The Honest Governors Camp Guide: 7 Things the Website Won't Tell You

Governors Camp Masai Mara: Summary

Governors Camp Masai Mara sits in riverine forest along the Mara River, accessible via Musiara Airstrip. According to the Governors’ Camp website, the camp has 24 tents—18 classic safari tents plus family configurations. It’s the original BBC Big Cat Diary filming base with direct access to Musiara Marsh. Packages start around £2,890 for 3 nights. Peak season runs July through October during the wildebeest migration.

I have a complicated relationship with Governors Camp. I’ve transferred guests there probably sixty or seventy times since 2014, and honestly, I think it’s overpriced for what you get in the tent itself. The beds are fine, the bathrooms are fine, the food is decent. What you’re paying for is Musiara Marsh—and that’s worth it. The camp runs on traditions and systems that frustrate guests who don’t know what to expect. This is what I tell people before they book.

Which tent should I actually request?

The camp website shows categories. River-facing. Plains-facing. Family tents. What it doesn’t tell you is that some of those river-facing tents are significantly better than others.

Tents 1 through 6 sit closest to the main bend where hippos congregate. You’ll hear them all night—grunting, splashing, occasionally fighting. Some people find this magical. Others find it exhausting by night three. I’ve had guests request room changes because they couldn’t sleep.

Tents 12 through 18 face the river but sit slightly elevated and further from the hippo pool. Still good views, substantially quieter.

There’s also a room that doesn’t appear on standard booking engines. The Justus Suite—named after a long-serving staff member—is a stone-and-canvas hybrid tucked into a secluded corner of camp. Claw-foot bathtub, more space, finishes closer to Il Moran than the standard tents. You have to email the camp directly to ask. Subject line I’ve used: “Justus Suite availability [dates].” Most agents don’t know it exists.

I found out about it by accident in 2019. A repeat client mentioned she’d stayed in “some special suite” and I had no idea what she was talking about. Took me three phone calls to confirm it was real.

The elephant path through camp

There’s an established elephant corridor running along the western edge of camp, between the dining area and tents 1-10. Breeding herds use it most mornings somewhere between 6am and 7:30am—earlier in dry season (August-October), slightly later when grass is wet.

They walk within metres of the canvas. The askaris position themselves along the route, but these elephants have been using this path for decades. They’re not bothered by tents or people.

If you’re awake early, grab coffee from the dining tent and sit on your veranda. In September 2023, I watched a matriarch with a tiny calf—maybe two weeks old—pass tent 4 close enough to hear her stomach gurgling. No guarantee you’ll see this. But the corridor is real and used regularly.

The camp doesn’t advertise it because they can’t promise wildlife behaviour.

The turaco that warns you about leopards

Everyone talks about Governors’ big cats. The Schalow’s Turaco gets overlooked.

This bird is rare in most of Kenya but common in the riverine canopy directly above camp. Brilliant green and red, hard to spot in the foliage, but extremely loud. The call is a distinctive “kwah-kwah-kwah” that carries across camp.

Here’s the thing: when that call becomes frantic and repetitive during midday, look up or into the brush behind your tent. Turacos alarm-call when predators move through the trees. At Governors, that usually means a leopard seeking shade in the riverine forest.

I’ve used this twice to find leopards that other vehicles missed entirely. The guides know about it too, but tourists rarely think to listen for bird calls.

Power cuts and charging cameras

Governors runs on generators. Power cuts from roughly 10:30pm to 4:30am.

If you use a CPAP machine, you need to tell them at check-in. They can provide a power brick or keep a specific circuit live overnight, but they won’t do it automatically. Same goes for heavy camera batteries—if you need to charge a laptop or multiple batteries overnight, arrange it on arrival.

I learned this after a client with sleep apnea had a very bad first night because nobody told her the power situation. She assumed “luxury camp” meant 24-hour electricity. It doesn’t.

The laundry situation

Camp staff won’t wash your underwear. It’s a cultural boundary in many Kenyan camps—handling someone’s “smalls” is considered disrespectful.

You’ll find a small basin and a packet of Omo detergent in your bathroom. Do a quick hand-wash and hang things inside your tent’s mesh area. Not outside. The vervets and baboons will take anything left on a line. I’ve seen them steal socks off a guy who was sitting right there.

Governors Camp packages

Prices per person sharing. These are estimates based on 2026 rates—final quotes depend on season and availability.

Duration	Transfer Type	Price pp
3 nights	Road from Nairobi	£2,890–£3,280
3 nights	Fly-in from Wilson	£3,450–£3,890
4 nights	Fly-in	£4,280–£4,850
5 nights	Fly-in	£5,280–£5,980

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Included:

Transfers as specified (road or flights)
Full board accommodation
Twice-daily shared game drives
Park fees for Masai Mara Reserve
One bush breakfast
House wines, beers, soft drinks
Laundry (except underwear)
Airstrip transfers

Excluded:

International flights
Kenya visa (USD 50 / £40)
Travel insurance
Tips (£20-30 per day suggested)
Hot air balloon (USD 505-560 / £405-450)
Premium drinks
Spa treatments
Conservancy fees if visiting private areas

Park fees: USD 100 / about £80 per day low season, USD 200 / about £160 peak season (Jul-Dec), paid via KAPS.

The workshop tour

Governors’ Land Cruisers are famous—open-sided, roofless, purpose-built for photography. What most people don’t realise is that they hand-build and maintain these vehicles on-site.

If you’re interested in mechanics or engineering at all, ask for a ten-minute tour of the workshop. They’ll show you how they extend the chassis for the 9-seater configuration, how they keep the fleet running 400 kilometres from any paved road. It’s not a formal activity. They don’t advertise it. But I’ve never had them refuse a polite request.

Musiara Marsh access

This is the real reason to stay at Governors over cheaper options in the southeastern Mara.

Musiara Marsh is a permanent water source. Never dries out. Because of this, predators concentrate here year-round—particularly during dry season when other water disappears. The lion prides BBC filmed for Big Cat Diary are semi-habituated to vehicles and regularly visible.

From Governors, you’re at the marsh edge in under ten minutes. From Keekorok or Sopa, it’s 45-60 minutes each way. That’s an hour and a half of driving time you’re not spending with animals.

During peak migration (August-September), Musiara gets crowded. Popular sightings attract vehicles. But outside those weeks, the density advantage is significant.

How does Governors compare to the other Governors’ camps?

The Governors’ Camp collection has four properties. They confuse people.

Main Camp (this article): 24 tents, shared vehicles, social atmosphere, best value for the location.

Little Governors: 17 tents across the river, accessed by boat. More intimate. Slightly higher price. Same game drive operation.

Il Moran: 10 tents. Private vehicles, personal guide, premium everything. Roughly double the main camp rates.

Private Camp: Exclusive-use for families or groups.

For most people, main camp is the right choice. Il Moran costs double for the same location—you’re paying for private vehicles and slightly fancier tents, not better wildlife. Little Governors adds a boat transfer that feels romantic the first time and annoying by day three if you forget something in your room.

Getting there

Governors uses Musiara Airstrip. SafariLink and AirKenya fly from Wilson Airport, Nairobi. About 45 minutes depending on whether your flight makes other stops.

Road transfer is possible—five to six hours via Narok—but most guests fly.

From Musiara strip, it’s maybe ten minutes to camp. You’ll likely see wildlife on the transfer.

Common questions

These come up repeatedly from guests considering Governors.

is governors camp good for kids

Children under 5 can’t go on game drives. The camp accepts all ages for accommodation, but realistically it works better with kids 7 and older who can sit still in vehicles. There’s no swimming pool or structured kids’ activities.

what’s the wifi like

It exists. It’s slow. Don’t plan to video call or stream anything. Email and WhatsApp work most of the time.

can I see the mara river crossings from governors

The main crossing points are 30-45 minutes from camp. During migration, guides monitor activity by radio and can get you there if crossings are happening. But you’re not walking distance from the river crossing sites—nobody is.

is it worth the price compared to budget camps

If Musiara Marsh matters to you, yes. If you just want “a Mara safari,” stay at Ashnil or Sopa for half the price. You’ll see the same animals—you’ll just spend an extra hour driving each way to reach good predator territory. The tents at Governors aren’t twice as nice as budget options. The location is.

Your Safari, Your Call

Look, Governors is expensive. The generator schedule is annoying. The shared vehicles mean you’re stuck with whoever else booked that week. The hippos are genuinely loud enough to ruin sleep. But if you want Musiara Marsh without the 45-minute commute from cheaper lodges, this is where you stay. Just know what you’re getting into.

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About the Author

Peter Munene, KPSGA-certified guide with over a decade in the field. Edited by Trevor Charles.

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