Mara Duma Luxury Camp

I booked a two-day safari at the last minute while visiting Nairobi and called Anthony at Mara Duma the day before. He fit my husband and me in, arranged a taxi to and from Nairobi, and set up a tour with guides Will and Jon, all in less than 24 hours. The drive from Nairobi was long, but the welcome drink and cool towel were waiting when we arrived, and staff carried our bags to the tent. Tony and the team were friendly and helpful throughout. There was security patrolling all day and night, so we felt safe. One evening Patrick even walked through town with us and told us about the area’s history. The tent was huge and very clean, beyond what I expected. I’m fussy about clean bedrooms and bathrooms, and Mara Duma delivered. It had a big bed with mosquito netting, a sitting area and coffee table, a closet, double sinks, a private toilet and shower, plus a chest for valuables. We hardly saw any mosquitoes. The shower had hot water whenever we needed it, even when we got ready at 5 a.m. for a game drive. The camp is right outside the Masai Mara gates, which is very convenient. Meals were tasty and plentiful. For both morning drives, we asked for breakfast to go, and it was packed nicely, hot, and ready two hours later. It included cereal, tea, coffee, toast, pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, and juice. Our boxed safari lunches had grilled chicken, sandwiches, fruit, water, juice, and cookies. Dinner changed each night and came with a starter and dessert. Jonathan and William knew the Masai Mara well and where to look for wildlife. On our first afternoon drive, we saw lions, giraffes, elephants, buffalo, and more. They suggested setting out at 5:45 the next morning, and I’m glad we did. By 8 a.m. we’d seen the elusive leopard, then watched a group of cheetahs bring down an antelope, a tope. Hyenas suddenly rushed in, and the tope ran with them chasing before they eventually brought it down. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed, all in about an hour. We also had breakfast on the Masai Mara in front of ostriches, which I’ll remember. My smartphone fell from my pocket without me noticing. I thought it was gone for good, but Jon and Will retraced our route in the jeep and searched with me. We found it on the trail 40 minutes later. I highly recommend them as guides. Mara Duma Luxury Camp made my short visit unforgettable. I highly recommend staying here, and hope to return for longer next time.