From the Mara’s sweeping, game-rich plains to Tsavo’s untamed volcanic wilderness, Sacha discovers how two very different safari camps create a single, unforgettable journey through Kenya.
There’s a rare kind of hush you find only in the bush. Not an absence of sound, but a presence. The thrum of insect wings, the low rumble of distant elephants, the call of a lilac-breasted roller at first light. That presence enveloped me the moment I landed in the Maasai Mara. What followed was a journey that moved not just across Kenya, but through its layers: from the cinematic game-rich drama of Mahali Mzuri to the soulful wilderness immersion of Finch Hattons.
Our trip began at Mahali Mzuri, Virgin Limited Edition's 12-tent camp perched on a ridge in the exclusive Olare Motorogi Conservancy. Fresh from a four-month renovation, it now gleams with contemporary African design: floor-to-ceiling glass, expansive decks, claw-foot tubs, and accents of hand-beaded Maasai detail. Tent 9 became my home, and from the moment I stepped inside, I felt lifted by the landscape. Below me, elephants meandered through the riverine valley. I spent the hours between safaris unwinding with the camp’s binoculars in hand, watching the drama unfold from my private terrace.
The View from the Ridge: Mahali Mzuri in the Maasai Mara
Where Conservation Meets Comfort
Days began with sunrise game drives with blankets and hot water bottles, followed by time on my terrace or by the infinity pool, hot stone massages in the valley-floor spa, unhurried afternoon drives with sundowners, and evenings gathered around the firepit over Amarula and stories.
What struck me most about Mahali Mzuri wasn’t just the polish or the wildlife (though both are world-class), but the integrity that underpins it. The conservancy model, born of five years of patient negotiation by Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition team with local Maasai landowners, ensures both protection of the land and tangible benefits for the community. This is luxury with substance: considered, respectful, and anchored in place.
From Mahali, we flew south to Tsavo West. The landscape changed instantly: more arid, volcanic, raw. Finch Hattons sits tucked into natural springs, its 35 hectares alive with birdsong and the soft tread of passing giraffe, zebra and elephants. It is, in every sense, immersive.
Where Mahali is elevated, Finch is grounding. Here, you sleep with the tent flaps open to the night breeze on three sides, lulled by hippos and frogs. Days begin with sunrise hikes to the Chyulu Hills, where light spills over the Yatta Plateau and exceptional guides share stories of elephant migration and cloud forests. Afternoons might bring spa time beside the waterhole, or slow game drives where details replace drama: the curl of a kudu's horns, the iridescence of a kingfisher.
One evening, we took part in a guest version of the Maasai Olympics – spear throwing, high jumping, spirited laughter. It was joyful, but also meaningful: a nod to the real initiative that replaces lion hunting with sport as a rite of passage.
The food was exceptional. Elegant without pretence, local without being rustic. Think grilled grass-fed Kenyan beef with Chyulu Hills herbs, deeply flavourful garden-fresh soups, and cassava crisps with sundowners. Every detail – from the silver service to the Maasai-guided walks – felt intentional. Well-established yet still something of a hidden gem, Finch Hattons is a place of rare character that very much deserves its time in the spotlight.
Into the Wild: Finch Hattons, Tsavo West
Why the Pairing Works
Start with Mahali Mzuri. Let it dazzle. Tick your Big Five boxes, soak in the drama, the spectacle, the comfort. Then move to Finch Hattons and exhale. Let the pace drop, the immersion deepen. It’s in this sequence that the contrast shines. Mahali may feel overly polished if visited second, whereas Finch, with its soulful quiet and textured experience, makes for a powerful, grounding finale.
Together, they tell a complete story of Kenya – its wildlife, its people, its vast and varied landscapes. They are two distinct worlds. But paired, they create a journey that lingers long after the dust of the savannah has settled.
Speak to our safari specialists and start planning your bespoke luxury journey through Kenya.
Photography credits: Mahali Mzuri, Finch Hattons, Canva, all other images by Sacha Gallagher
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