Calvin Cottar and his wife Louise Cottar own the oldest establishment in the Maasai Mara, the Cottar’s Safari camp.
Cottar’s Safari Camp is a luxurious private camp frequented by leaders and celebrities alike because of its exclusivity as well as privacy.
The British couple is however not the first owners of the luxurious villas as it was first established in the 1920s by Chas Cottar, Calvins’ great-grandfather.
Chas moved to Kenya from Oklahoma after reading Teddy Roosevelt’s book ‘Game Trails of Africa' in 1909 setting up his own safari outfitting and guiding business known as the “Cottars Safari Service in 1919.
At the time, the camp was among the first registered safari companies offering superior big game hunting and film safari outfits throughout Africa.
"Chas returned to his home in Lipscum, Oklahoma, sold everything, and brought his family of three sons, six daughters, and his wife back to Africa to settle,” Calvin stated in a past interview with Ultravilla.
Calvin left school when he was 14 years old after the Kenyan hunting industry was shut down because his parents who were dependent on the business, could not afford his education.
“I joined them in their Cottars Mara camp, guiding and helping around camp,” he added.
Calvin and his wife however have since added to the chain of hotels and villas building the ‘Cottar’s Bush villa’ which was built by hand using indigenous and eco-friendly materials.
“The villa allows guests to enjoy the same levels of service and standard for which the camp is known.
“For those that want absolute privacy in the Maasai Mara, combined with dedicated and discrete staff, award-winning guides, and an abundance of wildlife, Cottar’s Bush Villa offers the only real private luxury home in the Maasai Mara,” Calvin explained.
Additionally, located in the exclusive Olderkesi Conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Loliondo reserves, the Safari camp sits on a 7,608-acre land offering day and night game drives.
The camps are composed of tented rooms and a mahogany bar overlooking the bush, offering massages and an even more relaxing experience in a spring-fed swimming pool.
“The villa accommodates up to 10 guests and comes complete with its own 25-metre swimming pool.
“It offers an abundance of wildlife sightings, a guarantee of privacy and the highest standards of professional guiding amid a luxurious, elegant safari environment,” the Cottars noted.
To book a room for two at the villas, the guests must be ready to part with a sum of Ksh246,397. The room offers bathroom amenities, maid service, wireless internet connection as well as complimentary high-speed internet.
There is, however, a pricier package allowing the stay of a family of 4 which costs Ksh407,517. Guests enjoy room service, maid service as well as modern amenities tactfully intertwined in the '20s style tents.
The fifth generation of the Cottars today are Calvin’s 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters.
