01°33'S 35°15'E OLDERKESI CONSERVANCY, MAASAI MARA
Vintage Safari Camp — Maasai Mara
A Camp Built From 1920
Vintage 1920s luxury in the private Olderkesi Conservancy — eleven tented suites, an Explorers Tent, and the elegance of early safari, reimagined for today.
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Overview
Safari, Before It Was A Holiday
A camp deliberately created around the elegance and character of early safari, set within a private conservancy on the edge of the Maasai Mara.
Cottar's 1920s Camp sits inside the private Olderkesi Conservancy, bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve, reached by light aircraft direct to the camp's own private airstrip. Vintage 1920s luxury runs through every detail — eleven tented suites, an Explorers Tent stocked with authentic safari pieces and historic photography, and original explorer equipment throughout. It is the anchor camp for The 1923, a seven-day expedition built around the romance, craftsmanship and slower rhythm of early safari, reimagined with today's standards of comfort and conservation.
11
Tented Suites
1
Explorers Tent
1
Private Airstrip
1920s
Vintage-Era Design
Tented Suites
Eleven Tents, One Era
Vintage furnishings, canvas walls, and the sounds of the bush surrounding every suite.
Canvas Bush Bath — Cottar's 1920s Camp
01
Vintage FurnishingsCanvas walls, period furniture and authentic safari pieces styled after the earliest expedition camps.
02
The Explorers TentA shared tent stocked with historic photography and original explorer equipment from safari's early era.
03
Canvas Bush BathsCottar's signature bathing experience, alongside conventional en-suite hot showers in every tent.
04
Private VerandasEach tent opens onto its own veranda facing the bush, with the Mara's sounds carrying in after dark.
Experiences
An Expedition, Not A Checklist
Every signature moment of The 1923 is built around camp, not bolted on as an extra.
Field Craft
The 1923 Bush Picnic
A carefully selected wilderness spot, canvas and linen laid out, with excellent modern Kenyan cuisine underneath.
On Foot
Guided Walking Safari
Tracks, plants, birds and animal trails, read up close by an expert naturalist guide.
Culture
Maasai Community Visit
A respectful, community-led experience in the conservancy — cultural exchange, not staged entertainment.
Dining
Dinner, Under Canvas
Meals move from a private table in the wilderness to a lantern-lit fire back at camp.
01The Great Expedition Lunch, set out in the middle of the wilderness
02The 1923 Farewell Dinner, lanterns and storytelling around the fire
03Cocktails at the fireplace after the evening game drive
04Dinner under the stars, served fresh each night at camp
The Mess Tent Bar — Cottar's 1920s Camp
Location
Olderkesi Conservancy
A private conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve, reached only by light aircraft.
Set within the private Olderkesi Conservancy, bordering the Maasai Mara.
Reached by light aircraft from Wilson Airport direct to Cottar's private airstrip.
A short transfer from the airstrip to camp on arrival.
Roughly one hour's flight from Nairobi, door to door.
Fly
A short flight by light aircraft from Wilson Airport, Nairobi, direct to camp.
Land
Touch down at Cottar's own private airstrip inside the conservancy.
Arrive
A short transfer to camp, welcomed with lunch and your first gentle game drive.
The Anchor Camp
Where The 1923 Is Set
Six of the seven nights on The 1923 expedition are spent here, in the private Olderkesi Conservancy.