Review: Cottar's 1920s Camp

What’s the vibe? "On arrival at Cottar's Camp in your open-air Land Rover, you immediately feel you’ve stepped back into an almost forgotten colonial time, when the great explorers were still searching for the source of the Nile," says Cherri Briggs, founder of travel specialist Explore, Inc. Cottar's is almost 100 years old, having been established by the grandfather of the current owner, Calvin Cottar.

Tell me about the rooms. The camp has great traditional interiors, full of campaign and colonial antiques and lined with kilims, cotton dhurries, and paraphernalia from decades of African safari. There are nine tents in total (one honeymoon tent, four double tents and four family suites), all with bathrooms; some have living rooms with fireplaces. There are two main mess tent areas, a pool, and spa. Cottars also has a newly redone, 10,000-square-foot Bush Villa, designed by Louise Cottar, with a viewing deck overlooking the savanna. This five-bedroom villa is perfect for a family takeover, and comes with a staff of eight (plus satellite TV, if you have to plug into the real world).

How about the safari? Some of the largely Maasai staff and guides have been with Cottar's for decades, and have become leaders in their industry and role models to their tribal members. Three are Gold Level KPPA guides, the highest level Kenya offers. Calvin Cottar is a spectacular guide himself, and has won the award for Best Guide in Africa three times. (If you’re lucky, he may even take you out to explore; you may also book him on a private basis.) The huge private concession borders the Masaai Mara, which is one of Africa’s great wildlife refuges and seasonal home to the Great Migration, when 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra cross its massive plains. All the iconic species of Africa live in great numbers in the Mara, and as a result, frequent the private concession of Cottar's Camp as well.

Any other outings? Given its longstanding relationships in the region, Cottar's also does some unique cultural excursions, like Maasai wedding blessings and visiting the Maasai Warrior School.