
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Mara Bushtops is a luxurious camp and spa, set within the wilds of a private Conservancy, bordering the Masai Mara in Kenya. Watching from your own 100 sqm metre private deck as an abundance of wildlife congregates around the adjacent salt lick is, literally, unforgettable.
- Mara Bushtops boats a sensational location in front of the largest natural salt lick in the Masai Mara and perched on the side of a hill, with a scenic valley to one side. Set amid the Bushtops private Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara, activities such as walking safaris, night game drives, off road game drives, sun downers, bush breakfasts are part of the experience.
- Having your butler draw your hot tub after a spectacular game drive is heavenly.
- Delving into the well-stocked wine cellar and enjoying superb cooking simply adds to the magic.
- The award-winning Amani African Spa Village at Mara Bushtops takes Wild Luxury to new heights. It adds luxurious pampering, peace and tranquility to the excitement of game watching, culinary excellence and comforts of Camp.
- The restaurant at Mara Bushtops overlooks this natural gathering point for local wildlife. This makes the adjacent camp fire an enticing place for a sundowner, or final drink after dinner.
EXCLUSIVE LUXE VOYAGER VIP BENEFITS & BEST PRICE
We negotiate rates & benefits for our clients directly with the hotels’ senior management. Our rates match or in many cases are lower than the best online rate for the property. Our clients also enjoy a suite of extra VIP privileges and recognition while staying at a partner hotel.
- Complimentary room upgrade on arrival.
- Daily complimentary buffet breakfast for two.
- Up to $100 dining or spa credit per stay, and or in-house dining / spa discounts.
- Welcome amenities (wine/chocolates/fruit) and card from the GM.
- Complimentary private airport transfers.
- Complimentary roll-away bed if required.
- Early check-in and late check-out.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi.
- Enhanced recognition through VIP status at all touch points in the guest experience.
A complete or partial suite of VIP benefits will be offered, subject to the property T&C, including availability, category of room & length of stay.
ACTIVITIES:
Every day in the Masai Mara is different. Each of our game drives is an adventure into the unknown. We recommend staying with us for at least four days (three nights) to ensure you absorb as much game viewing as you can, balanced with relaxation in camp. This activity is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops. We’d love to guarantee you’ll see the big five. We’re confident you will spot lions, buffalo and elephants, often in great numbers. Leopards and rhino can be shy, but we do all in our power to seek them out. The secret is to make sure you take part in at least one early morning game drive, one full day game drive and an evening game drive (a night drive is a bonus!). The knowledge of our rangers and the sharp eyes of Masai spotters will do the rest.
A walking safari and bush breakfast is always fascinating, but you may prefer a break from the wildlife. A tour of a local school provides an education (we’re never too old to learn), whilst visiting a traditional Masai village showcases just how different yet similar we all are. We can lay on a Masai archery demonstration (children of all ages love taking part!), or give you a tour into how the camp runs sustainably and efficiently. The walking safari is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops.
One of the unusual aspects of Mara Bushtops and owning our own conservancy is being able to arrange night game drives, which is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops. When the sun sets, nature shuffles its deck, revealing new players and dramas under the moonlit skies of the Masai Mara.The lights of our 4x4s may pick out the eyes of a spring hare bounding like a kangaroo, or the loping figure of a hunter bearing down on a herd of impala. A night game drive is a wonderful opportunity to spot the best of Kenya’s wildlife – perhaps a lion, leopard or buffalo, a silver backed jackal, hyena or banded mongoose.
It’s an astonishing image: a balloon, framed against the rising sun, overlooking the herds of Masai Mara plains. You could be in that balloon’s basket, creating a memory that will last a lifetime. But you will have to get up early! If you want to add a balloon safari to your itinerary, it’s best to let us know in advance. This lies outside your stay at Mara Bushtops and bookings are outside our control: the sooner you let us know, the more likely we can confirm availability (and the additional costs involved Having booked your flight, you will be picked up from Mara Bushtops in the early hours of the morning, ready to take flight as dawn breaks (weather permitting). As you level out over the Bush, you gain a bird’s eye view of the herds and an awe-inspiring panoramic overview of the wide horizons. After about an hour, your experienced pilot brings the balloon safely to earth. You celebrate the amazing experience with a Bush champagne breakfast. You then have the option to continue the adventure, adding a full day game drive, or return to camp for a leisurely morning or nap.
If you are bringing younger members of the family with you, there’s something new and exciting awaiting them at Bushtops. Our Bushcraft Challenge, which is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops. This introduces youngsters to basic survival skills, local culture, the importance of conservation and (of course) local flora and fauna. Activities include learning to make fire without matches or a lighter; completing animal spotting checklists (assisted by our rangers); identifying animal tracks and making a memento plaster cast of their favourites (we can even arrange to have a Bronze made out of your cast. This will be sent to you via courier); learning about animal bones; practicing archery; trying out bead making skills; baking Swahili cookies and more!
During a full-day game drive your ranger will find a nice spot under a tree to set up a picnic lunch. Dining in the middle of nowhere with nobody to disturb you except for the noises of animals nearby also enjoying their lunch is an experience one cannot easily forget. This carries no additional cost.
Our award-winning safari spa at Mara Bushtops takes Wild Luxury to new heights. It adds luxurious pampering, peace and tranquillity to the excitement of game watching, culinary excellence and the comforts of the camp. Use of the spa facilities is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops but treatments and massages carry an additional cost. Within the soothing confines of the safari spa, rejuvenating massages, hydrotherapy and a range of holistic skin and body treatments are complemented by a fitness facility, complete with high-tech cardiovascular and weight training equipment.
The best ending to any day. Watching a fiery red orb of light slowly sink beneath the horizon in the middle of the bush, all while chatting about the sightings of the day and enjoying some drinks with canapés. This activity is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops.
A simply fantastic place to view the sunset and talk about the events of the day and the plan for tomorrow. The pool was designed with stars in the bottom that emit light through the water in the shape of the Orion constellation. This activity has no additional cost.
The camp fire is a great place to have drinks and wind down after a day well spent. You will be treated with a traditional Masai dance for entertainment. The jumping dance is likely what you will be familiar with. In the Masai language this dancing competition is called the “adumu”. Though the jumping dance is the most well known, there are plenty of other traditional dances that the Masai perform. This carries no additional cost.
Our private conservancy is a haven for wildlife – and the best bit is just yards from the camp. Directly in front of the restaurant and spa lies a salt lick. Animals love it, arriving primarily at noon but also throughout the day and night to absorb the minerals needed for healthy bones and growth. This creates a constantly shifting nature show, as gazelle jostle with warthogs, zebra and impala, topi and buffalo. It is not unusual to have a herd of elephant join them – and we have hosted more than 40 giraffe at a time. Naturally, the predators take an interest, with leopard and lion visitors. We like to think Mara Bushtops is unique: as the only camp in the Mara with a natural salt lick this size! This has no additional cost.
We’re used to surprises in the Bush, but sometimes we get left open-mouthed. Finding an historic Masai cave in our conservancy was just such an occasion. As a result, our excursions have just become even more exciting! We’d heard rumours of the cave’s existence, but after 10 years at Mara Bushtops, had no idea that within a 15 minute drive (and 10 minute hike) lay a centre of worship, sacrifice and communal gathering. It’s called the Kakiya cave and it is truly incredible. Kakiya means the place of eating and drinking, giving us a pretty solid clue as to its central role in Masai life.
Picture this: an early morning wake-up call, followed by a mysterious drive into the wilderness. Then, as the sun rises and light floods the landscape, you find yourself in an oasis of tranquility.You hop from the truck to survey this wonderland. Moments later, your table awaits you. This is your Private Bush breakfast. It’s highly unlikely that you have ever started the day in such a glorious location, or in such splendid isolation. No fellow diners: just you, our chef and your ranger, serving a hot meal and an array of delicious buffet delicacies. A glorious day in the Bush has begun. This activity is included in the price for honeymooners but carries an additional cost for other guests.
Masai tribal villages are dotted around East Africa’s national parks. At Bushtops we highly recommend a visit to a Masai manyatta (village), to gain a rare insight into one of Africa best-known traditional cultures. Our relationship with local tribal elders has built trust and an agreement to allow us privileged access to authentic living history, perpetuated in the villages which border our private conservancy. This activity carries an additional cost.
Education is the greatest gift – and helping out local schools is very much part of the Bushtops way. It’s fundamental to our belief that luxury safaris must go hand in hand with care for the land, its wildlife and the communities who were there long before us. Our local schools are proud of what we achieve together, so the headmaster or a teacher is always happy to give our guests a tour. In around 45 minutes you get to meet the students, see them in class and note some of the projects we’ve funded, built or worked on. A visit always creates an unforgettable impression: it’s a captivating experience, seeing how children in less fortunate communities take every chance they can get to learn – creating new opportunities for their future. To take part in a school visit, just let us know before you arrive. If not, we may still be able to arrange things once you join us. There is no cost.

Mara Bushtops is a luxurious camp and spa, set within the wilds of a private Conservancy, bordering the Masai Mara in Kenya. The words “exclusive” and “luxurious” are often exaggerations: at Mara Bushtops they fit like a glove. Watching from your own 100 square metre private deck as an abundance of wildlife congregates around the adjacent salt lick is, literally, unforgettable. Having your butler draw your hot tub after a spectacular game drive is heavenly. Delving into the well-stocked wine cellar and enjoying superb cooking simply adds to the magic. Together, these experiences create an oasis of five-star luxury, blending peace with adventure – and first class comfort with unforgettable sights and smells, sounds and sensations.
The award-winning Amani African Spa Village at Mara Bushtops takes Wild Luxury to new heights. It adds luxurious pampering, peace and tranquility to the excitement of game watching, culinary excellence and the comforts of the Camp. Mara Bushtops boats a sensational location in front of the largest natural salt lick in the Masai Mara and perched on the side of a hill, with a scenic valley to one side. Set amid the Bushtops private Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara, Activities such as walking safaris, night game drives, off road game drives, sun downers, bush breakfasts are part of the experience. Game drives are conducted in open converted 4×4’s and accompanied by a professional Ranger and local Masai spotter.
With wooden decking throughout, each of the 12 tents has plenty of indoor and outdoor space to enjoy the natural surroundings, whether facing out onto the hills or, if you get the Lion Tent, onto the busy salt lick. Canvas ‘walls’ are turned up by day, to allow views and a breeze, then turned down each night.Wooden decks each have sun loungers, table and chairs, and their own private hot tub. At the back, there’s both an indoor and outdoor rain shower with Bulgari products. An old-fashioned metal telescope on the deck and a Maasai spear to place at the entrance as a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign are among the cool, clever touches.

Family Tent-Suite
It has two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. By adding an extra children’s bed to each bedroom, Leopard can accommodate a family of six. Its sunken lounge is the perfect location for an afternoon siesta, while the hot tub on the deck is perfectly placed to view the salt lick and visiting wildlife. The suite also has a private fire place, wine wall and mini bar.
At Mara Bushtops we always look to add something new, magical and better. Leopard is just about as good as it gets.

Luxury Tent-Suite
We spared no expense turning each of Mara Bushtops’ spacious and fabulously appointed luxury tents into a perfect haven of comfort. Each opens on three sides to create a unique view of distant plains and the Siana hills, with nothing to spoil perfect panoramic views. Every tent at Mara Bushtops is bounded by a private wooden deck of more than a hundred square metres. This provides ample room to wander at leisure, sink into a deck lounger, soak in your private hot tub or use the telescope provided to spot distant wildlife.
No Safari camp is complete without its water hole – but few include a salt lick. The restaurant at Mara Bushtops overlooks this natural gathering point for local wildlife. This makes the adjacent camp fire an enticing place for a sundowner, or final drink after dinner.

Cuisine
Most guests, however, find it hard to tear their attention away from the superb cuisine. Being presented with a choice of sumptuous a la carte dishes may seem paradoxical in the heart of the wilderness, yet our trained, friendly service staff make it a nightly pleasure.

Wine
Wine may not be essential to the perfect evening, but it certainly plays a wonderful part. At Mara Bushtops, it takes a central role. Most guests are astonished to find a large, fully-stocked wine cellar lies beneath the restaurant, with selected world-famous wines kept in optimum climatic condition by ancient charcoal and evaporation refrigeration techniques. Here you can find wine from Kenya, award-winning wines from South Africa, and exclusive vintages from Europe and the new world. Guests’ recommendations have led us to add gems sourced from privately-owned vineyards in Switzerland, Austria, France, South Africa – and even a Canadian ice wine.

Private-Bush-Breakfast
Picture this: an early morning wake-up call, followed by a mysterious drive into the wilderness. Then, as the sun rises and light floods the landscape, you find yourself in an oasis of tranquility. You hop from the truck to survey this wonderland. Moments later, your table awaits you. This is your Private Bush breakfast. It’s highly unlikely that you have ever started the day in such a glorious location, or in such splendid isolation. No fellow diners: just you, our chef and your driver, serving a hot meal and an array of delicious buffet delicacies. A glorious day in the Bush has begun.
Personal 24-hour butler service always arrives fast, as do Maasai escorts to lead you around camp at night. Staff are friendly and thoughtful, such as steps set down next to the vehicle to get out. Wildlife guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, with morning, evening and night drives, plus walking safaris, available. The main building (a former private house) has a small library and an elegant indoor restaurant with lights; but weather and wind permitting, meals are usually served outside, next to the busy salt lick. There’s an impressive spa area, the reception and changing rooms resembling a traditional Maasai village, with a big blue pool (lit up with an Orion constellation design at night), hot tub, sauna, steam room, gym, and two treatment tents opened to the outdoors. Massage therapists are about as good as it gets.

Pool
A sauna, Rasul steam room (featuring multi-sensory Arabian mud cleansing treatments) and hot Jacuzzi vie for attention with a heated infinity pool – with beds inside the pool complete with water jets! There is also a cold plunge pool to take the edge of the heat. And to wind down, there is the simple glory of our wooden relaxation deck, providing uninterrupted views of the camp’s salt lick and the majestic African bush.

Gym
Within the soothing confines of the safari spa, rejuvenating massages, hydrotherapy and a range of holistic skin and body treatments are complemented by a fitness facility, complete with high-tech cardiovascular and weight training equipment.

Spa
This is where the ‘luxury’ part of our promise to you comes to glorious life. We offer a range of delights, embracing Amani signature spa treatments, luxurious body treatments, sensational journeys, a massage collection, deluxe facials and hand and foot rituals. Alongside the bliss-inducing attentions of our fully-trained spa staff, sensory perfection is achieved using Terres d’Afrique organic skincare products. These combine advanced phyto-technology with inspiration from the traditional use of African plants.
Area & Location
Area, Country
Siana, Kenya
Nearest Airport
Nairobi Wilson Airport, Laikipia
Local Currency
Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Time Change
GMT +3
Language
Swahili, English
Best time to go
July through February
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