&Beyond Bateleur Camp, at the foot of the Oloololo Escarpment in Kenya, has reopened following a four-month closure for a complete rebuild.
Twenty years after it first opened, Fox Browne Creative, the original designers were charged with creating Bateleur Camp’s new look.
The new design retains features from the old camp, such the vintage silver, worn leather, antique trunks and crystal decanters, while incorporating new design touches such as old world maps and dark brass fittings that contrast against the white marble surfaces.
A new family unit was added and consists of two guest tents with a shared sitting area, along with three family rooms at the nearby &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp.
Usable floor space in the guest tents has almost doubled and interiors appear more spacious through the use of a lighter colour palette and natural light. En-suite bathrooms now feature private stone courtyards with bathtubs and alfresco showers. Sunken day-beds have been added to guests’ private verandahs.
Two new swimming pools with large decks have been added and a spa provides a selection of treatments and massages for singles and couples, as well as a fitness centre with floor-to-ceiling roll-back glass walks looking out onto the Mara. A new safari shop features designers from the region, as well as locally produced crafts and products.
The interactive bar, set to open in June, will serve Kenyan coffee by day and speciality gin cocktails in the evening.
A multitude of new dining venues were created during the rebuild, from the pool deck to in-room or verandah dining.
Fences have been repositioned so that wildlife can come closer to the camp, whilst ensuring guests’ safety.
Thanks to the camp’s location, important access points are just a short drive away, such as the Oloololo gate to the Mara Reserve, the airstrip where most guests enter the Mara and the departure point for hot-air balloon safaris.
The 2 000 acre (810 hectare) private concession that the camp is situated on also allows for night drives, game walks and outside dining.
