For a family of five, all safari virgins, we had no idea what to expect. when we touched down on the wild looking airstrip near Rekero. Our guide Dixon, was ready and waiting for us in his traditional tribal robes and started us on what was the first of of many incredibly interesting, detailed and sensitive drives through the Mara.

After only 2 1/2 days of seeing more fascinating wildlife than we knew existed, and experiencing the utter beauty of the Mara, combined with the magical experience of sleeping in luxurious tents complete with hot bucket showers, hippos wandering outside at night and a horde of baboons, zebras, and other beasts on the river nearby, we could hardly bear to leave. Just a very few of the highlights - a huge pride of lions in the heat; three young cheetahs lying in the grass, a lion with its' kill, a large herd of elephants running through the mara, a shy rhino in the bushes, the Masai village. The hosts, Gerard and Rainie, and our guide Dixon were all outstanding - however all the staff there were acutely attuned to our needs, including those of our young boys. A most wonderful and unforgettable experience.

My husband and I had been to East Africa before and stayed in some extremely impressive camps, from permanent tented camps to mobile tented safaris. On our second trip, our last stop was to be at Rekero Tented Camp, and I had already decided that we had seen the peak of accommodations already. However, I was completely stunned by the experience at Rekero. Spacious tents with extremely comfy beds, including a welcome hot water bottle tucked in the white sheets when you come back from dinner! Each tent has a Masai attendant, who stays outside and at night escorts you through the bush to dinner, protecting you with his spear. No guns, no fences, just natural Africa. Our tent, like all the tents, was just a few feet from the Talek river, and our party of four got the two tents by the hippo pools -- a treat to hear the big guys bellowing in joy at their great splashes into the river! At night, you hear things snuffling around outside your tent. It's just magical. The main tent and dining tent are fronted by a thick, lovely lawn, which runs down to the river. You can watch the wildebeests crossing while you have your buffet lunch! In the evening, after hot showers in your tents, you walk with your escort through the brush to the campfire for cocktails and bush stories, followed by lively conversation over dinner. The small number of people makes for a very interesting mix. The food was superb and served with elegance, made even more delightful by the setting. On top of all that, the guided game drives were certainly some of the best we'd had in Africa up to that time. The decision we all made after staying there says it all: Next time in Africa we'll save ourselves the time and money, and go straight to Rekero and stay there!