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Founded by five individuals with a passion for wildlife in their 50s, Great Plains Conservation is a testament to what sensitive, low-volume and low-impact tourism can do to enhance, not degrade, some of the world's last pristine threatened environments. A true hybrid operation led by Dereck and Beverly Joubert - award-winning filmmakers and photographers who have been championing some of Africa's most incredible wild places for over 30 years; Great Plains Conservation invites guests into a special world where they not only enjoy some of the most luxurious safaris Africa has to offer, but where their money is put to good use to ensure these incredible experiences for generations to come. In fact, through the brand's Great Plains Foundation, tourism dollars are put into protecting and preserving this land that you will inevitably fall in love with.
I was a recent guest at two of Great Plains Conservation's camps in Kenya, Mara Plains and Mara Nyika. Two incredibly different camps set in the iconic Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Southern Kenya, these two experiences are perfect for those looking to see some of Kenya's most stunning landscapes and wildlife.
Dereck and Beverly Joubert are both "National Geographic Explorer's At Large", so you can imagine just how incredible it might be to stay at camps conceptualized, designed and built by individuals who know the area so intimately. From the moment I stepped on property, at Mara Plains, I was blown away at the experience and sensitive details that make Great Plains Conservation so special.
Mara Plains is a site to behold, located on the Maasai Mara's Northern Boundary in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. The camp was recently refurbished and is one of Kenya's three Relais and Chateaux properties. A large, theatrical kitchen was added near the main central dining area and this camp exudes old world elegance and charm, a true dream for anyone who has dreamt of a safari their entire life.The conservancy gives access to 40,000 hectares of land and the conservation fees paid by guests go towards the support of over 1,000 Maasai families.
Set along the Ntiakitiak River in a lush forest, guests notice the stunning geography upon entering the camp over a small river. Once stepping on property, it's clear no detail was overlooked. Luxury suites feature draped canvas ceilings, hand-hewn wooden floors, wooden doors from Lamu island off Kenya's coast, and objects from a bygone era of safari that are hard to come by.
Copper tubs in the corner of the suites invite you in after an afternoon game drive. Each suite also offers professional cameras and lenses for each guest to use on a complimentary basis which is truly an incredible offer - and appropriate in a camp designed by two renowned photographers.
The Olare Motorogi Conservancy has one of the lowest vehicle densities in the Maasai Mara and one of the highest concentrations of big cats on the entire continent. Elephants, hippos, leopards and lions are just some of the incredible wildlife that will provide you with a serenade of song as you drift off to sleep at night. What I loved about Mara Plains is that the staff was so kind and gracious and went the extra mile to be sure our experience was flawless.
The trackers and guides who lead your game drives each day are experts and absolutely an integral part of the experience. They make everything happen and know the animals' patterns inside and out. When you say you want to see a cheetah, they will never guarantee it - but will traverse the land the best as they possibly can to find you that cheetah. These trackers and guides are the best in the business and are here to be sure you have the most unforgettable safari experience possible.
The cuisine at Mara Plains is absolutely top notch. The kitchen works hard to design a menu that will not only impress with international specialties, but local dishes and game meats for anyone bold enough to try. Everything we tasted from the freshly baked morning pastries, to green salads at lunch, to the tuna at dinner - was outstanding and presented in the most beautiful way.
The staff who work at Mara Plains have a way of projecting the most friendly energy with a genuine desire to make your time here memorable. I was on property for only one night, and it was pure magic.
Every game drive was filled with unique experiences and animals that seemed to greet us around every corner.
Hyenas played in packs, scavenging the ground for leftover pieces left behind from last night's kill.
Leopards stalked antelope just a stone's throw in front of our safari vehicle.
Mother elephants and their young strolled through the bushy areas of vegetation to find a snack.And, giraffes seemed to elegantly glide along the horizon.
My two additional nights spent with Great Plains Conservation were at the stunning Mara Nyika Camp, a part of the company's reserve collection. Again, another Relais & Chateaux property, Mara Nyika is incredibly intimate; so intimate that it offers only 3 luxury guest suites and 2, 2-bedroom family suites. The suites here are remarkable. I stayed in one of the family suites which felt like a palace - featuring two bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms and ample outdoor deck space to take-in the sunsets with a gin and tonic in-hand.
Mara Nyika is tucked into the 20,000 hectare Naboisho Conservancy. The camp is all about the details and true privacy. The suites are all scattered along an elevated boardwalk that meanders through groves of indigenous trees. You feel as if you have this entire conservancy to yourself as it is the second largest in the Mara - and means, "coming together", as it was formed by 500 local families to protect the area. Great Plains Conservation has put a great deal of effort into conserving not only animals and land, but the indigenous trees that grow throughout various countries in Africa.
So, as a guest here, or any of their other camps, you know your money is truly working to give back to the people and the land that make this experience possible.
What I love about Mara Nyika is that you can indulge in intimate private dining moments, and set-up experiences that are imagined for you and experienced only by you. Like Mara Plains, and the other Great Plains Conservation camps, photography equipment is provided so you can get snaps of the iconic animals that roam these plains and skies.
Elephants, wildebeests and cheetahs all live within this conservancy and I was lucky to see them all while visiting. Our guides and trackers were superb and made every effort to make each game drive unforgettable. My favorite drives are evening drives because of the opportunity to stop the vehicle, get out, have a glass of wine and take-in your surroundings.
We spent two nights at Mara Nyika and found the camp to be run in the most gracious, elegant and seemingly effortless style. The camp manager was a delight, spending each night at the fire talking with guests and recapping their day out in the plains.
The food was divine, served in multi-course fashion, with dietary restrictions and requests taken into account by the kitchen. My favorite meal at this camp was breakfast with homemade egg dishes, fresh fruit, vegetables and coffee - the perfect end to an early morning game drive and welcome back to the camp.
Over the course of three nights with Great Plains Conservation I fell in love with Kenya all over again.
Not only is this country's wildlife, people and scenery incredible, but the sheer magic of what you experience while on safari here is truly unforgettable.
Over many safaris in my past throughout Kenya, I found Great Plains Conservation's camps to be not only incredibly luxurious, but truly built and run in the spirit of conservation and the power of photography as an element of preservation.
I was unimaginably impressed how this company puts the true time, energy and resources into making sure their operations not only exceed the desires of their guests, but are sustainable and conscious.
This philosophy, which they've had before it was trendy, is truly the mark of a brand who understands their place and their power within the environment in which they are operating.
As a traveler, with choices to make, choosing Great Plains Conservation puts you in-line with what our planet needs today, which is mindful tourism.
