The popular safari lodge has a refreshed look, twenty years after it first opened in Kenya
Tucked away at the foot of the scenic Oloololo Escarpment at the rim of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya’s iconic Masai Mara Reserve, &Beyond Bateleur Camp has recently reopened following a complete rebuild. Twenty years after its first opening, this much loved classic in &Beyond’s portfolio of lodges has received a brand new look incorporating fresh ideas inspired by guest feedback and changing trends in hospitality.
The camp’s original designers, Fox Browne Creative, were charged with creating the lodge’s brand new look. To create a sense of continuity, they refreshed and upcycled a number of the camp’s original artefacts, antiques and furniture pieces, while high quality local artisans and suppliers were used wherever possible to maintain a sense of authenticity. The result is a refreshed accommodation that manages to maintains its much-loved classical and romantic safari feel.
The new design retains the vintage silver, soft worn leather, antique trunks and crystal decanters of the old camp, while incorporating new touches such as old world maps and elegant dark brass fitting that contrast with white marble surfaces. Usable floor space in the elegant guest tents has nearly doubled and the interiors appear more spacious through the use of a lighter colour palette and natural light. Ensuite bathrooms are flanked by private stone courtyards with spacious bathtubs, as well as indoor and al fresco showers. Sunken daybeds on the private verandas encourage idle afternoons without spoiling the breath-taking Mara views from everywhere inside the tent.
Early morning wake-up calls to enjoy the Mara’s diverse game viewing are accompanied by freshly brewed tea or coffee delivered through the conveniently placed butler hatches, while fences have been repositioned so that wildlife can come closer to the camp.
In addition to two new swimming pools with generous decks and unbeatable views, the camp also boasts a spa that provides a selection of treatment and massage options for single guests and couples looking to indulge in a shared experience. A well-equipped fitness centre with floor to ceiling roll-back glass walls looks out onto the Mara so guests feel as though they are working out in the midst of the game-filled plains, while the camp’s brand new Safari Shop offers some of the region’s best known designer and luxury products.
Coffee lovers will be thrilled with the addition of a bar that serves the best of Kenyan coffee by day and speciality safari drink gin cocktails by night, and after cocktails, guests can enjoy a multitude of new dining venues, from the pool deck to in-room or veranda dining. In keeping with the remainder of &Beyond’s East Africa circuit, &Beyond Bateleur Camp now has a family unit that consists of two guest tents with a shared sitting area.
Situated in the midst of the reserve’s astounding year-round concentration of animals, including the Great Wildebeest Migration, guests can enjoy an unsurpassed wildlife experience in terms of both the density and variety of species. On the plains of the Mara triangle, it’s only a short drive from important access points, with 2000 acres ideal for night drives, game walks and outside dining.
For more information, visit andBeyond.com.