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#23 of 108 campsites in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Located on the banks of a river from which it has taken its name, Sand River Masai Mara is located within the Masai Mara National Reserve, close to the Tanzanian border. Situated on a secluded and picturesque site, the camp replicates the heyday of exclusive permanent tented camps of the late 1920’s. The interior fixtures and furnishings mirror this period perfectly, reminding all who visit of the countless Hollywood movies that have paid homage to a classic era of African adventure. Sand River Masai Mara is an ideal destination, at any time of the year, for those wishing to enjoy exceptional game-viewing. The National Reserve is best known for its large concentrations of big cats, such as leopard, cheetah and, of course, lion. Even the dramatic arrival of the Annual Migration merely adds to an already abundant resident wildlife that awaits discovery.
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Nestled by a serene riverside, Elewana Sand River Masai Mara is lauded for its luxurious and well-appointed accommodations which guests find exceptionally clean and comfortable. The camp's unique safari experiences and attentive service contribute to an atmosphere of exclusivity and elegance.
Reviewers often note that the attentive staff and personalized care enhance the value of their stay, justifying the premium cost. With its secluded setting away from other camps, guests have called out the hotel as a tranquil oasis, perfect for an unforgettable safari retreat.
Location
Secluded
Atmosphere
Luxurious
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Luxurious
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We are expats based in Nairobi and have visited over 15+ lodges in the Mara over the past 20 years. We stayed at Elewana Camp for 4 nights during New Years and overall this was the best experience in the Mara we've had.
Elewana's Camp is located along the Sand River and Serengeti border with breathtaking views of the plains, and is quite a distance from other Camps in the Mara. This makes the experience more exclusive. We were the only vehicle at the majority of our viewings, which is a far cry from the mayhem of the Talek gate area (which is full of pop-up safari vans from Nairobi).
Game was abundant, with plenty of cats in the Sand River area. In one day we saw 27 lions from 4 different prides, 2 of which had a number of cubs. During our trip we encountered 3 leopards which was also a record for our family. Our game driver Joel was extremely patient with us (and our kids) and a fantastic guide overall. The Elewana vehicles are spacious and open air with 6 seats (2 across). It frustrates me when other camps trip to squeeze clients into a vehicle with a middle 3rd seat, which was not the case at Elewana.
The Camp itself was extremely well appointed, with a pool that our kids enjoyed mid-day and Wifi for the parents. We stayed in the family tent which was private and spacious. It was unfenced which provided a bit of excitement, including fresh leopard prints outside our tent one morning. Taro was our Camp Manager, and was professional, present, and personable throughout our stay. It was clear from the onset this camp was well managed, with the type of customer service and attention to detail you would expect from a high end camp. The Camp had a friendly atmosphere that made you feel special, and was unpretentious unlike other high end Camps we have visited. Jeremiah made us fantastic cappuccinos every morning, and taught our daughters how to make the perfect hot chocolate.
Yes Elewana is on the high end and certainly pricier than other Camps, but the saying "you get what you pay for" rings true in the Mara....and the exclusivity of the location, the Camp, and the service are certainly worth the money. We will be back for sure. Well done Elewana.
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Date of stay: December 2020
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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.
Response from ElewanaCollection, General Manager at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 12 Jan 2021
Dear David, Firstly, thank you very much for your amazing review. We are so thrilled to read your positive feedback about your stay here at Sand River. We are very lucky with our exclusive location and the abundant game at the moment. I know Joel looked after you, Yolandah and the girls very well and I know he loved spending time with you all, as did I. I'm glad we identified those tracks as leopard, how exciting was that? I will pass on your kind words to the crew and we really look forward to hosting you again in the near future. Best, Taro and the Elewana Sand River Masai Mara Crew
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The safari was fantastic! Breathtaking views, beautiful animals! We were there during a slow time (mid November) and we still saw all the animals we hoped for! Our Safari guide, Denis, was a local Masai warrior and he shared both is knowledge of the land and animals as well as his personal experience of growing up in a Masai village! Super cool! I can not say enough good things about the safari and our guide.
The camp itself is the height of luxury. Canvas and metal frame tents, with wood floors, wrap around wood deck, outdoor shower, indoor tub, leather furniture, and a walkie-talkie in each tent to order drinks or to call for an escort to the bar.... the escorts keep the animals away at night!
We had our own butler who would greet us every morning at breakfast, as well as when we returned from safari at both lunch and dinner times. Our butler, Borongu Okaru, was always attentive to our needs, but not over bearing.
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Date of stay: November 2019
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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.
Response from ElewanaCollection, Manager at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 4 Jun 2020
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this amazing review! We are so glad that you were able to see all the animals you had hoped for, and learnt a lot from Dennis. He loves to share his experiences and is so passionate about the work he does. We pride ourselves on our service and room standards, so thank you for appreciating it! Do come back soon. Stay safe. Kind regards, Elewana Sand River Masai Mara Team
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We were met at the airstrip by trainee guide/driver Simon and within 5 minutes of setting off towards the camp we encountered a large pride of lions which included several adults and no less than 7 cubs! Wow. We are so close and my heart misses a beat, but Simon quietly, and confidently speaks calming words and I begin to enjoy this adventure. Eventually we arrive at the camp, beautifully situated on the Sand River, this is extremely posh camping! The tents are huge and well furnished, effectively three separate rooms plus an outdoor shower and private seating area. During the next few days we are treated to fabulous meals and two game drives daily with Samson in charge and Simon as his partner. They show us much care and consideration, to say nothing of all the animals we encounter. These range from all the big cats (including a lone female cheetah) , elephants, giraffes, zebra, crocodiles, hippo, and a huge herd of water buffalo - probably in excess of 500. And much more. Purely amazing and stunning. I could easily run out of superlatives. Thank you to all at the camp who made our stay so enjoyable.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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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.
Response from ElewanaCollection, General Manager at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 1 Mar 2020
Dear Sue Thank you for choosing to stay at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara and taking the time to write a review. Samson and Simon make for a great team and they will be delighted to hear that you had such an amazing 4 days with them. You definitely had amazing animal sightings and we hope you carry those memories with you for many years. We are glad to hear that you found the rooms spacious and luxurious, it is decorated to give that 1920's colonial feel on Safari. We will extend your gratitude to the rest of the team. Hope you and Tony had a special time with your friends on the coast after leaving the Masai Mara. We hope to welcoming you back in the near future. Warmest Regards Jarryd, Frances and The Sand River Family
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My wife and I went to Sand River for a 3 day/2 night stay. We have been to over a dozen camps in the Mara and wanted to try this one. The service was excellent. The staff were able to accommodate all our adjustments. My wife is a vegetarian (gluten free, non dairy). Although the camp knew this well in advance they still struggled to deliver. They end up developing a meal on the fly (which was actually OK in the end). The tents themselves are very nicely done with period travel streamer furniture. The tents have hardwood floors (first I have seen that). But the tents are positioned too far from the river so you really don't get a good view. And the awning over the deck is much too short so you can't use it to protect you from the sun or the rain. It also has an outdoor shower. Some folks may like that but I found I only was willing to shower in the middle of the day when it was warm. They have a bathtub which to me was a useless addition. Pricing for their alcohol was also rather expensive.
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Date of stay: November 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â If you go ask for Tent 3. It has the best river view
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.
Response from Michelle Mathews, General Manager at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 27 Nov 2020
Dear Robert, Thank you for your kind comments, it was a pleasure to host you both. I have discussed your dietary requirements with our kitchen team and we have noted your feedback, we are always striving to improve our flexibility and quality but we are thrilled that you enjoyed the food in the end. Your comments really help us to understand what we can improve in the camp, so thank you again for your suggestions and views on the room, it is always very useful to hear this kind of advice – especially from avid travellers like yourselves! We look forward to having you again, Taro and the Elewana Sand River Clan
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My wife and I just completed a three night game package at Sand River and we can’t fault it. The accommodation, the food and the service were all second to none. Having been living in Kenya for three years now we have stayed at many game lodges across the country and we both agree Sand River stands out as the only one where everything went exactly as it should and no effort was spared by any of the staff to make us feel special. The game drives were excellent and being in the other side of the Mara to most of the lodges, the drives weren’t spoilt by hundreds of other vehicles. We really did have the place to ourselves. If you are looking for an exceptional experience, we can’t recommend Sand River highly enough.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip 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.
Response from Michelle Mathews, General Manager at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 16 Oct 2020
Greetings from Sand River Masai Mara, We are so glad that you choose to stay with us. Thank you for taking you time to share your experience with us. The team is delighted that their efforts were fruitful and we made memories to last forever. It was an honour hosting you and we look forward to having you back in camp on your next trip to the Mara. Your beautiful review has added smiles to the faces of our team members, amidst this unprecedented time, so thanks again for your kind words. Best regards, The Elewana Sand River Team
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We had an amazing experience at Sand River Camp. Sadly it was only for one night but wow we really enjoyed it. We wanted to visit Maasai Mara and our tour operator Zeno Safaris recommended Sand River Camp and we were so glad they did.. We arrived to a lovely warm greeting from John and Stephen. The camp is right on the banks of the Sand River overlooking into Tanzania and one of the best places to get some peace and quiet and during the migration the best location for animals. We had a lovely lunch (portions could be increased though) prepared by chef Shaban. And let me say this again, Chef Shaban makes fantastic food. I was very impressed with his culinary skills and from my last visit several years ago, the food is amazing. He actually goes around asking you your preferences and what he can do for you. Great stuff. The tents are very spacious. Bathroom is well lit and you have a big tub in which to soak in after a long day of game drives. Special mention to Joel for showing us around the following day before we left. The staff are all so friendly and jovial. We experienced a fantastic breakfast by the river which was truly awesome.
All in all a great place to stay and highly recommended especially during the migration season.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip 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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 21 May 2021
Dear Kavita and Raj, Thank you for your review and kind words. It was our pleasure to host you again at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara and we are thrilled that you chose to stay with us for the second time. I had to share this with the staff and particularly Shaban, Joel, and John who are so delighted to hear that they helped make your experience so much more memorable. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed our hospitality, facilities, and offerings, as we continuously strive to exceed our guests' expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back very soon. Best Regards, The Team at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
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We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Fall 2021. The accommodations and services are superb. The accommodation is a huge and luxurious "tent" (although I hesitate to call it that) with beautiful wood furnishings and super comfortable beds. After a game drive, we came home to find a herd of elephants grazing across the Sand River...practically in our back yard. Now that's what you pay for! The guides are excellent - no "crowd scenes" here. And best of all, we saw lions, animals, and even a cheetah plus the wildebeest migration from a hot air balloon. A nice feature of our stay was the communal fire at happy hour where many of us travelers (our disparate group hailed from as far away as Bermuda) could all exchange tales from our day. The staff is extremely well trained. The chef would always come out and ask about our meal and if there was any accommodation necessary. Our favorite person at Sand River was Antony Ekusi, who kept our room tidy and was always pleasant and engaging. For us, he was the face of Sand River!
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Date of stay: October 2021
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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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 20 Feb 2022
Dear Letitia, Thank you for this delightful review and for choosing to stay with us at Elewana Sand River. We are thrilled to hear you loved our accommodations and facilities, it definitely is special to enjoy these luxuries in the bush. Anthony is over the moon for the special mention and the entire team are grateful for this wonderful review on TripAdvisor. We hope to welcome you back soon! Kind Regards, Nicolene, Andrew and the Team at Elewana Sand River
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We had an amazing 3 nights at Sand River in August. We stayed at Little Sand River which has the most beautiful view of the river with the wildlife and hills of Tanzania in the distance. Our tent had everything we needed, I specially loved the outdoor shower, comfy bed & views of birds & wildlife along the river. For the first time ever on safari we had the flaps to the front deck left up at night and 2 of the 3 nights we were watching elephants from our bed! The Maasai Mara can be hectic in August particularly around the wildebeest crossing areas; we were lucky enough to see a crossing and it was wonderful to return to the tranquility of our camp and it’s surroundings. The staff were all fantastic and we enjoyed great cocktails, delicious food & the best homemade ice cream & red bush iced tea in the Mara, as well as a surprise dance & cake on our 30th wedding anniversary. Many thanks to camp manager Jeremiah, waiters Joseph & Dennis & all the fabulous team members for looking after us & our driver so well.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip 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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 9 Sept 2021
Dear 358alisons, Thank you so much for taking the time to share this review, we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. We are truly blessed to have a variety of animals so close to camp, it is such a special experience being able to watch elephants from the comfort of your bed! Thank you so much for choosing to spend time in this unique little corner of the Massai Mara, we love it and are over the moon that you do too. Take care and "Karibu Tena" The team at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
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If living in luxury in the Masai Mara, this is the place for you. The staff welcomes you with warm towels, the tents are well appointed with leather couches, writing desks, huge tubs and a deck to sit and lounge. The guide we had (Dickson) was knowledgeable, sensitive to our needs, and a delight to be with. The food here was excellent and you could order what you wanted, when you wanted. Even the little shop had nice things to take back.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip 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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 11 Aug 2021
Dear Fredrick, Thank you so much for the amazing review. We continuously strive to exceed our guests' expectations and the entire team is delighted to hear that we helped make your safari a memorable one. Dickson, our guide is especially glad to hear that you enjoyed your game drives, and our chef appreciates your lovely compliments. We are so glad you loved our gift shop! Karibu tena. Warm regards, The team at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara.
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The 'tent' was the size of three rooms and was like being in 1920s Africa. As well as a bath the outside shower overlooks the river whilst being private at the same time. The pool is large enough to swim a few lengths in. Food was excellent, at least up to gastropub standard, with a limited menu but then you are miles from anywhere.
Using a local guide has benefits as they are prepared to go off road even though it is illegal (apparently their relations are the rangers!).
A special mention for our waiter Philip who always seemed to be available to supply Pimms, Tusker and tea.
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Date of stay: February 2022
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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Responded 28 Feb 2022
Dear David, Greetings from Elewana Sand River. Thank you so much for your lovely review regarding your recent stay with us, it was a pleasure hosting you. We are glad to hear that Philip made your stay extra special, he really is a super butler. We will pass on your kind words to Philip and the kitchen team, we look forward to welcoming you back soon to Sand River. Best Wishes, The Elewana Sand River Team
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Hello. We offer laundry services free of charge at all of our properties. And, yes, we have circuit discounts if you stay at more than one of our properties. Some are close together, others are much further apart. Please have a look at our website for more information.
Hello
All the tents are exactly the same except for the one family tent. The swing bridge is used by rooms 7, 8, 9 and 10 only. Tents 11 to 16 are separate from the main area. Each room has its own shower and bathroom.
Please do come and stay with us.
"Two camps in one, Little Sand River and Sand River. Little is smaller and more intimate with better one on one service IMO. The camps are only 50 meters apart."
There are more places to choose from in the Maasai Mara National Reserve area.
PRICE RANGE
₹1,44,168 - ₹1,86,856 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
KenyaRift Valley ProvinceMaasai Mara National Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
16
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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