Leleshwa Camp
Location
Mara Siana Conservancy, Greater Maasai Mara Region, Kenya
Leleshwa Camp is an intimate tented safari camp located within the private Mara Siana Conservancy on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Set in a pristine stream valley overlooking hills and plains dotted with resident wildlife, Leleshwa is a peaceful haven where guests gain a rare "private" experience of the famed Maasai Mara.
Camp Facilities & Amenities
Simple elegance defines Leleshwa Camp. Just seven secluded tents and a common area blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Each spacious tent features extra-large king-size beds and sitting areas that open onto private verandas with 180-degree views of the green Loita Hills. Adjoining bathrooms have porcelain basins, hot and cold running water, showers and flush toilets. Additionally, two suites have an adjoining lounge, ideal for a romantic honeymoon or for families. The open dining and lounge tents capture cool breezes and comprehensive views. Meals are often enjoyed al fresco under the shade of the trees. Dinners are a social occasion, and a festive table set with crystal and white linens offers a surprisingly refined setting in the wild. At night, hurricane lamps bathe the camp in soft light while a blazing fire illuminates the sky beneath a heaven full of stars, accompanied by a symphony of African night sounds.
Wildlife & Activities at Leleshwa
Leleshwa Camp's remote location allows guests to encounter the Maasai Mara in a much more secluded manner than most visitors experience. The game reserve is world-renowned for its diversity and density of wildlife, and especially for its spectacular annual wildebeest migration. The 35,000-acre Mara Siana Conservancy, established in 2015, borders the Maasai Mara National Reserve and secures the area around Leleshwa Camp for future generations of local Maasai people as well as visitors. The conservancy is home to all the main animal species found in the Mara ecosystem except black rhinoceros.
Wildlife drives at Leleshwa encounter myriad plains animals, including gazelle, impala, wildebeest, hartebeest, topi, zebra and giraffe. Predators flourish here, too; the Mara is famed for its lions, which you may see hunting in the early morning or evening and resting under the trees in the heat of the day. Hyenas also patrol the plains in some of the largest numbers in Africa. Head out on game drives at dawn, then enjoy a guided bush walk in afternoon before rounding out the day with cocktails at sunset, followed by a night drive in search of nocturnal wildlife. Hot-air balloon safaris can also be arranged, followed by a champagne bush breakfast (additional cost). A visit to an authentic Maasai manyatta, or camp, is also an exciting cultural experience, a chance to meet local people and learn about their traditions and heritage.
Conservation & Community Support at Leleshwa
Leleshwa Camp promotes conservation and wildlife preservation in conjunction with local communities that depend on healthy animal populations. The Siana community is already seeing the benefit of increased wildlife populations on their land, and the new conservancy ensures that these benefits will continue. Tourism through the conservancy provides a good source of income to supplement livestock as the traditional economic base for the Maasai. Tourism also provides benefits such as employment—Siana now boasts a newly formed team of trained scouts, two of whom are based at Leleshwa Camp, who patrol the local area and provide game sighting reports.
In addition to supporting communities by virtue of safari tourism, Leleshwa Camp also has ties with other projects, including Mpopongi Primary School in the Maasai Mara. Visits can be arranged in conjunction with a stay at Leleshwa Camp.
Mara Siana Conservancy, Greater Maasai Mara Region, Kenya
Leleshwa Camp is an intimate tented safari camp located within the private Mara Siana Conservancy on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Set in a pristine stream valley overlooking hills and plains dotted with resident wildlife, Leleshwa is a peaceful haven where guests gain a rare "private" experience of the famed Maasai Mara.
Camp Facilities & Amenities
Simple elegance defines Leleshwa Camp. Just seven secluded tents and a common area blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Each spacious tent features extra-large king-size beds and sitting areas that open onto private verandas with 180-degree views of the green Loita Hills. Adjoining bathrooms have porcelain basins, hot and cold running water, showers and flush toilets. Additionally, two suites have an adjoining lounge, ideal for a romantic honeymoon or for families. The open dining and lounge tents capture cool breezes and comprehensive views. Meals are often enjoyed al fresco under the shade of the trees. Dinners are a social occasion, and a festive table set with crystal and white linens offers a surprisingly refined setting in the wild. At night, hurricane lamps bathe the camp in soft light while a blazing fire illuminates the sky beneath a heaven full of stars, accompanied by a symphony of African night sounds.
Wildlife & Activities at Leleshwa
Leleshwa Camp's remote location allows guests to encounter the Maasai Mara in a much more secluded manner than most visitors experience. The game reserve is world-renowned for its diversity and density of wildlife, and especially for its spectacular annual wildebeest migration. The 35,000-acre Mara Siana Conservancy, established in 2015, borders the Maasai Mara National Reserve and secures the area around Leleshwa Camp for future generations of local Maasai people as well as visitors. The conservancy is home to all the main animal species found in the Mara ecosystem except black rhinoceros.
Wildlife drives at Leleshwa encounter myriad plains animals, including gazelle, impala, wildebeest, hartebeest, topi, zebra and giraffe. Predators flourish here, too; the Mara is famed for its lions, which you may see hunting in the early morning or evening and resting under the trees in the heat of the day. Hyenas also patrol the plains in some of the largest numbers in Africa. Head out on game drives at dawn, then enjoy a guided bush walk in afternoon before rounding out the day with cocktails at sunset, followed by a night drive in search of nocturnal wildlife. Hot-air balloon safaris can also be arranged, followed by a champagne bush breakfast (additional cost). A visit to an authentic Maasai manyatta, or camp, is also an exciting cultural experience, a chance to meet local people and learn about their traditions and heritage.
Conservation & Community Support at Leleshwa
Leleshwa Camp promotes conservation and wildlife preservation in conjunction with local communities that depend on healthy animal populations. The Siana community is already seeing the benefit of increased wildlife populations on their land, and the new conservancy ensures that these benefits will continue. Tourism through the conservancy provides a good source of income to supplement livestock as the traditional economic base for the Maasai. Tourism also provides benefits such as employment—Siana now boasts a newly formed team of trained scouts, two of whom are based at Leleshwa Camp, who patrol the local area and provide game sighting reports.
In addition to supporting communities by virtue of safari tourism, Leleshwa Camp also has ties with other projects, including Mpopongi Primary School in the Maasai Mara. Visits can be arranged in conjunction with a stay at Leleshwa Camp.
