Your day on safari starts early – often before the sun is up, when the Mara is still cool, and the first sounds of the day are beginning to stir.
And while wildlife is usually the main event, food has a way of becoming part of the story too. A flask of hot coffee on an early morning drive. Lunch beneath the trees back at camp. A drink as the sun goes down. Dinner in the dining tent, with the sounds of hippos from the Mara River in the background.
At Governors’ Camp, meals are designed to enhance the safari experience; sometimes that means dining in camp and sometimes it means carrying a packed meal so that you can spend longer on your drive. On special occasions, it can mean a beautifully set table in the middle of the Mara with natural surroundings as the backdrop.
The first light of dawn is one of the most magical times in the Masai Mara, and many guests are eager to be out on safari as the bush comes to life.
For those heading out on an early game drive, breakfast can take several forms. Guests leaving at first light can enjoy a packed breakfast prepared by our team. Alternatively, our popular “Make Your Own Breakfast” option allows guests to select their favourite items from a breakfast spread in the restaurant. Their chosen breakfast is then packed and carried with them on their game drive.
There is something very special about stopping for a freshly brewed cup of coffee and having breakfast while the Mara reveals itself around you.
For those who prefer a more leisurely start, camp serves an early breakfast before guests depart on a morning safari around 7:00 am. Guests can also select drinks to accompany them on their game drives, ensuring refreshments are always close at hand as they explore the reserve.
By midday, many guests return to camp, where lunch is served beneath the shade of the trees overlooking the Mara River.
The atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried, and as you settle into one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations, wildlife casually wanders by.
Lunch is typically served à la carte, allowing guests to choose from a selection of freshly prepared dishes. For families travelling together, meals can also be presented family-style, creating a warm and sociable dining experience.
Guests planning to spend the day exploring the Reserve can opt for a packed lunch to enjoy in the bush and then return to camp in time for one of safari’s most cherished traditions: sundowners.
Few safari rituals are as iconic as the sundowner.
After an incredible day on safari, guests are invited to sit back with a drink on the deck overlooking the Mara River. As the afternoon light softens, there is time to take in the views, listen to the sounds of hippos in the river below and watch the landscape change as the sun begins to set.
It is a chance to meet fellow travellers, share stories from the day’s game drives, and recount any special sightings.
Whether enjoyed back at camp or out on a game drive, sundowners are a simple safari tradition and one of the pleasures of slowing down at the end of the day.
For something a little different, Governors’ Camp also offers sit-down bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners within the reserve.
The setting changes depending on the experience. Breakfast or lunch may be served beneath a standalone tree with the plains stretching ahead, while dinner offers one of the most memorable settings – beside the Mara River.
As darkness falls, a fire is lit, lanterns are laid out, and chefs start preparing your meal while the sounds of the river and the surrounding bush grow more noticeable.
Bush dining experiences are available at an additional cost and can be arranged through our reservations or in-camp team.
Back at camp, dinner brings everyone together after a full day in the reserve.
Most evenings, guests can choose from an à la carte menu, with starters, mains and desserts prepared by our kitchen team.
Twice a week, the dining experience takes on a special character; on Thursdays, guests enjoy our popular Mongolian Night. This interactive buffet lets guests select their preferred meats, vegetables, and seasonings, which our chefs then cook live to create a meal tailored to individual tastes.
On Sundays, African Night celebrates Kenya’s rich culinary traditions. Served buffet-style, the evening lets guests explore a variety of regional flavours and dishes in a festive African atmosphere.
One of the lesser-known stories behind dining at Governors’ Camp begins in our gardens.
Each of our Mara camps maintains its own vegetable garden, carefully protected from wandering hippos and elephants. Here, we grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers for the kitchen.
Beyond our gardens, we work closely with local suppliers and neighbouring communities to source fresh ingredients, supporting local livelihoods while ensuring the quality and freshness of every meal.
The best days on safari are rarely made up of one big moment.
They are a collection of smaller ones: the first sighting of the morning, a picnic lunch somewhere in the reserve, a cold drink as the sun drops behind the plains, dinner with the day’s stories still fresh.
At Governors’ Camp, food fits into those moments rather than taking you away from them.
By Ann Mbaabu for www.governorscamp.com and imagery by Charlie Gould
