Ilkeliani Camp

When you book with us, everything's taken care of so you can just focus on enjoying your safari. Your stay includes all meals from breakfast through dinner, plus curated spirits, house wines, beers, and soft drinks throughout the day.

You'll get two shared game drives daily with expert Maasai guides in open-sided 4x4 vehicles, and your laundry service is included too. Transfers between Ol Kiombo airstrip and camp are typically covered, and if you're traveling with little ones under 5, they stay free when sharing your room.

The main extras you'll want to budget for are park fees (around $70-80 per person daily), premium alcoholic drinks, and optional activities like hot air balloon safaris or bush dinners. But all the essentials for an amazing safari experience are wrapped up in your package.

When you book with us, everything's taken care of so you can just focus on enjoying your safari. Your stay includes all meals from breakfast through dinner, plus curated spirits, house wines, beers, and soft drinks throughout the day.

You'll get two shared game drives daily with expert Maasai guides in open-sided 4x4 vehicles, and your laundry service is included too. Transfers between Ol Kiombo airstrip and camp are typically covered, and if you're traveling with little ones under 5, they stay free when sharing your room.

The main extras you'll want to budget for are park fees (around $70-80 per person daily), premium alcoholic drinks, and optional activities like hot air balloon safaris or bush dinners. But all the essentials for an amazing safari experience are wrapped up in your package.

You've got two main options at Ilkeliani Camp. Most guests stay in one of the 11 spacious tented suites, which come with either twin or double beds depending on your preference. These aren't your typical camping tents - they're luxury canvas suites with proper en-suite bathrooms and private wooden decks.

If you're traveling with family, there's also a family suite that features two separate bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, plus a spacious living area where everyone can hang out together.

Every accommodation has those gorgeous views of the Talek River and Mara plains, and the elevated design means you'll often spot wildlife right from your deck. The tents have detachable canvas sides on the decks, so you can open them up completely to feel immersed in the wilderness or close them for privacy.

 Each tent is surprisingly well-equipped for being in the middle of the wilderness. You'll have a proper en-suite bathroom with a flushing toilet and hot water shower that opens to the outdoors for that unique safari shower experience.

Your private wooden deck is perfect for morning coffee or evening sundowners, and inside you'll find comfortable furnishings with flowing fabrics, subtle lighting, and a cozy fireplace for chilly Mara evenings. There's complimentary tea and coffee facilities, plus amenities made from indigenous local plants.

The camp runs on solar power, so you can charge your devices and have lighting throughout your tent. The linens are pure cotton, and everything's designed with eco-friendly principles in mind. Each tent has its own private entrance, so you'll feel like you have your own little slice of the Mara.

Just know that there's no pool, spa, or gym at camp - but honestly, with the incredible wildlife and activities available, you probably won't miss them.

Yes, there's complimentary Wi-Fi available in the main lounge and bar area. It's generally reliable, though sometimes it can be a bit slow - but that's pretty standard for remote safari camps.

The Wi-Fi doesn't extend to the individual tents, which many guests actually appreciate since it encourages you to disconnect and fully immerse yourself in the safari experience. You can always pop over to the main area if you need to check messages or share those amazing wildlife photos.

 Most guests fly from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to Ol Kiombo Airstrip, which takes about 45 minutes. From there, it's just a 25-minute drive through the Mara to reach camp.

When you book with us, transfers between the airstrip and camp are typically included in your package, so you don't need to worry about arranging ground transportation. The drive itself is part of the adventure - you'll likely start spotting wildlife before you even reach camp.

We handle all these logistics for you, so everything flows seamlessly from the moment you land.

Your stay includes two shared game drives daily in open-sided 4x4 vehicles with expert local Maasai guides. These guides grew up in the area and have incredible knowledge about animal behavior and the ecosystem.

The timing usually works out perfectly - you'll head out for an early morning drive when animals are most active, return for lunch and rest during the hot midday hours, then go out again in the late afternoon when things start getting exciting again.

Night drives aren't offered due to park regulations, but there are plenty of optional activities you can add. Hot air balloon safaris are incredibly popular (around $450-550 per person), and you can arrange bush walks or visits to local Maasai villages for cultural experiences. These extras aren't included but are definitely worth considering.

We recommend staying at least 2 to 3 nights to really make the most of your Mara experience. This gives you enough time for several game drives, plus the opportunity to add optional activities like a balloon safari or cultural visit.

Three nights is often the sweet spot - it lets you settle in, experience different parts of the Mara ecosystem, and hopefully witness some of the incredible wildlife interactions the area is famous for. If you're visiting during migration season (July through October), you might want to consider staying even longer since the action can vary from day to day.

Remember, you'll want to account for travel time too, so factor in arrival and departure days when planning your overall Kenya itinerary.

Absolutely! Children are welcome at Ilkeliani Camp, and kids under 5 stay free when sharing a room with adults, which is a nice bonus for young families.

The family suite is perfect for families since it has two separate bedrooms and a shared living space where everyone can spend time together. The elevated walkways and deck areas do require some supervision for little ones, but the staff is experienced with families.

There isn't a dedicated children's program, but many kids absolutely love the game drives and the excitement of spotting wildlife. The guides are great at engaging young travelers and helping them spot animals and learn about the ecosystem.

Beyond your accommodation, the biggest expense is park fees, which run about $70-80 per person per day for the Maasai Mara National Reserve. This is a government fee that everyone pays regardless of where they stay.

If you want to add a hot air balloon safari, budget around $450-550 per person - it's pricey but absolutely magical if it fits your budget. Bush dinners or breakfasts are $50 per person with a minimum of 4 people, which can be a really special way to dine under the stars.

Premium alcoholic drinks aren't included in the standard package, so you'll pay for those directly. And if you want exclusive use of a vehicle instead of sharing game drives, that's $450 per day.

When you book with us, we'll walk you through all these options upfront so there are no surprises, and we can help you decide which extras are worth it for your specific interests.

The Maasai Mara is in a malaria-prone area, so malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all guests. You'll want to consult with your doctor or a travel medicine clinic about the best preventive medication for your situation.

They can also advise you on any other vaccinations that might be recommended for Kenya travel. It's best to have this conversation at least 4-6 weeks before your trip since some medications need to be started in advance.

When you book with us, we provide detailed pre-travel health information and can connect you with travel medicine resources to make sure you're properly prepared.

The camp's design does present some challenges for guests with mobility issues. All the accommodations are elevated on stilts with wooden walkways and steps, which is great for wildlife viewing but can be difficult for anyone with mobility limitations.

The pathways between tents and common areas also involve some elevation changes. Unfortunately, there aren't specific accessibility facilities like ramps or accessible bathrooms currently available.

If you're traveling with someone who has mobility concerns, it's worth discussing the specific layout with us before booking so we can help determine if the camp will work for your group or suggest alternative properties that might be more suitable.