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The Basecamp exceeded expectations: very well appointed and comfortable tents, good food, and very friendly staff. For example the waitress serving our table took the trouble to learn the names of everyone in the party. A good general focus - birds, animals, plants - which I thought was great. It is really nice to stay in one place for the whole week, it removes the pressure on the guide to try and deliver everything in a very short space of time and makes the whole experience more relaxed. Davies was excellent, though I guess you already know that as I gather he has been leading Naturetrek parties for many years now. So many highlights it is hard to single one out, but probably the big cats. We saw lions every day, leopard and cheetah two or three times each.
T.F. Oxfordshire, Nov24
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Go Slow in Kenya's Maasai Mara
Tour Code: KEN05A leisurely-paced safari including a 7-night stay at the comfortable Basecamp Masai Mara.
£6,195 (Inc flights)
£5,495
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The acacia-dotted grasslands of Kenya’s world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve are home to one of our planet’s greatest concentrations of wildlife. A huge variety of game grazes the grassy plains, and with such an abundance of prey on offer it comes as no surprise that the Mara is also one of the best reserves in Africa to enjoy sightings of predators, especially Lion, Cheetah and Leopard. A kaleidoscope of colourful sunbirds, glossy starlings, bee-eaters, rollers and other bird species offer an interesting supporting cast, whilst no visit to the region is complete without time in the company of the Maasai people themselves. We will be based for seven nights at the small and comfortable Basecamp Masai Mara located on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
- 7 nights in a comfortable bush camp on the edge of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve
- Fly directly into the Mara from Nairobi and enjoy a relaxed pace throughout
- Lion, Cheetah & Leopard all likely
- Open sided vehicles with opening roof & excellent visibility
- Numerous birds including Secretary Bird, White-throated Bee-eater & many others
Grading
Grade A. This is a traditional African safari, and therefore suitable for anyone of any age, without any great necessity for extreme fitness. One optional game walk will be offered, which will be over flat terrain and at a very leisurely pace, stopping frequently to look at natural history along the way.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
On arrival in Nairobi we spend one night in a comfortable hotel where all rooms are ensuite. The rest of the safari is based at the comfortable Basecamp Masai Mara, where all tents are ensuite (with hot water showers) and equipped with proper beds, linen, bedside tables, luggage racks and rugs.
- Food:
All meal are included from breakfast on Day 2 to lunch on Day 9. Dinner on Day 9, if required, is at your own expense.
Reviews
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I was thinking that this might be my last safari in Africa. It won't be. I think we all enjoyed staying in one place for a week and visiting the same areas again, always a new perspective. For instance, we watched the lovely crowned cranes one day and found them again the next day having moved about 5 yards (presumably with an overnight roost). This is much more pleasant than rushing around. The highlights included Cheetah and four subadult cubs, a lot of old friends eg crowned cranes, secretary birds, giant eagle owl, lilac breasted roller, superb starling etc. Seven species new to me, thanks to Davies. Probably the pick of the bunch for me was the ground hornbill - ridiculous looking bird. Davies is informative and experienced. We benefited enormously from his knowledge of the Mara and its wildlife. I particularly appreciated hearing about Kenya history and Davies' perspective on current issues. Five star. Camp staff could not do enough for us. All of them quite delightful.
C.C. West Sussex, Nov24 -
We had, after two years of postponement due to Covid, our safari in the Masai Mara. Things were arranged very efficiently by Naturetrek. We arrived at the lodge after flying in from Nairobi and were welcomed by the staff, who did everything to make our stay comfortable. I was even presented with a birthday cake as I celebrated it whilst I was there. Our driver and guide was exceptional. He focused on what we wanted to see, was professional and enthusiastic, as well as being very knowledgeable about all the mammals. We saw all the big five which included four cheetahs walking along the track towards and straight past our vehicle. How incredibly lucky is that! All in all a wonderful time with masses of photos and all the memories. We have been on various safaris with Naturetrek and have never been disappointed. They are always professional, helpful and obliging. As a client you are kept completely up to date with arrangements and all written information and instructions for the journey are clear and concise. I would definitely have no problem in recommending them to others.
V.D. Berkshire, Nov 21
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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[description] => Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Big Cat Safari Holidays
Big cats are among the most admired and sought-after mammals on the planet, and we are proud to offer a broad and comprehensive range of big cat safari holidays. We offer inspiring and truly memorable wildlife tours to enjoy sightings of all of the world’s iconic species in their natural habitats, including Tigers in India and Nepal, Jaguars in the Pantanal, Pumas in Chile and Snow Leopards in India and Mongolia and we certainly do not neglect the smaller cats either.
We offer a range of itineraries around Africa and encounter the continent’s high-profile species like Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards and also the lesser known species such as Caracal, Sand Cat, Black-footed Cat, Serval and African Wild Cat. We also have wildlife holidays that catch sightings of the Asiatic Lion in India and the elusive Leopard in Sri Lanka.
We also offer a pioneering tour to try to see the most difficult of all big cats the Sunda Clouded Leopard in Borneo with Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat and Flat-headed Cat all having being seen on our Borneo holidays. Closer to home, we offer holidays in Europe to go in search of Wildcat and both Eurasian and Iberian Lynx.
We have run these holidays for many years with great success, working with the best local contacts and guides and staying at the very best locations with carefully crafted itineraries which allow the optimum amount of time to achieve sightings.
Our specialist recommends...
Tom Mabbett - Operations Manager
Relaxed Wildlife Holidays
Our programme of Go Slow wildlife holidays allows guests to enjoy the natural world at a more leisurely pace than on one of our conventional wildlife holidays. There will be more time to relax, more time to potter, excursions will be optional and we hope you will return, not only having enjoyed a fascinating mix of birds, plants and other wildlife, but also feeling refreshed and relaxed!
Our Go Slow tours range from week-long holidays that offer warm spring sunshine and gentle natural history excursions in Portugal, the Camargue and Mallorca, to tours which take on a more cultural air each afternoon, such as Go Slow … in Istria in Autumn and Go Slow … in Southern Spain. Our Go Slow holidays in the Swiss Alps and Cyprus both combine the best of the region’s botany and birdlife, or, if you would like to travel a little further afield, why not join us for a leisurely-paced exploration of India’s Tiger Country, Kenya’s Masai Mara, or South Africa’s Western Cape?
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek Go Slow holiday?
On each Go Slow holiday we aim to offer as many of the following as possible:
- A single-centre holiday
- Direct flights with sociable timings
- Comfortable hotel of high quality (with swimming pool if possible), serving meals of a high standard
- Leisurely paced walks on gentle terrain
- Expert leaders, as ever, with more time for interpretation & explanation
- A maximum of 6 hours in the field each day (9.30am-3.30pm with picnic lunch or two 3-hour excursions)
- Morning and afternoon toilet/comfort stops
- Minimal long drives
- Back in time for afternoon tea
- All excursions optional
- All-inclusive cost (except bar drinks & laundry)
- Time to relax, read, paint, potter, swim or enjoy anything else that you might wish to do!
Our specialist recommends...
Andy Tucker - Operations Manager
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
