Royal Mara Safari Lodge

Masai Mara Amboseli & the South

Rating: Deluxe Price from: £260-£390 pp full board

Royal Mara Safari Lodge overview

A classic tented style safari camp with lodge facilities on the banks of the Mara River in the Western Koyiaki Conservation Area. There are just eight tented rooms along the river front on platforms with large open decks to enjoy the scenery.

Each room is large and has four poster beds, en-suites with hot and cold running water, rain showers, twin basins, bidets and flushing toilets. Facilities in the rooms include electric safes, mosquito nets and a mini bar.

Meals are served in various settings including near a hippo pool on the river, under the stars at night or privately on your own verandah. The menu is frequently changed and fresh local produce is used and bread made fresh daily.

The camp is open to the wildlife and Masai warriors are employed as armed guards outside each room. There is a borehole in camp providig pure tested water. Drinking water and ice come from sealed bottles.

As the lodge is part of the 'Greater Mara' conservancy, it's an excellent wildlife viewing region of the Mara. No public vehicles and being private land means that your game veiwing is more exclusive, the local people benefit from the camps and lodges in the conservancy using their land and you are able to do night drives and walks which are not permitted in the Mara National Reserve. Royal Mara is only 10 minutes from Leopard Gorge and only 35 minutes from the nearest migration river crossing site at Kichwa.

details

Open: Royal Mara Safari Lodge is open all year.

Location: Royal Mara Safari Lodge is in the Mara North Conservancy. It has its own airstrip. The lodge is on the banks of the Mara River about 5 miles upriver from the well-known Koyiaki-Kichwa migration crossing point.

Rooms: There are 8 tented suites arranged along the riverfront. All have 4-poster beds, polished timber floors, 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. Suites are all named after animals and birds found in the area.

Activities: Royal Mara offers 4x4 game drives and bush walks with Maasai guards. Special bird safaris can be arranged. 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. Cultural visit to Maasai villages are popular.

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 to admit the breeze. Carvings of animals and Maasai warriors 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. There is a gift shop selling an interesting range of arts and crafts. The lodge offers a laundry service.

Dining: Meals are generally eaten at individual tables in the lodge or outside on the terrace.

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 all guest suites and in the lounge.