Great Plains Conservation
Great Plains Conservation is a conservation organization first, and a safari company second. They coined the phrase, “Conservation Tourism”. Conserving wildlife, wilderness, and communities through responsible and eco-conscience tourism. Great care has gone into the design and construction of each camp to ensure a minimal human footprint on the African landscape while promising an experience where one feels connected with nature. A safari is an investment in conservation and with Great Plains, your investment is maximized to the fullest. The wildlife and communities around their camps and lodges are the beneficiaries.
Great Plains Conservation offers incredible properties in Kenya, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Ranging from the ultra-luxurious to the classic safari camp, there are many options for the safari traveler. In the end though, it all comes down to the safari experience which Great Plains has had years of fine-tuning. It starts with location and the settings of each of their camps are situated in stunningly beautiful and wildlife rich areas. Your days will be spent primarily out in the bush amongst iconic wildlife. Even if you decide to spend the day in camp, the wild residents oftentimes come into camp to pay a visit to their human guests.
Ol Donyo Lodge
Chyulu Hills / Amboseli, Kenya
Kenya banned trophy hunting in the 1970’s. We do not think it’s by accident or a coincidence that the last best place to see the big tusked elephants of Africa is in Kenya and ol Donyo Lodge literally gives you a front seat to these ancient giants. This lodge is located on 275,000 acres in the gorgeous Chyulu Hills, which lies between Kenya’s Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks. The theme and atmosphere of ol Donyo “is honed from the ancient lava rock that spewed out of Kilimanjaro 360,000 years ago”.
The lodge consists of only 7 suites for a maximum of 16 guests. Each suite has a private plunge pool, en-suite bathroom, outdoor shower, and for those beautiful and clear nights, an outdoor bed on the safety of your veranda. Pictured above is the hide that gets you up close and personal to the area’s wildlife, especially elephant.
Your activities include daily game drives, bush walks, bush breakfast and dinners, horseback safaris, wildlife viewing from the lodge’s hides, community visits, and even in-room spa treatments (extra cost).
Nightly rates start at $1,090 per person
Mara Nyika
Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya
Nyika means “Large Plains or Great Plains” in the local language. Mara Nyika is located in the Naboisho Conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara Reserve. This 50,000 acre conservancy is one of several conservancies found in the region surrounding the reserve. Nyika is situated under the canopy of acacia trees along a seasonal stream at the west end of the conservancy. Only 5 tented suites make up this charming and romantic camp. Each suite has plush beds, en-suite bathroom, and a private veranda overlooking the classic landscape of the Mara. Your view to start and end your days will stay with you the rest of your days.
Activities include day and night game drives, full day game drives, hot-air balloon rides (extra cost) and community visits.
Nightly rates start at $1,300 per person
Mara Toto
Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya
“Mara Toto Camp sits in a slight bend of the Ntiakitiak River, where the thick forest meets savannah, and just a few kilometers from its sister camp, Mara Plains. Mara Toto is a magical revisiting of the past, drawing from Africa’s original explorers’ designs and designed for those who search for East Africa’s romantic safari era. Here, you will experience the best of both worlds: the intense action of the Maasai Mara ecosystem, as well as the more private 70,000-acre Mara North Conservancy.”
Mara Toto consists of only 4 classic, “Out of Africa” styled tents and is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the seasonal movements of massive herds of wildebeest and zebra. Mara Toto is perfect for families or small groups looking to have a more exclusive and secluded safari experience. It is only open from May 25 to October 31.
Activities include day and afternoon game drives, Maasai village visits, and hot-air balloon trips (extra cost).
Nightly rates start at $750 per person
Mara Plains
Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya
One of Great Plains Conservations’ most iconic properties. Mara Plains has it all for the safari traveler that expects a certain amount of luxury and exclusiveness. Mara Plains is located on the 35,000 Olare Motorogi Conservancy; one of several conservancy that surround the Maasai Mara Reserve. A wonderful bonus of visiting the conservancies is escaping the crowds and vehicles that can swarm wildlife sightings, especially the river crossings during the Great Wildebeest Migration, inside the reserve.
Mara Plains consists of only 5 luxurious tented suites, tastefully crafted and decorated so as to not overpower the beauty and wildness of the surrounding area. Each suite has plush beds, en-suite bathroom, large private decks, and traditional elements that add to the charm and character of the suite. To enter Mara Plains, one walks across a bridge that gives you a sweeping view of a Kenyan landscape dotted with acacia trees. There is also a private suite with butler service, private guide, and private chef for families or small groups wanting a more exclusive safari experience.
Activities include day and afternoon game drives and hot-air balloon trips (extra cost).
Nightly rates start at $1,300 per person
Mara Expedition
Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya
A gem inside the Maasai Mara Reserve. Mara Expedition is a more classic safari camp with the charm and character of a Hemingway novel. It is located within the reserve, but in a very exclusive area. Visitors to Mara Expeditions enjoy access to both the reserve and the Mara North Conservancy; 400,000 acres in total. This is big cat country and you will be immersed in a landscape that provides refuge to lion, leopard, and cheetah.
The camp sits on an elevated location, tucked away under a canopy of acacia and ebony trees. Only 6 tented chalets make up Mara Expedition, each with plush beds and en-suite bathrooms.
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives, bush walks, community visits, and hot-air balloon trips (extra cost).
Nightly rates start at $750 per person
Duba Plains
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Another one of Great Plains Conservations’ iconic properties. “The camp at Duba Plains offers five bespoke suites. The camp design ensures it blends into the landscape whilst evoking the classic African safari style of the 1920s. All the rooms are on raised recycled railway sleeper decking. Each suite affords guests stunning views of the surrounding floodplain and the steady stream of wildlife parading past. Each suite has a lounge area and beautifully appointed en-suite facilities: a flush loo, double vanities, indoor and outdoor showers, and a luxurious bath. Ceiling fans and an environmentally friendly air-conditioning system over the bed ensures a comfortable climate. Enjoy your private verandah, complete with a plunge pool and shaded sala.” There is also a private suite with butler service, private guide, and private chef for families or small groups wanting a more exclusive safari experience.
Duba Plains is located in the northern region of the Okavango Delta and has exclusive use of over 80,000 acres of stunning delta scenery teaming with red lechwe, elephant, cape buffalo, BIG lions, and more. AND, a number of white rhino now find refuge under the watchful eye of Great Plains. If you are lucky, you’ll get to see these gentle giants grazing the open plains.
Activities include day and afternoon game drives and boating safaris.
Nightly rates start at $1,820 per person
Duba Explorers
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The little sister to Duba Plains, this fantastic property is more in the style of a classic bushcamp, but with the charm and atmosphere that one expects of a Great Plains property. The setting of the camp is situated on an island, under a year-round shaded canopy of ebony, leadwood, fig, and mango trees. The waterways that snake through the delta in this private reserve offers safari goers the unique opportunity to drift silently across the landscape in traditional dugout canoes called, mekoros.
Only 5 raised tented chalets make up Duba Explorers to ensure an uncrowded and intimate connection with nature. The rooms have plush beds, en-suite bathrooms. and private decks overlooking the wilderness. Oftentimes the action comes right into camp, especially with the different types of trees that produce fruits that attract all sorts of mammals and birds.
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, and mekoro excursions.
Nightly rates start at $1,145 per person
Selinda Explorers
Selinda Reserve, Botswana
This classic camp is situated on the Selinda Spillway located within Great Plains Conservation’s private Selinda Reserve which covers over 300,000 acres of pristine northern Botswana bush. An area once haunted by trophy hunting, has now recovered to become a world class wildlife viewing destination. Great Plains has been a leader in the safari industry by transforming former hunting areas into safe havens for wildlife.
The camp consists of only 4 tents, each with plush beds and en-suite bathrooms, promising a quiet, unhurried, and uncrowded bush experience. The camp’s décor is very charming and relaxing. First Light Safaris loves Great Plains’ Explorer camps. Less is more, but without sacrificing comfort or exceptional service.
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, and canoeing on the Selinda Spillway.
Nightly rates start at $1,040 per person
Selinda
Selinda Reserve, Botswana
The big sister to Selinda Explorers. Selinda Camp is a luxurious camp located on the banks of the Selinda Spillway where it feeds into the Linyanti River. This camp offers luxury for those expecting more from a safari camp. There are a bit more frills to Selinda, but the character and atmosphere maintains the wild integrity of the area. Selinda Reserve is 300,000 acres of some of the most pristine habitat left in Botswana.
Only 3 luxurious thatched chalets make up Selinda, thus guaranteeing you an uncrowded safari. Each chalet is beautifully crafted and decorated, each with its own theme and rustic flare. The chalets are spacious, with plush beds, en-suite bathroom, private verandas, and a plunge pool to cool off during heat of the day. There is an additional 2-bedroom suite designed for families or those wanting their own private experience with private butler service, guide, vehicle, and chef.
Activities include morning and after game drives, walking safaris, and boating excursions.
Nightly rates start at $1,820 per person
Zarafa
Selinda Reserve, Botswana
The setting of Zarafa is one of the most beautiful in Botswana. It sits on the edge of a large and expansive lagoon where elephants are a constant presence. Located in the 300,000 acres private Selinda Reserve, Zarafa is a crown jewel for Great Plains. Just like the rest of their camps and lodges, Zarafa is situated to maximize your enjoyment of the rich and diverse wildlife found in the reserve. Lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, elephant, hippo, red lechwe, roan, sable, cape buffalo, zebra, and giraffe are the more “charasmatic” wildlife you can see. There is also a bounty of smaller animals, rare animals, and hundreds of bird species for those who are true safari goers; those that enjoy all that the bush has to offer.
The camp consists of only 4 private and expansive chalets under a canopy of ebony trees. This is a luxurious camp, but don’t let that mislead you. There are added thrills and frills, but it is done so as to not overpower the beauty of the natural world around the camp. The décor and atmosphere maintains the integrity of a camp that focuses on the safari experience. Each chalet has plush beds, en-suite bathroom, outdoor shower, private deck, pool, and a copper claw bathtub for those that want to spend a relaxing and romantic day in camp while soaking in a warm bubble bath as elephants search for ebony fruits only meters from you. There is also a private suite with butler service, private guide, and private chef for families or small groups wanting a more exclusive safari experience.
Activities include day and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, and boating excursions.
Nightly rates start at $1,820 per person
Okavango Explorers
Okavango Delta, Botswana
“Okavango Explorers Camp is a brand-new Great Plains Conservation Explorer-Collection safari camp located in the southwest area of Botswana’s private Selinda Reserve. This area may be new to guests but has been known to us for many years as one teeming with wildlife. The camp’s location is a unique combination of two iconic ecosystems at the upper Okavango Delta water system and the famed Selinda Spillway.”
The 300,000 acre “Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana is a prime predator and elephant habitat. This new Okavango Delta safari camp’s location has been handpicked for its access to some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the region, along the southernmost section of Selinda Spillway.”
This new camp consists of only 6 guest tents. Great Plains Conservation continues its tradition of creating camps that have understated luxury and bush charm. Animals that one may see are lion, leopard, elephant, painted wolves, and some rare antelope such as roan, eland, and sable.
Activities include daily game drives, walking safaris, boating, and canoeing.
Nightly rates start at $1,040 per person
Tembo Plains
Sapi Private Reserve, Zimbabwe
Tembo Plains is Great Plains Conservation’s more luxurious property in the Sapi Reserve also located at the banks of the Zambezi River. “Tembo” means elephant in the local language and this camp pays respect to this iconic species. Sapi Reserve used to be a hunting concession where many elephants were killed by trophy hunters for nothing more than their tusks. Great Plains has taken over this hunting ground and have turned it into a world class wildlife viewing area where wildlife from Mana Pools can find safe haven when venturing out of the park to the east.
This camp is made up of only 4 luxurious chalets. And who better to describe the interior than CEO and founder of Great Plains Conservation, Dereck Joubert. “When I designed Tembo Plains, it was to reference the famous Zimbabwe Ruins but not lose sight of our love of canvas and exploring. So, we ended up with a unique combination of canvas and stone walls. The semi-circular walls inside each tented suite isolate the bath and shower from the bedroom and indoor lounge areas bringing that architectural reference inside as well. Outside, a pack-stone wall design, referencing those Zimbabwe Ruins, continues along the back of the guest bedroom. It gives you a greater sense of privacy, often an issue in tents. Still, I didn’t want a completely ‘built room’. Hence, the front has these uninterrupted views of the Zambezi River flowing just meters away from the canvas ‘tented’ portion – all accentuating the luxury Zimbabwe safari experience.”
Activities include daily game drives, walking safaris, boating, and canoeing.
Nightly rates start at $1,160 per person
