Mahali Mzuri is British tycoon Sir Richard Branson’s 12-tented luxury safari camp located in the 13,500-acre Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the wider Maasai Mara ecosystem in Kenya.
Unlike many other restaurants of its stature, it is a place of firsts as it consists entirely of tented structures and is highly exclusive in terms of visitors accepted.
According to the camp’s website, the luxury tents can cater for a maximum of 24 guests at any one time, with couples expected to share one tent.
The tents boast of ensuite bathrooms, private viewing decks to enjoy the wild in all its glory, a large decked area where breakfast and lunch are served, a 12-meter infinity swimming pool amongst other amenities.
For the exclusive use of the tents in the camp, a customer would be expected to part with Ksh2.3 million per night during the low season and Ksh3.8 million during the peak season – these rates applying when booking seven or more tents.
In the case of single occupancy, a visitor will be expected to fork out Ksh123,000 per night during the low season and Ksh200,000 in the peak season as the base price.
According to the camp, the rates charged are inclusive of a twice-a-day game drive and night drives in some cases, alongside meals and drinks and transfers to an airstrip 25 minutes from the camp.
The cost also covers visits to the local markets, complimentary wireless internet, laundry services and a national reserve pass if one books for three nights.
The restaurant’s idea is based on a global hospitality industry phenomena known as glamping, a combination of the words glamour and camping.
Mahali Mzuri was voted as the ‘Favourite Safari Camp’ at the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Reader’s Choice Awards in 2017 and came 2nd in 2018.
Though started in 2003, the hotel was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013, after he graced the Maasai Mara area on the invitation of the British tycoon.
The event was also attended by the then East African Affairs, Commerce Tourism CS Phylis Kandie and Michael Kamau (CS Transport and Infrastructure).
Here are more photos of the exclusive establishment…
