"SMALL, PRIVATE & EXCLUSIVE

Richard’s River Camp was initially established as Richard and Liz’s ‘home away from home’ in 2006 when their son Willoughby was born. Perfectly situated on the banks of the Njageteck River in the private Mara North Conservancy, the camp allows for total privacy and exclusivity. The Ngoyanai springs provide permanent water, drawing in large numbers of animals to the area around camp. This camp is also particularly known for its resident lion pride which can often been seen hunting right in front of the camp, and most always can be heard roaring during the night.

With only seven tents, this camp is ideal for individuals as well as exclusive groups who wish to experience the Masai Mara in a personal intimate setting. Beautifully appointed with furnishings and fabrics collected by Liz on her travels - the result is a casually luxurious tented camp, combining exceptional wildlife with a contemporary ‘Out of Africa’ experience.

Richard’s River Camp offers day and night game drives, birding and scenic bush walks, sundowners, bush meals and cultural visits to a local Masai Village nearby. At an additional cost are hot air balloon flights, please try to book these in advance with us.

Despite our camps’ small size and remote location, our kitchen will happily cater for almost any food preferences. Our chefs have trained at various kitchens across Kenya and have amassed a wide range of culinary skills and cooking methods. If the weather permits, dining is usually outdoors with a beautiful candle-lit table, however, you will also be treated to bush dinners under a canopy of stars using a simple eco-charcoal oven, and breakfast buffets out on the Mara plains - incredible dining experiences, not easily forgotten. We also offer traditional African food that is very popular with our guests.

Please let us know your food preferences in advance - whether you require gluten-free or vegetarian dishes and if you have any allergies, so that we may prepare well in advance for your stay. We offer a large range of soft drinks, beers, house wines and selected house spirits, which are inclusive in the rate, however, should you wish for a particular wine or spirit to be available during your stay with us, we will try to arrange it at an extra cost - please inform us in advance.

Mineral water is provided in all the rooms and on activities. We try to minimize plastic waste so whilst all of our drinking water is mineral water, we decant it from large recyclable containers; bottled water is used only on activities.

First settling in Kenya in the late 1940’s, Richard’s grandparents David and Betty lived most of their lives on the wild shores of Lake Baringo, where they raised their six children. David built a successful fishery, which provided employment and income for most of the local community during that time. They had a collection of wild animals and a small-tented camp that catered for the first flying safaris around Kenya. Pioneering safaris in Northern Kenya, David was regularly asked by Government House to organize and lead safaris for dignitaries including Prince Philip whom he escorted up to Lake Turkana in 1963. After David’s early death at the age of forty-two, Betty remained in Kenya with her children all of whom still live and work in Kenya.

Willie Roberts, Richard’s father was born in Kenya in 1953 and has led a remarkable life in safaris and conservation in Kenya. His wife Sue was born in Zanzibar and they met at the Island Camp on Lake Baringo, which was Willie’s first tented camp. Amongst his many achievements while living in the Mara with his young family, Willie formed the Ol Chorro Conservancy which, allowed local people to benefit directly from wildlife revenues generated by tourism on their own land, for the first time. Willie and Sue now live in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy where they own a beautiful lodge called Sirikoi.

From the age of 3, Richard himself was brought up in the Masai Mara, in the Ol Chorro Conservancy to be precise, whilst his parents carried out conservation work in the area in the 1980’s. Richard and his partner Liz Fusco, built their small boutique River Camp in the private Mara North Conservancy, when their son Willoughby was born. Richard and Liz now have two children; their daughter Ivy was born in 2011 and they currently divide their time between Nairobi where their children are attending school, and the Masai Mara.

Some of the staff at Richard’s River Camp have been working there for many years - one particular staff member has been working with the Robert’s family since 1980 and shows no sign of retiring any time soon! Most of our staff are of the Masai tribe and their families live within the Mara. The guides at the camp are also Masai and therefore know everything there is to know about the area - they have also spent years guiding alongside Richard and are great people to experience the Mara with.
Our management couple, Finlay Marrian (born and raised in Kenya) and Hannah Geddes (originally from England, but has been living in Kenya for the past five years) will welcome you with warm Kenyan hospitality.