Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp

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Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Overview

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The Masai Mara

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The Masai Mara is a vast wilderness abundant with a diverse range of fascinating wildlife, rolling plains, and lush forests. Located in the Mara North Conservancy, the heart of the Masai Mara ecosystem, Elephant Pepper Camp is the perfect base from which to explore the wonders of the Mara.

The vast, fertile plains of the Maasai Mara boasts a plethora of wildlife; with over 450 bird species and both resident and transient populations of lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, to name a few, the plains are dense with game. Elephant Pepper Camp is perfect for those wanting to observe the spectacle of the migration, classified amoung the “Seven Wonders of the World”, when, from July to November, over 1.3 million wildebeest and zebra cross from the Serengeti in search of greener pastures.

The camp’s remote location allows the stars to shine bright at night, undimmed by harsh lighting; guests enjoy the unique experience of listening to the sounds of lion, leopard and hyena foraging and hunting, whilst being cosseted with traditional and modern comforts such as a campfire and cosy duvets.

Upon waking, tea and freshly-baked biscuits ease guests into a morning of game drives or bush walks across the conservancy in the company of highly experienced local guides and wildlife rangers. Blankets warm the guests on night game drives back to camp after sundowners in the bush. Delicious Northern Italian cuisine, fresh baking and sensational salads complete the rustic luxury sensation.

Game Drives

The Elephant Pepper Camp guides are based in camp, in the Masai Mara, and know their backyard intimately. All the guides are Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, and some of our guides have guided in this area for 20 years!

Elephant Pepper Camp has open gamedrive vehicles. The current fleet are new, specially fitted, 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers. The vehicles are unrivalled with feature enhancements specifically designed for comfort and photography – open sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets. Guests will share gamedrives unless “exclusive use of vehicle” has been prebooked at an extra charge.

This is the best part of the Masai Mara – a year round game viewing experience like no other!

We are often asked why the gameviewing in Mara North Conservancy is better than in the Mara Reserve. The explanation is because cattle are not allowed into the Reserve, therefore from the months of November through to June, the grass is high within the Reserve, and the plains game, followed by their predators tend to avoid the Reserve, and stick to the Conservancy which has balanced grazing, and lush short green grass. During the months of July to October, when the zebra and wildebeest migration flood into the whole Mara eco-system, the grass in the Reserve is trampled and eaten, and gameviewing is similar within the Reserve and within the Conservancy.

Migration River Crossing

The great migration of thousands of zebra and wildebeest coming north from the arid Serengeti plains looking for fresh grazing mill around the whole of the fertile Mara eco-system for as long as the grazing lasts, usually about 4 to 5 months. The Mara River crossings happen during the middle of the day, when the animals are thirsty, come to the river to drink and are pushed across by the crowds of animals behind them. We recommend staying out for the whole day with a picnic lunch; the Elephant Pepper Camp drivers know all the crossings, including the smaller private areas that you can enjoy a few hours by the river away from the crowds.

Evening Game Drives

Elephant Pepper Camp, offers pre-dinner game drives with red-light spotlights. Gamedriving at dusk and early evening opens up a whole new world – hunting predators, aardvark.

Guided Walks

Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – animal tracks, flowers and micro-ecosystems.

Our manager Patrick is an experienced walking guide, and together with Masai from the local area, they can take you on a delightful ramble from camp – a whole new perspective of the eco-system around you.

Elephant Pepper Camp is also perfect for young explorers! Patrick loves organizing fun walks for kids within the camp. Little ones will learn how to make a fire, throw a rungu, fire a bow and arrow and track wildlife. As a memento of their adventure, children can take home their very own cast from the tracks they discovered!

Bush Breakfast and Sundowners

Take a moment to sit back, enjoy the spectacular views, the smells, the colours, and the gentle breeze.

Bush breakfasts are a chance to enjoy a full breakfast, al fresco, in the middle of the plains, surrounded by wildlife.

“Sundowners” are a safari tradition – after a day of safari; stop, watch the spectacular sunset; traditionally with a gin and tonic in hand!

Horse Safaris

Experience horseback riding across the African plains, through a wide variety of wildlife. Ride Kenya offer a 2 hour horse safari, ride amongst the wildlife from a gentle walk to a canter (depending on equestrian skill). The drive to Ride Kenya is approximately 30 – 45 minutes from Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp with a game drive on the way.

All the equipment is provided, including hat, riding boots, jodhpurs. They offer 3 different style of saddle to choose from – English, Trail or Western. All equipment is in immaculate condition.

On arrival guests will receive an introduction briefing followed by a riding assessment in the paddock to check riding ability and it’s a good opportunity for guests to familiarise themselves with the horse before heading out onto the open plains. Each ride has 2 guides, one leading and the other at the rear.

Duration is 2 hours and can be offered either in the morning or afternoon, minimum age is 14 years.

Cultural Visits

Known for their beautiful beadwork, spear in hand and bright red coloured “shukkas” (blankets worn as clothes); the Masai are our hosts, it is they that have kept this land pristine, living in harmony with their cattle and the incredible wildlife that the Mara is home to. They are a people who are proud of their heritage, and although they find some of the new western trappings useful – mobile phones, motor bikes, they prefer to continue to live in their traditional way.

Many of the Elephant Pepper Camp staff are Masai, and enjoy welcoming you to their home, not far from camp. The Masai live in semi-permanent huts known as Manyattas and it is the role of the wife to construct the hut from cattle dung and grass. The families will show you round their home for a fee (payable separately, ask the manager for details), and will want to take the opportunity to sell their traditional handicrafts – bargain hard!

Elephant Pepper Camp works closely with the community, and there are ways that you can get involved.

Weddings and Honeymoons

Honeymoons

There is nothing more romantic than a safari! Already an unforgettable, once in a lifetime and pampered experience; safaris offer incredible sunsets, romantic tents with spectacular views, and relaxed al fresco dinners.

All the tents at Elephant Pepper Camp are romantic with lovely views; the camp also has a Honeymoon Suite ideal for that very special romantic holiday.

Being a very special holiday, we often have special offers and upgrades for honeymooners.

Weddings

Over the years, Elephant Pepper Camp has hosted many beautiful weddings, blessings, and renewal of vows for our guests.

From small simple ceremonies involving merely a glass of champagne at the end of a gamedrive; to elaborate three day events, with over 15 guests taking over the whole property.

This is the greatest wildlife spectacle in the world!

Greater Mara covers an area of 8000 km sq, a vast fertile wilderness. The Mara is the northern part of the great Serengeti / Masai Mara ecosystem. The Mara is higher in altitude, cooler, has more hills, is more fertile and receives more rainfall (approx. 760mm per year) and is therefore lusher and greener than the long plains of the Serengeti.

Because of this abundance of grazing and vegetation, the Mara has dense populations of wildlife, both the plains game, Thompson’s gazelle, zebra, giraffe, topi, wildebeest, impala …, and therefore plentiful predators.

During the months of June to November, the majority of the zebra and wildebeest in this vast eco-system congregate on the lush fertile plains of the Mara, gathering nutrient, before returning south to the plains of the Serengeti at the end of the year, although of course, very many are resident within the Mara.

Of this vast wilderness, 70,000 acres, is the private conservancy of Mara North Conservancy. Gamedriving in this area is limited to only the camps based here. Being private, yet central to the vast Masai Mara eco-system, the Elephant Pepper guides have easy access to the reserve, zebra and wildebeest crossings, and outstanding gameviewing within the conservancy.

Climate

At an altitude of 5500 – 6400 ft, the days are warm, rising to maximum of 30 deg C, but comfortable with minimum humidity, and the evenings and early mornings are cool. Rainfall is mostly in April and May with an average of 760mm per year.

Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp