Camp Walk
Make a camp walk and experience our concept on sustainable tourism in practice through the words of our Maasai naturalist guides.

Learn more about Basecamp Masai Mara and our environmentally sound solutions with solar heated shower water, waste water recycling, composting of waste and solar power system.
Reflect on the Maasai proverbs in the Masai cultural centre and  visit the mamas doing beadwork at the Maasai Arts and Crafts training centre, a fair trade initiative with co-operative women groups from the local area. A project in collaboration with Friends of Conservation (FOC) and Basecamp.

A Walk Among the Trees

In Mara the word for tree, olchani, and the word for medicine are one and the same. Typically an infusion of the leaves, bark or roots is used for medicinal purposes.

The many trees of the camp compound consist of local naturally occuring species that have been planted together by the Maasai owners of the land and Basecamp. A guided tour will introduce you to some of the diverse flora of the camp and also tell you about the cultural uses of different trees by the Maasai. A booklet has been produced as  a small attempt to preserve some of the knowledge and value of herbal medicines.
Most of the information comprises the insight of an acknowledged expert from the community of Talek, Ole Sairouwa. We hope this will give you a deeper understanding of the Masai Mara,  the environment and the Maasai culture.

Visit a traditional Maasai village

Take a walk up to the Ole Taek manyatta - the neighbouring traditional Maasai village.

Meet the mamas and the children to the sound of enchanted songs of the young Maasai girls, step into an enkaji - a Maasai house built by cowdung and mud, taste the favourite drink of the Maasai, chai - tea and milk with a lot of sugar and learn about Maasai everyday life, the roles of men and women, the importance of cows. Your Maasai guide will give talks and help you talk to the women & the children.

Talek Community Walk

Enjoy a guided tour on foot to Talek, the neighbouring Maasai community.
Visit the local school, the health dispensary and the treeplantations.

Through this excursion you will discover more about  the neighbourhood and the co-operation with Basecamp Masai Mara and the Talek community. You will also be given an opportunity to sign up for sponsorship to any of our community based projects.

Talek Primary School

Talek school is situated just two kilometers away from Basecamp. It is a primary school  and open to children in the area. Meet the almost 300 Maasai children, the teachers and the headmaster of the school.  See the classrooms and the school activities going on.

The collaboration between Basecamp & Talek Primary school consists of a number of different projects and activities.

The local health dispensary

Talek Dispensary  is a small health station with one clinical officer and one nurse. Meet Dr Jackson,  a Maasai clinical nurse and learn from him about the health situation, circumcision, malaria, water quality and other health threats for the Maasai. 

Basecamp & Talek dispensary co-operation consists of the development of  health awareness among staff as well as providing treatment. Basecamp assist with funding  to develop a more healthy environment at the dispensary which involves the construction of  new waiting facilities, waste disposal routines and improving the surrounding environment of the dispensary.

The tree plantations

Elephants, fire, grazing and the pressure from Maasai settlements and tourism facilities all contribute to the change of the ecosystem within the Maasai Mara. 
Much of the decline in woodlands occurred in the 1960’s and 1970’s and is continuing to this day. The riverine forests are under heavy pressure. Local people and hoteliers collect building poles and firewood, although it is not officially allowed.  The aims of Basecamp treeplantations are to be self sustainable with firewood  and to assist in recreating the riverine forest along Talek River.

Take a guided tour with our Maasai forest entrepreneurs and see the tree nursery aand Basecamps two treplantations situated on a walking distance from camp.

A walk to the Maasai Arts & Crafts Centre

Meet the Maasai mamas doing traditional Maasai bead and leatherwork at the Maasai Arts & Crafts Centre, a workshop situated on the camp compound. Belts, bracelets and leather bags are produced and sold under the name The Maasai Brand, ensuring all products genuine and authentic Maasai art. This is a true meeting place of different cultures. Chat with the mamas, watch how Maasai belts and bracelets are made and learn more about the project.

For company orders or big orders, please, contact the project manager Mr Piers Mason, tmb@basecampexplorer.co.ke