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Sala’s Camp
Masai Mara, Kenya · Independent · High Luxury
Sala’s Camp is named for a six-week-old baby. In May 2004 Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley pitched a mobile camp under Warburgia trees where the Sand and Keekorok rivers meet, and they named it for their daughter Sala, whose name means a place of peace. The glade had been a bushmeat camp for poachers crossing from Tanzania. Within six months, rangers pulled nearly 500 wire snares out of that river bush. Seven tents remain, two of them family rooms, with no fence between the camp and the Serengeti side of the Mara.
- 7 rooms
- Opened 2004
- Neighborhood: Sand River
About Sala’s Camp
- Sala was six weeks old in May 2004 when her parents named Sala’s Camp for her. Her name means a place of prayer, or a place of peace.
- The clearing had been a drying ground for bushmeat brought across from Tanzania. Old bones were still under the mess tent, and nearly 500 wire snares came out in the first six months.
- From 2004 through 2008 the camp was still mobile. Tents went up for the season and were packed out after it, a Carr-Hartley habit since Mikey's grandfather led safaris in the 1930s.
- Seven tents take up to 18 guests, including two family tents, and each has a private plunge pool. The Sand River below camp is usually too shallow for resident crocodiles or hippos.
- Sala’s Camp was the first property in The Safari Collection. The mess and the footbridge over the Keekorok were built in 2014, and the camp still has no fences.
History
Sala’s Camp took its name in May 2004, when Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley settled a mobile camp under Warburgia trees where the Sand and Keekorok rivers meet. Their daughter Sala was six weeks old. Her name means a place of prayer, or a place of peace. Mikey's grandfather had led mobile safaris across East Africa since the 1930s, and this camp followed that habit: from 2004 to 2008 the tents were packed away at the end of each season.
The site had been used to dry bushmeat brought from across the Tanzanian border. In the first six months, ranger patrols removed close to 500 wire snares. The mess and the footbridge over the Keekorok arrived in 2014. Today there are seven tents, including two family tents, and no fences. Sala’s Camp is the first property in The Safari Collection.
Restaurants and bars
- Mess tent — Restaurant
- Dining deck — Restaurant
- Vintage mobile bar — Bar
Experiences
- Game drives with EarthRanger sighting logging — Guests and guides record wildlife sightings on the EarthRanger app during game drives.
- Guided walks on the dry Sand River — Exploring the usually shallow, sandy Sand River on foot with a guide to follow wildlife tracks.
- Bird walks, storytelling and Maasai culture conversations — Guides bring the bush to life through bird walks, storytelling and conversations about Maasai culture around camp.
- Hot air balloon safaris — Sunrise hot air balloon rides over the Mara, to be booked in advance and arranged by the camp on request.
- Bush breakfasts and sundowners — Cook-out breakfasts and sundowners on the savannah, including sundowners from a vintage mobile bar.
- Spa treatments — Treatments in two dedicated spa rooms, including in-room and sunset massages.
Amenities
- Central mess area with giant rosewood dining table
- Footbridge across the Keekorok River
- Wildlife viewing and guided game drives
- Guided walks on the Sand River riverbed
- Bird walks and storytelling
- Guided safaris, bird walks, storytelling and conversations about Maasai culture
- Wi-Fi in tents
- Gift shop / boutique
- Painting and art desk
- Wildlife book collection
- Digital tipping app (card and M-Pesa)
- Game drives (morning and afternoon)
- Bush breakfasts
- Sundowners on the savannah
- Nature and bird walks
- Hot air balloon rides (bookable in advance)
Awards
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
Open Sala’s Camp in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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