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Camp · Masai Mara, Kenya
Cottar s 1920s Safari Camp
Cottar's 1920s Camp opened in 1998 inside the private Olderkesi Conservancy, on the edge of the Maasai Mara, and is run by the family that has guided safaris in Kenya since 1919.
Overview
Cottar's 1920s Camp was established in 1998 by Calvin and Louise Cottar within the private Olderkesi Conservancy, on the edge of the Maasai Mara and bordering Tanzania's Serengeti. The family describes the camp as a tribute to the elegance and authenticity of early safari, reimagined with modern purpose. It is run by Cottar's Safari Services, a company that traces its roots to 1909, when Charles Cottar left Oklahoma for East Africa, and which was formally founded in 1919. Five generations later, the company remains under family stewardship, led today by Calvin Cottar and Chief Executive Louise Cottar.
Because the camp sits within a private conservancy rather than the Maasai Mara National Reserve itself, guests can leave the vehicle for guided bush walks, an activity not permitted in the neighbouring park. Days can include wildlife drives tailored to guest interests, foraging and medicinal plant walks led by Maasai guides, a sundowner bar built from a vintage Rolls Royce that roves to different spots across the conservancy, and evening talks on subjects from Maasai culture to the Cottar family history. An organic kitchen garden supplies produce used in camp, and a spa tent and salt-water pool are among the facilities available to guests.
The Olderkesi Conservancy is protected by the Maasai Mara's first all-female ranger unit, and the land is leased directly from Maasai families, with guest stays supporting education, healthcare, clean water and livelihoods across the region. Cottar's Safaris says it is working towards carbon neutrality by 2027, and invites guests behind the scenes to see how waste is reused and energy use reduced in camp.
- Rooms
- On request
- Minimum stay
- 1 night
- Check in
- 15:00
- Check out
- 12:00
Why we like it
- Established in 1998 by Calvin and Louise Cottar within the Olderkesi Conservancy
- Run by Cottar's Safari Services, founded in 1919 and still family-owned across five generations
- Set in a private conservancy where guided walking safaris are permitted, unlike the adjoining national reserve
- Olderkesi Conservancy is protected by the Maasai Mara's first all-female ranger unit
- Cottar's Safaris is working towards carbon neutrality by 2027
Gallery
Amenities
- Organic kitchen garden
- Spa tent
- Swimming pool
- Private conservancy access
- Roving sundowner bar
Reserving through us
Included when your travel advisor confirms this stay
- Daily breakfast for two
- Room upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Property credit or equivalent where the house offers one
- Early check in and late check out on request
- Welcome amenity and your travel agent known to the general manager
Eligible preferred amenities are applied wherever available, subject to the property at the time of stay, and are confirmed in your proposal.
Location
Masai Mara, Kenya
The Mara, the Serengeti and camps with twelve tents and a hundred square kilometres to themselves.
Questions
- Where is Cottar's 1920s Camp located?
- Cottar's 1920s Camp is set within the private Olderkesi Conservancy, on the edge of the Maasai Mara and bordering Tanzania's Serengeti. It was established in 1998 by Calvin and Louise Cottar.
- How long has Cottar's Safaris been running the camp?
- Cottar's Safari Services traces its origins to 1909, when Charles Cottar left Oklahoma for East Africa, and was formally founded in 1919. The company is now run by the fifth generation of the Cottar family, led by Calvin Cottar and CEO Louise Cottar.
- Can guests go on walking safaris from the camp?
- Yes. Because the camp is based in a private conservancy rather than the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where walking safaris are not permitted, guests can leave the vehicle and explore the bush on foot with a guide.
- What conservation work does Cottar's Safaris support?
- The Olderkesi Conservancy is protected by the Maasai Mara's first all-female ranger unit, and the land is leased directly from Maasai families. Guest stays support education, healthcare, clean water and livelihoods in the area, and the company is working towards carbon neutrality by 2027.
- What activities are offered to guests?
- Cottar's Safaris lists more than twenty activities including wildlife drives, guided bush walks, foraging and medicinal plant walks, a roving sundowner bar built from a vintage Rolls Royce, spa treatments, coffee tasting, stargazing and evening talks.
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