Where To Stay In The Masai Mara

Where To Stay In The Masai Mara: Best 2023-2024 lodges and camps in Maasai Mara National Reserve: Adventure is often associated with the Masai Mara National Reserve. It’s a place to cross off your travel bucket list because of its incredible animal sightings during the Great Wildebeest Migration and encounters with its red-robed tribesmen. The Masai Mara also has some of the most magnificent luxury lodges in all of Africa, with breathtaking vistas to boot! So here are 8 of our top suggestions for lodges and camps in the Masai Mara if you’re attempting to plan the ultimate safari in Africa and need some lodging ideas.

1. &BEYOND BATELEUR CAMP

&Beyond Bateleur Camp, a quiet and charming camp that evokes the 1920s, is tucked away amid the picturesque Oloololo escarpment on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. It is located directly below where the movie “Out of Africa’s” climactic finale was shot and offers stunning panoramas of the Masai Mara.

A hint of retro safari elegance can be seen in the décor of Beyond Bateleur Camp, where exquisite ancient antiques and handcrafted artifacts harmoniously merge with upscale furnishings. Picture-framed maps, antique trunks, and shelves stacked with bound books, all bathed in the cozy light of candles and lanterns

Spend your day’s game driving in the savannah or taking a hot air balloon safari to enjoy a bird’s-eye view, then come back to the camp to cool off in the lap pool. A unique African safari experience is created when sundowners are given while overlooking the Great Rift Valley, followed by delectable meals beneath the stars.

2. COTTAR’S 1920S BUSH VILLA

The prestigious Cottar’s 1920’s Safari Camp is pleased to announce the launch of the Cottar’s Bush Villa, a luxurious Mara villa in Kenya, East Africa. For travelers interested in a safari vacation in Kenya and Tanzania, the Cottar’s 1920s Bush Villa is another retro-styled lodging option that borders both the Masai Mara National Reserve and the Serengeti National Park. It offers the solitude of a luxurious home at the doorstep of some of East Africa’s best wildlife viewing opportunities because it was built by hand using locally sourced and environmentally friendly materials.

Cottar’s 1920s Bush Villa, which is backed by the Olderikesi Hills, offers stunning views across the savannah plains where the annual Great Wildebeest Migration occurs. Privately guided game drives, bush walks, and night drives are all included in the experience. It has five bedrooms with private bathrooms for your extended family and guests, as well as a spacious living room, dining area, and gorgeous observation terrace.

The exclusive Cottar’s Bush Villa is the best option for discriminating visitors who value seclusion above all else. An eight-person crew is on hand to respond to your every need. Between game drives, you can unwind in the hotel’s 25-meter lap pool, which also features complimentary Wi-Fi, a library, and an on-site masseur.

3. SARUNI MARA

Saruni Mara is the only small, upscale lodge in the Masai Mara and is located in the prestigious Mara North Conservancy, a private wildlife concession that borders the Masai Mara National Reserve. It has just five well-furnished cottages, a private villa, and a family villa, and is close to some of Kenya’s most thrilling wildlife viewing.

Masai warriors who will share their distinctive culture and intriguing way of life with you work at Saruni Mara, making it special. Colonial artifacts, Persian rugs, and African artwork are used to decorate each home, giving it a beautiful but laid-back look.

Saruni’s library is among the most stunning in the African bush, and Kuro House, a communal dining space that combines traditional and modern design features, serves gourmet meals. End your evening by recounting your exploits from the day in front of the massive fireplace, or let yourself be pampered during a restorative massage at the spa.

4. ANGAMA MARA TENTED CAMP

The Angama Mara Tented Camp is positioned high on the rim of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Its name is derived from the Swahili term for “suspended in midair.” It offers breathtaking views of the Mara Triangle and has a traditional tented safari vibe.

Angama Mara Tented Camp is made up of two small, private camps with 15 tented suites, each with its own terrace and wall-to-wall glass fronts providing unobstructed views. A swimming pool, fitness center, exhibition displaying African art, and studio where Masai women make beaded creations are all located under a pavilion that stands in between the two camps.

You can go on a guided walking safari along the escarpment or spend your day’s game driving in the plains below. Community visits and hot air balloon rides are also possible on request. Then go back to the dining area to indulge in the aesthetically stunning space that was modeled after Nairobi’s famed Muthaiga Club, which was featured in the film “Out of Africa.” As you eat local cuisine prepared by their Kenyan chefs using freshly selected local ingredients, breathtaking views will be your dining companion.

5. SALA’S CAMP MASAI MARA

Sala’s Camp is a tented safari lodge that mixes comfort with understated luxury. It is located at the junction of the Sand and Keekerok Rivers in the southern part of the Masai Mara. One of its main draws is its location; this wildlife-rich area is one of the Mara’s first camps to see the Masai Mara-Serengeti migration each year.

The interiors of the tents are tastefully decorated, and private plunge pools and claw-foot bathtubs provide a sense of luxury. Spend your day’s birdwatching and game viewing in the region, then come back for dinner served under the stars and sundowners over the campfire.

Sala’s Camp is a great option if you’re traveling with children because it offers a particular program where spotters will divulge their knowledge of the bush. Young and elderly people will both have an exciting experience because the area is also known for its big cat encounters.

6. &BEYOND KICHWA TEMBO TENTED CAMP

The &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp is sprawling along the Sabaringo River on the Oloololo Escarpment’s slopes, where the riverine woodland meets the expansive plains. It is located on a private concession that has been leased from Masai landowners, providing both privacy and several opportunities to see animals.

After a thrilling day of game viewing, its safari tents are created with split-level areas and sophisticated interiors to be ageless. All of the suites have commanding views, and you may frequently observe warthogs grazing just outside your door.

The Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp is known for its exceptional hospitality. Its friendly staff will make sure that you have the best safari in Africa and will never forget to extend a warm welcome.

7. COTTAR’S 1920S SAFARI CAMP

Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp, which opened in the middle of the 1990s, is located on a 6,000-acre private conservancy just one kilometer from the Masai Mara National Reserve. With 11 roomy tents that are exquisitely equipped with four-poster beds, colonial antiques, and en-suite bathrooms, it harkens back to the heyday of safari tourism in the early 20th century.

You can return to the camp for a swim in the dazzling pool, enjoy scrumptious fine dining, or be treated to a massage at the on-site spa after a day of game viewing, bushwalking, swimming, and fishing.

Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp, maintained by a fifth-generation safari family, has won multiple honors and is renowned for providing a customized safari experience, including uncommon events like safari baths and early morning runs with the Masai population.

8. SARUNI WILD

Saruni Wild is an artistically designed tented camp offering a wild safari experience, and it is located on the boundary between the Lemek Conservancy and the Mara North Conservancy. It is close to a hotspot for migration, offers amazing views of the action from your private veranda, and offers outstanding service.

Take part in game drives with guides who have undergone the strictest training, and during evening performances by the fireplace, become fully immersed in Masai culture. Delicious dinners are served under the endless African sky, and Saruni Wild’s remote location is a great draw. One of Kenya’s tiniest and most exclusive camps, with only three tents, it is perfect for travelers seeking a little adventure.