The Best Luxury Lodges in Masai Mara National Reserve : Many safari (game) enthusiasts don’t really need an introduction to this protected wilderness, formerly known as the Masai Mara National Reserve. Covering an area of 583 square miles, the Masai Mara is situated in southwest Kenya. With year-round cheetah and Big Five watching, over 500 documented bird species, stunning scenery, and genuine community contacts with the well-respected Maasai, The Mara offers a traditional safari experience.
It is most famous for being the site of one of the most amazing natural spectacles, the Great Wildebeest Migration, which takes place there from July to October. Around 1.5 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra, and 200,000 Thomson gazelles arrive from Serengeti National Park during this period. There are several river crossings, with about ten common (or frequently used) crossing locations due to the network of big rivers.
The Masai Mara unquestionably has its own distinct safari footprint. It’s a traditional safari with champagne before breakfast for the romantics. For families and small groups, however, it’s a unique experience filled with firsts and a constant sense of curiosity about what lies ahead! Where should you stay, though? It goes without saying that a range of opulent lodging choices would accompany such a remarkable wilderness region. We have chosen our top luxury lodges for you to explore in order to make it easier for you to traverse them and choose the ideal one for you.
- ANGAMA MARA
- Best for: families and couples
There are barely fifteen suites in each of the lodge’s two camps. With a private observation terrace that overlooks the Masai Mara, each opulent apartment is positioned on the edge of an escarpment! This is the ideal chance to grab your Swarovski Optik binoculars and survey the landscape below!
Angama Mara offers connected family suites to serve visitors traveling with families. These are the same as the other tented suites, except the two rooms are connected by a secure, enclosed passageway. The main feature of Angama Mara is its expansive, sweeping views, which highlight the astounding natural beauty of this extraordinary environment. Furthermore, a 30-minute trip down the escarpment gets you to the Masai Mara. It’s flawless!
Why do we love it?
- Soaring panoramic views of the Masai Mara
- In the path of the Great Migration (July to October),
- Romantic picnics on the escarpment with Masai Mara views
- A dedicated photography, editing, and printing studio
- Patty’s Tent: for the elderly or guests with restricted mobility
COTTAR’S 1920S CAMP
- Best for: couples, families
Cottar’s 1920s Camp transports you back in time to enjoy opulent, vintage safari living, as the name implies. For more than a century, the Cottar family has been offering personalized and genuine safari experiences. They also still have it, as they were selected as one of the “Top 15 luxury resorts in East Africa” in the esteemed Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2022!
Cottar’s Camp offers convenient access to the Masai Mara and the chance for a more intimate experience on their private concession. It is located on a 7,608-acre private Olderkesi Conservancy, bordering the Masai Mara and Serengeti National Parks.
Only nine 1.5-mile-long cream-colored canvas rooms, two honeymoon-specific suites, and three family tents are available. personal. personal. The Cottar’s Family Camp’s ambiance and services are best described as accommodating.
Why do we love it?
- Over 100 years of safari experience—still winning awards!
- The Budding Conservation Family Experience
- Those canvas baths for the fun romantics
- Easy access to the Masai Mara
- Guided safari walks inside the private Olderkesi Conservancy
AND BEYOND BATELEUR CAMP
- Best for: honeymooners and couples
Without a doubt, we’re obsessed with Beyond’s Bateleur Camp! I believe you will concur as well—who wouldn’t? You are having a more intimate Mara experience while seated on a private concession inside the Masai Mara.
With just nine opulent tented rooms spread over two small camps, each with a dedicated viewing deck, game viewing is almost right outside your door (maybe even better with a glass of bubbly). The interior design creates a traditional Masai Mara safari atmosphere by balancing antiques and contemporary elements. Not to be overlooked are the camp’s cooling lap pools—just take a look at that view! The ideal location to cool off in between game drives!
Why do we love it?
- Its private concession within the Masai Mara
- An interpretive guiding experience with twice-daily game drives
- Private viewing decks of the Masai Mara
- Access to guided walking and hot-air balloon safaris
- Great Migration (July to October)
MARA PLAINS
- Best for: couples and private groups
Just north of the Masai Mara National Reserve lie the Mara Plains, which are part of the 32,000-acre Olare Motorogi Conservancy. The Relais & Chateaux offers an unmatched personal wildlife experience with just seven luxurious canvas suites. There are moments when the Masai Mara is criticized for the sheer number of cars that were sighted during the Great Migration. However, at Mara Plains, you may experience the Masai Mara in an open-game drive vehicle with no crowds other than the abundance of wildlife and predators on their concession.
Nestled on repurposed railway sleepers, the camp’s light canvas footprint complements and fits in with the riverine woodland. Roughly hewn wood floors are tastefully balanced with parts of East Africa’s diverse civilizations. paired with a luxurious en suite bathroom, complete with a large copper bath, and a private terrace.
Why do we love it?
- The camp’s eco-conscious design
- One of three Relais & Chateaux properties in Kenya
- Extensive traversing area of Mara Plains: over 98,000 acres
- Open-game drive vehicles—unique to the area
- Great Migration (July to October)
SANCTUARY OLONANA
- Best for: couples, families, and private groups
Not a big fan of tents, no matter how opulent they may be? Then the lodge for you is Sanctuary Olonana Safari Lodge! Nestled amid the Masai Mara on a secluded section of the Mara River, Sanctuary Olonana is a resort that skillfully blends modern design elements with “time-tested building practices such as Maasai mudding and stone walls.” And simply take a peek at the outcome!
The stunning views of the renowned Mara River can be found in each of the 14 glass-walled rooms. Natural colors and intricate handcrafted features, such as the Maasai spears adorning the walls, complement the interior design. This type of accommodation is ideal for families, as three of the suites have an additional bedroom.
Not to be overlooked is the ultra-exclusive Geoffrey Kent, which boasts two separate bedrooms, complete with en suite bathrooms, a wrap-around porch, and an infinity pool. This opulent and exclusive suite, which comes with a private safari guide and in-suite chef, is ideal for large parties and multigenerational families.
Why do we love it?
- Located on a private stretch of the Mara River.
- 14 glass-sided suites with exquisite views
- A committed and sustainable philanthropic program
- Mara River Great Migration Crossings
- The ultra-luxurious and fully exclusive Geoffrey Kent suite
NGARE SERIAN
- Best for: adventurous honeymooners and families
The Masai Mara’s most exclusive camp, perhaps. Ngare Serian is only reachable on foot over a slender rope bridge! Adventure awaits, as we all know. The camp is ideal for large families or private groups wishing to reserve the entire facility because it only has four roomy tents with views of the Mara River.
Beautiful hardwood decking, four-poster Zanzibar beds, and open-concept bathrooms are features of each tent. However, what truly sets this camp apart, in our opinion, is the bathtub that is integrated into the verandah decking. Can you picture yourself relaxing in a bubble bath with a drink of bubbly as you listen to the river’s hippopods snorting? Definitely a beautiful moment from Masai Mara!
For the adventurers who are more romantic. You should spend a night in “The Nest” with a view of the Mara River! Built in a 14-foot Warburgia tree, this private treehouse has two comfortable double beds constructed like nests, flush toilets located higher up the tree, and a bucket shower located lower down. This is a wilderness experience unlike any other, equipped with an infrared spotlight and a night vision camera for detecting wildlife below!
Why do we love it?
- Intimate four-tented luxury camp
- Mara River and Oloololo Escarpment views
- Luxurious bathtub built into the verandah
- A romantic treehouse experience at “The Nest”
- No Wi-Fi—the ultimate escape to reconnect with nature
AND BEYOND KICHWA TEMBO
- Best for: private groups, families, and couples
Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp is the largest of our carefully chosen luxury lodges in the Masai Mara, boasting forty opulent tented rooms. Because of its size, it conveniently provides warm lodging for all kinds of safari visitors. From passionate couples taking in a breathtaking view of the Masai Mara open grasslands to multigenerational families staying in specially designed family rooms.
The camp really “beyonds the expected,” in typical and beyond fashion. First off, the arrangement of the camp offers a remarkably private experience considering its size. Additionally, each accommodation is equipped with a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars, which will allow you to get up close and personal with the nuances of the Masai Mara throughout your stay!
Before enjoying the interactive kitchen, you can harvest fresh food from the resort’s renowned shamba (vegetable garden). Situated within a private concession within the Masai Mara, this location offers you the chance to partake in night drives, bush dining experiences, and walking safaris. Be prepared for the unexpected At Kichwa Tembo!
Why do we love it?
- Its private concession within the Masai Mara
- An interpretive guiding experience with a twice-daily game drive
- Swarovski Optik binoculars for each pair of guests
- Guided walking safaris and bush dining experiences
- Literally in the path of the Great Migration (July to October).
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