Royal Mara Safari Lodge

Masai Mara Amboseli & the South

Rating:

highlights

River-facing tented suites
Watch hippos from the viewing deck
Game drives, day and night, and walks
Witness the annual migration (seasonal)
Atmospheric bush meals

Royal Mara Safari Lodge overview

A classic tented style safari camp with lodge facilities on the banks of the Mara River in the private Mara North Conservancy. There are just eight tented rooms arranged along the river front on platforms with large open decks where you can sit and enjoy the scenery.

Each room is large and has a four poster bed, en-suite bathroom with hot and cold running water, rain showers, twin basins, bidets and flushing toilets. Facilities in the rooms include electric safes, mosquito nets, a mini bar and free Wi-Fi internet access. The chunky wooden furniture adds a suitably rustic feel.

The main lodge is the social focus of the camp, housing sitting and dining areas and leading out to a large viewing deck where you can sit and watch hippos in the nearby lagoon. Meals are served in various settings, indoors and out, including under the stars at night or privately on your own verandah. The menu is frequently changed and fresh local produce is used and bread is baked daily.

The camp is open to the wildlife and Masai warriors are employed as armed guards outside each room.

The camp is in the Mara North Conservancy, an excellent wildlife viewing region. This is private land which means that your game veiwing is more exclusive than in the national park, and you are able to do night drives and walks which are not permitted in the Mara National Reserve. Royal Mara is positioned only a short distance from one the main Mara River crossing points where you can witness the annual migration between the months of July and October.

details

Open: Royal Mara Safari Lodge is open all year.

Location: Royal Mara Safari Lodge is in the Mara North Conservancy. It is a 15 minute drive from Mara North airstrip. The lodge is on the banks of the Mara River about 8kms upriver from the well-known Koyiaki-Kichwa migration crossing point.

Rooms: There are 8 tented suites arranged along the Mara riverfront. All have 4-poster beds with mosquito nets, polished timber floors, chunky wooden furniture and en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold water. The canvas opening at the front of the tent opens onto a private veranda overlooking the river. All have electricity and an electronic safe. Suites are all named after animals and birds found in the area (hippo, elephant, lion, impala, zebra, marabou stork, leopard and hyena).

Activities: Royal Mara offers 4x4 game drives, including views of the annual wildebeest migration (seasonal), and bush walks with Maasai guards. Special bird safaris can be arranged. Night drives are offered (at additional cost). Bush breakfasts by the hippo pool or in the open savannah are a great way to start the day, as is a hot air balloon ride followed by a champagne breakfast (at extra charge). Cultural visit to Maasai villages are popular. Walking through the camp grounds you can watch wildlife by the river and birds in the trees and marsh pond.

Facilities: The main lodge has a lounge, bar and dining area, with canvas walls that can be rolled up during the day for views of the river and hippo lagoon and to admit the breeze. Carvings of animals and Maasai warriors, and a collection of African masks add character. There’s a large terrace with an outdoor barbecue area. There’s an additional lounge, dining area and firepit at the River Lodge further along the riverbank. At this site there is also a gift shop selling an interesting range of arts and crafts. There is a laundry service.

Dining: Meals are generally eaten at individual tables in the lodge or outside on the terrace in sight of the hippo lagoon. Private meals on your own veranda can be arranged, as can bush dining.

Children: Children of all ages are welcome, though there are age limits on certain activities. Special children’s activities can be organised.

Health: This is a malarial area.

Communication: There is Wi-Fi internet access in guest suites and at River Lodge.