Basecamp Eagle View: Our full report
Basecamp Eagle View is located in a stunning spot, with arguably the best views in the quiet 211km² Mara ...
... Naboisho Conservancy, a Maasai-owned conservancy north of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. It is small, with nine tented rooms set high on a hill. Each of these is cantilevered to the hillside, overlooking plains dotted with acacia trees of various species.Originally this camp was part of a guide-training facility at the nearby Koiyaki Guiding School. However in 2009, the Basecamp Foundation agreed to help support the guide school and take over the site which was known for three years as Basecamp Wilderness. The camp had a major overhaul in 2012 and re-opened at the end of the year under its new name – Basecamp Eagle View. They have a sister camp near the reserve's Talek Gate: Basecamp Maasai Mara.
The main areas at Basecamp Eagle View consist of two decks alongside each other, both with stunning views over the plains. Shaded by a canvas roof, the lounge and bar have polished stone floors and are simply furnished with some comfortable sofas and chairs. Directors' chairs look out across an open-air fire-pit to the views beyond. On the second deck, the dining area is sheltered by a large sail-like roof of canvas, with separate tables and chairs for individual dining and a buffet table alongside.
Spread well apart, the tented chalets are accessed via elephant dung pathways. Smart, modern, wooden floors and quite contemporary furnishings throughout include comfortable beds and clothes and luggage storage, twin washbasins and flush loos in the bathrooms and private, outdoor shows with views of the plains. The real highlight of each room, however, is the veranda. From here, cooled by the breeze, you have wonderful views across the Naboisho Conservancy. Tents 1-4 face west to make the most of the sunset; whilst tents 5-9 face east, which are our favourite because you get to wake up to a magnificent sunrise each morning.
Three of the tents have a family annex: a newly-built, completely separate tent that has all the amenities of the main bedroom tent, just a little more compact. The main double and the smaller double/twin are linked by a short walkway, so better suited to older children that are a little more independent.
Activities at Basecamp Wilderness include safari drives in open-sided 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles. Each guest has a window seat. The vehicles take up to five or eight guests, depending on size. The camp can also offer night drives, starting at around 4.30pm, and continuing until around 8pm when you return for dinner.
Rates at Basecamp Eagle View include the option of a full-day safari into the Maasai Mara National Reserve ($80 per person reserve fees payable). All of Basecamp's properties are very competitively priced and we consider Eagle View to be one of the best value for money properties in the conservancy.
Walking is another option from Basecamp Wilderness, although when we were last here the walks were led by a Maasai guide armed only with a spear. Although this isn't unusual practice in the Mara conservancies, we question the safety of such walks considering the high density of dangerous big game in the area, and as such we don't currently recommend them. The camp plans to get an armed ranger as soon as possible, however, so ask us for the latest details. They are able to do short bush walks from camp, where the walkers are discreetly followed by a vehicle should any guests wish to drive back.
When we visited in 2019, Basecamp Eagle View had two silver-qualified guides (a Kenyan qualification set between bronze and gold) and seven bronze guides – which is the country's 'entry-level' guiding qualification. Three of their guides were female, which was great to see and seems to be a growing trend in East Africa – long may it continue. All the guides are Maasai from the surrounding communities and all had a good degree of knowledge. We left feeling we had learnt a lot about the conservancy and the wildlife to be found here. The same staff are still here and the camp's links with the guiding school and its focus on sustainability remain just as important.
All the Basecamp properties operate with a strong focus on responsible tourism, and this is one of the reasons we have included them in the Expert Africa programme. They are key funders and supporters of the community Koiyaki Guiding School, located right next to Basecamp Eagle View. This is the only community guiding school in Kenya, and with the help of various supporters, it trains local Maasai in safari guiding. Around 80 percent of the young men and women who have passed through the school have been able to get full-time employment as a result. Basecamp has also installed computers at the guiding school, and when the guides are not training there, the school offers heavily subsidised computer courses to the local community. If you're interested, it's normally possible to make a brief, informal visit to the school: talk to the lodge manager.
Among other Basecamp projects are HIV outreach programmes, the construction of eight boreholes and tree planting, with 70,000 saplings planted to date.
Our view
Location, community engagement and responsible tourism are the key elements here, which makes for a positive impact stay in the Mara. The views are exceptional for this reserve, where the terrain is generally fairly flat. The camp holds its own in terms of comfort and style against most mid-range camps in the Mara.
Kenya expert
Geographics
- Location
- Maasai Mara Conservancies, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- We would spend at least three nights at Basecamp Eagle View, in order to fully experience the Naboisho Conservancy. However if you wanted to spend longer in the conservancy, then consider a few nights in the simple Basecamp Dorobo – which is more of a fly-camp and just a few kilometres from Basecamp’s Eagle View.
If you’d like to experience a different part of the Mara, another alternative would be to combine Basecamp’s Eagle View with Basecamp Maasai Mara, an hour’s drive away near the Talek Gate of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. - Directions
- The flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Naboisho airstrip takes about an hour followed by around 20 minute drive from the airstrip.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- When we last visited the camp in March 2019, we thought the food was unfussy, hearty and although not fine-dining, it was really quite good.
For breakfast, toast and fresh fruit were on the table, and the waiter took our order for a cooked breakfast. This included eggs of your choice, bacon, sausages, baked beans and sweet pancakes.
For lunch we were served a creamy garlicky chicken pasta, followed by homemade banana ice cream.
For dinner we had a thick and tasty bowl of roasted tomato and pepper soup served with a hot bread roll. The main course was vegetable risotto. Pudding was pineapple upside-down cake, followed by tea and coffee.
Dietary requirements can be catered for, but the camp does need advance notice in order to be able to accommodate guests properly. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- With advance notice, Basecamp Eagle View can arrange for guests to eat on their private verandas.
- Drinks included
- Drinks are not included at Basecamp’s Eagle View.
Special interests
- Solo Travel
- With its low rates, Eagle View offers excellent-value and is one of the most economical options for solo travel in the Maasai Mara. The shared activities and welcoming, communal atmosphere mean you’re never left on your own unless you so choose.
- See ideas for Solo Travel
- Cultural experiences
- The camp is closely linked to the community guiding school nearby, as well as a local school and women’s arts centre. A few hours spent learning about the lives of the Maasai people is a very worthwhile addition to your stay.
- See ideas for Cultural experiences
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Basecamp Eagle View is reluctant to take children below the age of 7 years, as the camp is unfenced and in an area with quite a lot of big game.
- Property’s age restrictions
- Children under the age of 15 are not permitted to do safari walks.
- Special activities & services
- There is a 'Dorobo' club which teaches children how to use bows and arrows and do face painting.
- Equipment
- Basecamp Eagle View do not have any special equipment for children, although they can do special meals and have some board games in the lounge. They can also arrange for someone from housekeeping to watch the children should parents which to do an activity without them. However please note that members of housekeeping are not specially trained in childcare.
- Generally recommended for children
- Basecamp Eagle View is quite a wild camp without any completely interconnected family chalets. It is set on a steep hillside, with sheer drops from the verandas and main areas. Expert Africa don’t recommend it for children under 12.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Basecamp Eagle View
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Basecamp Eagle View have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
86% success
71% success
17% success
14% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- Not only can guests charge their batteries in their rooms, but the power is so reliable that they can use hair dryers too – a rarity in the bush!
- Communications
- There is cellphone reception at Basecamp Eagle View, as well as Wi-Fi internet access in the main area.
- TV & radio
- No
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- There is running hot and cold water in the rooms and bottled drinking water is also provided.
Sustainability
Local employment to empower the Maasai
Located on a natural hilltop with remarkable views of Kenya’s Maasai Mara region, Eagle View Camp undertakes a wide range of sustainability practices including the preservation of wildlife and community development, which make the lodge a prime example of eco-tourism in the region. One of the initiatives the lodge is particularly involved in is creating employment opportunities for the locals.
To achieve this, the lodge is a partner of Koiyaki Community Guiding School, which offers training courses for students aiming to become guides. Nevertheless, with a cost of 2300USD for an 18-month programme, students are almost entirely dependent on outside funding. Through its mother company, Basecamp, Eagle View offers work placement opportunities and is annually sponsoring two students. Additionally, the lodge is sponsoring employees with great potential. One example is Manfred, who started off as a housekeeper in 2000, and in 2006 passed his Guide Certification Exam sponsored by Basecamp.
Offering training is especially important, as Maasai guides make guests’ experience more authentic by immersing them in their cultural values as well as the tribe’s ethnic traditions. Fundamentally, the gratifying interaction between travelers and locals creates mutual benefits for both parties. Manfred in particularly is a strong believer that it is his responsibility to educate the guests in eco-living and sees the sharing of cultural differences a way to learn and evolve.
By supporting community employment and empowerment, Eagle View not only allows locals to generate income, but also ensures that the cultural differences of Maasai community are shared. It therefore comes as no surprise that Eagle View is a Silver Eco-rated camp, named one of the Top 25 best Eco Lodges in the World by National Geographic Traveler 2013.
See more great sustainability projects in Kenya
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- All the staff at Basecamp Eagle View have basic first-aid training, and there are first-aid kits in the vehicles and at camp. The nearest doctor or hospital is in Talek, 20km away and about an hour by road.
The camp has links to the flying doctor service for more serious emergencies, and there is a private airstrip in front of the camp that they can use. - Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Basecamp Eagle View has several askaris patrolling the camp for animals, and guests are escorted to their chalets at night.
- Fire safety
- Fire extinguishers are installed in every chalet and in the main areas, and all the staff are trained to use them.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Full laundry service – included (with the exception of underwear)
- Money
- There are currently no safes in the room and so guests can store valuables with reception.
- Accepted payment on location
- Guests at Basecamp Eagle View can settle their bill using Visa cards without any surcharge, though MasterCard and Amex are not accepted. Cash payments can be made in US dollars and Kenyan shillings.
Other lodges in Maasai Mara Conservancies
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Kicheche Bush Camp
Kicheche Bush Camp is a smart and intimate tented camp with a relaxed atmosphere and the perfect base in the Mara for keen photographers.
Kicheche Mara
Kicheche Mara Camp has just eight tents and a rustic and comfortable feel. It is set by a stream in a pretty area of the Mara ecosystem's Mara North Conservancy.
Kicheche Valley
Kicheche Valley is a boutique tented camp in a wooded district of the Mara ecosystem's Naboisho Conservancy, with plenty of wildlife in the area.
Naboisho Camp
Naboisho Camp is one of the most luxurious of the handful of camps in the Naboisho Conservancy. It offers day and night game drives, game walks and full creature comforts in the bush.
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara is a small traditional camp that appeals to safari traditionalists, located in one of the Maasai Mara’s quiet conservancies.
Elephant Pepper Camp
Elephant Pepper Camp is a small 10-tent bush camp, put together in the traditional "campaign" style, and including a large honeymoon/family tent.
Encounter Mara
Encounter Mara is located in the private Naboisho Conservancy – a game-rich area of the Mara ecosystem – and offers a contemporary take on the traditional, low-impact luxury safari camp.
Serian
Serian is a luxury tented camp on the east bank of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy. It is the sister camp of Ngare Serian, on the west bank.
Mara Plains Camp
Mara Plains is one of the very best camps in the Mara ecosystem. Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just outside the Mara reserve, it has access to three wildlife-viewing areas.
Kicheche Fly Camp
Kicheche Walking Wilderness Fly Camp is a temporaray dome tent camp set up for participants in Kicheche's two-day walking safari between Kicheche Valley and Kicheche Bush Camp.
Porini Lion Camp
Porini Lion Camp is a pioneering, community focused eco-camp, with excellent guides and game viewing, in the predator-rich, Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Hemingways Ol Seki
Magnificently located tented lodge on a bluff looking south across the Naboisho Conservancy toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Ol Kinyei Adventure
Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp is a satelllite of the larger Porini Mara Camp. Both of them are located in the Maasai-owned Ol Kinyei conservancy, the oldest community conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild is a rustic and traditional safari camp in the Lemek Conservancy, with just three tents and limited electricity.
Ngare Serian
The luxurious Ngare Serian and its sister camp Serian face each other across the Mara River on the western side of the Mara North Conservancy
Porini Mara Camp
Porini Mara Camp is a small, pioneering eco-camp in the first private conservancy in the Mara region, with comfortable accommodation and a range of activities.
Offbeat Ndoto
Small and intimate, Offbeat Mara is set in a valley above the (often dry) Olare Orok River within the Mara North Conservancy.
Cottars 1920s Camp
Cottar's 1920s Camp is a classic, luxury tented camp with a 1920s safari theme, located in its own conservancy on the southeast border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Karen Blixen Camp
Karen Blixen Camp sits on a meander of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy, just beyond the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Basecamp Leopard Hill
With six beautiful tents, Basecamp Leopard Hill is a smart safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Leleshwa
Leleshwa was a delightful, boutique safari camp on the picturesque banks of a tributary of the Talek, with an extensive, little visited game area on its doorstep.
Mahali Mzuri
Mahali Mzuri is a strikingly modern tented camp in the Virgin Limited Edition group, in a remote part of the Mara ecosytem's Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It has lovely views and all the luxuries of a five-star hotel.
Saruni Mara
Saruni Mara is a luxurious permanent lodge, on the remote northern edge of the Mara North Conservancy, with stunning views, good guiding and very private and comfortable rooms.
Mara Nyika
Mara Nyika is one of the newer additions to the Naboisho Conservancy and offers a luxurious and exclusive safari.
Basecamp Wilderness
Basecamp Wilderness Camp is a simple, traditional tented camp, set in a remote valley in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Mara ecoystem.
Mara Bushtops
Mara Bushtops is a luxury safari hotel on a private concession, outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the emphasis on comfort, relaxation and good food and wine.
Cottars Private House
Cottar's Private House is one of the few truly luxurious, modern private houses in the Mara ecosystem, spoiling its guests with first-rate staff, a swimming pool and wonderful views.
Entumoto
Entumoto is a high-end tented camp, with a swimming pool, situated in a very pretty location on the east side of the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
