About Mara West

More Than a safari, from the very beginning

Mara West was never simply built to be a safari camp. What began more than two decades ago as a home for volunteers working alongside the local Maasai community gradually grew into the place guests experience today—a camp shaped by years of living in Kenya, meaningful relationships, and a deep connection to this corner of the Mara.

Early days of Mara West camp in the Masai Mara

Where it Began

2001

In 2001, the Aho family welcomed the first group of volunteers to the land that would eventually become Mara West. In those early years, simple pup tents and a makeshift dining lodge provided a home base for teams working alongside the surrounding Maasai communities.

What began as a place to house volunteers soon became something more. Relationships deepened, projects grew, and the land became a gathering place for people drawn together by a shared commitment to the community.

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Camp Takes Shape

2006

In 2006, Mara West opened its doors to safari guests. What had begun as a home base for volunteer teams gradually grew into a place where travelers could experience the Mara while becoming part of the community and relationships that had already taken root here.

Over the years, the camp continued to grow, adding chalets along the escarpment, canvas safari tents, cottages, and the gathering spaces guests enjoy today. Yet even as Mara West evolved, the spirit of those early years remained—personal, welcoming, and deeply connected to the place and people around us.

Giraffe beside one of the original buildings at Mara West
The Aho family, owners and operators of Mara West

Still Family Owned

More than 2 decades later

More than two decades later, Mara West remains privately owned and operated by the Aho family. Years spent living and working in Africa have shaped not only the camp itself, but the way we believe safari should feel—personal, welcoming, and connected to the place and people around us.

Mara West has grown considerably since those first tents were pitched, but the heart of the camp remains much the same. Our hope is that guests come for the wildlife and leave with something more—a connection to the Mara, its people, and the community that has shaped Mara West from the beginning.

More than a safari

Today, Mara West brings together the things that have shaped us from the beginning—extraordinary wildlife, genuine connection, and a lasting relationship with the community we call home.

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