Situated in a tree-lined grove with sweeping views over the Talek River, Rekero Camp offers superb game viewing and tented luxury in the heart of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
Commencing my journey to Kenya on a Monday morning, I am beyond excited to visit this East African gem destination, where the landscapes, wildlife, and hospitality make for an incredibly memorable experience. Leaving Cape Town International Airport, my early morning flight to connect at OR Tambo International Airport and onwards to Nairobi on Airlink makes the trip easy and convenient with an afternoon arrival time in Kenya’s capital city.
After having my passport stamped by an immigration official, I am met outside the airport building by Antony, a friendly Asilia representative, who drives me to The Crowne Plaza, where I am staying overnight. He collects me the following morning, well in time for my charter flight departing from Wilson Airport on Safarilink. Taking off in the Cessna Grand Caravan, I land at Ol Kiombo Airstrip 45 minutes later, where my guide Karia waits for me at the bottom of the aircraft stairs.
He extends a hand to assist me with my luggage and warmly greets me with ‘Karibu’, which means welcome in Kenya’s Swahili language. The drive from the airstrip takes between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on what wildlife might appear along the way. Dressed in his traditional and colorful Maasai blanket, Karia’s favorite animals to see on safari are leopards and giraffes. He had hardly said the word giraffe when three came into view on the horizon, a sure indication that my stay at Rekero Camp would be one for the books.
Approaching the camp, I am met with song and dance, another customary way to say hello to guests at Rekero Camp. Lodge manager Samuel is at hand to discuss formalities, after which he shows me to my accommodation for the next three nights. I’m staying in tent number 5, and sliding the zipper open, the space is comfortable and luxurious.
Following a refurbishment in 2024, the camp features a lighter and brighter aesthetic with beautiful mango wood furnishings and soft interior touches. A curtain divides the seating area at night, and you will undoubtedly feel cocooned in your King-sized bed, sleeping under soft white bedding. This is, of course, after the cleansing shower using the Asilia Invigorating body wash.
Meals are a communal affair with tables set up on the newly expanded outdoor leisure deck or in the re-imagined lounge and dining area. Head Chef Simon and team ensure that dietaries are catered for, and sharing a table with two lovely families and Camp Manager Maggie makes for some animated conversation. Lunches are light meals that will sustain you through to High Tea, drinks stop snacks, and then culminate in a three-course supper. Breakfast is enjoyed during your extended morning safari, or you can opt to cut your game drive short and have it in camp.
Located within the expansive Masai Mara National Reserve, Rekero Camp offers twice-daily game drives, which will delight safari-goers. Mornings start with your beverage of choice delivered to your tent by an Askari, after which you depart on your safari. Guests have a choice whether they want to do the five to six hours of safari, which is well worth it when you have the privilege to be safely seated in the 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser a few feet away from a mating pair of lions. Hold on, make that two different pairs of mating lions! On our drive, we see a black-backed jackal sitting in the middle of the game path with the morning sun glistening in its eyes.
The most requested and sought-after animal to see on safari is, without question, a leopard. It is not an easy find because of their elusive and timid nature. Add to that a landscape with tall yellow grass, and you know it will be a challenge at best, something Karia does not shy away from. On our afternoon game drive, we find the magnificent Luluka, and she’s absolutely gorgeous. Clearly on the hunt, she seeks cover in the grass, flattening herself to stay out of sight. Patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to viewing wildlife, and we are rewarded when she appears in an open patch of veld. Luluka has the most stunning rosette pattern, and her dark legs are an indication that she went through a water source. Pausing every so often to scan her surroundings, she stands on her hind legs, similar to what meerkats do. What a once in a lifetime sighting, appreciating her small frame and feline magnificence.
Dinner is a gastronomical feast consisting of crispy haloumi starter, honey and mustard pork chops with apple sauce, and the delectable Pavlova for dessert. Guests are not allowed to walk alone at night or in the early morning, as there might be wildlife in and around camp, so an Askari will accompany you as guest safety is of the utmost importance at all Asilia camps.
Throughout the day, hippos form a soothing soundtrack and come out to feed once the sun has set. We find a large male on a morning game drive, having a great time feeding on grass out on the plains. A male lion is casually strolling along, keeping a close eye on a huge herd of buffalo that is about 500 strong. He is young and lacks the experience to hunt on his own, and decides to take a nap next to a termite mound and wait for assistance from his brother. We leave him in peace to enjoy his siesta.
With birds aplenty, we see the white bellied bustard, a rose-breasted longclaw, and a Pied Kingfisher. Next to the Mara River, Karia and spotter Felix unpack a picnic, and we have breakfast in the company of hippos who are securely in the water. Lunch is grilled chicken with salads, and after a bit of downtime in my tent, the chocolate brownies at High Tea are ideal for my sweet tooth.
On our afternoon game drive, Karia hears a loud roar as we approach a patch of grass, and suddenly a lioness scrambles out with a male lion closely on her heels. The honeymoon pair has a few unwanted visitors and vacates their spot for more privacy. Heading back to the lodge for dinner, the sunset is magnificent with hues of pinks and oranges, creating a fiery sky. A delectable dinner concludes the day, and I choose the grilled pear salad for starters, the lamb curry for the main course, and the mango cheesecake for dessert, which is simply sublime. Escorting me to my tent, the Askari stops and shines the spotlight into the trees. “Look, it’s a chameleon”, he points to where the enormous reptile is wrapped around the branch.
Feeling refreshed after a great night’s sleep, I head towards the game drive vehicle where Karia and Felix are already waiting. They want to look for cheetah this morning, as the cooler weather and open plains are the ideal environment for them. We don’t find any cheetah, but the morning safari heralds a few amazing sightings. We spot a hippo mom and a tiny baby, which Karia guesses is only about a week old, a grey-backed shrike, a grey kestrel, a lilac-breasted roller, and an African Fish Eagle. Karia parks the vehicle at the Mara River’s Main Crossing, where a lot of crocodiles are basking in the morning sun, some with their mouths open.
At a different point of the Mara River, we witness a herd of elephants coming down for a drink, and what a wondrous sight to see them all, big and small, taking in the cooling sustenance. Lunch is served on the viewing deck, and today, Chef has crafted an array of salads and meat to create your own wraps.
Relaxing in the camp’s main lounge, you don’t have to go far with hippos in the Talek River or see two resident hooded vultures perched in the treetops.
High Tea is followed by a game drive, and Karia and Felix notice three lionesses obscured from sight. They are lying close to a herd of buffalo, but they have been seen by the buffalo and leave the area. The lionesses are playful, eventually finding a different location to settle in for the night. We dine in the library, and the perfectly prepared beef fillet and hand-cut fries are delicious, as is the melt-in-the-mouth panna cotta.
Karia and Felix try to relocate the lionesses on our morning game drive, but instead find a male lion walking towards us. A highlight of the previous night was parked alongside a hyena densite, with curious cubs coming over to the vehicle.
It’s time to leave, but not before a hearty breakfast with the Talek River as my viewpoint. Tucking into the food, hippos in the river give a resounding snort as if to say goodbye. A Rüppel’s starling seems to want to share my meal but flies off into the distance.
The safari isn’t quite over yet. On our way to Naboisho Camp, Karia spots a cheetah through his binoculars. The spotted cat is making a beeline for the only tree on the escarpment. He sniffs the base of the tree, marks his territory, and lets out an exasperated sigh before closing his eyes. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better conclusion to my stay at Rekero Camp.
How to book with Audley Travel | B Corp certified tour operator Audley Travel assisted in arranging Heléne’s tailor-made trip. Experts in creating custom journeys that are grounded in the real culture of a destination, every trip is designed by a specialist who has lived or traveled extensively in their respective destination. This expertise is underpinned by an excellent understanding of logistics to piece the trip together, with every experience meticulously planned so it’s just right for each client. To book, visit www.audleytravel.com or call 855 435 1768
