Serian - The Details
Alex Walker’s Serian Original is located in the Mara North Conservancy of the Greater Mara eco-system. This was the first of Alex's camps and it perfectly captures the meaning of its name: 'peaceful, calm and serene' in the local Masai Language.
Serian is approximately an hour flight from Kenya’s capital, Nairobi accessible by internal flight from Wilson Airport. The Mara North Conservancy is a beautiful private wilderness area outside the
Masai Mara itself. The reserve is more than 74,000 acres and is looked after by the eleven camps that have set up within its boundaries.
The location was discovered by the owner, Alex Walker, while working as a private guide in the area and has now become his home. Located on the sides of a small valley that drops down to the Mara River, Serian and its younger sister,
Ngare Serian, are located approximately an hour and a half away from the northern entrance gate to the
Mara Reserve. From this secluded region it is therefore possible to keep away from the bustle of the main reserve while still being close enough to day trip there.
Each of the 5 tented rooms has an adjoining private wash area with showers that look out to the valley below. With beautifully soft beds and Persian rugs, there has been no expense spared in its building and it remains comfortable without being overly pretentious. The communal areas too have had plenty of attention paid to them and make the most of the views with a large, open air dining area and cosy lounge in which to relax after a days activities.
Like most of the other concession lodges on the outskirts of the Greater Mara, it is possible to walk as well as drive on
safari, but, where Alex has been smart, is that he now offers a good range of alternative activities that you can do from the lodge, such as staying in a fly camp in the Mara Reserve, or going out with a guide and take part in a patrol of the concession.
Each party, whether you are a family of four or a couple on honeymoon, recieve their own private guide and vehicle for the duration of their stay. Not only does that allow you to tailor the day to your needs, but it gives photographers the opportunity to take their time in sightings.
The beauty of being located in the Mara North conservancy is the private feel you have whilst on game drive. Whilst the National Reserve gets busy with day trippers and many other camps, the conservancies have a strict policy on the number of guests allowed to stay in the area. This gives guests a far more intimate and exclusive game drive experience.
We would still recommend combining some time in the National Reserve, especially between July and October when a portion of the Great Wildebeest Migration arrive and some time in the quieter conservancies. This way you get to see the incredible density of mammals the Mara boasts as well as enjoy some of the extra activities on offer in the private areas.
