Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp
kenya, kenya · ★★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp is one of Africa's most storied and romantically atmospheric properties — a meticulously recreated colonial-era camp in its own private Olderkesi conservancy bordering the south Maasai Mara, owned and operated by the same Cottar family for five generations. The vintage canvas tents, gramophone in the bar, and silver service at dinner evoke the golden age of African exploration without a shred of irony. It is the most exclusive safari camp in terms of character and ancestry, and the private conservancy location means night drives and walking safaris impossible in the National Reserve.
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- ✓Are willing to invest in once-in-a-lifetime
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Have a budget under $1,000/night
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
93/100
At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
The Honeymoon Suite is a spectacular standalone canvas villa set apart from the main camp — a 180-square-metre tent with a freestanding claw-foot bathtub, private plunge pool, and a sitting room furnished with original colonial era antiques. The private veranda overlooks a seasonal lugga (river course) that attracts wildlife throughout the day and night. This suite is the pinnacle of the Cottar's experience and is worth booking specifically.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $2,100/nt) | $14,700 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $22,050 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $2,940 |
| Total estimated | $42,690 |
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Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival at the 1920s Camp
A light aircraft to the Cottar's airstrip and a short drive through open savannah delivers you to camp — where the sight of the first white canvas tent flanked by hurricane lamps and a uniformed camp team creates an almost cinematic quality. Your first drink is served in the bar tent, with original photographs of the Cottar family on safari in the 1920s lining the walls.
Private Conservancy Game Drive
The Olderkesi Conservancy gives Cottar's exclusive access to 8,000 private acres bordering the Reserve. Your guide, whose family has worked with the Cottars for decades, drives you through terrain that receives perhaps one-tenth the traffic of the main Mara, with cheetah and wild dog sightings possible alongside the big five. A bush breakfast is laid out beside the vehicle mid-morning.
Night Drive & Campfire Dinner
Night drives are prohibited inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve — one of Cottar's most significant advantages. After dark, the conservancy becomes a different world: aardvark, bushbaby, civets, honey badgers, and hunting lions are all regularly encountered by spotlight. Return to a campfire dinner under the stars, silver service and crystal glassware gleaming in the firelight.
Guided Bush Walk & Spa
A three-hour guided walk with an armed ranger and Maasai tracker traverses the conservancy on foot — an experience that reframes the scale of the landscape and the detail of its animal life. In the afternoon, the spa offers treatments inspired by Maasai healing rituals using red ocher, shea butter, and wild-harvested herbs.
Full Day in the Main Reserve
A full day game drive inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve accesses the famous big cat territories of Musiara and the Mara River crossing points during migration season. Cottar's guides are among the most knowledgeable in Kenya — their naturalist skill significantly elevates what is seen and understood during a day in the Reserve.
Maasai Cultural Morning & Sundowner
The camp maintains a deep relationship with the surrounding Maasai community — a morning with a Maasai elder discussing land stewardship, cultural tradition, and the history of the Cottar family's relationship with this community is genuinely moving. A sundowner watched from a termite mound rises above the plain as impala graze below.
Farewell Breakfast & Departure
A final morning game drive in the private conservancy, then breakfast in the dining tent — silver teapot, linen tablecloth, and freshly baked bread. The Cottar family tradition means every departing guest receives a handwritten note from the camp manager. The light aircraft home is booked, but the 1920s will stay with you considerably longer.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
The vintage aesthetic is deliberate and wonderful, but it means no LED screens, minimal Wi-Fi, and a more analog experience — couples who need strong connectivity should plan accordingly.
The camp is not adults-only; families with children are welcomed and the Cottar's ethos actively encourages multi-generational safari. The atmosphere is nevertheless deeply romantic.
The camp can be booked on an exclusive-use basis — if budget allows, this delivers an extraordinary private experience but at a very significant total cost.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon booking inquiry — Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp Dear Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp team, My partner and I are planning our honeymoon and are very interested in staying with you from [DATE] to [DATE] ([X] nights). We are particularly interested in: the Honeymoon Suite and the private conservancy night drives. Could you please let us know: - Current availability for our dates - Any honeymoon enhancements or special experiences - Details on walking safaris, spa treatments, and whether exclusive use of the camp is possible for our dates Thank you for your time. [Your names]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp good for honeymooners?
Cottar's is one of Africa's most romantic safari camps — the combination of five-generation family ownership, vintage colonial atmosphere, private conservancy night drives, and exceptional service creates an experience with more character than almost any other property on the continent. The standalone Honeymoon Suite is exceptional and the team has decades of experience celebrating couples in extraordinary ways.
What is the best time to visit?
July through October for the Great Migration, with the Cottar's private conservancy bordering the Mara Triangle giving outstanding river crossing access. January and February are superb for big cat sightings on the short grass plains. The camp offers excellent value in green season (April–June) when the landscape is lush and guests are few.
What should we book in advance?
The Honeymoon Suite is a single unit and should be reserved 6–12 months ahead for peak season. Walking safaris and night drives require advance notice for guide allocation. Exclusive use of the entire camp for your honeymoon is possible and transformative — ask about pricing at the time of enquiry.
Is it adults-only?
Cottar's is not adults-only. The camp welcomes families with children of all ages (unusually, they have no minimum age) and the multi-generational ethos is genuine. In practice, the atmosphere is sophisticated and predominantly adult. Couples wanting an adults-only safari environment should enquire about exclusive camp use.
What's the best room type for a honeymoon?
The Honeymoon Suite — a standalone canvas villa with a private plunge pool, claw-foot bathtub, and veranda over a wildlife lugga — is the definitive choice. It is set apart from the main camp for complete privacy. The standard tented suites are also beautifully fitted with vintage furniture and are excellent alternatives.
How do we get there?
Fly from Nairobi Wilson Airport to the Cottar's private airstrip — approximately 50 minutes. Air Kenya and Safarilink both service Olderkesi. Alternatively, it is a 5–6 hour road transfer from Nairobi via the Loita Hills.
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