Duma is Swahili for cheetah. The camp is a row of tents on the Talek, where the Mara starts on the other bank.
A photographer and a camp chef.
Sanjeev, behind the lens
Born in Calcutta, Sanjeev Mishra spent a career in finance and technology — PwC, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon — and every holiday photographing wildlife, from India's tigers to the Mara's cheetahs.
Tonny, a ranger's son
Tonny Nyamai grew up in Tsavo East, where his father, Mzee Jonathan Nyamai, was one of the park's first rangers and worked with David Sheldrick on orphaned elephants and rhinos.
From trainee cook to head chef
Tonny started as a trainee cook on camping safaris, trained in Germany, and ran the kitchens at Westermanns in Tsavo and at Aruba, Mara Eden and Crocodile Camp in the Mara.
A camp of their own
The two met in the Mara and built Mara Duma together, on the Talek River right outside Talek Gate — tents designed with photographers in mind, and Tonny running the camp.
Big tents on the
Talek river.
Raised canvas tents looking across the river to the reserve, each with its own bathroom and veranda. Guests write about the size first: “really big and comfortable”.
See the tents →
The Double Tent
A big double bed, an en-suite with hot water, and a veranda looking over the river to the reserve. Sleeps 2.
The Twin Tent
Two beds, an en-suite with hot water, and a veranda over the river. For friends, or two photographers. Sleeps 2.
The Triple Tent
Beds for three — for a family or friends — with an en-suite and a veranda over the river. Sleeps 3.
Seconds from Talek Gate
The camp sits on the bank of the Talek River right outside the gate, so game drives start the moment you leave camp — and some animals come to you.
Built for photographers
Founder Sanjeev Mishra is a wildlife photographer who runs photo workshops here. The tents and the days are planned around early starts and good light.
Continental, African and Indian
Co-founder Tonny Nyamai was a head chef at Mara camps for years. The kitchen cooks all three, vegetarian and non-vegetarian.
Part of Talek
The camp supports the Masai Mara rangers and Talek's secondary school — it built the school a new gate after the old one broke and lions began taking a shortcut.
How the days go.
Morning and afternoon drives with a Maasai guide, hot lunch back at camp, a full day out to the Sand River and the Tanzanian border, and time in a Maasai village.
Founded by Sanjeev. Run by Tonny and the team.
“Ronnie and his staff were great. Location was superb.”
Sanjeev Mishra founded the camp; co-founder Tonny Nyamai, a ranger's son and former Mara head chef, runs it with a team from the Talek community.
Meet the founders →“The tents are really big and comfortable, and the view over the Masai Mara is just priceless.”
Notes from the river.
The gate the camp built for Talek's school
Mid-December to April: the photographer's season
A full day to the Sand River and the border
News from Talek.
Sightings, photo workshop dates and news from the camp — a few times a year. No spam; leave any time.