Reviews of Little Governors Camp
(97%) From 15 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Little Governors Camp review
wonderful location and staff and quite exceptional standard of food. Our balloon trip was brilliant.
Not nearly as much game as we expected but for someone who is a first time safari visitor probably OK.
Our guide, Moses, on our two morning drives almost said nothing. On both mornings he drove for almost an hour without explaining what he was looking for or what we were doing. Gave the impression he didn't want to be bothered talking. Fortunately the amazing scenery made up for his silence. He did a bit more talking in the evening drives when prompted. I think he is tired of the job and I would feel sorry for anyone only visiting this camp for their safari experience and getting Moses.
Altogether a fabulous place to stay. Moses needs a break.
Expert Africa comments
We were so pleased that these travellers enjoyed the camp but wanted to follow up with Little Governors about the disappointing guiding experience. Little Governors were most surprised to hear of this as they assured us that Moses is actually one of their most requested, longstanding and senior guides (also noted by previous Expert Africa guests in feedback). They were really sorry that these travellers didn’t gel with him and would have been very happy to arrange an alternative guide if the manager had been made aware during their stay.
Smiley, warm and welcoming!
This camp is a gem. The location is lovely, but it is the staff who make one's stay so special. Every one of them was cheery and very welcoming.
We really liked the individual dining arrangement, as opposed to communal tables. This system gave us freedom to dine when we wanted (within reason) and the opportunity to enjoy time alone during breakfast and lunch overlooking the scenic marsh. In the evenings we loved having a drink in the bar before moving to the candlelit area for dinner. The menu provided a nice choice and the food was excellent.
Our safari guide, Moses, was very experienced and he provided us with some outstanding Lion and Hyena encounters. However, the spotted cats proved elusive. We were able to get some super photos.
This is one of the best camps we have stayed at during our African travels. It combined very well with our other camp, Karen Blixen.
Superb. Treated extremely well.
George, the manager, did everything possible to ensure our stay was a success.
Our guide, Isaac, who we have known for some time, was excellent and was very empathetic with what we wanted.
Henry who looked after out tent etc. was excellent. He anticipated what we needed often before we knew them ourselves and was always there to help.
Stanley, in charge of our table, was also excellent and was wholly attentive and helpful throughout.
We were extremely limited in our safaris (perhaps 4 miles by 1 mile maximum in terms of area) but the camp maximised our experience.
It was a great team effort..
Expert Africa comments
These travellers arrived in the Mara during a period of unprecedented, heavy, out-of-season rains. We were very pleased that their stay was made as good as possible, but we greatly sympathised with their predicament in being stuck on the west bank of the Mara throughout their stay as the little ferry-bridge connecting Little Governors Camp to the east bank and the main part of the reserve was out of commission. Little Governors Camp is situated in the zone of the reserve known as the Mara Conservancy or Mara Triangle, which is an excellent and well managed part of the reserve. However, in January 2019, as the Mara River repeatedly burst its banks and much of the region was under water, it became impossible to drive very far out of camp in any direction. We were delighted to see from these clients' wildlife feedback that they managed none the less to see plenty of the Mara's abundant browsers and grazers, as well as lots of elephants, lions, a leopard and 4 black rhinos.
Little Governors Camp review
Excellent camp. The situation for George was challenging due to the weather. However he was very keen to ensure that we were well looked after and interested in ensuring that we had a good time.
Read more about the whole safariMagical Safari at Little Governors Camp
Little Governors was even better than I had anticipated. The little boat crossing to get to the camp is a great start to the experience and when we walked into camp we were blown away with the panoramic view over the marsh which is literally in the camp and where there were hippos wallowing and buffalo wading and grazing. Sat in a directors chair overlooking this marsh baboons also come and go as well as waterbuck and zebra, so you can have a ‘game drive’ from the comfort of camp.
The staff are very attentive and can’t do enough for you, including an armed guard to take you back and forward from your tent at night. This is really important as we had tent 17 and going back to it one night we were less than 20 metres from a huge hippo that was at the side of our tent so I was really glad that Phillip ( and his rifle) was present. It was also comforting at night when you can hear animals rustling up against the tent to know that Philip was stationed at the tree opposite us!
The game drives here are in an excellent location and or driver, Jackson, was outstanding. Although we were only here for 3 days we developed an incredible rapport with him and his knowledge, consideration and skilful driving reinforced the fact that he was an accredited silver guide. He showed us a leopard ( which we hadn’t seen on our previous Safari) as well as a Wildebeest crossing of the Mara river of at least 100,000 animals, which was a once in a lifetime experience. Jackson really is an amazing guide and a credit to Little Governors.
The meals in camp were of a very good standard and to have them with such a wonderful view and attentive staff was a real treat.
The tents are ‘glamping’ of a very high standard, with a fantastic en suite and the hot water bottles at night are a lovely touch as is the insect spray covered in its own Safari jacket, which is incredibly effective at killing the mosquitos such that we were not bitten at all. The wake up call with a hot drink is also a very nice touch.
The only negative point is that the morning game drive starts at 06.30 and you get back in camp after breakfast is finished and so you have to take a packed breakfast with you. Whilst breakfast in the savanna may sound appealing the quality leaves much to be desired. After 1 day the four of us had the vehicle to ourselves and so arranged with Jackson to leave at 7.30 after breakfast in camp, which was much better.
The Maasai Mara is busy in August but the stay at Little Governors is quiet and relaxed with it only having 17 tents. I would recommend this camp to anyone as a base in the Mara and if you get Jackson as well you really will have an unbelievable time.
Highly Recommend this camp
This was the stand out camp on our trip. I could not fault it in any way. As with our previous two camps our guide, Collins, was fantastic.
The abundance of wildlife in the Masai Mara is jaw droppingly spectacular. We spent four days here and enjoyed wonderfully diverse game drives.
The camp itself is beautifully laid out overlooking a watering hole which offers an abundance of wildlife at all times. I actually looked out of my tent at night to see a hippo walking past!
The staff were wonderful and Nicholas, the manager arranged for a doctor to supply medication from an insect bite that had become problematic.
Rooms/tents were spacious, clean and comfortable. Hot water always available.
The food here is absolutely stunning, I would highly recommend a stay.
Wonderful camp.
We love Little Governors. It has an excellent ambience and is in a great position. The provision of drinking water is excellent.
George is an extremely helpful manager and delivered on everything we asked. Perhaps the real strength of the camp are the staff. We like them all but would single out Moses as an excellent ambassador for Governors. He is excellent.
Isaac was our guide and we had him in 2004. He is an excellent guide and we got on really well with him. He tuned into the group's needs very quickly and we would very highly recommend him.
We really like all of the staff at the camp and they are a real 'selling' point.
Fabulous Safari Experience
Absolutely loved every part of this camp, from the boat ride across to the camp, to the wake up call at 6am with tea and coffee delivered to our room, to our expert safari guide, and the beautiful camp as a location. The rooms, and public areas were perfect, and really looked after well. The staff on camp looking after us, including the staff patrolling during the night so that we were safe from any wildlife, were really brilliant - so friendly, attentive and efficient.
The lunches were brilliant, and dinners also really nice. We loved our safari guide too, who found us all the animals we wanted to see and showed a huge amount of expertise and experience at spotting animals.
Couldn't recommend the Little Governors any more!!
Wonderful return to this lovely camp.
This is our 3rd visit to Little Governors. We first came with the family in 1995 - very little has changed, we loved it then and we love it now. It is a real tented camp in an amazing location right in the heart of the Mara. This position makes for a fantastic safari experience.
The marsh outside the tents is teaming with game. No fences mean the animals frequently come into the camp. Usually warthog and zebra but elephant are never far away and hippo are frequent night visitors.
The tents are well equipped with large comfy beds and excellent hot showers. The electric light is an addition since we first came!
Tables are placed outside in the shade of trees for breakfast and lunch. There is no formality but the food is good and the staff very attentive. The tables are moved under cover for dinner but the sides of the dining tent are open so that you can hear the night sounds. We were well looked after in camp by 2 Stanleys, one was our waiter, the other took care of our tent.
We were collected from the plane by our guide Robert who stayed with us throughout our stay. Initially a little quiet, it soon became obvious that he was a warm and friendly guy and an excellent guide.
Our morning game drive began at 6.30, being in the heart of the Reserve we were seeing game from the moment we left camp. The time of year means an abundance of wildlife. Large numbers of Elephant, Hippo, Giraffe and Buffalo. Vast herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and Antelope providing ample food for Lion, Cheetah and Leopard.
Just a fantastic safari experience and being able to start early meant we had some special moments to ourselves. On our last day Robert took us into the Mara Triangle in search of Rhino. Astonishingly we were lucky enough to see one. A great end to our safari!
In this camp you are seriously close to wild animals. It can get very noisy at night, lion and hyena sound closer than they are but you do have to expect the snuffling of hippo eating just the other side of your tent wall! It is a fantastic experience as long as you are comfortable with it.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will be back!
Little Governors Camp review
Little Governors Camp was very nice, and had an amazing setting. The drives were good and the service was also very good. The evening meals were a bit hit and miss, and somehow they have not created the welcoming vibe that we got at all the other hotels. It felt like we were staying in a great hotel, while the other venues, largely because of the managers running it, created an atmosphere that made you feel very welcome and looked after. Could really use a swimming pool as well.
Read more about the whole safari
