Finding the best accommodation in Masai Mara usually means scrolling through the same ten listicles with the same stock photos. Angama Mara isn’t on most of them, and it should be. I have flown into the Mara more times than I can count over the years, mostly for work, mostly for clients who wanted to see for themselves what they were selling. Angama Mara is the one that made me put my notebook down.
It sits on the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment, looking straight down into the Masai Mara National Reserve, and it does something most lodges only claim to do: it gives you room to actually notice where you are. This trip was arranged through Holiday Kenya Safaris, and by the second morning I understood why returning guests keep asking for this exact property by name.
What follows is not a brochure rewrite. It is what I saw, what I ate, what the rooms cost, and what I would tell a friend booking their first Masai Mara hotel stay.
The History of Angama Mara Lodge
Angama Mara was founded by safari veterans Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald and opened its doors in 2015, after eleven months of construction. Both had spent decades building and running lodges across Africa before this one, and it shows in the small decisions: the placement of a window, the height of a veranda rail, the distance between tents for privacy without isolation.
The name comes from the Swahili word for ‘suspended in mid-air,’ a fitting description for a lodge built along a ridge with nothing but sky and plains stretching out below it. The property is split into two camps totaling 30 tented suites, each with floor-to-ceiling glass designed to keep the Mara in view from the moment you wake up.
Angama also has a quiet connection to film history. Guests can visit the actual picnic site used in Out of Africa, a short drive from the lodge. Beyond its design and its links to that story, the lodge has built a genuine working relationship with the surrounding Maasai community and has been active in conservation since it opened.
Location: How to Get There
There are two ways in. By road, Angama Mara is a 10-minute drive from the Masai Mara National Reserve along a private route, though a road transfer from Nairobi itself takes considerably longer.
By air, it is a 45-minute scheduled flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, with connections available through Kenya Airways, Emirates, Air France-KLM, and British Airways for guests arriving internationally. A private charter from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is also an option, and the lodge has its own airstrip, so the transfer from tarmac to reception takes minutes, not hours. Holiday Kenya Safaris handles the logistics on both routes, which matters more than it sounds like it should once you are trying to coordinate flight times with game drive schedules.
Arriving at Angama Mara
The lodge sits on a gently elevated hill above the savannah, and the view changes by the hour. Sunrise turns the plains gold within about twenty minutes; by midday the same view flattens into a hazy green that stretches to the horizon.
The architecture draws on Maasai design and pairs it with practical modern comfort: thatched roofs, handcrafted decor, soft lighting, and timber interiors that make each cottage feel separate from the next, even though they share the same ridge.
It is not a place built only for eating and sleeping between game drives. It is built for slowing down, whether you are travelling alone, with a partner, or with your whole family.
Community Friendly, Eco-Friendly, and Proudly Kenyan
Most of the staff at Angama Mara come from the local Maasai communities, and the lodge is directly involved in conservation and local development work rather than treating it as a side project. You notice this within the first hour, not because anyone tells you, but because of how the staff speak about the land and the wildlife on it.
A stay here contributes to protecting the wildlife and supporting the people of the Mara. The lodge treats responsible tourism as the standard way of doing business, not an add-on.
Accommodation at Angama Mara Lodge
Angama Mara is made up of two camps with 15 tented suites in total. Every tent is a king suite that can be converted to a twin on request. Two additional configurations are available:
Family suites: two tented suites connected by a hallway, so families stay close while each person keeps their own space.
Patty’s Tent: built for guests with restricted mobility, fitted with grab rails and ramps, with the layout kept open and free of unnecessary furniture.
Each suite has a king-size bed, an ensuite bathroom with hot water, and a private veranda facing the plains. The furniture is handcrafted wood, with interior details drawn from Maasai decor, giving each room a lived-in, rooted feel rather than a hotel-standard one.
Most mornings I woke to birdsong before my alarm went off, and on two occasions to a lion calling somewhere down the escarpment. It is an effective reminder that you are staying inside the wilderness, not next to it.
One morning a herd of impala grazed within a few meters of my tent for nearly twenty minutes. Another afternoon I watched three giraffes cross the ridge in the distance, unhurried, stopping now and then to feed. These are the moments that stay with you longer than the itinerary does.
Dining at Angama Mara Lodge
The food here is built on farm-fresh ingredients and careful, unfussy preparation. The kitchen blends international technique with Kenyan flavor, using produce sourced locally wherever possible.
Standout dishes during my stay included a rich Kenyan beef stew, Swahili coconut fish, freshly baked bread, and a rotating selection of seasonal fruit and vegetarian dishes that never felt like an afterthought. Whether it was breakfast with the plains in full view or a quieter dinner by candlelight, each meal was clearly planned with intention.
A Dining Atmosphere Like No Other
Meals are served in an open-air restaurant overlooking the savannah. In the evenings, lantern-lit paths and the distant sounds of the bush set a tone that is calm rather than staged.
One night the team arranged a bush dinner for our group, complete with Maasai entertainment, an open fire, and a clear sky heavy with stars. It is the kind of evening you plan a return trip around.
Rates
Angama Mara’s fully inclusive rates are priced per guest per night and vary by season. Below are the published rates for 2025 and 2026.
| Year | Standard Season 5 Jan – 30 June; 1 Oct – 22 Dec | Peak Season 1 July – 30 Sept; 23 Dec – 4 Jan | |
| 2026 | USD $1,775 per person per night | USD $2,650 per person per night | |
| 2027 | USD $1,850 per person per night | USD $2,750 per person per night |
What You Will Love About Angama Mara Lodge
Angama Mara has its own private airfield, giving guests quick access into and out of the Mara without long road transfers. Its sister property, Angama Safari Camp, sits deep in the Mara Triangle along the route of the Great Migration, and is available for guests who want an even more remote mobile-tent experience.
The lodge’s approach could be summed up as hard days, soft nights: a morning spent gliding over the plains in a hot-air balloon or tracking wildlife on a game drive, followed by a sundowner back at the lodge as the sun drops over the escarpment.
Activities to do at Angama Mara
Hot Air Ballooning
Rising above the Mara at first light, coffee in hand, followed by a champagne breakfast set up in the open savannah. It is one of the better ways to start a morning here, and it books up early, so worth arranging in advance.
Walking Safari
A guided walk along the Siria Escarpment, at whatever pace suits you, with a professional guide explaining the wildlife and its place in Maasai culture along the way.
Picnic and Pampering
Game viewing is the main draw in the Mara, but Angama also makes room for slower days: an afternoon by the pool, a book at the library, no fixed schedule.
Game Drives
Twice-daily drives with professional rangers and guides, with each outing shaped by what the plains offer that day, from a wildebeest crossing to a fresh kill. If there is a specific animal you are hoping to see, tell your guide. They will do what they can to find it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Angama Mara Lodge
What is Angama Mara?
Angama Mara is a luxury safari lodge on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, overlooking the Masai Mara National Reserve. It is known for its panoramic views, attentive hospitality, and exclusive safari experiences.
Where is Angama Mara located?
The lodge sits on the Oloololo Escarpment in southwestern Kenya, above one of Africa’s most wildlife-rich reserves.
What accommodation options does the lodge offer?
Angama Mara offers spacious tented suites with floor-to-ceiling glass fronts, private decks, and interiors styled after classic safari design.
What activities are available for guests?
Guests can join game drives, guided walking safaris, photography sessions, hot-air balloon rides (arranged separately), Maasai cultural visits, and picnics, including a visit to the site made famous by Out of Africa.
Is Angama Mara family-friendly?
Yes. The lodge offers family tent configurations and safari experiences tailored to younger travelers.
When is the best time to visit Angama Mara?
Game viewing is strong year-round. Travellers focused on the Great Migration typically visit between July and October, though wildlife is present throughout the year.
Are game drives included in the stay?
Yes, generally twice daily with professional guides, though exact inclusions can vary by package.
How do I get to Angama Mara?
Most guests fly from Nairobi to the nearby Angama Airfield via scheduled or chartered flight, followed by a short transfer to the lodge.
What dining options are available?
Farm-to-table dining, bush picnics, sundowners, and multi-course meals, with private dining available on request.
What makes Angama Mara unique?
Its location, personalized service, and exclusive access to a private section of the Mara Triangle set it apart from other lodges in the region.
What Makes Angama Mara Lodge Truly Special
What separates Angama Mara from other lodges I have stayed at is not the design or the view, both of which are excellent, but the staff. By day two, they remembered my name and my drink order without being asked, and they packed a flask of warm tea for me before an early morning game drive without me mentioning I liked it. That kind of attention is not something you can train overnight.
Why Angama Mara Lodge Should Be Your Next Safari Destination
If you want a safari that combines genuine comfort, striking scenery, and staff who make you feel remembered rather than processed, Angama Mara delivers on all three. Paired with the planning and guiding of Holiday Kenya Safaris, the trip runs smoothly from the first flight to the last game drive, whether this is your first safari or your fifth.
