​​Mara Nyika,  meaning “Large Plains or Great Plains,” is the newest edition to the Great Plains Conservation family of camps in Kenya. While this intimate camp of just five tents and one 2-bedroom family suite is set in a valley, straddling a small stream, the light-coloured canvas tents were designed to sit under the canopy of umbrella thorn trees while still offering guests views out over the bush. Walkways from tents to the main area evoke the feeling of a treehouse under canvas and the camp’s ethic and inspiration is one of exploration and adventure.  Privacy is the key to Mara Nyika. Privacy to live, think, explore, be romantic and be pampered – all the while with one of the most spectacular backdrops Africa can provide.Mara Nyika allows guests to explore the private and exclusive 50,000-acre Naboisho Conservancy, the second largest conservancy in the greater Maasai Mara region. “Naboisho”, means “coming together” in the Maasai’s Maa language and represents the 500 local landowners who came together to Naboisho Conservancy. The conservancy model combines the conservation of nature and cultural heritage, tourism and enhancement of livelihoods for the local communities. Each guest’s stay supports over 500 Maasai families with a sustainable livelihood and helps to ensures the conservation of this vital corner Maasai Mara eco-system. Many guests may opt to spend a few days in Mara Nyika combined with a stay at either Mara Expedition or Mara Plains Camp to get exposure to all three wildlife areas, namely the private Olare Motorogi and Naboisho Conservancies and Maasai Mara Reserve. Each wildlife experience from our camps is unique and offers a different face of the incredible Maasai Mara ecosystem.Activities at Mara Nyika include safari drives (day & night) in some of the most luxurious wildlife viewing vehicles are available. Seating a maximum of 6 guests, each Toyota Land Cruiser is open-sided, canopied and customised for photographers with fold-down screens, raised roofs, photographic bars and multi-plug inverters, all in keeping with the origins of Dereck & Beverly Joubert as National Geographic photographers.  No two days are the same on safari. Wildlife viewing often starts at sunrise, returning to camp for a late breakfast and departing again in the mid-afternoon after tea before returning just after sunset. Guests can also opt to go out all day with a packed breakfast, lunch and beverages. Very often, safaris will continue into the night, a possibility because of the camp’s location on the private Naboisho Conservancy. Night drives are particularly prolific and while they take patience, sightings commonly include lesser known nocturnal mammals and even lion and hyena hunts.If a chance to learn about the Maasai is of interest, then cultural visits to a nearby Maasai village are also a highlight. Locally produced crafts are available for purchase at the camp, all proceeds of which go toward the community, and particularly the women’s groups and schools.Each of Mara Nyika’s guest tents comes with a pair of high-quality binoculars for guest use as well as a professional Canon camera set, including a Canon 5D camera body and Canon 100-400mm and 24-70mm lenses. Photos will be downloaded to a memory stick on guest’s departure. Photographic tuition through the Great Plains Wild Studio can be arranged for guests (at an additional cost and booked in advance). Tuition can be either on company cameras or own guest’s personal cameras.