Jan
GoodWildlife: Warm summer weather; resident wildlife remains rewarding, with walking and birdwatching from mid-month.
Warm summer weather; resident wildlife remains rewarding, with walking and birdwatching from mid-month.
Cottar’s Bush Villa
Maasai Mara, Kenya · Community conservancy
Speciality stay
Photo: Cottar’s Safaris · Cottar’s 1920s Camp · Source ↗
Full board+ (FB+)
Full-board accommodation, House wines and 11 more
1 villa
Cottar’s Bush Villa · Sleeps up to 10 guests
All ages welcome
By air
15 min from Cottar’s Safaris private airstrip
Wi-Fi in rooms
Solar power
From about A$12,980
per villa / night
Overview
About Cottar’s Bush Villa
Cottar’s Bush Villa is an exclusive-use house in Kenya’s Olderkesi Conservancy, with views across the Mara-Serengeti landscape. Five en-suite bedrooms accommodate ten guests, making it a natural choice for families and private groups. There is a private swimming pool, a central lounge, a bar and a library, with viewing decks for time outdoors. Wildlife drives, bush walks and the Maasai Warrior School are included alongside meals, local drinks and laundry. Children of all ages are welcome, and Wi-Fi runs throughout the villa.
“Five bedrooms and exclusive use give families and friends space to be together, while included wildlife drives and bush walks keep the safari at the heart of the stay.”
Best for
FamiliesGroupsMultigenerational trips
Known for
What you can expect to see
Big FiveWildebeestThe migration
A private family safari base for Big Five wildlife drives and the Maasai Mara’s annual wildebeest migration.
Your stay
What's included
Board: Full board+ (FB+)
Special offer: Stay four nights and pay for three on new bookings from 1 October to 19 December 2026, 11 January to 31 May 2027, or 1 November to 19 December 2027. Limited promotional nights apply; park and conservancy fees remain payable for every day, and offers cannot be combined.
Included
- Full-board accommodation
- House wines
- Soft drinks
- Beer
- Select spirits
- Cottar’s private airstrip transfers
- Laundry
- Nanny service booked two weeks ahead
- Guided wildlife drives
- Bush walks
- Maasai Warrior School
- Stargazing
- Private swimming pool
- Walking safaris
- Game drives
Not included
- Park fees
- Concession fees
Park and conservancy fees are extra. In 2027, daily park fees are USD 100 per adult from January to June and USD 200 from July to December, with USD 50 for children aged 9-17 and free entry for children aged 0-8.
Optional extras (at a cost)
Premium drinks, spa treatments, cultural village entry and balloon safaris cost extra. Other paid options include conservation flights, raptor and cheetah experiences, beading and photography.
Facilities
Comforts and facilities
At the property
- Swimming pool
- Spa
- Library
- Bar
- Viewing deck
In your room
- Wi-Fi in your room
- En-suite bathroom
- In-room WiFi
Rooms
Where you sleep
Sleeps up to 10 guests
- Cottar’s Bush Villa1 at the property · sleeps 10 adults · Five en-suite bedrooms, Private swimming pool, WiFi
Activities
Things to do
Included in your stay
Getting there
How you'll arrive
- Cottar’s Safaris private airstrip
- 15 min transfer
- Cottar’s Bush Villa
- How you arrive
- By air · 15 min from Cottar’s Safaris private airstrip
- Transfers
- The included transfer from Cottar’s private airstrip takes 15-20 minutes. Keekorok Airstrip is about two hours away by road, with a transfer fee.
- Luggage
- 15 kg per person
Good to know
Before you book
- Check-in
- From 12:00
- Check-out
- By 10:00
- Children
- All ages welcome
- Exclusive use
- Available
- Dietary needs
- Special diets catered for
- Power
- Solar power
- Malaria
- Seasonal malaria risk. Ask your doctor about prevention.
- Minimum stay
- 2 nights
When to go
Best time to visit
- January: Good
- February: Good
- March: Green season
- April: Green season
- May: Green season
- June: Good
- July: Best time to visit
- August: Best time to visit
- September: Best time to visit
- October: Best time to visit
- November: Green season
- December: Green season
- Best time to visit
- Good
- Green season
Month-by-month notes
Feb
GoodWildlife: Warm summer weather and good resident-wildlife viewing, walking and birdwatching.
Warm summer weather and good resident-wildlife viewing, walking and birdwatching.
Mar
Green seasonWildlife: The long rains begin; green grasslands accompany good resident-wildlife viewing.
The long rains begin; green grasslands accompany good resident-wildlife viewing.
Apr
Green seasonWildlife: The wettest month brings lush grasslands and newborn animals.
The wettest month brings lush grasslands and newborn animals.
May
Green seasonWildlife: Long rains and lush grasslands, with newborn animals and big cats.
Long rains and lush grasslands, with newborn animals and big cats.
Jun
GoodWildlife: Temperate weather in early June; the main migration-viewing period begins in mid-June.
Temperate weather in early June; the main migration-viewing period begins in mid-June.
Jul
Best time to visitWildlife: The driest month falls within the main migration-viewing period.
The driest month falls within the main migration-viewing period.
Aug
Best time to visitWildlife: Migration season brings opportunities to watch herds and predator-prey encounters.
Migration season brings opportunities to watch herds and predator-prey encounters.
Sep
Best time to visitWildlife: The main migration-viewing period continues across the Mara ecosystem.
The main migration-viewing period continues across the Mara ecosystem.
Oct
Best time to visitWildlife: The main migration-viewing period extends through October.
The main migration-viewing period extends through October.
Nov
Green seasonWildlife: Short rains bring green grasslands and a quieter wildlife-viewing period.
Short rains bring green grasslands and a quieter wildlife-viewing period.
Dec
Green seasonWildlife: Short rains and warm summer weather; the quieter green period runs into mid-December.
Short rains and warm summer weather; the quieter green period runs into mid-December.
How we judge each month
- Best time to visitAmong this property's strongest months for conditions, access and key experiences.
- GoodVery favourable conditions for this property and its key experiences.A generally good time to stay, with some normal seasonal compromises.
- Green seasonWorkable for specific priorities, with notable seasonal compromises.The property operates, but seasonal conditions bring substantial trade-offs.
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Helpful guides
Plan around this stay
Crossing the Border Between Tanzania and Kenya on a Migration Safari: The Complete Logistics Guide
There is no direct crossing between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. This guide explains exactly how the border works, which crossing to use, what documents you need as an Australian traveller, and whether it is worth driving at all.
Kenya: the Mara, the Migration & the cradle of safari
Everything Australian travellers need for Kenya — the eTA, money and M-Pesa, malaria and yellow-fever rules, the Great Migration's timing in the Masai Mara, when to go, and how to get around. The practical groundwork, so you can focus on the safari.
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Details checked October 2026. Rates and availability are confirmed when you enquire.