Olderkesi Conservancy, Kenya

Cottar’s 1920s Camp

The takeaway

A small, canvas safari camp with a strong 1920s character, best suited to couples and families seeking wildlife time on a private conservancy.

About the hotel

Within Kenya’s private Olderkesi Conservancy, Cottar’s 1920s Camp is a small tented safari base in the Maasai Mara region. Its eleven suites comprise five double tents, four two-bedroom family tents and two honeymoon tents, each positioned for privacy. Game drives and guided walks anchor the stay; a period-styled mess tent and Explorer’s Tent offer places to gather between time in the conservancy. The camp also has a pool and spa tent.

Choose it if

You want a tented safari stay in a private conservancy rather than accommodation inside the national reserve itself.
You’re travelling as a couple or family and value the choice of dedicated honeymoon tents or two-bedroom family tents.
You want safari activities beyond drives, including guided bush walks and conservation or cultural talks.

Skip it if

You prefer a conventional solid-walled hotel: the accommodation here is in canvas tents.

Guest discussion

What real people are saying.

Reddit excerpts · separate from Rex’s editorial judgment

One guest called Cottar’s their least-favored stop, describing the grounds as carefully groomed and the atmosphere as colonial. Another commenter said they usually arrange for Calvin Cottar to guide clients personally for an extra fee.

Discussion is limited; these accounts offer a glimpse rather than a broad verdict.

“It wasn't terrible but it was my least favorite of the places we stayed. The grounds are very groomed and the vibes are very colonial”

r/chubbytravel ↗ · Aug 5, 2026

“There’s a caveat to the guiding at Cottars because I usually hire Calvin Cottar to personally guide my clients for an extra fee.”

r/chubbytravel ↗

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