Nestled in the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, andBeyond Bateleur Camp stands as a beacon of luxury safari experiences, having been voted the No. 1 hotel in the world by Travel + Leisure readers in their 2025 World's Best Awards. From the moment guests' propeller planes touch down at Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, the immersive safari adventure begins, often with immediate wildlife sightings such as hippos, zebras, warthogs, and giraffes, even before check-in.

The camp itself offers an intimate and low-key atmosphere, featuring only 18 tented suites and one deluxe family suite, split across two locations. Perched at the foot of the Oloololo escarpment, which forms the natural boundary of the 580-square-mile park, the main building and most guest tents boast breathtaking 180-degree views of the sprawling plains. A defining characteristic of Bateleur Camp is its exceptional staff, many of whom have worked there for over a decade, contributing to a confident and friendly team dynamic. Notably, 70 percent of the staff are recruited from neighboring Masai villages, fostering a genuine connection to the local culture. Guest itineraries are highly flexible and customized daily, a key distinction from more rigid safari lodges, allowing visitors to set their own pace, whether it's an early morning game drive or a leisurely hot-air balloon adventure.

The accommodations are designed in a classic campaign style, offering luxury tent-style rooms that are spread over north and south locations, all overlooking the plains. Each tent features a canopied outdoor deck with seating, where guests might observe giraffes strolling by. Inside, the decor includes trunks, leather furniture, and brass light fixtures, with rollaway canvas screens and mosquito netting at the front for enjoying the rising sun. The large and luxurious bathrooms come equipped with Jack-and-Jill sinks, a walled toilet, an indoor shower, and a roll-topped brass tub. A thoughtful touch is the butler service, which includes drawing a bubble bath ahead of guests' return from afternoon safaris. A large outdoor shower, a writing desk, and a bar stocked with local beer, spirits, South African wines, and Kenya's Amarula liquor complete the luxurious offering.

Dining at Bateleur Camp is a culinary highlight, guided by Chef “Magic” Jackson Mutuku. Given the camp’s intimate size, most meals are enjoyed in the main lodge's dining area, yet the options are far from repetitive. Chef Jackson presents new, imaginative, fresh, and consistently excellent menus daily, ranging from chicken shawarma boards and fish tacos to steak or duck confit. He personally checks in with guests to discuss their choices. For younger guests, the chef readily prepares favorite dishes like pizza, cheeseburgers, or spaghetti al pomodoro. A particularly memorable experience for guests is dinner prepared and served in a lamp-lit clearing in the surrounding woods, featuring spit-roasted lamb and local vegetable, rice, and bean dishes. The simplest, yet cherished, culinary moment is the pre-dawn delivery of piping-hot tea and coffee to the tents via a hatch, a perfect start to a safari day.

Beyond the immediate comforts, Bateleur Camp offers a range of activities and experiences. On-site facilities include an infinity-edged pool with Masa Mara views, a gym, and a “massage sala” for spa treatments. Guests also have access to the larger andBeyond lodge, Kitchwa Tembo, which features an even larger pool and a boutique stocked with safari clothing and handmade Masai Mara pieces. Interactions with the Masai community are handled with sensitivity and respect; the camp employs a full-time Impact and Community Officer, Alex Oloonkishu, who serves as a liaison with local villages. Guests can enjoy traditional song and dance performances, often around a campfire during sundowners, and purchase handmade beadwork, textiles, and wood carvings directly from villagers. Oloonkishu also leads educational walking safaris around the camp, offering insights into Masai culture and the local environment. For an aerial perspective of the Mara, the camp arranges early-morning hot-air balloon rides with Governor’s Balloon Safaris, including transfers.

Family-friendly offerings are robust, highlighted by andBeyond's WILDChild program, which is tailored to reflect the local culture. Children, such as the reviewer's eight and 11-year-olds, learn traditional skills like fire-making from dry wood, use handmade bows and arrows, and create Masai-style beaded bracelets with Oloonkishu. The staff are noted for their exceptional warmth and comfort with children, even assisting with early morning wake-ups for balloon safaris by bringing hot chocolate and arranging bush breakfasts.

andBeyond’s commitment to accessibility and sustainability is integral to its operations, guided by its three founding principles: Care of Land, Care of Wildlife, and Care of People. For over 30 years, the company has partnered with Wild Impact, establishing a global reputation for wildlife conservation and social and environmental sustainability. Their efforts have directly conserved over one million acres in Africa. In the Bateleur area, andBeyond and Wild Impact have established several schools for Masai children, including a boarding school for nearly 600 students, where conservation lessons are taught. 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. To combat deforestation, a conservation trust was formed to restore degraded forests, involving camera installations and a nursery cultivating nearly 35,000 indigenous tree seedlings. Guests are encouraged to visit and support these projects. While rooms are not ADA compliant, some offer wheelchair accessibility with assistance. The camp’s location is a convenient 15-minute drive from Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, accessible via an hour-long flight from Nairobi, saving guests a six-hour drive. Nightly rates at andBeyond Bateleur Camp start from $1,210, all-inclusive, underscoring its premium, yet impactful, safari experience.