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 hum of insect wings, the low rumble of distant elephants, the call of a lilac-breasted roller. That presence enveloped me the moment I landed in the Maasai Mara. From there, my journey moved across Kenya and through its layers: from the 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 river 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. It’s luxury done with care and purpose.
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 excellent — refined but unfussy, and celebrating local ingredients. 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
I’d recommend starting with Mahali Mzuri and ending at Finch Hattons. The contrast works best in this order, from the Mara’s high-energy game viewing to the slower, more immersive pace of Tsavo. Together, they offer a well-rounded view of Kenya, combining its most iconic wildlife with a quieter, more reflective side.
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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