Game viewing

Anyone who’s been on safari before knows that no two game drives are ever the same! Safaris in Kenya are filled to the brim with exciting wildlife sightings as well as romantic scenery and dramatic views. Wild animals roaming the Kenyan plains include wildebeest, elephants, zebra, lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe, impala and gazelles, but that’s just for starters.

Game Drives
The Migration
Conservation

Game Drives

The abundant animal life in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy is quite simply jaw-dropping, and you won’t need to go far to see some unforgettable sights. All the drama that only nature can provide is on your doorstop and you’ll be in the hands of our experienced Field Guides with a front row seat on your safari tour.

A number of lion pride territories meet in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy which can make for some interesting encounters as the different groups battle for dominance.

The area is also home to roughly 150,000 Loita wildebeest that don’t make the annual migration south and seem content to 'loiter' all year round! Of course one of the biggest draws to the area is the annual 'Great Migration', which sees up to one million wildebeest plus hundreds of thousands of zebra, gazelles and other game undertake a journey of roughly 1,600km through Tanzania and Kenya.

The Migration

Known as one of the seven 'new' wonders of the world, the annual Great Migration, or Great Wildebeest Migration to be more accurate, is truly breath-taking. The migration is in fact a sort of circle, with anywhere up to 2 million animals, mostly wildebeest, moving en masse in a never-ending search for food and water.

The wildebeest and accompanying zebra, gazelle, eland and topi make up the bulk of the migration, but they aren't the only players. Lions, hyenas, leopards and other predators take full advantage of the passing buffet and exploit every opportunity in search of a decent meal! Some of the highlights are being immersed in the mass of wildlife - a truly intimate experience amidst this astonishing natural spectacle.

This is a key time for wildebeests to breed, and incredibly, a newly born wildebeest will be on its feet and walking around within 3 minutes, running with the herd within 5 minutes, and able to outrun a predator shortly thereafter! The best time to view the migration will depend on the climatic conditions that year, but in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy you can expect to see the herds arrive anytime from July to September, departing around November for the return journey to the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Conservation

We are located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, and are a part of one of four established conservancies which together cover a total area of 63,000 hectares in the Greater Maasai Mara ecosystem, bordering the northern edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The other three conservancies are Olare Orok, Mara North and Naboisho, and together all are helping to increase the protected area of the ecosystem by nearly 50%. Since 2006 a unique land management structure has been developed in the conservancies with a dual aim of extending the protection afforded to wildlife in the National Reserve to an even greater area whilst directly supporting the needs of some 1,550 Maasai families.

Today we are seeing both the Maasai community and safari guests enjoying the true benefits of conservation of this land in a relationship that will see the ecosystem protected for many years to come.

Meet our Guides

During our twice daily game drives, you will be in the capable hands of our experienced Guides. As no two drives are ever the same, you will have a front row seat to some unforgettable sights across the Kenyan Plains.

John Kaelo

John was a local teacher before training to be a guide over 13 years ago and hasn't looked back since! Some of his most exciting moments on camp have been on safari with guests and having close encounters with buffalo, elephants and even lions! However, there have been some equally exciting moments trying to track very specific creatures such as the elusive pangolin and honey badger. As a result of this attention to detail from the Mahali Mzuri staff, as well as the beautiful flora and fauna, Mahali Mzuri is "one of the best camps in Kenya" (trust us, take John's word for it).

Jackson Nchoe

With over 8 years of guiding experience behind him, Jackson knows a thing or two about tracking Kenyan wildlife. Getting to witness wildebeest crossing the Mara River during the Great Migration is one of the most exciting parts of his job and who would disagree with that? While getting to see such beautiful African wildlife up-close every day is definitely one of the best parts of the job, Jackson says it is the teamwork and hospitality of all the staff that make Mahali Mzuri one of the best camps around!

Gedion Sankale

Being a guide at the best hotel in the world has always been my dream. I joined Mahali Mzuri as a trainee in 2019 and have gone through different departments but guiding guests on a safari has been always my passion.

I perfected my skills and knowledge on guiding through the training and that's how I got my first Job. I am always willing to share more about wildlife and the culture of the Maasai people, were I am raised, with our guests.

I love tracking the cheetahs during the day and seeing them taking down the middle sized antelops during their hunts.

Betty Maitai

As the only female guide at Mahali Mzuri, Betty is not only a great role model to her family but to the wider community at large, proving, in her words, that “what a man can do, a woman can do better!” Having originally served in the military, Betty has worked as a guide since 2005 so has a wealth of experience in tracking animals of all shapes and sizes. However, in her opinion, nothing beats seeing a pack of lions hunting and bringing down an adult buffalo!

Jonathan Kasaine (Kas)

With over 13 years of experience as a guide, my passion is the big cats especially the majestic lion.There is something very special about these amazing creatures. Observing their behaviour and interaction with each other is one of my favourite past times. The affection they show all members of the pride is really something mesmerising to witness. Im sure they feel a great a bond of love for each other.

When I take my guests out and we find the lions...the excitement that builds in the truck and the happiness on their faces is really rewarding. When guests edge to the middle of the vehicle as the lions stroll past, the silence and all round and the smiles when they roar gives me great joy. I feel such priveledge to be able to view and share these beautiful, powerful animals with others.

Levi Cheruiyot

Levi has been with the Mahali Mzuri team since the camp opened in 2013. From witnessing lions hunting wildebeest to having his game drive vehicle chased by a buffalo, Levi has many stories to tell about his time here! As one of the most sociable members of the team, Levi is always happy to spend time with guests, no matter what time either day or night.

Newton Moonka Ole Rise

Newton is our newest guide having just qualified with a Bronze certificate from guiding school. He joined our Mahali Mzuri family in 2016 as a security guard (Askari), and comes from the local community, as one of the sons of one of our landowners.

It was during an interview for our security team that we discovered Newtons guiding qualifications and his vast experience of the local area. We immediately transferred him to our guiding department for field training and since then he’s made so much progress, going from a trainee guide to a junior guide and taking our guests out on game drives.