a stunning view of the valley below. We were in tent #7, which I'd highly recommend. It wasn't large, but it was VERY well appointed with both an indoor and outdoor shower, a spacious bathroom with a view and a front deck that was perfect for relaxing and viewing the wildlife.

Our tent featured a comfortable and warm king size bed (loved the hot water bottle at your feet every night, nice touch) as well as a small day bed, it was clean and comfortable. We had power to charge up our necessities at the bed, but bring your UK converter.

Let's talk about the food and people. The meals (three a day) were outstanding! We had the opportunity to meet Benson, the head chef for all four BaseCamp Explorer camps. His story of passion and success is heartwarming. John the camp chef did not disappoint. Gourmet in every way. A vegetarian selection was offered at every meal. The safari lounge was the place to hang for conversation and cocktails at the end of the game drive, offering top South African wines, local beer and many of our favorite mixed drink options found at home (extra cost for booze settled at the end of our stay, but prices seemed very reasonable).

Free wifi was available and reliable at the safari lounge (not the tent) and we had great cell coverage throughout the area. And now the people... wow! Every member of the Eagle View was impressive, caring and thoughtful. We were in the capable hands of Sophie as our safari guide and driver (she came with us from BaseCamp Masai Mara). She is a graduate of the Masai Guide School and one of only 4 female guides out of the 15 at BaseCamp. #GirlPower.

Tony, the manager of the camp, is proud of his team and accommodating and informative in every way. A quick shout out to Faith who checked us in at the reception desk as well as Nickson and Jackson in the dining room. Always cheery and helpful.

We spent a morning out of the Land Cruiser and on a walking safari. 3.7 miles in about 2 hours. We had three guards in front of us and two behind us the entire time. Seemed like overkill, but we did feel very safe. :)

Here's the short of it, if you choose to stay at Eagle View in the Naboisho Conservancy of the Masai Mara, you'll have an amazing time, you'll be safe, you'll eat well, you'll experience the authentic Masai world and you'll be supporting conservation and sustainability in the Masai region. And yes, it will be serene and peaceful....

Basecamp – the best Safari experience out there!

We stayed 2 nights at Basecamp Eagle View and 2 nights at Basecamp Leopard Hill in early February 2022, and it was one of the most wonderful experiences we had!

Guides & Safari: We booked the 4 nights Safari package of Basecamp, where we would stay 2 nights at Eagle View and 2 nights at Leopard Hill. Both camps are in the Naboisho Conservancy, which is situated just next to the famous but also crowded Maasai Mara. We can highly recommend to stay in Naboisho because 1) it’s less crowded (you only see a handful of other safari cars per day due to regulations vs “thousands” in Maasai Mara); 2) as a result the wildlife seems calmer; 3) you can do night safaris and walking safaris, 4) you can drive off the main roads, and 5) you have a positive social impact (see below). Thanks to our amazing safari guides, we’ve seen a lot of animals. In Eagle View we had the pleasure to join Steve (check out his insta account @safaristeve), and in Leopard Hill we were lucky to join Bonifaz and Clifford – an amazing duo of scouts :-). All of our guides were super friendly, extremely knowledgeable and skilled both in spotting rare animals, as well as driving the car off-road safely. In addition to the awesome safari experience, we learnt a lot about the Maasai culture, as all of the guides are Maasai, and very open to questions. Looking back, we really saw everything and much more we could ever imagine, and forged some beautiful memories as well as friendships.

Food: Despite being in the middle of nowhere, the Basecamp team managed to serve us delicious food every day. Julius, the chef, is an amazing cook. Each day we were served fresh fruits and juices, 3-4 courses for lunch and dinner, and all of this was served by the most friendly staff you could imagine. Daniel, who was our waiter during our stay, always had a smile ready for us and genuinely asked about our day which created such a friendly and welcoming ambiance that our food tasted even better. On our last night we even received a surprise for our wedding anniversary: The entire crew baked a cake for us, came to sing, dance and celebrate our special day in their Maasai way. We will never forget, thank you so much, Manfred, Elisabeth and the entire team!

Facilities: Both camps were amazing in their own way, and if you get the chance, do visit both (or even more). While Eagle View has an outstanding overview over a large area with water wholes (many animals to spot and observe!), Leopard Hill gets you closer to the animals as they graze few meters in front of you (it’s not uncommon to pass giraffes and zebras on your way to breakfast). Both camps can be considered “boutique”, the tents you stay in are clean, comfortable, and offer all amenities you need. We never relaxed so well in any of our previous hotel stays. In Leopard Hill the tent even features a star gazing option as you can open parts of the roof. There is nothing more romantic than lying under the stars, hearing all the wild animals around you.

Social impact: When spending your money at Basecamp you know you’re spending it well. It not only offers you an amazing safari experience you likely won’t have anywhere else, but you become part of something bigger by helping support a great social project in the region. Naboisho means “coming together” of the wildlife, the Maasai, the cattle farmers, and the guests – and this spirit is ever present. Each stakeholder gets its fair share of the money you spend, creating a real win-win-situation: Animals get a save space, the Maasai receive educational support, the cattle farmers receive fair compensation, and the guests get an unforgettable and most authentic experience. Electricity and hot water is solar and waste is minimized. And just to be clear here, this is not any kind of marketing gag, but multiple philanthropic organizations are supporting this project as well. You find further information on the...