The writer spent a weekend at Castel Mara and experienced detailed their experience. They wrote about the Siana Conservancy, a 35,000-acre area in the Mara region of Kenya that is home to the Castel Mara camp and serves as a wildlife corridor for the Maasai Mara game reserve. It is also an important migration corridor for elephants, with some herds numbering up to 200 jumbos.

Siana area is known for its natural spring, which attracts animals throughout the year, and is home to a variety of wildlife including leopards.

The road to the Mara has been improved and is now easily accessible by a city car. The Castel Mara camp offers a cozy, all-wood clubhouse with views of the natural spring and the option for bush dinners and breakfasts in the thickets. The camp staff aims to make visitors feel at home and the area offers a range of activities including game drives, bush walks, and cultural visits to the Maasai community.

The writer experienced a warm welcome from the camp staff, dining in the clubhouse and the bush breakfasts in the thickets. In addition, the camp also offered guided tours and bushfire conversations at night, where visitors can listen to the sounds of the wilderness. Overall, Castel Mara gave a unique and authentic experience in the Mara.

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The post Finding home in the Mara first appeared on Castel Mara Camp.

The writer details their journey on their first self-drive trip to Masai Mara and Castel Mara camp. From the beginning of the journey on a cold and foggy Tuesday morning in Nairobi which turned into clear and spectacular views as they descended to the Rift Valley via Mai Mahiu road. The drive to the bottom of the valley was relatively short.

Fully prepared for the journey, with a tank full of gas, snacks, and a rhumba playlist ready to go. They enjoyed the drive along the mostly flat and straight stretch of road between Mai Mahiu, Suswa, and onwards to Narok.

From Narok to Sekenani, it was an enjoyable 100km drive with fantastic landscapes all around. They drove through places with beautiful Maa names like Ole-rai, Esupetai, Ilturisho, Nkoilale until they got to Sekenani.

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The post Self drive to Maasai Mara first appeared on Castel Mara Camp.

The writer traveled to Castel Mara, a small and intimate camp near the Sekenani gate of the Mara Reserve, with a group of people for a coaching program. They experienced wonderful tranquility while staying at the luxury tents, sat at the log cabin dining and meeting room, rustic bar, and the deck for enjoying sunsets.

The staff, led by Tom, are from the local Masai community and provided excellent service and food. During their stay, they participated in reflective and learning activities, as well as game drives in the reserve.

One exercise they did was creating a “road map,” which involved drafting a mission statement, describing their current and desired future lives, listing milestones and accelerators/obstacles, and outlining actions to take in the next 30 days to start working towards their desired future. The narrator enjoyed the experience and found that nature helped with introspection and finding their purpose.

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The post My happy place first appeared on Castel Mara Camp.

The Maasai Mara in Kenya is home to a diverse array of wildlife and is famous for the annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti. During the dry season, wildebeest migrate to the Maasai Mara in search of fresh pastures. A major obstacle is crossing the Mara River, which is full of crocodiles. The Mara River is a critical water source for the region’s wildlife. Its banks attract many animals, but crocodiles lurk in wait to ambush prey. The river crossings create dramatic scenes of life and death. Zebras, wildebeest and other herbivores risk becoming prey to the crocodiles and lions that inhabit the area.
Annual Wildebeest Migration in Maasai Mara

Castel Mara Camp is an intimate, luxury safari camp located in the Siana Valley of Kenya’s Masai Mara reserve. It has just 6 spacious canvas tents situated near the Siana Springs. The camp champions sustainability and warm hospitality. The deluxe tents blend into the surroundings and offer tranquility. Expert Maasai guides lead private game drives to view the Mara’s abundant wildlife. At night, guests enjoy gourmet bush cuisine, stargazing and dancing with Masai warriors before retiring to plush king beds. Castel Mara Camp provides a refined, serene escape from crowds in the spectacular Masai Mara reserve.

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The post Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration – Nature’s Astonishing Phenemenon first appeared on Castel Mara Camp.

The author is a huge fan of local tourism in Kenya, citing the beautiful beaches, Rift Valley, and lakeside resorts. However, the highlight was witnessing the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. After booking a weekend getaway at the Castel Mara Camp near the reserve’s Sekenani gate, the author could hardly contain the excitement.
masai mara migration pictures

The camp complements the safari experience with cozy tents and a rustic restaurant. Upon arriving, the author’s group was greeted by friendly staff and Maasai dancers. After lunch, they eagerly left for their first game drive. Their guide informed them over 1.5 million wildebeest were migrating into Kenya from Tanzania, attracting predators. After some searching, they witnessed lions feasting on a fresh wildebeest kill. The author felt the sheer power and energy of the lions. Overall, the getaway to observe the dramatic wildlife battles in the Maasai Mara was unforgettable.

Here is a summary of the key points:

The group socialized and sampled cocktails, with Amapiano music playing. Everyone was grateful for the night out in the wild.
On their final morning safari at dawn, they hoped to see the wildebeest migration river crossing.
First, they spotted a graceful leopard with a fresh impala kill up a tree. It demonstrated the survival of the fittest firsthand.
Finally, it was time to witness the main event – the wildebeest migration river crossing.

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The post Castel Mara – Your Gateway To An Authentic Safari first appeared on Castel Mara Camp.