KENYA
Safari Lodges in Masai Mara National Park
Masai Mara is one of Kenya’s leading national parks, well-known for the Great Annual Wildebeest Migration. Located in the southwestern part of Kenya, Masai Mara offers extraordinary wildlife sightings, including the African big five, big cats, a plethora of bird species, and breathtaking views that sweep across its vast 1,510 square kilometer landscape. But aside from its spectacular year-round game viewing, the Mara also boasts a variety of safari accommodation which is presented in safari lodges, tented camps, and campsites.
Given its popularity, Masai Mara receives many tourists, especially during the migration season: luckily, its gorgeous lodges and camps can accommodate big groups of people, including families, friends, and couples, among others. Accommodation in Masai Mara ranges from budget to mid-range to luxury safari lodges and camps; choosing a place to stay while on a safari in Masai Mara often depends on various factors, the first one being the type of accommodation you want, and the second being the price of your preferred choice of accommodation.
During the low season, budget lodges in the Mara can go as low as $90 – $150 per person per night whereas a mid-range lodge can go as low as $170 – $250 per person per night. Luxury lodges on the other hand can go as low as $300 during the low season. However, during the peak season accommodation rates tend to double their initial rates. Furthermore, you’re the price of your choice of accommodation is also affected by factors such as transport, length of stay, etc.
Masai Mara has a variety of safari lodges and camps scattered across the vast wilderness; however, the reserve’s private conservancies host more private and isolated accommodations including exceptional luxury lodges and tented camps. Nonetheless, they offer fantastic stays, filled with plenty of activities for travelers to engage in such as horseback safaris, night game drives, safari walks, and community visits, you name it. If you are planning a Kenya safari to the Mara, here are our top safari lodges and camps in Masai Mara;
luxury and mid-range lodges in mara
Keekorok Lodge
Keekorok Lodge is the oldest lodge in the Masai Mara and is located in the heart of the reserve. It is located just 1.3 miles away from the Mara River and approximately 15 minutes from Keekorok Airstrip. The lodge provides elegant traditional lodging with private courtyards. It has an outdoor pool with a patio and spectacular Mara views. Keekorok lodge consists of 99 rooms spacious rooms with private en-suite bathrooms. The rooms are beautifully designed with marble floors, fireplaces, and a minibar. They have a ceiling fan, hypoallergenic bedding, a mosquito net, and balconies overlooking the garden and swimming pool.
The Hippo bar at Keekorok Lodge overlooks the lake and provides traditional cuisine and drinks. The Elephant Deck restaurant serves authentic Savannah meals to guests. There is also a 24-hour front desk and a children’s play area within the resort. Keekorok lodge also provides airport transfers, BBQ facilities, a swimming pool, a spa and wellness center, security, free private parking, free internet access, daily housekeeping, laundry, and a business center. Activities offered at the lodge include game drives, walking safaris, horseback riding, hot air balloon safaris, Maasai Village visits, bush breakfasts, picnics, dinners, etc.
Angama Lodge
Angama lodge is a luxury safari lodge perched on the Great African Rift valley escarpment, overlooking Masai Mara. The lodge gets its name from a Swahili word that means “suspended in mid-air.” Recently established in the Mara, the lodge offers luxury accommodation in two separate camps, each with 15, en-suite tented cottages. The cottages are spacious and fully furnished in an African setting, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that give guests breathtaking views.
Guests at Angama lodge will enjoy facilities such as a fitness center, restaurant and bar, craft shop, solar, laundry services, parking, and babysitting, among others.
Governor's Private Camp
This luxury safari camp perches in the forest along the winding Mara River banks. The camp, which is located on a scenic bend of the Mara River, was created in 1972 with new luxury camp standards and was the first tented camp in the Masai Mara Reserve. Because of its strategic position, the camp was designated for the colonial Governors of Kenya under colonial rule, thus its name. The camp features 7 spacious tents, some of which are located on the riverbed, providing excellent views of the spectacular wildebeest crossings as well as other exotic wildlife including crocodiles and hippos.
The tents also provide panoramic views of the Mara’s vast open grassland. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with a shower, sink, hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, and a private verandah. The camp’s tents are designed to cater to all groups of travelers including includes families, groups, and couples. The camp’s well-stocked bar offers sights of the Mara River. The restaurant is thrillingly fantastic on its own, with continental breakfast and a full English buffet available.
In the dining tent, a lunch buffet with salads and an A la carte menu is served. The camp also offers bush supper and bush breakfast for an additional fee. The camp also features a spa tent where visitors may receive services such as massages, manicures, pedicures, and facials. Other amenities available to Governor’s Camp guests include free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, parking space, a 24-hour front desk, and a souvenir shop, among others. Activities here include hot air balloon safaris, bush meals, game drives, horseback safaris, and cultural encounters.
Mara Legends Camp
The camp is situated on the banks of the Olare Orok River within the Masai Mara. It was made by a dedicated photographer and sits in a natural bush forest which is why is it often frequented by mostly photographers and filmmakers. The camp has 12 big and luxurious en-suite tents that are completely outfitted with an exquisite and inviting environment. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms, showers, wash basins, a writing desk with a lamp, a seating area, and a locker. The camp also includes a large, well-appointed dining area where guests may have a delicious meal while on safari in the Mara. Other amenities include a fireplace, lounge area, safe parking, restrooms, room service, and a kitchen.
Activities at Mara Legends Camp include game drives, safari walks, Masai Village visits, bird watching, guided bush walks, sundowners, and bush breakfast, to mention but a few.
Sand River by Elewana Camp
Sand river camp is a luxury lodge located at the banks of the Sand River, from where the camp derives its name. Sand Rivers is a wonderful place for its gorgeous landscape and abundant animals, running through Masai Mara near the Tanzanian border. The camp has 16 tented campgrounds and keeps a sense of intimacy. The camp has two tents, one of which is larger and is ideal for families. Each camp is self-contained, with a classic mess tent, a relaxing eating space, a pool, and private river views. The tents are visually appealing, with an Out of Africa style and décor. The tents also have observation decks which are excellent for gazing at the Mara wilderness.
More facilities and amenities at Sand River lodge include a restaurant, a lounge, a dining area, a swimming pool, free internet access, parking space, laundry, room service, etc. Guests at Sand River can enjoy bush walks and game drives in the Mara where they will be treated to thrilling wildlife experiences.
Olare Mara Kempinski Lodge
Olare Mara Kempinski is located in the Masai Mara at the center of the Olare Orok conservancy. The Camp is ideally positioned, providing tourists with exceptional views of the Masai Mara scenery as they enjoy a luxurious stay full of comfort. Olare Mara Kempinski is tucked away in a grove of riverine woodland on the banks of the Ntiakitiak River. The camp offers 12 luxurious en-suite tents, each well-equipped with four fitted beds and other equipment, all meant to meet current African standards for beautiful comforts. The camp’s one tent is a honeymoon tent, with a well-furnished interior and a swimming pool. There is also a central lounge and eating room, bar, and swimming pool.
Olare Mara Kempinski features a large organic garden that depicts ecology. It also offers expert guides and rangers to assist guests on their safaris, as well as a spa and an en suite bathroom with hot and cold showers and a flushing toilet. Activities at the camp include bush walks, game drives, and cultural visits to the Maasai.
Fairmont Mara Safari Club
This luxurious hotel combines the comfort and facilities of a premium resort hotel with a classic safari experience. The Safari Club is positioned in the Ol-Choro Oiroua Conservation Area along the Mara River at the base of the Aitong Hills. The Safari Club is made up of 51 elegantly furnished tents, each with its Apitong viewing deck from which travelers may see crocodiles and hippos. Each room has four-poster beds with pillow-top mattresses and excellent linens, a three-piece en-suite bathroom with solar-heated hot and cold running water, a refreshment center, an in-room safe, and a wireless telephone.
Fairmont also features a lodge with a warm welcome lobby, a well-equipped library with a good internet connection, a dining room, a swimming pool, and a stylish lounge space. Guests at Fairmont can enjoy outdoor buffet meals, visit and interact with the native Maasai, explore the Mara on foot, and enjoy wildlife viewing on safari game drives.
Budget Accommodation in Mara
Enkorok Mara
Located in Masai Mara’s Sienna Conservancy, the lodge sits on 30 acres of private land overlooking the Oloolotikoshi Hills which are perfect for amazing sundowners to guests staying at the camp. Enkorok lodge boasts a strategic position lying 2.5 km from the Olalaimutia gate and 20 km from Keekorok Airstrip. Moreover, the camp is situated on the banks of the Oloirigynyisho river which teems with numerous zebras, elephants, buffaloes, and wildebeest among other wildlife.
Offering accommodation in twin, double, family, and triple rooms, Enkorok camp offers fully furnished rooms with en-suite bathrooms, mosquito nets, televisions, dressing mirrors, power, and stunning views. Each tent has a sitting area where guests can relax and gaze at the distant plains of the Mara. Other facilities at the camp include Tamu Tamu restaurant – a grass-thatched hut that offers delicious menus, both local and international and it also caters to vegetarians. The restaurant also offers bush meals served by well-trained professional chefs. Enkorok Mara camp also has a well-stocked bar, free parking space, free WIFI, laundry services, solar energy, and a craft shop, among other facilities.
Crocodile Camp
This camp is situated about 9km from the Talek Gate in Masai Mara. The camp sits on the banks of the Talek river and is the best place to stay if you want to enjoy the Talek river. Crocodile camp is situated just a few meters away from the hippo pool and offers guests vistas of several hippos, crocodiles, and other wildlife.
Crocodile Camp has 9 en-suite spacious tents with hot and cold showers and a flushing toilet. The camp also provides for any guests that want to rent a tent or camp to bring their tent. Guests staying at Crocodile camp can enjoy breathtaking views from the terrace, enjoy delicious meals and drinks at the camp’s restaurant/bar and those camping have a kitchen to make their meals. Activities at Crocodile camp include game drives, bush meals, Maasai village visits, nature walks, etc.
Enchoro Wildlife Camp
Enchoro Wildlife camp is a budget-tented camp located in the Eastern region of Masai Mara, close to the Oloolaimutia gate in Narok. The camp has 3 various accommodation styles offered: campsite, mid-range, and luxury tented camps. The camp has 27 spacious and comfortable tents both standard and superior tents. The tents are well equipped with ensuite bathrooms (hot and cold showers, flushing toilet, and wash basin), power sockets, changing room, and lockers, among others. Enchoro also has a campsite where visitors station their tents.
Amenities offered at Enchoro wildlife camp include a restaurant and well-stocked bar, airport transfers, a 24-hour front desk, daily housekeeping, a swimming pool, a game room, free parking space, etc. Activities here include safari walks, Maasai Village visits, game drives, hot air balloon safaris, and bush meals.
