Not surprisingly, virtually every visitor to Kenya’s Masai Mara region is interested in seeing animals – the more, the bigger and the fiercer, the better. And, capitalising on this wildlife obsession, virtually every place to stay in the region tries to be as close to a wildlife hotspot as possible. Maji Moto, then, is something a bit different. For a start it’s around an hour and a half north of the reserve itself (but it’s on the edge of the Loita Plains, which has large quantities of wildlife of its own) and its focus is less on the wildlife and more on the people who call this region home: the Maasai.
A stay here is an action-packed one where you can walk with local Maasai, learn to make and use a bow and arrow, light fires without matches, discover how to track animals, and go for long bush walks (even multi-day walks are possible). You can also bathe in the nearby hot springs with a dozen relaxing Maasai, visit the nearby village, and most importantly, learn all about Maasai culture and get a deeper insight into the lives of these much-clichéd people. It’s a brilliant place to stay with children. There’s a good chance they will actually prefer it to the wildlife-watching lodges. And for those without children, it’s just a great change of scenery to jeep safaris (though wildlife safaris are possible here as well).
The setting, at the top of a huge granite hill overlooking the Loita plains, is fantastic and the camp itself is simple, relaxed and well-run. Accommodation consists of well-maintained large dome tents with mattresses on the floor and outside, shared, bathrooms. There’s no electricity in the tents. The mud-walled eating area, with its massive views and good food, does however have electricity. For those who can’t leave their five-star comfort zone a stay here might not appeal, but for those who want to actually experience Africa then it’s one of the best ways of doing so in the Mara region.
Expert Review
Not surprisingly, virtually every visitor to Kenya’s Masai Mara region is interested in seeing animals – the more, the bigger...
Not surprisingly, virtually every visitor to Kenya’s Masai Mara region is interested in seeing animals – the more, the bigger and the fiercer, the better. And, capitalising on this wildlife obsession, virtually every place to stay in the region tries to be as close to a wildlife hotspot as possible. Maji Moto, then, is something a bit different. For a start it’s around an hour and a half north of the reserve itself (but it’s on the edge of the Loita Plains, which has large quantities of wildlife of its own) and its focus is less on the wildlife and more on the people who call this region home: the Maasai.
A stay here is an action-packed one where you can walk with local Maasai, learn to make and use a bow and arrow, light fires without matches, discover how to track animals, and go for long bush walks (even multi-day walks are possible). You can also bathe in the nearby hot springs with a dozen relaxing Maasai, visit the nearby village, and most importantly, learn all about Maasai culture and get a deeper insight into the lives of these much-clichéd people. It’s a brilliant place to stay with children. There’s a good chance they will actually prefer it to the wildlife-watching lodges. And for those without children, it’s just a great change of scenery to jeep safaris (though wildlife safaris are possible here as well).
The setting, at the top of a huge granite hill overlooking the Loita plains, is fantastic and the camp itself is simple, relaxed and well-run. Accommodation consists of well-maintained large dome tents with mattresses on the floor and outside, shared, bathrooms. There’s no electricity in the tents. The mud-walled eating area, with its massive views and good food, does however have electricity. For those who can’t leave their five-star comfort zone a stay here might not appeal, but for those who want to actually experience Africa then it’s one of the best ways of doing so in the Mara region.