Ol Seki Mara Camp (Eastern Koyiaki Conservation Area - North of the Masai Mara) Kenya
Location:
Located In the heart of Eastern Koiyaki, Ol Seki Mara Camp offers six luxury tents, each boasting a 270 degree panoramic view of the famous Maasai Mara. Traditional colonial décor coupled with all the modern amenities provide guests with a genuine Safari experience.
Each uniquely designed bedroom tent remains completely hidden from the next, providing every client with the utmost privacy and seclusion. The abundance of wildlife in the Koiyaki area allows guests to enjoy big 5 game viewing in a pristine and untouched surrounding away from the hustle mass Tourism.
Accommodation / Facilities:
Nina Tents The thoughtful modern architecture creates an luxurious living space in our six uniquely rounded tents, each boasting a double and a single bed, dressed in the highest quality linen.
A large en-suite bathroom and changing area with flush toilet and hot shower allow for total comfort whilst maintaining the Safari atmosphere. Each Nina remains hidden from the next offering total privacy and seclusion.
Six opening panels allow guests to enjoy a breathtaking 270 degree view of the Mara plains. All of our tents are designed to meet environmental demands, creating the smallest of footprints.
OL Seki Suites
The new development at Ol Seki is now complete. The “Ol Seki Suites” are now fully operational each boasting two large units comprising of two bedroom tents either side of a private dining and living area.
Guests staying in the suite will benefit from their own private kitchen, with a dedicated team of staff for each unit. Private access to and from game drives, provide an entirely exclusive Safari experience.
Library & Dining Tents
The library tent offers an extensive selection of local and international literature, giving guests the chance to enjoy a read while soaking in the stunning views of the Koiyaki plains.
Share a story with guests and staff over a drink from our complimentary bar. Traditional African décor and colonial furnishing provide the perfect Safari atmosphere. Move into our dining tent and enjoy a 3 course selection of international cuisine. Allow our chef to entertain your senses while you watch the Giraffe graze below.
For a more romantic setting, meals can be arranged in the privacy of your tent, or perhaps a candle lit dinner under the ancient Ndorobo caves.
Game Viewing / Activities:
Enjoy big 5 game viewing in the pristine surroundings of our Koiyaki conservancy. Away from the hustle of mass Tourism, guests can enjoy a truly isolated Safari experience that winds back the colonial clock.
Day trips into the Maasai Mara National Park can be arranged on request, along with a Hot Air Balloon Safari and many more activities.
All – Inclusive Wi-Fi Internet access Private game drives in open 4x4 vehicles Night drives around the Koiyaki area Guided game walks Sundown safaris Visit to Maasai Village Visit to Local guiding school Local Ndorobo talk and demonstration (on-site)
Note: Hot air balloon safari’s and other activities can be arranged on request
Community Involvement:
As a member of the Ecotourism Society of Kenya, Ol Seki makes every effort to maintain sustainable and responsible Tourism within the Maasai Mara. Ol Seki contributes directly to the Maasai community and is proud of the strong relationship held between the camp and the residents of the Koiyaki community.
Ol Seki Mara Camp is always there for the community!
Our Silver Ecotourism Award
Ol Seki Mara Camp is proud to have been accredited a Silver Award by the Ecotourism Society of Kenya, for upholding their ecological standards and for their commitment to the community nearby. The two new family units at Ol Seki have followed the same design as the original tents and a great deal of thought has gone into their low environmental impact. Ol Seki pledges to plant an indigenous tree for every guest visiting Ol Seki to offset their carbon footprint.
As new owners of Ol Seki Mara Camp, Nico and Cathy Giovando, have pledged their assistance to the Koiyaki community, and they have been helping in many valuable ways, providing transport for those in need. With the assistance of the Ol Seki tractor, they helped to dredge the dam prior to the rains. The community now has a dam full of water and they are thrilled! Ol Seki’s tractor has been used to help in the building of the school classrooms and trenches for the pipes of the new water borehole.
Milk is bought for the staff from the nearby village, Paya, to which guests are taken, and locally reared goats provide dinners for the camp staff. It is a traditional village, with wonderful patina on the leather beds and the wooden supports, and guests are always surprised to know that this is not a Tourist trap but a working enkang, with the calves and little kids all sleeping together in the one hut. Funds from visits to the village help to educate the children and the experience provides a fascinating insight to the guests of Ol Seki and to their children. Their hand made craft work is on offer to the guests encouraging the women in the groups to maintain their traditional skills. It is interesting to see how the women of the village used to walk to the weekly market at Nkoilale in the first year of operation, returning home well after nightfall. The following year, they were able to buy donkeys to help them carry their goods. Now, with a little pocket money to hand, they have been empowered and are able to rent a small pick-up to carry their shopping home.
Olesere Primary School
Olesere Primary School has 170 students enrolled. It covers pre-unit through Year Five (about 4 to 13 years old). The school itself is very basic and our foremost goal is to improve the learning conditions as they are very Spartan. Thanks to the new and inspired Headmaster, there is noticeable pride in the school by both the community and the children. The school now has five classrooms and a pre-school unit. They are looking to build at least another three classrooms in conformity with Kenya’s 8:4:4 system. Ol Seki would welcome any donations channeled through Tusk Trust.
A few years ago a free primary education scheme was started in Kenya. The budget for each student per year is 400 Kenyan Shillings - just over 3 pounds/$5USD. This is to cover teacher salaries, materials and texts. The government does not give money for building schools so often you will find classes taking place under the not-so proverbial acacia tree! Olesere, fortunately, has five classrooms, a staff room, outhouses and two water tanks, as well as a dedicated team of teachers. Teachers are paid very little and irregularly but this team is energetic and very willing to make do with the little they have to raise the school’s standards. The new school kitchen at Olesere Primary School, was designed by Jan Allan for the community. Contributions by guests of Ol Seki have given the school access to government monthly donations of food, and the children will now receive school lunches.
The dining room attached will double up as an assembly hall and meeting place for the community, and the attached store will be invaluable. Ol Seki would like to thank those guests whose donations made this happen - in particular, Dick Turpin of Artemis and seven year old Sophia Butler.
An exciting contribution was the community’s agreement to put up a percentage of their game viewing fees towards this project, and so it is their own kitchen too. The funds were channeled through Tusk Trust and we should like to thank Tusk Trust for their continued support to the landowners and families in this area.
We are working with the teachers, students and parents to make Olesere a great school. One of our main goals is to give the community and the school ownership of this project - we aim to work WITH the school instead of FOR them. They are keen and willing to do what they can towards this goal. Need assessments for the community have been made by the NGO, World Concern, who concur that education is a priority. They have built teachers’ houses for the school. Listed below are the school’s priority needs.
Desks
Currently there are four or five students sitting at desks made for three. The school has had wood donated and Ol Seki would like to provide labor, training and tools to complete the construction of the desks.
Softboard
As the classrooms are constructed of rough wood, there are large gaps in the walls and it can be quite windy. Teachers have asked for some softboards to create classroom displays. Several of these have been installed already and display materials laminated as a gift from Ol Seki.
Playstructure
The students don’t have anything to play on and the teachers expressed an interest in a climbing structure, slide and/or swings. This would cost about 500 pounds sterling. School Materials and books, display items maps, charts, etc. - We have received several generous donations which have been greatly appreciated. Trees - Ol Seki has planted a large Euphorbia candelabrum to create shade and several well grown indigenous trees have been planted as a wind-break. Koiyaki Guiding School Ol Seki Mara Camp is proud to be one of the largest donors to the school by contributing $10 USD per bed night to the school.
The neighboring Koiyaki Guiding School has the following goals:-
To enhance conservation of the Maasai Mara wildlife by converting this region into an economically viable conservation area To equip local people with the professional skills needed for them to participate in, and promote conservation and wildlife management To provide financial benefits from Tourism to the local communities thus underpinning advantages of conservation for their own lifestyle To reduce encroachment of wildlife habitat by farming communities and thereby reduce man-wildlife conflict
We have had many Koiyaki Students on attachment during their school holidays, giving them practical training, and we are proud to have on our staff, the first woman graduate guide, Betty Maitai. Our camping and conservancy fees and donations to the school have provided an income for the community, which has enabled further EU donor funding. On a practical side, we have a close working relationship with the school and have offered free bed nights to both donors and lecturers. We have also assisted with a succulent garden at the school.
In March 2009, the student guides went on a Field Trip to Nairobi and the coast, stopping off for a curry lunch and Talk on Succulents at Sue Allan’s. Last year, Ol Seki arranged lecturers for the school, giving free accommodation. Dr. Andrew Agnew, the well known botanist, currently finalizing his third edition of ‘Upland Kenya Wild Flowers’, spoke on Plant Taxonomy and Rupert Watson gave a workshop on Conflict Resolution.
The Bridge
The British Army sent out experts to recce and look at the possibility of joining forces with Ol Seki and putting up a bridge, the materials for which are already in place. Ol Seki welcomes their involvement and this would give valuable access for the community to both health clinics and markets during times of heavy rains. Pride of Lion Ol Seki Mara Camp is proud to be one of fifty sponsors for the Pride of Kenya and will have their very own lion decorated by Jan Allan, who designed and built Ol Seki. Watch this space! Pride of Kenya is a mass public appeal art event featuring 50 decorated life size fiberglass lion sculptures which will be auctioned for lion conservation projects, as part of Born Free’s 25th Anniversary celebrations.
Pride of Lion
Ol Seki Mara Camp is proud to be one of fifty sponsors for the Pride of Kenya and will have their very own lion decorated by Jan Allan, who designed and built Ol Seki. Watch this space! Pride of Kenya is a mass public appeal art event featuring 50 decorated life size fiberglass lion sculptures which will be auctioned for lion conservation projects, as part of Born Free’s 25th Anniversary celebrations.
Accommodation Rates:-
From $575 per person per night sharing. Please contact us
for a quote and suggested itinerary.