Our take
Cottar’s Bush Villa is an exclusive-use house above the Olderkesi Conservancy, with five bedrooms, dedicated staff and private safari vehicles. Wide viewing decks and a 25-metre pool make it a spacious alternative to the nearby 1920s Camp.
The Bush Villa stands on a hillside overlooking the Mara–Serengeti landscape. It is booked as a whole house, giving one party the living areas, staff and safari arrangements rather than sharing a lodge with other guests. Timber, stone and expansive windows keep the surrounding landscape prominent. A library, bar and viewing decks provide different gathering spaces. The nearby 1920s Camp is accessible, but the villa has its own accommodation and daily rhythm.
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A closer look at the accommodation, atmosphere and setting.
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Accommodation
Five en-suite bedrooms normally accommodate ten guests, with a possible increase to twelve by arrangement. The master suite has two balconies, while other bedrooms offer king or twin layouts and individual decorative schemes. Some rooms are upstairs, so the bedroom allocation matters for guests who prefer fewer steps. The bedrooms share the villa’s extensive living areas and dedicated staff.
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Food & drink
Private chefs prepare meals for the group, supported by a dedicated staff team. The house has its own dining room and bar, with shared living spaces for drinks before dinner. Meals and timings can be planned around the party’s safari programme; dietary requirements and special occasions are best discussed before arrival.
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What to do
Private vehicles and guides provide access to the Olderkesi Conservancy and the wider Mara safari programme. Back at the house, there is a private 25-metre swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub, a massage room and a boules lawn. The library and decks are inviting places for a slower afternoon. Reserve visits and conservancy activities should be agreed as part of the itinerary, with fees and any separate experiences made clear.
Planning your stay
The whole-house arrangement gives families shared space and their own staff. A nanny service can be arranged to suit the children’s ages. Bedroom allocation, additional beds and supervision around the pool and hot tub deserve attention before arrival.
The villa’s scale and dedicated safari team make it a different proposition from booking several tents at Cottar’s 1920s Camp. Its viewing decks and long private pool allow a group to spend substantial time together at the house.
Book the villa for the whole party, with a clear bedroom plan rather than relying on maximum occupancy alone. The five-bedroom layout includes upstairs rooms. Agree reserve access, conservancy fees and the number of safari vehicles alongside the accommodation.
Compare the alternatives
Explore the accommodation and setting of each property before choosing your combination.
Maasai Mara
Cottar’s 1920s Camp combines eleven canvas tents with the Cottar family’s long guiding history in Olderkesi Conservancy. Campaign-style interiors, dedicated family tents and private-land activities offer a distinct safari on the eastern side of the Maasai Mara.
Explore the property
Maasai Mara
Wild Hill is an exclusive-use five-suite retreat on Kileleoni Hill in the northern Mara. Panoramic views, living grass roofs, private guiding and substantial wellness facilities create a residential safari experience, with access to three surrounding conservancies.
Explore the propertyMake it part of a journey
Choose the Bush Villa when privacy and time together are priorities for a family or group of friends. Build the programme around a manageable number of safari outings, leaving room to enjoy the house. A longer stay makes more sense here than a hurried overnight stop.
These journeys are starting points. We adapt the route, accommodation and length of stay around your plans.
Explore Maasai Mara or read our Kenya seasonal guide.
Your questions
Five en-suite bedrooms normally accommodate ten guests, with a possible increase to twelve by arrangement. The master suite has two balconies, while other bedrooms offer king or twin layouts and individual decorative schemes. Some rooms are upstairs, so the bedroom allocation matters for guests who prefer fewer steps. The bedrooms share the villa’s extensive living areas and dedicated staff.
Private vehicles and guides provide access to the Olderkesi Conservancy and the wider Mara safari programme. Back at the house, there is a private 25-metre swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub, a massage room and a boules lawn. The library and decks are inviting places for a slower afternoon. Reserve visits and conservancy activities should be agreed as part of the itinerary, with fees and any separate experiences made clear.
The whole-house arrangement gives families shared space and their own staff. A nanny service can be arranged to suit the children’s ages. Bedroom allocation, additional beds and supervision around the pool and hot tub deserve attention before arrival.
Choose the Bush Villa when privacy and time together are priorities for a family or group of friends. Build the programme around a manageable number of safari outings, leaving room to enjoy the house. A longer stay makes more sense here than a hurried overnight stop.
Tailor-made Kenya
We will help you compare the alternatives and plan the right combination.
Start planning