This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
Unspoilt Wilderness in Luxury ¶
Located in the 33,000-acre Olare Motorogi private conservancy, Olare Mara Kempinski is a boutique hotel that offers a unique blend of luxury and wilderness experience.
With only five hotels in the conservancy, Olare Mara Kempinski is one of the few establishments that cater to tourists seeking an unspoilt and exclusive experience.
As we drive through the grass among a multitude of wildebeest and antelopes, two zebras cross the road and our driver gives them right of way. This is a testament to the mutual respect that exists between humans and animals in the wilds.
The hotel's 12 tented camps are designed to blend seamlessly into the surroundings, with pathways shared by wild animals. The only mini-fence at the lodge is a 'bones wall' with everything from horns, humongous teeth and skulls, hang on bamboo reeds.
Geoffrey Ouma, the camp manager at Olare Mara Kempinski, says what excites tourists is being able to stay in luxury but in the uninhibited wilderness.
"We see quite a number of animals that walk through the camp freely. It is a thrill as tourists hear noises of the animals at night. Tracking 'big cats' is one of the interesting activities in Mara. Like last night, the lions were very close to the camp," he says.
On one occasion, a lioness gave birth under one of the tents, a testament to the hotel's proximity to the wild.
The hotel may be built in the middle of nowhere, but it attracts a sizeable number of tourists, with above 80 percent occupancy during peak seasons.
"We also take the children for nature walks with guides to identify unique plants and animal droppings… We also involve them in tree planting to help them learn conservation from an early age," Geoffrey adds.
As night falls, lanterns light up the pathways to the tented rooms like in a romance movie scene, and the sounds of wild animals fill the air.
