andBeyond Bateleur Camp, acclaimed as 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 only 18 tented suites and one deluxe family suite, split across its two distinct locations. Nestled at the foot of the Oloololo escarpment, which forms a natural boundary to the northwestern edge of the expansive 580-square-mile Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, the camp provides guests with unparalleled 180-degree views of the stretching plains.

The camp prides itself on its exceptional staff, many of whom have contributed to the team for over a decade, fostering an air of confidence and camaraderie. A significant 70 percent of the staff are recruited from neighboring Masai villages, contributing to an authentic local experience. Guests are greeted with warm Swahili phrases like “karibu sana” (you’re very welcome) and “hakuna matata” (no worries). Guest itineraries are remarkably flexible and customized daily, allowing visitors to set their own safari schedules, a key distinction from more rigid lodges. The dedicated all-Kenyan team includes figures such as Grace Mwaisaka, the guest relations manager; Chef “Magic” Jackson Mutuku; gracious waiter Joel Kariuki; and knowledgeable safari guide Isaac Kimani, who ensures vehicles are well-stocked for adventures.

Accommodation at Bateleur Camp comprises 18 Luxury Tents, strategically positioned across north and south locations, all designed to overlook the breathtaking Masai Mara plains. Additionally, there is one Luxury Family Tent, which cleverly joins two tents with an additional living space. Each tent boasts a canopied outdoor deck furnished with upholstered seating, a table, and chairs, offering a private vantage point for wildlife viewing; guests have even observed giraffes strolling past. Inside, the tents exude a classic campaign style, featuring elegant trunks, leather furniture, and brass light fixtures. For an immersive experience, rollaway canvas screens with mosquito netting at the front can be lowered or left open at night. The bathrooms are large and luxurious, equipped with Jack-and-Jill sinks, a walled toilet, and an indoor shower. A highlight is the roll-topped brass tub, which butlers can prepare with bubbles upon guests' return from safaris. A large outdoor shower, a writing desk, and a bar stocked with local beer, spirits, South African wines, and Kenya’s classic Amarula liquor complete the in-tent amenities. While rooms are not ADA compliant, some offer wheelchair accessibility with assistance.

Culinary experiences at Bateleur Camp are diverse and exceptional, despite the lodge's intimate size. Chef “Magic” Jackson Mutuku and his team present new menus daily for both lunch and dinner, with Chef Jackson personally checking in with guests after breakfast to discuss their choices. The food is consistently imaginative, fresh, healthy, and flavorful, ranging from chicken shawarma boards and fish tacos to steak and duck confit. Children's preferences are readily accommodated, with options like pizza, cheeseburgers, and spaghetti al pomodoro. A particularly memorable dining event is a lamp-lit dinner served in a clearing in the woods, featuring spit-roasted lamb and local vegetable, rice, and bean dishes. For a simpler yet cherished moment, guests appreciate the piping-hot tea and coffee delivered by their butler through a tent hatch in the pre-dawn darkness, a perfect start to an early safari.

The range of activities and experiences at Bateleur Camp is designed to engage and immerse guests in the Masai Mara. The camp features an infinity-edged pool with stunning views of the reserve, a gym, and a “massage sala” for spa treatments. Guests also have access to the nearby Kichwa Tembo lodge, which offers a larger pool and a boutique selling safari-appropriate clothing and local artisan crafts. Interactions with the Masai community are handled with sensitivity and respect; the camp employs a full-time Impact and Community Officer, Alex Oloonkishu, who acts as a liaison with local villages. Cultural experiences include vibrant song and dance performances, often held around a campfire during sundowners or in the lodge’s dining area, where villagers also sell handmade beadwork, textiles, and wood-carvings. Oloonkishu also leads walking safaris, offering a chance to stretch legs and learn about Masai culture. For broader adventures, the camp arranges early-morning hot-air balloon rides over the Masai Mara with Governor’s Balloon Safaris, including transfers to the departure point.

andBeyond’s dedication to families is evident through its WILDChild program, tailored to reflect the surrounding culture. Children, such as the eight and eleven-year-olds mentioned, can learn traditional skills like fire-making using dry wood, bow and arrow use, and crafting Masai-style beaded bracelets with Alex Oloonkishu. The staff are notably warm and comfortable with children, offering services like waking them with hot chocolate and driving them to a bush breakfast when parents are on a hot-air balloon safari, ensuring every family member's comfort and enjoyment.

The camp is deeply committed to sustainability and community impact, guided by andBeyond’s three founding principles: Care of Land, Care of Wildlife, and Care of People. Through a 30-year partnership with the Wild Impact development organization, andBeyond has built a worldwide reputation for wildlife conservation and social/environmental sustainability, directly conserving over one million acres, primarily in Africa. Locally, andBeyond and Wild Impact have established several schools for Masai children, including a large three-month boarding school that educates nearly 600 kids and incorporates conservation lessons. They also support local medical facilities, partnering with the Kenyan government to run a nearby hospital that opened a maternity ward in August 2024, delivering 61 babies by March 2025. Addressing deforestation, a conservation trust has been formed to restore degraded forests around Masai villages, installing cameras and establishing a nursery with close to 35,000 indigenous tree seedlings. Guests are actively encouraged to visit and contribute to these impactful projects.

Located a convenient 15-minute drive from the Kichwa Tembo Airstrip within the Masai Mara National Reserve, Bateleur Camp is easily accessible via a one-hour flight from Nairobi, bypassing a six-hour road journey. Nightly rates for this all-inclusive luxury safari experience start from $1,210.