Masai Mara Luxury Safari Lodges & Camps

Published on:
4th May 2025
4
Minutes Read

Top 10 Best Masai Mara Luxury Safari Lodges & Camps

For starters, Masai Mara National Reserve is one of East Africa's leading National Parks offering tourists authentic safari adventures. Whether it's the unforgettable scenic beauty or magic of the wild big and small that your heart desires, this is where your perfect holiday starts.

And at the end of the day, world-class comfort awaits in one of the park's numerous accommodations. With that short introduction, here are the best luxury Masai Mara lodges & camps where unmatched wildlife sightings, welcoming ambience, and hospitable staff await.

1. Mahali Mzuri

Location: Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya
Price Range: $1,000 – $2,000 per person per night (depending on the season and occupancy)

Mahali Mzuri, Sir Richard Branson’s Kenyan safari camp is located in the world-famous Masai Mara ecosystem in the path of the annual Great Migration, the camp is within the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. Mahali Mzuri is a Swahili word that translates to 'beautiful place'.This luxurious lodge offers visitors breathtaking views of the world-famous game park. This is where the adventure starts as you get to experience earthly elegance, brilliant artwork, and an unforgettable tented experience.

Mahali Mzuri boasts twelve decorated, spacious, full decked luxury tents. In addition to the twelve tents, there is a centrally located tent with a relaxing lounge, open fireplace, television, and binoculars for complementary use.

The lodge’s position gives you front-row seats to spectacular wildlife sightings year-round. This includes the great migration from July to November, depending on climatic conditions. Drink in the dramatic scenery and experience the thrill of watching elephant, lion, leopard, giraffe, and plains wildlife. It’s hard to beat the buzz of a game drive but make time to visit a Masai village to learn about their pastoralist culture. Unfortunately, the lodge is currently under refurbishment and will reopen in June 2025

2. Basecamp Adventure

Location: Near Talek Gate, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Price Range:  $300 – $500 per person per night

Nestled on a forested bend near Talek Gate, Basecamp Adventure is a favorite among tourists in Masai Mara. The camp has six tents, with the private terrace of each camp unfolding into stunning views of the park.

Each tent has an en-suite bathroom, a double bed, and a solar-heated shower. On top of that, visitors here can enjoy outdoor showers hence connecting with nature.

3. Basecamp Masai Mara

Location:  Talek River, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Price Range:  $400 – $600 per person per night

Basecamp Masai Mara has 17 spacious river-view tents, including 2 family tents. Bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve and hidden away under thatched roofs on a lush peninsula along the Talek River, the tents offer great views of the savannah, always populated by wildlife.

Each tent has been meticulously designed to provide an unparalleled blend of comfort and style, featuring a plush bed, chic furnishing, and a modern ensuite bathroom. This is in addition to a private terrace with views towards the Talek river bed and the Masai Mara National Reserve.

From here, guests enjoy views of the Mara landscape and its animals from the comfort of their tents. The family tents have two separate wings, each featuring a double bed with a shared bathroom area. The atmosphere of the tents is perfect for living the classic safari adventure.

Besides spending the night here, this luxurious lodge also offers tourists the opportunity to interact with the local Masai people and learn their way of life. Former United States President Barrack Obama is among the guests who have spent time here.

4. Richard's River Camp

Location:  Njageteck River, Mara North Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya
Price Range:  $500 – $800 per person per night

Designed with adventure in mind as well as privacy, Richard's River Camp is an ideal choice for couples dreaming of a memorable safari holiday. The lodge is located in Mara North Conservancy next to Njageteck River and is just 45 minutes from Kenya's capital city Nairobi. Interestingly, the lodge has it's own pride of lions which can be spotted roaming around.

Richard's River Camp has seven tents that boast beautifully carved wood tables, pillow chairs, and generally a warm atmosphere for guests. The staff here are always ready to serve you during your vacation.

5. Basecamp Wilderness

Location:  Naboisho Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya
Price Range:  $450 – $650 per person per night

Want to connect with Kenya's wilderness at the comfort of your lodge? Well, that's where Basecamp Wilderness comes in. Located in the Saddle Valley rim in Mara Naibosho Conservancy, this lodge offers visitors an unmatched luxury safari experience as it connects them to the wild at the comfort of their tent.

Basecamp Wilderness has twelve tents, with each having large windows bringing the outside inside. Also, the tents are designed to blend with the outside world using traditional techniques such as thatched roofs. There is a new family tent here which can offer accommodation for a maximum of four guests.

Basecamp Wilderness has bio-flush toilets, solar-heated showers, and the old school “bucket shower”.

6. Mara Expedition Camp

Location:  Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya (with access to the Mara North Conservancy)
Price Range:  $500 – $800 per person per night

Mara Expedition Camp is one of the top ten best luxury Masai Mara safari lodges & camps, but you won't see it unless you make a booking before your travel. The enchanting safari lodge is well suited amidst the thick riverine forest trees in a secluded corner.

Unlike other lodges that boast several tents, Mara Expedition Camp has only five luxury safari tents and one extra tent for family. Guests here have the opportunity to enjoy dinner by the fireside. Besides being a resting zone, the camp is also known for being a suitable destination to spot leopards wandering in the wild.

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$2941 pp

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7. Governors' Camp

Location:  Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Price Range:  $600 – $1,000 per person per night

As the saying goes, old is good. Governors' Camp is among the oldest camps in East Africa having been founded in 1972. It set the base for the top ten best luxury Masai Mara safari lodges & camps and is still highly respected considering it has maintained its high status.

Located within the riverine forest, Governors' Camp has 30 tents, including a safari suite and eight family tents. These tents have private verandas, flush toilets, en-suite bathrooms, and a shower to ensure comfort during your stay.

Governors' Camp, which was awarded the Silver Eco Rating, has a spa offering guests body scrub, facials, and manicures, among other treatments.

8. Little Governors' Camp

Location:  Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Price Range:  $650 – $950 per person per night

Located on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve, the camp is accessed by a very short boat ride across the Mara River and an escorted walk through the riverine forest. Vehicles are left on the far river bank, and the camp is, therefore, quiet and undisturbed.

The guest tents at Little Governors’ Camp have wooden decks with large verandahs, and guests can enjoy the constant game activity around the marsh in front of the camp. The camp is smaller than Governors' Camp but has spacious tents overlooking the waterhole where wildlife comes to drink water. Here, breakfast and lunch are served in the open.

9. Ol Seki Hemingway's Mara Camp

Location:  Naboisho Conservancy, bordering Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Price Range:  $800 – $1,200 per person per night

If you're looking for a lodge in Masai Mara to spend your honeymoon then Ol Seki Hemingway's Mara Camp got you covered. It is situated in the Naboisho Conservancy and sits on 200 square kilometers of land.

The camp is home to six tents and can host up to twelve guests at the same time. Unlike other camps, dining here is communal, but private meals are also prepared.

10. Elephant Pepper Camp

Location:  Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Price Range:  $450 – $750 per person per night

Located in the heart of the Masai Mara ecosystem, Elephant Pepper Camp closes our list of the best luxury Masai Mara safari lodges & camps. This traditional bush camp is unfenced, but Maasai warriors are on patrol 24 hours to ensure visitors are safe from the big cats that are often spotted in the camp. Nevertheless, it is a great location for game viewing at any time of the year.

Wondering where the name elephant comes from? Well, the lodge got its name from the surrounding grove of fig and elephant pepper trees.

Key Takeaway

With its abundance of wildlife and plenty of things to do, it's no surprise that Masai Mara is one of the most visited game parks in the world. As you plan your travel to the game rich destination, trust Kenya’s leading tour operator Roamroar Safaris to help in identifying a suitable luxury safari lodge or camp away from home in Kenya’s most visited wilderness.

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