About Ilkeliani
The tented rooms are raised up slightly on earth mounds, overlooking the river and the plains.
These mounds are covered in vegetation, and feel quite natural, and each one has been sited under its own cluster of shady indigenous trees and you do feel like you are out in the wilderness
A Typical day at Ilkeliani Camp
Rise early and go on a walking safari or dawn game drive, returning to the camp in time for breakfast. Or if you on a safari game drive with your own driver-guide exploring the Masai Mara National Reserve – perhaps to the Mara River or the Musiara Marsh on half day with picnic breakfast. Return to the camp in time for lunch, followed by a rest in the shaded tent or relax on the veranda of your tent, watching the game go by. One can choose to go on an afternoon game drive returning to camp in time for a shower, followed by a sundowner round the campfire, exchanging stories of the day with the other guests. Dinner by candlelight completes the day, after which an askari will guide you to your tent.
The Mara
The area: This evocatively beautiful expanse of open plains mottled with woodlands prompted the local Maasai to give the area its name. Mara means “mottled.” Situated in the Great Rift Valley the Maasai Mara is Kenya’s largest national reserve with an area of 320 square km, although it it is actually the northern most part of a larger ecosystem encompassing Kenya’s Loita plains and Tanzania’s Serengeti, which make up an area of 25,000 square km. The largest river, the Mara River, runs north to south through the reserve, heading towards Lake Victoria through Tanzania.
Guests’ Remarks
"Camp environs are very clean. We loved the location of our tent and the visit from the monkeys. The staffs were very nice, friendly and helpful. The masai are so friendly."...Eva Luckeneder & Andrea Danner
"The camp environs are outstanding. The hot shower was so good. I felt very safe with the escort service, in particular as a single female, for that reason alone I will return. Staffs were super friendly and super respectful. I loved the coffee and the wake up service. A beautiful place with beautiful people."...Dianelva Montas
News: By Corinne Kendall (Mama Vulture), a field biologist based at Ilkeliani Camp.
Balloon safari
A balloon ride seems like a quintessential part of the Mara experience, yet I have never taken the time to experience it. Every morning I watch 10 to 20 balloons take off and soar above the Mara like a chain of Christmas lights they flicker on and off as the burners lift them higher into the sky. Today I finally got a chance to see what it is all about.
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