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Hammerkop Migration Camp, Masai Mara | Timbuktu Travel
Masai Mara

Hammerkop Migration Camp

Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025
We're one of the World's Best Tour Operators!
Named three years running in Travel+Leisure World's Best, including No.1 in 2024

About Hammerkop Migration Camp

Authentic and action-adjacent in the iconic Mara.
Close to a key spot on the wildebeest migration in Kenya's Masai Mara, this humble spot packs a punch. Little more than a collection of tents beside a river, Hammerkop Migration Camp is nevertheless exceptionally located in the inner Mara, away from the well-travelled safari route. This region, Paradise Plains, is a few minutes’ drive from the Musiara Swamp area, and within easy reach of several crossings on the Mara River. The relatively simple accommodation and warm, dedicated staff really make you feel relaxed. We love the intimate atmosphere – Hammerkop showcases the bush at its best.
Masai Mara National Reserve , Masai Mara , Kenya
From $430 per person/per night
Safari
7 Rooms
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Property details

The property

Hammerkop's tented structures mean the camp leaves a light footprint. At its heart, the main area is a simple canvas mess tent, with a dining area that's furnished with solid hardwood tables and chairs. The real luxury comes through in the delicious home-cooked meals – warming soups, aromatic curries, succulent marinated meat dishes – and beautifully set tables. Outside, the fire pit is set back from the riverbank but just outside the tree canopy, allowing for unobstructed starry-sky views.

The rooms

Seven canvas tents hug the riverbank, each tucked into the trees for a good dose of shade and privacy. Rooms have either two twin beds or a single queen, made up with good linens and covered with vibrant Masai blankets. Don't expect wi-fi and underfloor heating, but comforts here are nevertheless more than adequate: solar-powered lighting, and en-suite bathrooms with hot-water showers, basins and flush toilets, and a shaded patio. The single family tent consists of two tents joined together.

Activities

Game viewing here is among the best in the world. Only across the border in Tanzania's Serengeti do you find such a variety of species, and in such numbers. Hammerkop's strategic placement means you're in the royal box when it comes to river crossings, which are far more dramatic in real life than on TV. It's all wildebeest versus croc and current – sweaty-palmed stuff! Game drives take you to the action; hot-air balloon rides provide a zoomed-out view.
Why we love it

Why we love it

From your river-side tent you can see hippos lolling and grazing and doing what hippos do.
Insiders tip

Insiders Tip

There's nothing like a bit of perspective – only from the vantage of a hot-air balloon can you grasp the Mara's sheer size and scope of wildlife.
Something to think about

Something to think about

This camp offers simple luxury – more bush-chic than hotel-grade.
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How to book Hammerkop Migration Camp

How do I book Hammerkop Migration Camp?

Hammerkop Migration Camp can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Kenya trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Kenya trips featuring Hammerkop Migration Camp or get advice and suggestions from one of our Kenya specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Hammerkop Migration Camp?

Stays at Hammerkop Migration Camp start from around $430 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Hammerkop Migration Camp

Kenya

Masai Mara

A safari classic filled with the Big Five, wildlife-dotted landscapes and vibrant Maasai warriors.