Mara River Camp
Mara Rianta Mara West, Maasai Mara National Reserve 00100 Kenya
Lowest prices for your stay
$284
Fully refundable before 16/06/23
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About
#67 of 181 Specialty lodging in Maasai Mara National Reserve
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Mara River Camp is a classic tented camp tucked away on the banks of Mara River. The intimate and relaxed atmosphere gives you the opportunity to enjoy a unique experience in the prime wildlife area of the Maasai Mara.Mara River Camp offers guests an unparalleled setting that is created by combining unique architecture and structure, expressive decor and artistry and magnificent features all in
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Free breakfast
Hiking
Board games / puzzles
Airport transportation
BBQ facilities
Secured parking
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Kids' meals
Special diet menus
Baggage storage
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Laundry service
Ironing service
Shoeshine
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Non-smoking rooms
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HOTEL STYLE
River View
Romantic
Location
142Reviews6Q+A23Room tips
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One of the best hotels we have stayed in Kenya. The location is amazing and the rooms are clean and comfortable. Above all the meals were beyond our expectations.For a moment we thought the Chef was Sri Lankan. The staff was very helpful. The GM Joshep was attentive to our needs. The guy at the Bar and Restaurant was always ready to help. Every staff member did great.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Our favorite overall camp experience during our Kenya/ Tanzania safari. We loved being able to roam freely along the river bank and pool/ common areas. The hippos and other wildlife put on a musical each night, which we found relaxing and entertaining. The management was on top of everything. In the restaurant, Moses was so friendly and entertaining. Rosie took care of all our needs in the camp. They even sent someone to pull us out of the mud when our guide got stuck in the Mara conservation area. Every area of the camp is clean and well- kept. We stayed two nights, but I could imagine staying longer and enjoying every minute.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
Amazing Safari Camp, situated right on the banks of the World famous Mara River, with the crocodiles and hippos in the river below. The luxury tents and pool were awesome and the staff was first rate.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We recently had a family holiday on safari in the Masai Mara and were lucky enough to stay at Mara River Lodge. The rooms, the views and everything in between were absolutely amazing, but the stand out was the incredible staff at the lodge. They were so kind and treated us like family, always offering to provide further information and go the extra mile for visitors. Truly an unforgettable experience, we miss it so much already and would absolutely be back again. Thanks to all at Mara river camp :)
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Date of stay: August 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Camp makes a telling impact on overall safari experience. The initial filtration must be made on reviews, facilities on offer, their utilization and own expectations. A fair knowledge of the park layout is a must. Reviews are generally inundated with adjectives, often lacking elaborate justification. The camp close to Mara river in main reserve are mostly over-priced which cannot be often justified. I therefore chose to go with narration of our thought process while selecting a camp and its final outcome for our 5 D/4 N Masai Mara Safari from 13-17 Aug 2022. a) Setting- More than 2/3rd time in safari is spent in the camp. An absorbing and engrossing surrounding is important to get rejuvenated and re-fueled for further venture. Mara river camp is beautifully laid out in the forested area along the bank of Mara river with serene, calm and attractive setting. It has an eye-catching rustic environment merging perfectly with wilderness of Masai Mara rather then an urbanite luxurious set-up. b) Mini safari within Main safari- The camp is abode to wild animals like Zebra, Thompson Gazelles, Warthogs, Baboons and numerous Warblers. The Mara river down below has a handful Hippos always engaged in playful fights to establish territorial supremacy with a few crocodiles watching quietly while basking in the sun. The slopes of Oloololo (serian) escarpment across the river has frequent visitors like Elephants, Giraffes, Antelopes, Hyenas, Wildebeests and wild Buffalos visible to naked eyes. c)Location: Camp located on so called ingress route of migration and near Mara River crossing in the main reserve are generally overpriced though both events are not guaranteed. Wild animals neither recognize park boundaries nor follow a set pattern. One has to finally traverse the dusty fairweather tracks to achieve aim. The Mara river camp located at 30 Mins distance from Musiara and Oloololo gate has been criticized for its location. In fact, we noticed large and diversified wild life enroute to these gates. This contention may hold water beyond or before migration period when resident wildlife throng the area. To cut down the monotony of repeating route again same day, we adjusted the Safari timings from dawn to lunch and after lunch to dusk. it catered for early morning and evening period when predators are mostly active. It gave us enough time to relax and enjoy other amenities/ facilities on offer in the camp. We still feel that "Setting" should take precedence over "Location". d) Staff. This was a big plus for the camp. Anne and Sheela in dining area, Joseph in bar, Rosie & her house- keeping staff were outstanding. We always found our living tents clean, tidy, well sanitized and neatly done-up with no sign of mosquitoes or insects in fore-seeable distance. e) Meals. This was a big miss. Food, though palatable, lacked in variety. Was it due to scarce availability or to compensate for cost-effectiveness? f) Drinking water. The policy to serve food without drinking water on table or counter must be reviewed. The tents should also cater for water bottles. Payments can be charged as hitherto. g) Security. The area was always under the vigil of security staff to ward- off any churlish behavior from wild animals though history defies any such incidents. h) Morning /Evening Tea. Tea is organized in the dining area. Option to serve it in the tents at scheduled time or deliver hot water thermos with tea/coffee sachets could be looked into. A low voltage Tea/Coffee maker machine in living tents can solve this this problem. I) TV sets. Satellite TV set must be installed in dining area and living tents. We found ourselves totally cut-off from the outer world. j) Additional Amenities /Facilities. Some recommendation may seem far fetched and other may have implementation hick-ups. Aim is to make the evenings in and around dining/bar area more absorbing, vibrant and interactive. It was noticed that evening were generally monotonous with only bone-fire or occasional Masai dance by local camp staff. Screening of movie / documentary on wildlife in Masai Mara and other parks, Kenyan history, culture and heritage could arouse great interest among visitors. Tambola or party games bring forth more interaction among various nationalities. A rope way or a wooden bridge across Mara river from deck area with screened scaffolding (Machan) on either side could become an added attraction to view wild life across. However, seeking permission for this adventure may be a stumbling block. Overall, we had an entirely satisfying and engrossing stay at Mara river Camp. We would strongly recommend to keep Mara river camp in the frame of mind while finalizing your Safari stay at Masai Mara.…
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Date of stay: August 2022
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Room Tip: Rooms between 1 to 10
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Mara was our final stay in the Serengeti and was hands down the way to go out. Moshi, Edward and Noel including the rest of the staff made our stay so special. We laughed, enjoyed down time with everyone and our stay ended with a bush dinner that had some unexpected guests. We had security with us, so when a herd of elephants decided to crash our dinner the staff made sure we were safe and the security did such a great job of moving the elephants forward away from us., Even though we could still see them. The night ended with a fun birthday dance and singing. This was such an experience after seeing the river crossing and a cheetah hunt. The food was great and I loved our tent.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We stayed here as a family of six . We had lived in Africa, stayed in various lodges in Zambia, Zimbabwe,Botswana , Mara River truly was one of our most memorable experiences, staff were so accomodating . We truly felt like an extension of a family. We saw so much game, special thanks to Ezekiel, Moses , Priver & Anne & all the wonderful staff. We hope to return again soon , miss you all already Asante Santa
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Date of stay: August 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
Mara River camp is a beautiful camp. Situated along the Mara River. Our mission team stayed here for 2 nights, and loved it. The staff is VERY welcoming, and catered to our needs and wants. The tents are absolutely AMAZING, and very cozy. We found hot water bottles in our bed every night, as it was cooler. We loved waking up to the sounds of hippos in the river. Truly a diamond in the rough!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
We stayed at the Mara River Camp for 2 nights when on safari. This camp is absolutely amazing. It is authentic, stunning and so close to nature. We were lucky to have a tent set on the river, where we could see (and hear) the very noisy hippos! There were also sounds of hyenas just across the river which was enough to ensure you knew exactly where you were! We also experience the lovely zebras passing through the camp which is an experience I’ll never forget. Alongside the amazing grounds, the food and service were just fantastic. We were served by the lovely Sammy during our stay. He was friendly, helpful and made sure we had a lovely stay. Asante Sana Sammy! The breakfast at the camp was absolutely delicious, and the staff were kind enough to open up for breakfast earlier for us so that we could get up and out into the safari camp. They also packed lunch for us so that we would not have to come back to the hotel during the day (the camp is around 40 minutes drive from the safari camp, but don’t let this put you off). For dinner, there was a different Al A Carte each night which was lovely too! As for the location, as mentioned there was a 40 minute drive from the camp to the safari gate. However, along the way you will drive through Talek where there’s lots of opportunity to see wildlife, we were lucky enough to see a giraffe and a cheetah! I would advise anti-sickness tablets if you are prone to travel sickness, the roads are in a bad way. However, that is the only fault that I can find with this camp. We had the most wonderful stay, and would recommend this camp to absolutely everyone who wanted to go to Masai Mara. Thank you so much again!…
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
Of all the places we’ve traveled to-date, the Maasai Mara by far makes up the Top 3 favourite places on our East Africa list! The minute you step out of the little airplane, it hits you – the relaxed “majestic” atmosphere, laidback smiling people, the smell of the warm Mara air. All of a sudden all your stress is taken away and you are instantly in “vacation mode”. Mara River Camp is situated a few minutes drive from the Kichwa Tembo airstrip. There are few tents scattered throughout providing loads of privacy, all facing the river and encompassed by the vivid greenery of the African bush. Keep your eyes open for buffalos, zebras, baboons and giraffes roaming and grazing on the other side of the river. Hippos and crocodiles are in abundance in the water down below and lazing on the river banks. Right behind of it all is the shared area with a massive sparkling swimming pool (not common at most camps in the Mara) and sun beds available to guests. It is the perfect way to cool down after a long hot day of game drives. This was a huge + for us. In addition to each beautifully decorated tent having its own terrace, there are few shared decks and terraces scattered around the Mara River Camp. The main terrace, overlooking the river, has tables and chairs you can use to have an outdoor breakfast, lunch or dinner with a spectacular view. The chef served us delicious food and he embraced any special requests that we made. Not only did he ensure our food cravings were properly satisfied, he always came out to greet us with a friendly demeanour and smile. Mara River Camp is a super-clean place – cleaning is done every day. The garden is simply magical. Well maintained and blooming, it is full of birds, mongoose and zebras! The barman is a great friend to a few bush babies who comes out every night to say hello and to get a little snack. Ezechiel (GM) provided us with all the information we needed and showed us around. He went way beyond to make our long-weekend comfortable and memorable. The game drives and our guide Priver was absolute top notch! Priver was very accommodating and very quick to respond with any questions. He really went out of his way to show us the best of the Mara! Lots of small things added up making this trip to Mara River Camp a memorable and beautiful experience. From the scenery, accommodation, food, the staff hospitality, knowledge and storytelling. I would highly recommend this camp to anyone looking for a unique and special experience. Thank you Mara River Camp and staff. We will be back soon! 5 Stars…
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Date of stay: April 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Rajan Ghai, Owner at Mara River Camp
Responded 22 May 2022
Hi Thank you for your gracious review and we are glad you enjoyed your stay with us. Our staff are always very accommodating and friendly. Hope to see you back again soon RG
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
$290 - $640 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
KenyaRift Valley ProvinceMaasai Mara National Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
24
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Frequently Asked Questions about Mara River Camp
What are some of the property amenities at Mara River Camp?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Mara River Camp?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Mara River Camp?
Yes, free parking and secured parking are available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Mara River Camp?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Mara River Camp have airport transportation?
Yes, Mara River Camp offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Mara River Camp have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the river view available here.