Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp: Our full report
Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp is a simple, budget camp of dome tents in the 65km² Ol Kinyei Conservancy, an exclusive ...
... 18,000 acre Maasai wildlife sanctuary on the northern border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.The camp is linked to Porini Mara Camp and is able to offer a similar level of high-quality safari experience, with wildlife viewing in 4x4 safari vehicles escorted by excellent Maasai safari guides and wildlife spotters.
Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp's simple, mosquito-proof dome tents are 1.8m high and have an inner ground area of roughly 3m by 3m. They accommodate two adults, and can also take a small child sharing with parents – although we feel that this may be a bit too cosy.
Behind each tent a basic bush bathroom provides privacy and essential functionality, incorporating a flush toilet, wash basin and a “safari shower", with hot water brought on request to the bucket hanging above the shower area. You can rent a towel however we recommend bringing your own with you. Toiletries are not provided.
Sleeping arrangements in the tents consist of fabric-covered foam mattresses on the tent floor, and you can either bring your own sleeping bag or hire one when booking (hired sleeping bags are dry-cleaned in Nairobi between bookings). Pillows are provided. We would advise bringing your own light-weight sleeping bag liner, which can either be placed inside your sleeping bag, or on top for warmer nights.
Full-time staff look after the camp, clean, cook and serve meals, and provide day and night security. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the dining tent, where you'll eat with other guests. The kitchen staff also provide picnic breakfasts and lunches if you're going on a full-day game drive into the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The activities at Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp are the same as at Porini Mara Camp. Game drives are in customised 4x4 safari vehicles taking a maximum of six, meaning everyone gets a window seat. These are led by qualified driver-guide from the local Maasai community, together with a spotter to act as an extra pair of eyes and ears. You can also do morning and afternoon nature walks.
There are only two camps in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, meaning that you are likely to see few other vehicles in the area. The wildlife here can be fantastic and we were told that the cheetah sightings here can be particularly good. Drives are mostly in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy or the neighboring Naboisho Conservancy, however an optional all-day game drive into the Maasai Mara National Reserve, is included in every 3-night stay.
It is also possible to arrange a visit to the local Maasai village of Emura-Dikirr where you can learn about Maasai culture and daily life in a rural community. This can be a fascinating experience however be aware that it can often be a case of ‘exit through the gift shop’.
Our view
We haven't yet had the opportunity to visit Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp, but as the camp is closely linked to Porini Mara Camp and shares some of that tented camp's infrastructure, services and guides, we would expect it to offer a well-managed and rewarding experience – but at a much lower price. Unlike at the much larger and more luxurious tented camps, at Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp the accommodation is much more like traditional, simple camping.
Kenya expert
Geographics
- Location
- Maasai Mara Conservancies, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 4 nights or more.
- Directions
- Most guests fly by scheduled safari flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Ol Seki airstrip in the Naboisho Conservancy (45 minutes flight). From here it is around a 20-minute drive to the camp.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- We have not had the chance to eat at Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp however we understand that the food is of a comparable quality to its sister camps, Porini Mara Camp and Porini Lion Camp. Good quality meals are prepared in the camp kitchen and based on our experiences at the Porini camps we expect the food to be both tasty and plentiful. The menu changes daily. Lunch is normally two courses and you may be able to enjoy a homemade quiche or pork chops served with rice and salad. Dinner is three courses; you would normally start with soup, which may be followed with roast beef, vegetables and potatoes, desert may then be a sweet tart or cheesecake.
- Dining style
- Group Meals
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Drinks included
- Bottled water is provided. Soft and alcoholic drinks are extra and reasonably priced.
Special interests
- Family holidays
- With simple, comfortable dome tents, Ol Kinyei offers a down-to-earth, great-value family safari in the wildlife-rich Mara ecosystem. The whole set-up has a feel of adventure, where families can fall asleep to the sounds of the bush around them.
- See ideas for Family holidays
Children
- Attitude towards children
- This is a simple, unfenced bush camp, which is better suited to older children.
- Property’s age restrictions
- Ol Kinyei accepts children over the age of eight.
- Special activities & services
- There are no child specific activities or services, however child meals can be arranged.
- Generally recommended for children
- This is a simple camp, with no frills, and no facilities for children. Whilst the camp accepts older children there is very little to keep them entertained.
- Notes
- Selenkay Adventure Camp is unfenced and best suited to children who thrive on a responsible appreciation of the wilderness.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Ol Kinyei Adventure
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp 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
80% success
60% success
25% success
20% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a back-up generator.
- Communications
- This is a remote bush camp and there are no Wi-Fi facilities. There is intermittent cell phone signal.
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- The camp uses bucket showers, however there are flush toilets in the bathrooms. Filtered drinking water is provided.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Staff are first-aid trained and there are well stocked first-aid kits on site. For anything more serious the nearest doctor is at Mara Sarova, around 40 minutes’ drive away.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Askaris, Maasai warriors, are on duty and you will be escorted to you tent after dark.
- Fire safety
- Fire extinguishers are present in the communal areas and are also close to each tent.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- None.
- Accepted payment on location
- Ol Kinyei only accepts cash payments, which can be made in US dollars, Kenyan shillings, Pounds and Euros.
Other lodges in Maasai Mara Conservancies
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