The Hemingways Collection in East Africa has just completed a comprehensive, heritage-focused interior refresh of River Camp Mara.
Originally built by Richard Roberts, a third-generation conservationist, and his wife Liz, the camp was founded on a deep respect for nature, privacy, and personalized service, located within the Mara North Conservancy in Kenya, which forms a part of the Serengeti ecosystem. Anchoring Hemingways’s renewed commitment to low-impact conservation and authentic local design, Hemingways has significantly reinforced its operational environmental footprint at the eight-tent camp.
The project introduces a tactile, layered design vocabulary that paris bespoke, Nairobi-printed textiles and custom pieces from local Mara artisans with woven Mandalay bedspreads and vintage Istanbul rugs, preserving its historic safari soul while upgrading guest comfort.
The facility updates also include the integration of advanced solar water heating infrastructure and refined waste management systems, moving the property toward its inaugural Ecotourism Kenya certification.
Beyond its infrastructure, the camp’s operations within Mara North continue to further strengthen their direct economic partnership with over 1,000 local Maasai landowners. The multi-thousand-acre conservancy model safeguards critical wildlife migration corridors while securing sustainable land-lease revenues and community development for local stakeholders.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hemingways Group, Ross Evans, says that the revitalization of River Camp Mara reflects a broader evolution in sustainable luxury hospitality.
“Today’s luxury travelers expect high-end hospitality to feel authentic, locally grounded and environmentally responsible. At River Camp Mara, our work is about preserving the classic spirit of an intimate tented safari while elevating the comfort, design and environmental responsibility expected by today’s luxury traveler.”
Under the Hemingways Collection, this legacy is also blending intimacy with nature.
The eight tents comprise six Luxury Tents, one Family Suite, and one Private Suite, River Camp Mara’s seclusion and warmth exceed luxury, and the roots in the land culminate to create unfiltered, personal, and unforgettable experiences that resonate.
Hemingways Collection is a premier luxury hospitality brand operating five-star boutique hotels and safari camps in Kenya and East Africa.
Known for exceptional service, historic heritage, and deep conservation roots, the group includes Hemingways Ol Seki Mara, also in the Maasai Mara, Hemingways Nairobi and Hemingways Eden Residence in Nairobi, Hemingways Watamu in Watamu, and Hemingways Retreat Kigali, the company’s first property outside of Kenya.
