Extraordinary Africa>Kenya>Masai Mara>Basecamp Wilderness
Basecamp Wilderness is one of those camps that reminds you why the Maasai Mara became legendary in the first place. It sits quietly in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, a vast, community‑owned wilderness where the plains stretch out in soft golden waves and lion calls roll across the valley at night. This is not a camp built to dazzle with frills or polished luxury – it is intentionally very simple, very honest and very much about the wildlife as it grants you access to Naboisho.
What’s Basecamp Wilderness really like?
There are eight tents in total, all placed around the rim of the conservancy’s Saddle Valley to allow for privacy and views of the savannah. There are seven simple, comfortable safari tents (twin or double), each with a private deck overlooking the plains, and a Family Tent, with two en‑suite bedrooms connected by a shared deck—ideal for families wanting space without losing the classic safari feel. Children of all ages are welcome here – although we’d say it was best for older kids, and the camp offers the Young Explorers Club, where Maasai guides teach tracking, bushcraft and wildlife skills in a gentle, engaging way. Families who enjoy nature and don’t need resort‑style facilities love it.
Inside, the tents are spacious but unfussy: proper beds with crisp linens, solar lighting, woven rugs and wooden campaign-style furniture. Bathrooms are en‑suite with eco‑flush toilets and traditional bucket showers – hot water delivered on request, part of the camp’s low‑impact approach. It’s all clean, comfortable and atmospheric, but intentionally not luxurious. Guests who prefer high‑pressure showers, plunge pools or design‑led interiors should know that this is not that kind of camp. The central mess tent (complete with vintage gramophone) is the social heart of camp. Unfussy, tasty meals are relaxed and often served outdoors (a full cooked breakfast can be enjoyed at camp or a you can choose a picnic breakfast with you on game drives to extend your morning watching the wildlife). Evenings tend to end around the firepit, with stars blazing overhead and the sounds of the bush drifting in.
What can I do at Basecamp Wilderness?
The atmosphere is warm, communal and gently nostalgic – very much in the spirit of early safari. As such, activities include day and night game drives, guided walking safaris, birdwatching, sundowners and Maasai storytelling around the fire. Hot‑air ballooning can be arranged at additional cost.
As one of the most rewarding and comparatively private game‑viewing areas in the Mara, Naboisho is special. The conservancy model means limited vehicles, a genuine sense of space and wildlife densities that rival anywhere in East Africa. The lion prides here are famously large and the big cat viewing has always impressed us.
Giving back at Basecamp Wilderness:
Run by an established, ethical, community‑focused company with deep roots in the Mara, the camp is deliberately low‑impact (electricity is mostly solar powered, rain water is harvested and almost all of the general waste is recycled). One of the most meaningful aspects of a stay here is the commitment to community empowerment with over 500 families in the area supported through funds paid in the form of land-lease fees, employment and sustainability projects. These initiatives aren’t window dressing—they’re woven into the fabric of the camp and the conservancy itself. As such guests are encouraged to visit Saruni Basecamp’s conservation and community projects and can participate in reforestation work by throwing seedballs into degraded areas during game drives.
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