Hemingways Ol Seki Mara: The 2027 Guide
Hemingways Ol Seki Mara at a glance
Hemingways Ol Seki Mara is a ten-tent camp on a rocky bluff in the Naboisho Conservancy, north-east of the Masai Mara reserve. Night drives, walks and off-road driving are allowed. Rooms start from about USD 810 per person a night, and the airstrip is ten minutes away.
Hemingways Ol Seki Mara sits high on a rocky bluff above the Naboisho Conservancy, with ten tents and a position inside one of the quietest conservancies in the Mara. Naboisho covers about 50,000 acres and is shared by only around nine small camps, so the game drives feel private in a way the busier parts of the reserve cannot offer.
You Look Down On The Plains, Not Across Them
The difference hits you straight away. Most Mara camps sit on the valley floor looking out across flat grassland, but Ol Seki is high enough on its bluff that you see the land stacked in layers: the waterhole directly below, the open plains of Naboisho beyond, and hills fading into the distance.
The Library tent is where drinks are served before dinner, and the view wraps round you on three sides. The Sunset Deck steps down from there to a big fire pit where sundowners happen every evening. It is the kind of place where you sit down for one drink and look up an hour later wondering where the time went.
The pool sits below the deck between the rocks, so you can swim while elephants and baboons come down to the waterhole.
Spot | What it is | When to be there |
The bluff | Layered views over the waterhole, the Naboisho plains and the hills | Sunrise, straight from your bed |
Library tent | Drinks with views on three sides | Before dinner |
Sunset Deck | Big fire pit for sundowners | Every evening |
Pool | Set between the rocks above the waterhole | Midday, between drives |
The Tents And The Two Villas
The tents here do not look like the rectangular canvas boxes you see at most Mara camps. They are octagonal, domed, and raised on polished hardwood platforms, with glass fronts facing east. The sunrise lands on the bed, which means you do not need to get up to see it.
Inside, white linen and drapes keep things light and airy. The bathroom is behind the sleeping area with a full indoor setup, but the outdoor shower is the one worth using, open to the sky and facing the plains. One guest was mid-shower when an elephant walked past at close range.
Room | How many | Sleeps | Best for |
Nina tent | 8 | 2 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child aged 8+ | Couples and small families |
Simba Villa | 1 | Up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 children | Families and groups who want privacy |
Chui Villa | 1 | Up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 children | Families and groups who want privacy |
Simba And Chui Have Their Own Chef, Vehicle And Guide
The two private villas each come with a dedicated chef, a private safari vehicle and their own guide. Families or groups who book one do not share anything with the main camp unless they want to. Meals are cooked and served separately, drives leave whenever the group is ready, and the villa runs as a camp within the camp.
For the price, it is one of the most private set-ups in the Mara. It changes Ol Seki from a small, intimate camp into something completely exclusive.
The Guides Grew Up Here And Drive In Red Shukas
The guiding team is local Maasai from the Naboisho area, and they guide in their red shukas rather than the usual khaki uniform. It changes the feel of the drive from the first morning, and the knowledge behind it is real. These guides grew up on this land. They know the drainage lines, the waterholes, and where the big cats were yesterday.
Night drives and walking safaris are both possible because the camp is in a conservancy, not the national reserve, and off-road driving is allowed. The conservancy also borders the reserve, so you can do a full day in the main Mara for the migration and the river crossings from July to October. On those days you pay the reserve park fee, USD 100 per adult from January to June and USD 200 from July to December, set by the Narok County Government. Do not buy tickets on the KWS eCitizen portal, as they are not valid at the Mara gates. We prepay them for you.
The camp is unfenced, and after dinner an armed escort walks you back to your tent. On a quiet night the lions are close enough that you hear them clearly from the path, and that stays with you long after the trip is over.
Activity | Allowed here? | Good to know |
Local Maasai guides | Yes | They guide in red shukas and grew up on this land |
Night drives | Yes | Included on stays of three nights or more |
Walking safaris | Yes | One guided walk is included in the rate |
Off-road driving | Yes | Allowed in the conservancy, not in the reserve |
Day in the main reserve | Yes | Park fee of USD 100 to 200 a day applies |
Walking at night | With an escort | The camp is unfenced |
You Choose Where Each Meal Happens
The kitchen does not lock you into one dining room. Breakfast might be in the dining tent one morning and out on the plains the next, after an early drive with the vehicle parked nearby. Lunch is usually under the trees. Dinner can move to the fire pit deck or out under the stars if you mention it to the kitchen in the morning.
Coffee arrives at your tent before the wake-up call. A quiet knock, a tray, and ten minutes on the deck watching the plains wake up before the vehicle leaves. On a three-night stay, that routine alone is worth the extra night.
Children, Flights And How Long To Stay
Children aged 8 and over can stay in the Nina tents. In the Simba and Chui villas there is no age limit, so families with younger children should book a villa. The guides are good with children on drives.
Three nights works best, because Naboisho rewards a slower pace. A morning drive, a walk, a night drive and a long afternoon by the pool do not fit comfortably into two days, and the camp’s included night drive and bush breakfast need a three-night stay. The peak months fill early. January to mid-June and November to mid-December are quieter, cheaper, and the resident wildlife does not go anywhere. The camp closes for part of the long rains, usually from mid-April to late May. Our best time to visit guide helps with dates.
The Ol Seki Naboisho airstrip is about ten minutes from camp, and the flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport takes 45 to 60 minutes. Pack everything in a soft duffel, because hard cases do not fit in the small planes and the weight limit is 15 kg. Our flying packages page explains how it works.
Rates And What They Include
These are the latest published rack rates per person a night, two sharing. We confirm the 2027 figure when we quote.
Season | Nina tent, per person sharing | Private villa, per night |
Regular (January to mid-June, November to mid-December) | From about USD 810 | From about USD 4,050 |
High (late June, September, October) | From about USD 1,195 | From about USD 5,940 |
Premium (July, August, Christmas and New Year) | From about USD 1,305 | From about USD 6,520 |
Included in the camp rate: full board, sundowners, house wines, beers and spirits, two shared game drives a day in Naboisho, one guided bush walk, a bush breakfast and night drive on stays of three nights or more, return transfers from Ol Seki airstrip, the in-tent minibar and Wi-Fi.
Not included: the Naboisho conservation fees (USD 130 conservancy fee plus a USD 5 Reserve Fund fee per adult a night, or USD 65 per child), the Kenya eTA (USD 34), hot air balloon flights (USD 550), premium champagne and spirits, tips for the staff (USD 15 to 20 a day), and Narok County park fees on days you go into the main reserve (USD 100 a day from January to June, USD 200 from July to December). When you book a full safari package with us, all the conservation and park fees are worked out and paid in advance.
Questions Guests Ask
How Does Ol Seki Compare To Other Naboisho Camps?
Ol Seki’s bluff gives it a view the valley-floor camps cannot match. The trade-off is that you drive down from the hill to reach the plains, which adds a few minutes to each game drive. The wildlife is the same across the conservancy, so the choice comes down to whether the view or being right on the grassland matters more to you. For a different conservancy, compare Olare Motorogi.
Is A Private Villa Worth The Price?
For families or groups who want total privacy, yes. You are running your own safari on your own schedule, and it is the only option for children under 8. For couples who enjoy the social side of a small camp, the Nina tents are the better fit.
Can I Visit The Main Reserve From Ol Seki?
Yes. A full day in the reserve is easy to arrange, and from July to October it is how you see the river crossings. Reserve park fees apply on those days only.
How Do I Start Planning?
Send us your dates and we will check Ol Seki’s availability. With only ten tents it fills faster than bigger camps. Start a booking if your dates are fixed, or tell us what matters most and we will build the trip from there.
Plan Your Ol Seki Safari
With only ten rooms, eight Nina tents and two private villas, Hemingways Ol Seki Mara sells out months ahead, especially for the migration from July to October and over Christmas and New Year. Tell us your dates, how many of you are travelling, and whether you want to fly straight in from Nairobi Wilson or connect from the coast. Our team at Sekenani will check availability directly with Hemingways and send an itemised quote within 24 hours, with your flights, transfers and Naboisho fees all included.
- Email: [email protected]
- WhatsApp: +254 180 297 751
- Online booking: Get a Quote
Related Reading
- Walking safaris in Masai Mara
- Night game drives in Masai Mara
- The Maasai
- Elephants in Masai Mara
- Olare Motorogi Conservancy
- Masai Mara travel tips
- Photography safari Masai Mara
- Masai Mara safari guide
- The migration
- Is Masai Mara safe?
Sources
Written by David Njunge, TRA-licensed safari guide with over 10 years in the Masai Mara. Edited by Cess Wambui, travel consultant, BSc Tourism and Hospitality Management. Verified for the 2027 season.
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