River Camp Mara has always been about more than the view. Richard Roberts, a third-generation conservationist, built the eight-tent camp with his wife, Liz, and kept it private and personal from day one. Now the camp has finished a top-to-bottom redesign, and the changes go further than new furniture.
The redesign draws on craft from around the world. The team pulled in new textiles from Nairobi, handmade pieces from local Mara artisans, and bedspreads and rugs from as far as Mandalay and Istanbul. The goal wasn’t just a new look, but a design that kept the camp’s safari character while adding more comfort.
A Family-Run Camp With a New Look
The camp has eight tents in total: six Luxury Tents, one Family Suite and one Private Suite. That’s a small number by safari standards, which keeps the guest list short and the attention high. Richard and Liz Roberts still run this family-run camp themselves, and the redesign didn’t change that.
Solar Power and a Push for Kenya’s Top Eco Label
Solar water heating now covers the camp’s hot water needs. Updated waste management systems cut down on what the property sends off-site. Together, these upgrades are moving River Camp Mara toward its first Ecotourism Kenya certification, a credential the camp has never held before.
More Than 1,000 Maasai Landowners Have a Stake Here
River Camp Mara sits inside Mara North Conservancy, which covers thousands of acres. The conservancy leases land directly from more than 1,000 Maasai landowners instead of sitting inside a national park. Those lease payments fund community projects and help keep wildlife migration corridors open across the region.
What’s Next for River Camp Mara
Hemingways Group CEO Ross Evans said the project reflects what today’s luxury travelers expect. “At River Camp Mara, our work is about preserving the classic spirit of an intimate tented safari while elevating the comfort, design and environmental responsibility expected by today’s luxury traveler,” he said.
The camp is part of the Hemingways Collection. The group runs five other properties in Kenya and Rwanda, including Hemingways Ol Seki Mara nearby in the Maasai Mara. If an eight-tent camp with this backstory is on your radar, now’s a good time to look closer.