Our journey begins in Nairobi, where we embark the comfortable lightweight aircraft from Wilson Airport for a scenic 45-minute flight to the Masai Mara Game Reserve, set in the South Western region of Kenya. The flight lands at the Kichwa Tembo airstrip on the Western edge of the Masai Mara and we set foot on the Mara plains, instantly becoming a part of the portrait of a beautiful landscape drenched in wild hues of blue skies and shimmering green and gold plains, rolling far beyond the eye can see. Amongst the 
stumble of baggage & tour operators holding sign-boards scrawled with names, tourists climb into dusty white “pop-up” minivans and drive off to their selected destinations. Our scene however is very different: our grand welcoming committee - a Senior staff member of the lodge & the driver - greet us with a sincere Karibuni [“Welcome” in Swahili] and unbeatable Kenyan hospitality. We are offered wet towels and cold refreshments to cool off in the afternoon heat before being ushered to our luxurious safari carriage: a custom-prepared open top Landrover, vehicles which are unique to Kichwa Tembo and Bateleur Camp - our hosts in the magnificent Mara. And so our safari begins.
A very interesting 25 minute drive takes us through one of the World’s most respected game reserves, as we pass little Masai boys wrapped in plaid red & black cotton cloths, herding sheep & goats. The mud & thatch built Masai Villages zoom past us as do the abundance of Giraffe & Wildebeest along the way. A pale blue windmill indicates our close proximity to the Camp. We drive past the Kichwa Tembo boards and into the gates opening to the monkey-rich forest of Kichwa Tembo. There are two Camp’s in this forest: Bateleur Camp and Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp and located discreetly away from each other. The Camps lie just a few degrees south of the Equator, at an altitude of between 1600 and 2000 metres above sea level. Finally stopping at a clearing, we get out of our vehicle and make our way down a small well-laid pathway. Almost suddenly a small peach colored African cottage appears at the end of the path, and two very friendly-looking men stand smiling at the entrance to welcome us. We are finally at the Bateleur Camp, where we are introduced to Hassan, the General Manager and another elegantly dressed man who is to be our Personal Butler during our stay at the Bateleur Camp!
We step into the Main cottage area which seems like entering the lavish African home of a pioneer adventurer – a luxury comparable to this is perhaps what awaited Karen Blixen or Finch Hatton when they returned home from their safaris. Such is the appeal of the way the elegant wood, canvas & crystal decorates the lounge and bar area, you truly feel you’ve entered the era of colonial Africa. The room is tastefully furnished with African antiques and fascinating artefacts. Safari Books & literature lay in quiet corners of the lounge tables, and on one part of the room an open well-stocked cabinet houses spirits and fine wines with crystal glasses lined up in a tray. You are welcome to pour yourself a drink at any time, Bateleur is a fully inclusive ‘safari home’. Several couches draped in traditional African fabrics are spread across the lounge. The three-sided room opens to a small wooden floor terrace area overlooking a garden where a few tables and chairs make up the open air dining area.
Next, we are taken to our tents. A short walk to the left of the Main Camp area, led by our Butler brings us to the entrance of our Tent which is a wooden door and not a “zip entrance” as with other tented accommodation. The rooms [part canvas & part solid brick] are
tastefully furnished to create a romantic African ambiance. The walls are built of brick or created of canvas in different sections. The floor is polished wood with fine needlepoint rugs, and the roof is also canvas covered. Next to the entrance are spears and several copies of the National Geographic Magazine. The spears, we are told, are a traditional Maasai custom. When a guest enters a Maasai homestead they put their spear outside the door as a note to the host that there is a guest in the house. Similarly guests at the Bateleur Camp indicate to the staff that they are back from safari and in their tents when they leave their spear outside the door – sort of like an African “Do Not Disturb” sign system. On the right side of the room [from the door], is the shower & sink area with neatly folded towels and scented shower toiletries. A luxurious four-poster bed cradles in the middle of the room with a ceiling fan attached overhead. A large writing desk sits directly in front of the entrance with a Lamp, candle sticks, literature on the Camp and some paper - the perfect setting for some inspirational writing as you gaze out at the gorgeous views unfolding before you. For that extra cultural emphasis in the room decor, the wooden cupboards have grass weaved in to the doors by the talented Maasai children who live at the nearby villages. On the right side of the room is the traditional Tented Camp ‘Zip-entrance’ which opens into a wooden floor verandah with leather Chesterfield sofas facing the Masai Mara plains. The location of the Bateleur Camp is just right. Built far from the package tourism of the Eastern Mara, the camp's romantic setting is in the shadow of the spot where the motion picture 'Out Of Africa' was filmed.
Meals can be served either in your room verandah, in the Main Camp area or - for a true taste of Africa - in the Bush! The Camp can cater toward any type of diet
[Vegetarian, Kosher, Halaal .etc] but make sure the chef is informed well in advance [preferably you should indicate these requests when booking]. The menu features superb Pan African cuisine consisting of barbequed meats, seafood and vegetarian dishes which are prepared with the freshest ingredients & served with salads. The desserts are out of Africa! A sumptuous array of chocolate cakes, Macademia nut pastries, mousses and fruit salads, means you musn’t forget to leave some space for sampling dessert or you’ll truly be missing out.
Game drives with Bateleur Camp & Kichwa Tembo are an experience unmatched by ANY OTHER CAMP IN THE MASAI MARA. The Open-vehicles which were purchased in 1998 making them the first of their kind in the Masai Mara, offer wonderful opportunities to the see wildlife in a pleasant and unobtrusive way as compared to that offered by regular four-wheel drives and Minivans which become congested, enclosed & less fun. What’s more, they run on petrol – not diesel – which makes them very expensive in the long run to maintain but extremely ecological as they have a lesser impact on the environment. Secondly, they are less noisy to operate which is a nicer experience for you and doesn’t bother the animals with the constant rumbling noise either. But its not just the vehicles. Kichwa Tembo & Bateleur Camp have Professional Driver Guides conducting the game drives who are very experienced and have an excellent knowledge of the birdlife, flora and fauna of the Masai Mara. All the guides are certified in the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association examination and scored the highest marks. They know exactly where to take you for the best game and they are in constant 
communication via Radio Call with other colleague drivers to keep track of what’s being viewed & where. The area in which the Camps are based – the Western Mara - offers very good wildlife viewing opportunities and it’s also far from the package tourism of Eastern Mara. When the Annual Wildebeest Migration occurs between late July to Mid September, millions of Wildebeest and some thousands of Zebra cross into Kenya from the neighbouring Serengeti Game Reserve in Tanzania looking for greener pastures. During this time, the Western Masai Mara is the place to be and you couldn't ask for a better setting than at the Kichwa Tembo. The Wildebeest cover the plains and provide ample opportunities for the Big Cats to hunt. Despite it being winter in Kenya, this is the best time to visit the Masai Mara [throughout the year the weather moderates between 52 [min] - 86 [max] degrees fahrenheit].
While at the Bateleur Camp, a good leisure time idea would be a visit to the Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp which has a larger curio shop selling books, safari wear and African jewellery and every afternoon lectures on Maasai culture are conducted by their Maasai Resident Naturalist in the Camp grounds.
Bateleur Camp offers numerous activities. Hot-air Balloon Safaris offer a most unique game viewing experience as you float across the game studded plains for an hour, landing for a champagne breakfast in the middle of the reserve and a game drive en route to the Camp. Walking safaris in the Masai Mara Game reserve with armed professional Safari guides, right up the Oloololo escarpment or along the Mara River are another special adventure which give you a closer glimpse of the wildlife. Private bush dinners are a special way to end the evening far away from the Camp, where waiters serve tantalising dishes in the middle of the African bush. After a walking safari or a long game drive a sundowner on the Oloololo escarpment [near the ‘Out Of Africa’ location] is another nice way to end the evening, one that you’ll always cherish. Night game drives in a private conservation area offer the chance to see nocturnal game such as Leopard and other predators. With the exception of Balloon safaris, the rest of the activities mentioned above are included for guests at Bateleur Camp at no extra charge. The Camp also has a beautiful 12.5 metre lap pool which lies shaded under the trees offering breathtaking views of the endless Mara plains, which is an oasis on hot days. The Camp’s main area also has an interesting collection of books and magazines on Africa and wildlife videos. You may also visit a Maasai cultural village during your game drive and watch traditional Maasai dancing.
With it’s classic atmosphere and professional service, the Bateleur Camp sets itself a class apart from any other lodge in the Masai Mara Game reserve.The camp is named after the Bateleur Eagle which is also represented in the company logo. Bateleur Camp [opened in May 2000] is a member of the Small luxury hotels of the World, and also featured in Africa Safaris Top 10 list of romantic destinations in Africa for Weddings & Honeymoons.
