Nestled at the foot of the Oloololo escarpment in southwestern Kenya’s iconic Masai Mara National Reserve, andBeyond Bateleur Camp offers an intimate and luxurious safari experience, recently voted the No. 1 hotel in the world by Travel + Leisure readers in their 2025 World’s Best Awards. With only 18 tented suites and one deluxe family suite spread across two locations, the camp provides an exclusive atmosphere, further enhanced by its 180-degree views of the vast Masai Mara plain.

The safari adventure at Bateleur Camp begins the moment guests land at Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, with immediate wildlife sightings en route to the lodge. The camp’s staff, many of whom have worked there for over a decade and 70 percent recruited from neighboring Maasai villages, exude confidence and camaraderie, creating a welcoming, home-like environment. Guests are greeted with the Swahili phrases “karibu sana” (you’re very welcome) and “hakuna matata” (no worries), setting a relaxed tone for their stay. Guest itineraries are highly flexible and customized daily, allowing visitors to dictate their own safari schedule, a key distinction from more rigid lodge offerings.

Accommodations at Bateleur Camp consist of 18 Luxury Tents and a single Luxury Family Tent, all overlooking the sweeping plains. Each tent is designed in a classic campaign style, featuring trunks, leather furniture, brass light fixtures, and canopied outdoor decks perfect for watching wildlife. Luxurious bathrooms include Jack-and-Jill sinks, a walled toilet, an indoor shower, and a large, roll-topped brass tub, often prepared with bubbles by a personal butler. An outdoor shower and a well-stocked bar area with local spirits and wines add to the comfort.

Culinary experiences at the camp are a highlight, led by Chef “Magic” Jackson Mutuku. Despite the camp’s small size, the dining options are diverse, with new imaginative, fresh, and excellent menus presented at lunch and dinner daily. Chef Jackson personally checks in with guests to discuss their preferences, and the kitchen readily caters to children with custom meals from pizza to pasta. Memorable dining experiences include a lamp-lit dinner in a clearing where lamb is roasted on a spit and local dishes are served, as well as the simple pleasure of pre-dawn tea and coffee delivered to the tent, preparing guests for their morning safari.

Beyond game drives, Bateleur Camp offers a range of activities and facilities. Guests can enjoy an infinity-edged pool with Masa Mara views, a gym, and a “massage sala” for spa treatments. Access to the nearby Kitchwa Tembo lodge provides a larger pool and a boutique. The camp sensitively handles interactions with the Maasai community, featuring song and dance performances around a campfire or in the dining area, and opportunities to purchase handmade beadwork and carvings. The full-time Impact and Community Officer, Alex Oloonkishu, also leads walking safaris, offering insights into Maasai culture. For a breathtaking perspective of the reserve, hot-air balloon rides over the Masai Mara can be arranged through Governor’s Balloon Safaris.

Family-friendly offerings are robust through andBeyond’s WILDChild program, tailored to reflect local culture. Children can learn traditional Maasai skills like fire-making, bow and arrow use, and crafting beaded bracelets. The staff are exceptionally warm and comfortable with children, even arranging special wake-up calls with hot chocolate and bush breakfasts for kids whose parents opt for early-morning activities like hot-air balloon safaris.

andBeyond Bateleur Camp is deeply committed to sustainability and community impact, guided by its three founding principles: Care of Land, Care of Wildlife, and Care of People. Through a 30-year partnership with Wild Impact, the company supports several schools for Maasai children, including a boarding model catering to nearly 600 students, all incorporating conservation lessons. They also partner with the Kenyan government to run a local hospital, which opened a maternity ward in August 2024, delivering 61 babies by March 2025. Furthermore, a conservation trust actively restores degraded forests around nearby Maasai villages, establishing a nursery with 35,000 indigenous tree seedlings. Guests are encouraged to visit and support these projects. While not ADA compliant, some rooms offer wheelchair accessibility with assistance.

The camp is conveniently located a 15-minute drive from Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, accessible via an hour-long flight from Nairobi, bypassing a six-hour drive. Nightly rates at andBeyond Bateleur Camp start from $1,210, all-inclusive.