Governors Camp Hotel in Masai Mara
We were greeted at the Governors Camp Hotel with a welcome drink and a disclaimer to sign to say that if we were eaten by animals it was probably our own fault, although the Camp staff assured us that this really never happens. Don’t walk around the Camp after dark without your guard, flash your torch out of the tent door if you need anything, and remember there is no electricity in the tents so charge your camera’s, laptops, etc overnight in the charging room… Simple. 
After an amazing al-fresco barbecue style lunch, we went on our first game drive. The location, next to a watering hole, means that crocodiles, elephants and occasionally hippos are all visible from within the camp confines and the rest of the animals are not too far away by Land Rover. 
The staffs are amazingly friendly, the food and wines excellent; the tents are spacious with en-suite facilities and comfy full size single beds. Lighting is battery lamps and gas lights (you can charge your camera by electricity in a central area) and the water is ‘relatively’ The staff cannot possibly do any more for you. The service really is impeccable.The tents are fabulous and the views are amazing- there are no fences around the camp so the animals can roam freely- especially at night when you are escorted by staff to dinner- you have We watched a family of hippos in the river bordering the camp, with crocodiles swimming closely. On our first drive we saw a leopard, followed by Shikera (cheetah from BBC Big Cat Diaries programme) and her 3 cubs and the Marsh pride of around 15 lions. We did wander how this could be topped, as this was the first of 9 drives.
Every drive brought yet another highlight; another leopard (so close we could have stroked it as it strolled round our jeep); the most amazing birds (a discovery of the holiday for me); a cheetah kill; newly born gazelles; a newly dead hippo being 'attacked' by what seemed like hundreds of vultures. I could go on! If you like peace and beauty wonderful people excellent service go there to Governors Camp Hotel.This place touched my soul and i shall remember my time here forever
The format is effective and helps you make the best of your stay, 3 game drives per day, 06:30, 10:30, and 15:00, the last two being split by your breakfast and lunch. Drives are in open top (and side) 4 x 4 vehicles with plenty of room and great uninterrupted views on to the plain. The Governors Camp Hotel guides are all very knowledgeable and have very good local knowledge to help you in your search for the scarcer of the animals. All meals at the Governors were excellent and the service was second to none throughout. Breakfast is buffet style and you help yourself to the cold items whereas the hot portions are served by your waiter whom incidentally serves you every mealtime, every day of your stay). Lunch is served from a set menu with a choice of main meals. Both lunch and breakfast are served at the riverside so you can watch the crocodiles and hippos lazing in the water. Dinner is slightly more formal and is served in the restaurant tent, again from a set menu with selection of main. Dinner time is the opportunity to book you wake up call and beverage of choice for the morning, this is delivered by your room steward whom delivers straight to your bedside. This is organized whilst you are at dinner and is a very nice touch. I think it sets the standard for the entire stay and really demonstrates the overall commitment to service and making you stay as comfortable as possible.
The tents are fully furnished and we never saw a bug in the tent the whole time we were there. They have properly plumbed bathrooms attached to the tent which are enormous and the shower was better than we have had in some hotels! The tents don't have electricity (apart from some LEDs near the toilet, above the wash hand basin and above the bed if you need to get up in the night) so you can't charge up any electrical equipment (they have sockets at reception for this). At night, they have paraffin lamps and candles to provide lighting. This really contributed to the camping atmosphere and I did prefer it on balance to having electricity in the tents but I can't deny that the tents were on the dark side, especially at night.
It wasn't very easy to carry out activities that required good light - like shaving or applying make up (not that you really need to do either in the bush!). The other thing that set Governors Camp Hotel apart were the staff - they were all extremely friendly and could not do enough for you. You have the same food and drinks waiters and driver/guides for your stay and ours were all brilliant. Richard, our guide, deserves particular praise for his patience and skill in our long searches for leopards and rhino! Laundry was free, good and very quick - so don't worry about bringing loads of clothes with you. The location of Governors Camp Hotel is another particular plus point. It is within the reserve so you don't waste time driving in and out each day. It is only around 10 minutes drive from Musiara airstrip which seems to be the first stop for flights arriving from Wilson airport in Nairobi. Arriving by road, it is only around 20-30 minutes from the park gate. Click here for more information about Rates and Booking at Governors hotel
And if all this were not enough, its in one of the prime game viewing areas in the park. It was impossible to leave the camp without seeing wildlife almost immediately and it is quite close to the various crossings used by the wildebeest in the migration. Within about a mile of the camp there were several groups of we saw consistently during our stay - including a 4 week old lion cub. No wonder the BBC choose to stay here to film Big Cat Diary! Governors Camp Hotel also had a very reassuring feel to it - they have years and years of experience and it shows. You get the impression there is no problem that they couldn't deal with. They offer spa treatments and a variety of different activities including eating various meals out in the bush, balloon trips, walking trips and bird walks plus trips to a local Masai village and school supported by the camp
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Tents are indeed luxury. Large beds, comfortable living area, and lots of piping hot water on tap after your dusty day in the 4 x 4. Set on the banks of the river or in the gardens, either way you have a great view and beautiful setting to relax. So long as you get used to the lack of a room key, no locks, and the sound of hippos grazing through the night you are fine. 
