Review: Great Plains Mara Nyika, Kenya
Sundowner Safaris | January 2026You have heard about the Masai Mara — the crowds, the chaos, the vehicles jostling for position around a lion. Mara Nyika offers something different: the Mara ecosystem without the Mara madness. Situated in the Naboisho Conservancy, this Great Plains property delivers old-world safari charm, phenomenal guiding, and more lions than you can count. We spent two nights here in mid-January 2026, and it earned a perfect score. Here is why.
Getting There
We flew from Wilson Airport in Nairobi on a scheduled flight with no stops — about 45 minutes in a bush plane. Easy and efficient. We landed at Ol Seki Airstrip, where our guide Dickson was waiting.
What happened next set the tone for the entire stay. Rather than rushing us to camp, Dickson had set up snacks and drinks under a beautiful tree near the airstrip. He pulled out a map and walked us through the conservancy — where we were, where we were going, what to expect. It was the perfect orientation, unhurried and informative. From there, it was about a 45-minute drive to camp.
One thing we noticed on the transfer: cattle grazing among the wildlife. This is community land, and the Maasai are allowed to graze their livestock alongside the wild animals. It is an honest reality of conservancy life, and worth knowing if you expect a purely wild landscape.
Setting & Location
Mara Nyika sits in the Naboisho Conservancy, one of the private conservancies bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve. What makes Naboisho special is exclusivity: only 8 camps operate here, and there is a strict 5-vehicle maximum per sighting. Compare that to the main reserve where dozens of vehicles can swarm a single lion, and you understand the appeal.
During our stay, we did see other vehicles, but it never felt crowded. The guides were universally respectful — giving each other space, positioning thoughtfully, allowing animals to behave naturally. You could tell everyone operating in Naboisho was from a reputable camp with high standards. It felt private in a way the main Mara simply cannot.
The wildlife was extraordinary. Lions on every single game drive. Not just a lion here or there — we are talking about prides, pride takeovers, male coalitions, the full drama. The conservancy is known for big cats, but the sheer abundance exceeded our expectations. We also encountered a hyena den with cubs playing, which was a highlight. Elephants and general game rounded out the experience.
The weather in mid-January was ideal: low to mid-80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping to the 50s at night. Warm enough during the day, cool enough to sleep comfortably with just a fan, and you needed a jacket for early morning drives.
Facilities
Walking into Mara Nyika feels like stepping into an Out of Africa film set. The main area has a distinctly old-world English colonial feel — dark colors, leather couches, Moroccan-style rugs, and huge gorgeous photographs on the walls. This makes sense when you learn that the founders of Great Plains are National Geographic photographers.
The decking is made from reclaimed old South African railway sleepers, which is a beautiful touch. There is a gorgeous wine cellar, a separate library, and both indoor and outdoor seating for meals. On our last night, they set up a private dinner for us in the wine room — absolutely stunning.
The camp has 6 units total: 4 regular tents, 1 family unit, and 1 villa. The villa has a pool, but since it was occupied during our stay, we did not see it. The main camp does not have a pool, spa, or gym in the traditional sense. This is not that kind of camp.
What Mara Nyika offers instead is understated, authentic safari luxury. The focus is on the experience — the guiding, the wildlife, the atmosphere — rather than resort-style amenities. If you want a plunge pool and minimalist modern design, look elsewhere. If you want to feel like you have stepped back in time to the golden age of safari, this is your place.
Room
The camp is intentionally built into a valley along a river system, designed to blend into the ecosystem rather than dominate it. This means the rooms do not have sweeping views — they feel hidden, tucked away. An interesting design choice that prioritizes immersion over vistas.
Bedroom & Deck
We stayed in one of the regular tents (room 3 or 4 — we cannot remember which). The layout is essentially three connected tents: a living space with minibar, tea and coffee station, and desk; a bedroom tent with king bed and closet; and a bathroom tent with copper tub and open shower.
The room was spacious and had many thoughtful touches. The nightstands are inside the mosquito net (it drives me crazy when camps get this wrong). Power plugs are right on the bed frame where you need them. The airflow was excellent — we slept comfortably with just a fan. Storage was well-designed with two cupboards that helped keep things organized.
Two standout luxury touches: they leave a high-end Canon camera in your room (an R5 with two professional lenses — a 100-400mm and a 70-135mm) that you can use on game drives. At the end of your stay, the camp manager puts your photos on a thumb drive to take home. They also provide excellent binoculars for use during your stay. These are the kinds of thoughtful, safari-focused luxuries that define Great Plains.
A few frustrations: The bathroom had a gorgeous copper tub, but the toilet only had a privacy divider rather than an actual door — not ideal. The outdoor deck had a stationary bike and yoga mats, but the seating was not inviting, so we never really used the space. Our room felt quite close to the main walkway, and during siesta time, people would look into our room as they passed, which felt intrusive.
We also experienced a strange chemical smell in the room — like kerosene or gasoline. Management said it was the oil they use on the wood flooring and agreed not to use it during our stay. It improved, but it was noticeable that first night.
Food
The food at Mara Nyika was exceptional — we would rate it 9 out of 10.
Breakfast was memorable. The first day, they did an incredible bush breakfast with a mobile cart kitchen — eggs to order, omelettes, whatever you wanted, all prepared fresh in the wild. The second day, knowing we were short on time and watching a pride takeover unfold, we requested a packed breakfast and ate it in the vehicle while male lions attempted to take over a pride. Sometimes the best meals are the ones you barely notice because you cannot take your eyes off the action.
Lunch follows the Great Plains philosophy: fresh, vegetable-forward, tapas-style dishes served family-style. Very tasty and very healthy. My only small complaint is the protein portions were modest — you can always ask for more, but a bit more protein by default would be nice.
Dinner offered two options per course — starter, main, dessert — all beautifully executed. But here is what sets Great Plains apart: the Supper Menu. This is a standing menu of comfort food that is always available — pizzas, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pastas. You can swap out your dinner entirely or order something as an extra. I ordered pizza as an appetizer one night. After weeks on safari eating fancy plated food, sometimes you just want something simple. The fact that they recognize this and offer it is brilliant. I have not seen this at any other camp.
Drinks are all included, and the wine selection was exceptional — perhaps the best red wine options I have seen at any safari camp.
Service
Service was fantastic. As a Relais and Chateaux property, Mara Nyika operates to exceptionally high standards, and it shows. The team has mastered a level of service that feels polished but never pretentious. They are a well-oiled machine.
No single staff member stood out because they were all consistently excellent. When we reported the smell in our room via the in-room iPad, they responded immediately. We asked for a second fan and had it within minutes. Housekeeping, turndown, everything was perfect.
The GM, Mambo, was always present and available without being intrusive. On our last night, they arranged a private dinner in the wine room — a beautiful touch.
The true standout was our guide, Dickson. He had encyclopedic knowledge of the conservancy and all the lion prides. He knew exactly how to position the vehicle for the best light and photography angles. He was an excellent spotter, understood animal behavior, and ensured we always had front-row seats while respecting the animals' space. One of the best guides we have had, anywhere.
Activities & Guiding
We did twice-daily game drives — morning drives departing at sunrise, afternoon drives leaving around 4:30pm and returning after sunset. Timing was flexible based on what we were seeing.
The vehicles are excellent. Very spacious with plenty of room, and they even have reclining seats if you want to lean back. For photographers, there are bean bag options throughout the vehicle for stabilizing your lens — a very Great Plains touch. They typically put 4 guests per vehicle, though we were lucky to have our own.
The wildlife viewing was the highlight of our trip. Lions on every single drive. We witnessed a pride takeover in progress — male lions attempting to take over a pride of females — which was absolutely thrilling. The hyena den with playful cubs was another standout. General game and elephants rounded out the experience.
Walking safaris were not offered. Night drives are available until 10pm, though we did not do a dedicated night drive — we simply stayed out late on our afternoon game drives, returning after dark.
The Good
Lions, lions, lions — big cats on every game drive
Dickson — phenomenal guide with deep conservancy knowledge
Naboisho Conservancy — 5 vehicle max, no crowds, respectful guiding
Old-world Out of Africa atmosphere
Canon R5 camera with pro lenses provided in room
Supper Menu — comfort food always available
Exceptional wine selection
Photography-focused vehicles with bean bags
Relais and Chateaux service standards
Bush breakfast with mobile kitchen
The Bad
Room felt too close to main walkway — people looking in during siesta
Chemical smell from wood treatment oil (resolved when we reported it)
Toilet had privacy divider but no actual door
Outdoor deck not inviting or functional
No pool, spa, or modern amenities (by design, but worth noting)
Cattle grazing in conservancy (reality of community land)
Conclusion
Mara Nyika delivers what matters most on safari: extraordinary wildlife and exceptional guiding in a setting that feels authentic and uncrowded. The Naboisho Conservancy is a gem — all the drama of the Mara ecosystem without the circus of the main reserve.
Great Plains has created something special here. The old-world charm, the photography focus, the Supper Menu, the camera in your room — these are not gimmicks. They reflect a deep understanding of what safari enthusiasts actually want. Add in Relais and Chateaux service standards and you have a winning combination.
Who is this for? Anyone who wants to experience the Mara ecosystem and loves big cats. First-time safari guests who want excellent guiding and abundant wildlife without fighting crowds. Experienced safari-goers who appreciate authentic, rustic luxury over modern resort amenities. Photographers who will appreciate the provided camera, the bean bags, and guides who understand light and positioning.
Who should look elsewhere? Those who want modern camp aesthetics — plunge pools, minimalist design, Instagram-worthy architecture. This is rustic luxury done exceptionally well, but it is not trying to be sleek or contemporary. If that matters to you, other camps will suit you better.
Would we return? Absolutely. We thought it was fantastic. The conservancy is wonderful, and we would definitely send Sundowner clients here. There are many people who would love this experience, and it is one of the best options in East Africa.
Sundowner Safaris Rating
5 / 5
Lions, lions, lions.
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Visited: January 2026 | Reviewed by Reza, Sundowner Safarissundownersafaris.com