Julia's River Camp
Maasai Mara, Mara National Reserve, Near Talek Gate
View on map and nearby hotels
20 nights, 2 adults
Includes taxes and charges
20 nights, 2 adults
Includes taxes and charges
Why people book this hotel
“The staff at Julia's are super friendly, welcoming and helpful”
“The staff as phenomenal”
“It's a great location with good rooms/tents”
“The location was amazing, inside the Masai Mara nature reserve”
“The tents are very comfortable, with hot water, and the staff (the game drivers …”
“Beds are small and sheets and pillows were dirty”
“We had 2 breakfasts out on our game drives and 2 in camp”
“We could see and hear hippos, crocodiles, baboons and we even saw a lion from ou…”
“The food was ok for the price”
“Great value for money too”
“Very clean and comfortable tents, really good food and very friendly and service…”
“Cleanliness is generally lacking throughout the camp - see pics”
Overview
Julia's River Camp offers accommodation in the heart of the Masai Mara Nature Reserve. Each tent looks onto the Talek River and has its own private verandah to enjoy the scenery. The tents are located in different sections of the camp and feature a seating area, solar powered lighting and en-suite bathroom with hot-running water 24hrs a day. Towels are also provided. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant with special diet menus available on request. The property also offers packed lunches. There are 3 different communal mess tents where guests can relax and enjoy a drink at the end of a long day’s safari.
Traveller reviews
Karen
family_with_children
October 10, 2025
“Julia's has that real, isolated safari camp experience with an incredible safari.”
We had 2 breakfasts out on our game drives and 2 in camp. All were amazing. On the game drives we had pancakes, french toast, maple syrup, bacon, sausage, hard boiled eggs,, fruit, yoghurt, tea, coffee and juice all served up on the bonnet of our vehicle. We had the same in camp with the addition of cereal and a choice of eggs. Really filling and delicious.
Fiona
family_with_children
August 21, 2025
The staff at Julia's are super friendly, welcoming and helpful. Everything was arranged super smoothly and the team was very helpful also in advance to help us prepare our stay. It's a great location with good rooms/tents. We liked how quiet and low-key it is - and the local connection.
Louise
extended_group
July 23, 2025
Perfect stay, right on the river to see the hippos too :)
Sophie
family_with_children
July 21, 2025
The staff as phenomenal!!!
Mariam
family_with_children
July 20, 2025
The location was amazing, inside the Masai Mara nature reserve. We could see and hear hippos, crocodiles, baboons and we even saw a lion from our camp while having breakfast one day. The tents are very comfortable, with hot water, and the staff (the game drivers and camp staff) is beyond sweet and helpful. The game drivers made sure all our game drives were epic. My 5 year old made friends with all the staff, and would roam around the camp with them, going to see the animals around. He thoroughly enjoyed his time, and they all took such great care of him. Big shout out to all the security guards, who made our trip unforgettable!
Thomas
family_with_children
December 26, 2024
“Fantastic experience, great camp and super friendly staff.”
Excellent location with animals around the camp. Very clean and comfortable tents, really good food and very friendly and service minded staff. Can highly recommend
Marc
family_with_children
July 29, 2024
Awesome place. Great camp
William
couple
October 24, 2023
“Very disappointing.”
We have just stayed here for 3 nights as part of our month long Kenyan self drive. We are hardened African Safari guys, who have done ground tents in remote locations with no water (and dig your own toilet) to similar camps like this so not writing as novices. Having read some of the great reviews before booking, we had high hopes for this place - unfortunately we were disappointed. Whilst the camp is in a truly great location on the Talek River that’s where the word great ends. There’s a big difference between eco /authentic and dirty and forgotten! For starters it isn’t actually in the park despite their assurances it is - it isn’t!!!! The Talek Gate is a good 35 minute drive away or it’s a 2 hour drive out past the airstrip where you can cross the river into the park. Chairs around fire are old and torn. Cleanliness is generally lacking throughout the camp - see pics. Whilst the staff are really friendly and helpful, there’s a lack of supervision or management I feel that means there’s more listening to mobiles than cleaning etc. Food was average to very poor and the first nights dinner was freezing cold! They don’t cook the food at Buffalo Camp so it’s brought over from another camp so this probably explains the coldness. Tents are outdated, look old and tatty and you can’t lock. Beds are small and sheets and pillows were dirty. Basics like hand soap bottles by the hand basin were dirty and empty. We had no cold water in the shower so it was scalding and we had to use bottles of cold water to rinse down. Toilets don’t appear to be fixed to anything so when you sit down they almost fall over - it’s all a bit cheaply done. Cracked toilet seats and generally dirty bathrooms aren’t a great look for over £300 per night. Loud music and general noise from staff quarters isn’t in keeping with the signs around the camp asking guests to keep their voices down and isn’t great when you are trying to relax on the balcony!
Arthur
extended_group
October 11, 2023
“An exciting bush experience.”
Julia's Camp is wellsituated on one of the two rivers in the Masai Mara. It is a rustic camp but the service and the food were good.
Laetitia
family_with_children
August 31, 2023
“Quick trip to Mara”
The camp is very basic. Do not expect too much. There's for example not really a lounge area where you can sit and relax, apart from the dining area....but if you plan to not be at camp a lot, it is ok. The location is a bit tricky to find as there is only one or two signs and you kind of drive up and down to get to it. The tents are an ok size with decent bathrooms and hot showers. Bonus. There is no plug points in the tents so if you want to charge something, you have to leave it in the dining tent. The staff was extremely friendly and tried their best to accommodate us with all our requests etc. The beds comfy. The nice part is, you hear a lot of animals at night. It is very cool. We had hippos and hyenas right outside our tent. They have guards at night to escourt you if you need to leave ypur tent. Close to Talek gate but far enough out of town so that you dont hear the loud music from Talek. Peacefull and quiet. The food was ok for the price. The packed breakfast they made for us was very nice. For the price we paid, it was good overall. As long as you know that this is not a luxury campsite.
Cari
extended_group
August 16, 2023
“A secret gem tucked in the Masai Mara.”
This tented camp was in a beautiful location. We enjoyed cooked to order breakfasts and amazing game drives organized by the camp. The showers were great!
Dieuwertje
couple
June 25, 2023
The staff was extremely kind, the place is beautiful and it’s really camping in the wild with the comfort of a bed and the safety of security staff
帅
couple
August 19, 2022
“poor”
The location is OK, and you can see animals.
Venessa
couple
October 14, 2021
Location, staff extremely responsive and accomodating.
Peter
solo_traveller
August 16, 2021
“Amazing! It is a simple / basic lodge but its the best way to truly experience the African Bush”
Staff were very friendly and helpful. Dennis our game ranger / guide was amazing, and did everything possible to find all the animals / river crossings, get the best spot for pictures. The location is great, in the middle of the Mara, unfenced camp and you have Giraffe, Hippo, Buffalo walking along the river past the camp. Its close to where they aunch the hot air balloons. Also very quiet you can hear, Lions, Hyena and Hippos at night
Guest
family_with_children
August 4, 2021
Loved the ecofriendly environment and how the camp blended into the surroundings.
Luc
family_with_children
July 31, 2021
Very friendly staff! We really enjoyed staying at Julia’s camp. Just perfect! Great value for money too. Hope to stay again at Julia’s soon!
Tracy
extended_group
July 30, 2021
“More than we expected !”
The staff went over and above to make us comfortable. The most affordable place we’ve stayed and honestly the first place that has really thought about my vegetarian meals. Our stay was only 2 days but Moses made sure we saw 3 crossings, all the cats (and their babies) and more. We were pleasantly surprised and have a new favorite part of the Mara to explore. The Camp is on a river and very peaceful. The rooms don’t have electricity (only solar lights) but there is a charging station in the dining area. Exceptionally well priced for what you get. Thank you
Facilities
Activities
Public Bath, Game drives, Walking tours, Tour or class about local culture
Cleanliness & disinfecting
Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against Coronavirus, Linens, towels and laundry washed in accordance with local authority guidelines, Guest accommodation is disinfected between stays, Property is cleaned by professional cleaning companies, Guests have the option to cancel any cleaning services for their accommodation during their stay
Entertainment and family services
Indoor play area
Food & Drink
Kid meals, Kid-friendly buffet, Wine/champagne, Special diet menus (on request), Restaurant, Bar, Breakfast options
Food & drink safety
Breakfast takeaway containers, All plates, cutlery, glasses and other tableware have been sanitized, Physical distancing in dining areas
General
Non-smoking rooms, Family rooms, Safety deposit box, Designated smoking area
Internet
Internet services, WiFi, Free WiFi
Outdoors
Garden, Terrace, Outdoor furniture, Picnic area, Outdoor fireplace
Parking
Free parking, Parking, Private parking, Accessible parking
Physical distancing
Physical distancing rules followed
Reception services
Invoice provided
Safety & security
Fire extinguishers
Safety features
Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities, Hand sanitizer in guest accommodation and key areas, First aid kit available, Access to health care professionals
Services
Shuttle service, Concierge service, Private check-in/check-out, Shuttle service (additional charge), Airport shuttle (additional charge), Lockers, Shared lounge/TV area, Airport shuttle, Laundry, Room service, Meeting/banquet facilities, Express check-in/check-out, Packed lunches, Car hire, Luggage storage
Transport
Airport pick up, Airport drop off
Hotel Policies
Price Watch
Email me price updates for Hotel Julia's River Camp
Each day we'll check prices and send you an email for your selected dates at Julia's River Camp.
If you don't have specific dates but would like to check prices for say next weekend or say next month we can check the price too.




