andBeyond Bateleur Camp, recently voted the No. 1 hotel in the world by Travel + Leisure readers in their 2025 World’s Best Awards, offers an intimate and low-key atmosphere with just 18 tented suites and one deluxe family suite spread across its two distinct locations. This exclusivity is complemented by a staff, many of whom have worked at the camp for over a decade, exuding confidence and camaraderie that enhances the guest experience. A key distinguishing feature of Bateleur Camp is its flexible and customized daily itineraries, allowing guests to set their own safari schedules and explore the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve at their leisure. Deeply integrated with its local community, 70 percent of the staff are recruited from neighboring Masai villages, and the lodge employs a Maasai cultural guide who facilitates dance performances and engaging activities for children. Furthermore, andBeyond’s Wild Impact program actively supports vital education, healthcare, and wildlife conservation projects within the camp’s surrounding area.

The immersive safari experience at Bateleur Camp begins the moment guests arrive at Kichwa Tembo Airstrip in southwestern Kenya’s renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. Upon landing, a dedicated andBeyond safari guide, like Isaac Kimani, awaits with a sleek safari vehicle, immediately launching guests into the heart of the wilderness. Wildlife sightings are practically instantaneous; travelers might encounter hippos submerging in creeks, herds of zebras grazing, warthogs snuffling in the grass, or giraffes peering over the tree line—all before even checking into the lodge. During a late-March stay, the park was described as bristling with diverse wildlife, including a newborn baby elephant, a coalition of cheetahs, and a pride of lions. The safari vehicle is meticulously prepared with amenities such as blankets, Swarovski binoculars, detailed field guides, and a cooler stocked with ice-cold drinks, ensuring comfort and optimal viewing. The camp’s prime location at the foot of the Oloololo escarpment, which forms the natural boundary to the northwestern edge of the 580-square-mile park, provides dramatic 180-degree views of the sprawling plain, reinforcing the Masai Mara as the undisputed star of the show.

The accommodations at Bateleur Camp are designed for luxurious immersion in nature. The 18 Luxury Tents, divided between a north and south location, each offer panoramic views of the Masai Mara plains. Additionally, there is a Luxury Family Tent, ingeniously designed as two tents connected by an extra living space. Every tent features a canopied outdoor deck with comfortable upholstered seating, a table, and chairs, where guests can observe passing wildlife—such as giraffes strolling by—from a safe distance. Inside, the tents are styled in a classic campaign aesthetic, complete with elegant trunks, leather furniture, and brass light fixtures. The front of each tent features rollaway canvas screens with mosquito netting, allowing guests to choose between being woken by the sunrise or enjoying a darker morning. The bathrooms are spacious and opulent, equipped with Jack-and-Jill sinks, a private walled toilet, an indoor shower, and a large, roll-topped brass tub. A thoughtful touch is the butler service, which includes drawing bubble baths in the brass tub prior to guests’ return from afternoon safaris. A large outdoor shower is also available behind each tent, alongside a writing desk and a well-stocked bar area offering local beer and spirits, South African wines, and Kenya’s classic Amarula liquor.

Despite its intimate size, Bateleur Camp boasts an exceptional culinary program. Most meals are served in the main lodge’s dining area, where Chef “Magic” Jackson Mutuku and his team present a new menu for lunch and dinner every day. Chef Jackson personally engages with guests after breakfast to discuss their meal preferences. The cuisine is consistently imaginative, fresh, and of excellent quality, featuring dishes such as chicken shawarma boards with fresh pita and dips, fish tacos, steak, and duck confit, all prepared with health and flavor in mind. For younger guests, the chef is happy to accommodate requests, preparing favorites like pizza, cheeseburgers, or spaghetti al pomodoro. A particularly memorable experience is the dinner prepared and served in a lamp-lit clearing within the surrounding woods, featuring spit-roasted lamb and a selection of local vegetable, rice, and bean dishes. However, for many, the simplest culinary delight is the pre-dawn delivery of piping-hot tea and coffee by the butler through a hatch at the side of the tent, a perfect start to an early safari.

The camp offers a diverse range of activities and experiences designed to connect guests with nature and local culture. Facilities include an infinity-edged pool with stunning views of the Masai Mara, a well-equipped gym, and a “massage sala” for spa treatments. Guests also have access to the nearby, larger andBeyond lodge, Kichwa Tembo, which features an additional pool and a boutique selling covetable safari-appropriate clothing and handmade items. Interactions with the Masai community are handled with great sensitivity and respect. Bateleur Camp has a full-time Impact and Community Officer, Alex Oloonkishu, who acts as a liaison with local Masai villages. Guests can enjoy authentic song and dance performances, often held around a campfire during sundowners on the plain or in the lodge’s dining area. Afterward, villagers offer handmade beadwork, textiles, and wood-carvings for sale, fostering genuine cultural exchange rather than forced performances. Alex Oloonkishu also leads walking safaris around the camp, providing a welcome opportunity to stretch one's legs and learn more about Masai traditions. For an unforgettable aerial perspective, the camp arranges early-morning hot-air balloon rides over the Masai Mara through Governor’s Balloon Safaris, including transfers to the departure point.

Bateleur Camp excels in its family-friendly offerings, particularly through andBeyond’s innovative WILDChild program, which is tailored to reflect the unique local culture of each lodge. Children, such as the eight- and eleven-year-olds mentioned in one account, learn practical skills like fire-making using dry wood, replicating methods employed by Masai bushmen for generations. Oloonkishu also teaches them how to use a handmade bow and arrow and guides them in creating Masai-style beaded bracelets. These experiences are highly engaging, even for children not typically fond of kids' clubs. The camp staff are noted for being exceptionally warm and comfortable with children, demonstrated by their willingness to wake them, deliver hot chocolate, and drive them to a bush breakfast when parents opt for an early-morning hot-air balloon safari, ensuring every family member enjoys their adventure.

andBeyond’s commitment to sustainability and positive impact is deeply embedded in its operational philosophy, guided by three founding principles: Care of Land, Care of Wildlife, and Care of People. For over three decades, the company has partnered with Wild Impact, a development organization, earning a worldwide reputation for its efforts in wildlife conservation and social and environmental sustainability. This partnership has directly contributed to conserving over one million acres of land, predominantly in Africa. In the area surrounding Bateleur Camp, andBeyond and Wild Impact have established several schools for Masai children, including a large three-month boarding school that caters to children from distant homes, now educating close to 600 students with conservation lessons integrated into the curriculum. Since the camp opened in 2007, they have supported medical facilities, and now collaborate with the Kenyan government to operate a nearby hospital, which opened a maternity ward in August 2024 and had delivered 61 babies by March 2025. The lodge also supports a craft center with a small shop. Addressing deforestation, a conservation trust was recently formed to restore degraded forest areas around nearby Masai villages, involving camera installations to protect existing trees and the establishment of a nursery currently holding close to 35,000 indigenous tree seedlings. Guests are encouraged to visit and contribute to these impactful projects. While rooms at Bateleur Camp are not ADA compliant, some are wheelchair accessible with assistance.

The camp’s convenient location is a 15-minute drive from the Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, which is accessible via an hour-long flight from Nairobi, saving guests a six-hour drive. Nightly rates at andBeyond Bateleur Camp start from $1,210, inclusive of all services.