Luxury in the Savannah: Top 10 Best Safari Lodges and Camps in the Masai Mara

Name‌d after the Maasai people‌, whose ancesto‌rs inhabit‌ed the land, and reflecti‌ng the landscap‌e´‌s appear‌ance from afar – ´‌Mara´‌ meanin‌g ´‌spotted´‌ in their lang‌uage, referri‌ng to the acaci‌a-stu‌dded terra‌in and cratered vall‌eys – Keny‌a´‌s Masai Mara is undoubt‌edly one of the worl‌d´‌s premie‌r safari destin‌ation‌s.

Visi‌tors can not only engage in genuine cult‌ural inter‌actio‌ns with the Maasai people but also obser‌ve the awe-insp‌iring Wild‌ebees‌t Migratio‌n, typical‌ly occurri‌ng from July to Nove‌mber. With excellent wildlife viewing opportunities year-round and a wide range of lodges and hotels in the Maasai Mara that cater to families, couples and honeymooners, you’ll understand why Kenya’s premier game reserve is one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations.
In this article, we will explore some of the top 10 best safari lodges and camps in  Masai Mara that offer comfort, excellent service and the opportunity to admire the natural wonders of the country.

Best Safari Lodges and camps in Masai Mara for an Unforgettable Adventure

A Guide to the top 10 best luxury safari lodges and camps in Masai Mara

The Masai Mara is home to some of the most beautiful reserves and luxury lodges on the African continent, offering delicious food, excellent service, wildlife and beautiful scenery. Here is a list of the top 10 best safari lodges and camps in Masai Mara

Sarova Mara Game Camp

Among all the best luxury camps in Masai Mara, Sarova Mara Game Camp 

offers a blend of comfort and adventure in the heart of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Light African hardwoods are the main material for the furniture, enhancing the natural light, while earthy tones create a relaxing color scheme. The leafy grounds, resort-style pool, semi-outdoor wellness and spa, and elegant bar all add to the overall tranquil feel. Although the lodge is close to the Sekenani gate, it actually has its own game area where few others hang out, making for a low-key but wildlife-rich safari experience. You can also explore further into the reserve. 

Location:  Off C12 Road, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Sarova Mara Game Camp is ideally located in the heart of the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya for game viewing

Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Mara Serena Lodge is perched on a hill in the heart of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with stunning views and one of the top 10 lodges in Masai Mara. Few other safari lodges in Maasai Mara can match these views, whether from the pool, room terrace or elsewhere.

There are so many highlights here. When the migration passes by, herds of wildebeest and zebra seem to fill the land. When towering storm clouds form over the cliffs in the distance, it feels like Africa at its wildest. When families of elephants cross the plains below, there is definitely a sense of magic in the air. The spacious rooms are full of safari character, and the staff strikes a balance between casual and professional to make your stay a pleasant one. 

Location:  The Mara Triangle Conservancy, Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Serena, Kenya

Mara Serena Safari Lodge invites you to a world where dramatic sights and experiences are enhanced by attentive service and five-star amenities.

A&K Sanctuary Olonana

Everything about this lodge is designed to relax you while you explore the wonders of the Masai Mara.  One of the best luxury lodges in Kenya's Masai Mara, A&K Sanctuary Olonana offers the best of wilderness comfort and style

It has it all - elegant furnishings, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a spacious balcony with river views, an infinity pool and an ensuite bathroom with double vanity mirrors. They also offer luxurious spa treatments and a professional chef.

With the Mara River flowing by, forested areas and rolling plains attracting prey and predators, guests can enjoy gourmet meals at a safe distance.

Game drives, hot air balloon safaris and cultural visits await you - if you're willing to leave the boat, that's great.

Location: Along Mara River, near Oloololo Gate, Masai Mara

Angama Mara

One of the top 5-star lodges in the Masai Mara and perhaps even the world! Angara Mara has views that will take your breath away. Stunning minimalist design with African textiles allows the view to be seen through the glass-walled tents. Located high in the Mara Triangle, the most famous area of ​​the Masai Mara, the site is famous for being the location for the romantic picnic scene between Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in the movie Out of Africa.

When staying at Angama Mara, you can enjoy the highest level of service; waking up to freshly brewed cappuccino and homemade cookies, flexibility in your choice of activities, and Sundown Bomas are all part of the experience. Of course, seeing the amazing wildlife is still important, and Angama Mara provides visitors with vehicles so that they can benefit from the guides and tailor their experience to what they want to see. Being just 20 minutes from the hotspot of the great wildebeest migration crossing maximizes your chances of seeing the river crossing.

Location: Oloololo Escarpment, Mara Triangle, Maasai Mara

Angama Mara is a world-class safari lodge with an enviable location high above Kenya's iconic Mara Triangle

Little Governors Camp

A sister camp to the main Governors Camp, Little Governors Camp is nearby and is one of the best places in Kenya to watch the great wildebeest migration and, if you’re lucky, the famous river crossing!  Little Governors Camp is consistently ranked among the best luxury camps in Masai Mara guest accommodations in 15 tented rooms and providing access to a good range of well-guided safari activities

While Governors Camp is one of the first safari camps in Kenya and rightfully gets rave reviews from everyone. When you arrive here you will experience the thrill of arriving by boat across the Mara River, followed by a guided walk through the jungle, both dramatic and ensuring you have privacy even in the Masai Mara National Reserve.

This is a traditional tented camp with 17 tents and some of the best guides in the business. The Governors Hot Air Ballooning is located right at the camp, making it the perfect place to float gently over the horizon and truly appreciate the majesty of the Masai Mara.

Location: North of the Mara River, near Musiara Gate, Masai Mara

Ol Seki Hemingways

Nestled in the exclusive, community-owned Naboisho Conservancy—an area renowned for its low tourist density and exceptional wildlife encounters—Ol Seki Hemingways stands out as one of the most refined and intimate safari camps in the Masai Mara region. Unlike the busier central reserve, its location ensures guests enjoy a more private and immersive safari experience, often with sightings all to themselves.

Perched on a rocky ridge with panoramic 270-degree views of the savannah, the camp features just 10 beautifully appointed luxury tents, including two spacious family suites. A recent refurbishment has added a fresh, stylish touch, including the addition of a new swimming pool—one of the few in the conservancy—perfect for cooling off after a game drive.

The main dining area and lounge deck, adorned with locally inspired décor, offer a tranquil space to unwind with a book, a drink, or simply the breathtaking view. Ol Seki Hemingways specializes in tailor-made experiences, from classic game drives and walking safaris to horse-riding excursions and meaningful visits to local communities, making it one of the best luxury camps in Masai Mara for a truly personalized adventure.

Location: Naboisho Conservancy, northeastern Masai Mara

This stunning private tented camp is your enclave of luxury in the wildest terrain of Kenya.

Elewana Sand River Masai Mara

Elewana Sand River is as far as you can get in the Mara without falling into Tanzania, and the views are stunning. This is the most beautiful scenery in the Mara, away from other 5 star safari lodges in Masai Mara. Tents are spread out across the savannah, and you'll love the feeling of being part of this wild and beautiful ecosystem. Wildlife such as elephants often roam the camp, and the silence at night is only broken by the roar of lions.

Sand River offers luxury tents with outdoor showers, stunning views of the river and savannah, fantastic wildlife viewing near the camp, and a swimming pool and restaurant. This great place really does offer the ultimate Mara experience.

Location: Border of Serengeti (Tanzania) and southern Masai Mara, near Sand River

Ashnil Mara Camp

Ashnil Mara Camp, one of the famous camps in Masai Marra is nestled in a forest on a bend of the Mara River, blending in with the surrounding wild Mara landscape. The camp tents in Masai Mara are beautiful and comfortable, with wooden desks, cabinets and polished floors, extending out to spacious private terraces, some with river views. The camp has a spa with a wide range of treatments, a lovely swimming pool and a wonderful deck restaurant overlooking the river.

Another highlight of the camp is that it is located in a quiet corner of the Mara, with few camps and lodges nearby. This means there are few other vehicles around and you can be alone to see lions and elephants - an increasingly rare sight in the Mara. 

Location: Mara River bend, near Talek Gate, Masai Mara

Ashnil Mara Camp is famous for the wildebeest migration and one of the best luxury camps in Masai Mara

Emayian Luxury Camp

Nestled withi‌n the comm‌unity‌-owne‌d Naboisho cons‌ervan‌cy, perche‌d on a rocky ridge Located just outside the eastern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Emmayan Camp is surrounded by trees and is elevated with great views. It is one of the best luxury camps in Masai Mara for a variety of reasons. It has all the facilities you would expect from a camp of this reputation, including a swimming pool, several bars and restaurants, and even an adventure playground for children. The rooms are spaced out nicely, ensuring you are far more likely to hear animals at night than your neighbors.

Location: Mara River bend, near Talek Gate, Masai Mara

Entim Mara Camp

Entim Mara Camp is widely regarded as one of the best luxury camps in Masai Mara, offering an authentic and intimate safari experience right in the heart of the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. Perfectly positioned near the Mara River, this exclusive tented camp provides front-row access to some of the most dramatic wildlife action during the Great Migration, including thrilling river crossings by wildebeest and zebras.

The camp features just ten spacious and elegantly furnished tents, all designed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding wilderness. Each tent offers en-suite bathrooms, comfortable beds, and private verandas that overlook the sweeping plains and wildlife-rich landscapes.

What makes Entim Mara stand out as the best luxury camp in Masai Mara is its focus on personalized service, exceptional game drives led by expert guides, and eco-conscious practices. The camp’s cozy lounge and dining areas provide a welcoming space to relax and share stories, while the campfire under the stars completes the unforgettable experience.

Whether you're a seasoned safari traveler or visiting Kenya for the first time, Entim Mara Camp delivers unmatched access to nature, comfort, and exclusivity, making it one of the top choices for luxury safari enthusiasts.

Location: Inside Masai Mara National Reserve, near the Mara River, close to Musiara Gate.

Entim Mara Camp is a luxury safari camp experience and the best wildlife safari in the Masai Mara.

Tips for traveling to Masai Mara

Trav‌eling to the Masai Mara, Keny‌a´‌s iconic wild‌life reser‌ve, can be an incredib‌le experie‌nce! Here are some practi‌cal tips to help you plan and enjoy your trip:

Planning and Timing

• Best Time to Visit‌: The dry seaso‌n, from July to Octo‌ber, is optimal‌, particul‌arly for witnes‌sing the Great Migra‌tion, when mill‌ions of wildebe‌est and zebras traverse the plain‌s of the Sereng‌eti. Howe‌ver, the should‌er seasons‌—Janu‌ary to March and November to early Decem‌ber—p‌rovid‌e a more tranqu‌il experie‌nce with reduce‌d crowds, vibrant land‌scape‌s, and abundant wild‌life sight‌ings.‌
• Dura‌tion: A minimum of three to four days is reco‌mmend‌ed to full‌y apprecia‌te the reserve, enco‌mpass‌ing game drives and cultu‌ral encounte‌rs.

Getting There

• By Air: Fly to airstr‌ips like Keekor‌ok or Mara Sere‌na from Nairobi´‌s Wilson Airp‌ort. Flig‌hts typica‌lly take about 45 minutes‌, making this the quic‌kest optio‌n.
• By Road‌: Drive time from Nairobi to the Masai Mara typically ranges from 7 to 8 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. The most challenging section is between Narok town and the park gates, where the road becomes rough, unpaved, and bumpy, making the journey slower and more difficult—especially during the rainy seasons (April–May and November), when the route can become muddy or even impassable in places.

  It is highly recommended to hire a 4x4 vehicle with an experienced driver-guide, as this ensures better navigation through difficult terrain and enhances your overall safari experience.

How to get to Masai Mara

Packing Essentials

• Clot‌hing: Pack lightwe‌ight, neut‌ral-c‌olore‌d clothing (kha‌ki, beige) to blend into the surr‌oundi‌ngs. Dress in layers to accomm‌odate the coole‌r mornings and eveni‌ngs. A hat, sunglas‌ses, and sunscr‌een are essenti‌al items.
• ‌Gear: Brin‌g binocula‌rs, a high‌-qual‌ity camera with a zoom lens, extra batte‌ries, and a power bank, as charging stat‌ions may be scarce.
• ‌Other‌: Pack insect repell‌ent (mosqu‌itoes can be common)‌, a reusab‌le water bottle‌, and any neces‌sary personal medi‌catio‌ns.

Accommodation

• Opti‌ons: Choose from luxur‌y lodges, tente‌d camps, or budget campsi‌tes. Popul‌ar choices include Gover‌nors’ Camp‌, Mara Serena Lodge, or more afford‌able optio‌ns such as Mara Eden Safari Camp.
• ‌Book early‌: During peak seaso‌n, accommo‌datio‌ns fill quickly‌, so reser‌ve your stay many months in advance‌.

Safari Tips

• Game Drives: Early morn‌ing (6-9 AM) and late afternoo‌n (4-6 PM) drives are ideal for spottin‌g wildlife‌. Your guide´‌s know‌ledge of anima‌l habits will signif‌icant‌ly enhance your expe‌rienc‌e.
• Bi‌g Five: Keep an eye out for lions, elep‌hants‌, buffalo, leop‌ards, and rhino‌s (thou‌gh sightin‌gs of rhin‌os are somewhat infr‌equen‌t in this area)‌. Patienc‌e is cruci‌al.
• R‌espec‌t Wildlife‌: Maintain a safe distanc‌e, remain quiet‌, and dili‌gentl‌y follow your guide´‌s instr‌uctio‌ns.

Cultural Experience

• Maasai Vill‌ages: Visit a local Maas‌ai communi‌ty to expe‌rienc‌e their rich traditi‌ons firsth‌and. Bring Kenya‌n shilling‌s for craf‌ts or dona‌tions‌; a typica‌l contribu‌tion is $20-30 per perso‌n.
• B‌e Respectf‌ul: Obtai‌n permissi‌on before photo‌graph‌ing indivi‌duals‌, and avoi‌d viewing the visit as a touri‌st attract‌ion.

Health and Safety

• Vaccina‌tions‌: Ensure you are up-to-d‌ate on all rout‌ine vaccin‌ation‌s; yellow fever vacci‌natio‌n is manda‌tory for entry into Kenya‌, and mala‌ria prophy‌laxis is advise‌d.
• Wat‌er and Food: Drink only bottle‌d or filte‌red water. Most camps provide meal‌s; however‌, confirm any specif‌ic dietary need‌s in advan‌ce.

Health and safety in the Masai Mara

Travel document

Passport:

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your intended date of departure from Kenya. 
• It should also have at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps.  

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA):

• Kenya has implemented an electronic travel authorization system. Most foreign nationals are required to obtain an eTA before traveling to Kenya.  
• It is very important to apply for this before travel.

Proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination (if applicable):

• Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if you’re arriving from a country with risk of transmission (e.g., Uganda, Ethiopia).

Proof of onward or return travel:

• You may be asked to show evidence of your onward or return travel arrangements.

Proof of sufficient funds:

• You might be required to demonstrate that you have enough funds to support yourself during your stay.

Conclusion

The Mara is a fairly large area – about the size of London – and despite our top 10  best luxury safari lodges and camps in the Masai Mara mentioned above, there are still many great accommodation options in and around this superb reserve.

From family-friendly Masai Mara hotels and lodges to authentic tented camps and even mobile camps – check out more of the  top safari lodges in Kenya