Governors’ Camp

Superb game drives The camp is a 10 minute drive from the airstrip, based along the Mara river. Our tent looked over the river and we could see (and hear) hippos who also wander around the camp at night. The tents are spacious and secure- you are provided with a torch to flash if you need to go out at night and one of the security team will collect you and guide you safely. On that note, Jackson, one of the security team was great at pointing out birds to my husband and even went to get him a chair so that he could get a great photo of one coming down to drink.

Breakfast and lunch were lovely although some of the evening buffet meals were average in comparison (still good though) and a shout out to Paul and Moses who looked after our food and drink respectively. There was always a cold g&t on arrival and Moses gave some excellent wine recommendations.

The game drives are what people go for. Our guide, Mika was superb and we never returned disappointed, he was often the first to spot an animal and went out of his way to ensure we saw a cheetah (the one big cat we didn’t see in Botswana last year). The migration was spectacular and we waited with bated breath for a possible Mara crossing before the wildebeest turned back. I don’t blame them as a huge crocodile was lurking in wait. There is a very long list of sightings but lions are definitely the stars of the show here. We saw huge numbers, hunting, eating, playing and sleeping (they spend a lot of time sleeping). We took the packed breakfast option as the light is so much better in the morning and you have a much better chance of seeing the wildlife.

Notes: I was pleasantly surprised to find a hairdryer in the tent having read a review that said they didn’t have any. The laundry service is great so pack light and use it. Also, don’t take black or dark blue clothing for game drives as they attract Tsetse flies. The tent bathroom lighting is low so it’s tricky to shave or apply makeup. Finally it’s fleece chilly in the morning but boiling hot midday in September and we regretted not having shorts and sandals.

Overall, we loved our four nights here and can highly recommend a trip. The staff are what makes it such a special place, they deserve all the credit.

Experience of a lifetime Perfect experience in every regard.
Highly recommend Eric as the driver-guide. He is patient, knowledgeable and has tailored the experience to fit our needs.
We saw the migration river crossing, a live-kill, animals hunting and giving birth, and much more, due to his hard work.
Areas of improvement: personally am not a huge fan of buffet dinners, wish there could be a la carte options.

Magical experience at the Masai Mara It was a great experience. The place was situated right in the middle of the Masai Mara with no fences, so you were part of the wilderness. With that said, there were many guards 24/7 protecting you, so even if a herd of elephants, hippos or warthogs showed up next to your tent, you do not have to feel concerned.

real wildlife surrounding, friendly staff! The governors camp is a rather big camp (compared to the other ones we visit). But is truly in the middle of nature. The hospitality is personal and nice, the nights are incredible. The sounds of Hippo's, Eliphants, Lions, Hyena's , Pumba's, you here them thru the night and de Hippos and Pumba's are surrounding your tent in the evening (no worries, they are only interested in eating the grass:)) Really a life time experience! They do buffets only in the evening and serve you lunch a la carte. Breakfast is buffet style and serving at tables. The tent is safe and has drinking watertap. You can take a early balloon ride from this camp as they have their own balloon company. Recommended for those you really want to encounter staying in the middle of wildlife and appreciate a bigger camp including a large bar!

A wonderful wildlife experience We spent five nights in a beautifully appointed luxury tent overlooking the Mara River. Hippos grunted and snorted throughout the night. Game drives morning and afternoon featured many animals including leopards, lions, cheetahs, wildebeest, hyenas, elephants, zebra, warthogs, jackals, mongoose, crocodiles, Cape buffalo and giraffes. Sundowners each evening on the bank of the Mara River. Our guide Lemaiyan was very personable and an excellent driver with a great sense of humour and an incredible knowledge of animals and birds. Over the course of five days Lemaiyan became a new friend and mate. He was simply the best! The food was five star and all the staff were friendly, efficient and helpful. We will be back but only if Lemaiyan is our guide!

Experience of a Lifetime After 3 years we finally arrived in September 2022. We had an incredible experience from start to finish. From our early morning coffee before the first game drive to being escorted back to our tent at the end of the day, we could not have asked for better service from the wonderful staff. Simon and Clemence, who looked after us in Camp, were lovely, always welcoming and attentive, and excellent hosts.

Thomas, our Safari Guide was absolutely fantastic, not only experienced and knowledgeable, but flexible and friendly. He offered suggestions and alternatives we may not have thought about, such as having breakfast on our drive rather than returning to camp, allowing us to see and experience things we would not have been able to see otherwise. Thomas was an integral part of what made our holiday so incredible.

I would absolutely recommend booking the balloon flight at dawn if available, it was absolutely magical to see the sun rise over the Masai Mara from a balloon.

We stayed in a tent overlooking the game reserve, rather than the river, which meant that during any down time we could watch giraffes, zebra and elephants walking along the ridge in the distance.

Another top rate visit My wife and I stayed at this superb camp again, this time we took my daughter for her first ever trip to Africa and what a time we had. Harrison and all his team were brilliant, nothing was too much trouble for them. We did get the odd shower or two which is expected this time of year but that didn't dampen our utter enjoyment of our stay. The balloon trip was superb, a bumpy landing adding excitement to a wonderful experience. I know that on most reviews the driver/guide on the game drives are always highly recommended, I imagine every guide knows his stuff and ensures that you get to see the wonderful wildlife that the Maasai Mara has to offer, but I still want to add our guide Jacob for a special mention, we had him on our first visit and Harrison arranged for us to be with him again, so a big heart felt thank you for making our stay so enjoyable Jacob. Also thank you Harrison for all you did to make our stay so special, hopefully we will be back.

Finally made it. Well after nearly 3 years , cancelled twice we made it.
Governor's camp was the last stop for us before returning home.
We were a bit rushed when we first got there as our transfer was late getting in.
But after that we really enjoyed ourselves, completely different to the other places we had stayed in , but I think that was the charm of it.
Brilliant staff and Thomas our guide was brilliant and enjoyed our sense of humour and how we didn't care what we saw.
So many animals are seen .

Honeymoon safari We had the most incredible and unforgettable honeymoon at Governors Camp. From the minute we arrived to the minute we left the whole stay was so special.
Our tent was fantastic, clean comfortable, well thought out and pleasure to stay in. The hot water bottle welcoming us to bed and hot drink to wake us up early were so appreciated each day. It was great to be next to the river and pop out to see the hippos and crocs, and the monkey dotting about our deck.
The camp itself was so great, everyone was so helpful and friendly. The food and drinks were lovely. We did the hot air balloon excursion and it was phenomenal.
Without a doubt, the highlight was our drives. Anthony was a fantastic driver, he let us design our own schedule and we saw some fantastic sights, he knew where to go for what animal and was so enthusiastic.
We absolutely loved our stay in Governors and left planning to go back.