History Of Mara Bushtops

Bushtops was originally a private homestead for Glen Cottar, third generation of the legendary White Hunters of Eastern Africa, who came from the Americas searching for a new frontier. Their fascinating stories have been heard around the camp fires of Africa, under the night skies, for generations.

Charles Cottar, with his sons Bud and Mike, travelled throughout Kenya on hunting and photographic safaris. Whilst taking photographs near the Barkitabu stream in 1940, in an area now known as the Masai Mara, Charles was killed by a rhino. His son Mike, accompanied by his grandson Glen, who was only 9 at the time, were left to pack up his camp. 

After leaving school in 1949, Glen continued in the family tradition of guiding safaris. In 1977, he obtained permission from the Masai to put up a camp at a beautiful site within the Siana Group Ranch. Glen’s son Calvin joined his father in 1982 at the camp, where one of his responsibilities was guiding walking safaris. This involved the use of small ‘fly’ camps, which would be moved to various sites within the area. One of Calvin’s favourite locations was a salt lick, nestling in a valley under the Sekenani Hills. This salt lick was always very active during the day, attracting everything from impala, zebra, buffalo to even elephant.

In 1988, Glen decided to build a little ‘look-out’ at this salt lick. Agreements to rent the area were reached with the 42 local Masai tribesmen. The initial ‘accommodation’ consisted of a Volkswagen campervan covered with marula matting. This allowed up to six people to stay overnight, with the VW acting as both store and sleeping quarters!  Glen named this site Bushtops.

When Glen sold the Siana Camp in 1989, he decided to use Bushtops as his permanent base in the Masai Mara. He removed the VW and enlarged the whole building into something that was more comfortable, but still rustic!  The Cottar family and friends, enjoyed many happy days at Bushtops. When Glen died in 1996, Calvin had already established his own camp elsewhere in the Mara and the focus then moved away from Bushtops. 

In 2005, Andrew Stuart, one of Charles Cottar’s great-grandsons, approached Calvin about using Bushtops as the location for a new tented camp. Under the management of Orion Hotels, Mara Bushtops as it is now known, is rapidly building a reputation for quality, comfort and style unsurpassed in the African Bush.

Mara Bushtops has attracted discerning visitors from all parts of the world and many have chosen to return time and again.

In 2010, this Kenyan jewel was matched by a second sparkling destination, with Serengeti Bushtops opening in Tanzania. The camps, which deliver the highest possible standards of luxury and game-viewing, comprise The Bushtops Collection, forming part of Orion Hotels, founded by Claudia and Andrew Stuart. The Bushtops Collection brings to life their vision of the most comfortable and luxurious surroundings in stunning locations, where guests are welcomed as family friends.