Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Hilltop lodge with a view of one of the greatest wildlife shows on earth.

One of the largest properties in the Mara, with space to accommodate bigger groups. The views of the Mara plains are breathtaking, and its worth booking in July-October for the Great Migration.

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Jonty

Eve

Kristin

4.9 out of 5 stars Average guest rating

About Mara Serena Safari Lodge

This unique lodge sits high up on the emerald-green hillside of Ol Donyo Oseiya, overlooking the ‘Mara Triangle’ sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Designed to emulate a traditional Maasai Manyatta, the lodge is a cluster of dome huts surrounded by a wooden boma. Depending on your taste, you might find the overall atmosphere a bit dated and a little on the garish side, but it boasts front-row seats to the famous Wildebeest Migration at lower cost than many of the other lodges that take part in the action. You won't forget Mara Serena's spectacular views over the plains.

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From $150 person/night

Lodge

74 Rooms

Mara Triangle, Masai Mara, Kenya

Highlights

Take a hot air balloon ride over the plains in the early morning light; it will be like nothing you've ever done before.

Fancy a swim with a view? Cool down after game drives in the fabulous, rock-rimmed swimming pool.

The location of the lodge, right on a hilltop and close to a bend in the river, makes it ideal for short game drives to a watch a famous Mara river crossing when the opportunity calls.

The property

The central atrium of the hotel is a stand-alone, modular unit, dome-like in its structure with rounded corners, swirling motifs and earthy tones. Flights of stairs lead to an expansive central lounge area, with the dining and bar area off to the side. Huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows frame the spectacular views over the Mara plains, with french doors leading out onto a wide, shady terrace and rock-rimmed swimming pool.

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The rooms

There are 74 domed shaped rooms, emulating traditional Maasai structures and arranged in two wings along the hillside. The rooms are relatively small, but each has uninterrupted views over the magnificent Maasai Mara from the balcony. The décor might not be everyone's cup of tea, with eccentric, 'Flintstone'-esque wall motifs in yellows, browns and reds, and loud, patterned materials, but it will certainly be a spot to remember, and you'll be spending most time out and about anyway.

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One more thing...

Although it's well-positioned for the Great Migration, during these months the hotel gets rather crowded and can feel a bit impersonal.

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Activities

Cultural

Game Drives

Walking safari

Bush Walks

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With this lodge being so close to the thick of the Mara's action (particularly when the Great Wildebeest Migration is taking place from July-October), game drives are run twice-daily in 4x4 vehicles with pop-top roofs (not open-sided safari vehicles). Other memorable activities to work into your itinerary include bush dinners, hot air balloon rides over the plains, visits to a nearby Maasai cultural center, guided walks and dinners by starlight for the romantics among us.

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About Masai Mara

Masai Mara

A safari classic filled with the Big Five, wildlife-dotted landscapes and vibrant Maasai warriors.

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Wildlife in Masai Mara

Elephant

Abundant

Giraffe

Abundant

Hippo

Occasional

Black Rhino

Rare

White Rhino

None

Lion

Abundant

Cheetah

Abundant

Leopard

Occasional

Hyena

Occasional

Wildebeest

Abundant

Buffalo

Occasional

Zebra

Abundant

Warthog

Occasional

Wild Dog

Rare

Meerkat

None

Show all wildlife

The Masai Mara is Kenya's flagship conservation region: a place of rolling plains, bush scrub and acacia thicket— known for the seasonal great wildebeest migration, a mass movement of more than two million, wildebeest, zebra, kongoni, topi and gazelle. As exciting as this phenomenon is, there is so much more to this wilderness. Encounter elephants, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, crocodiles and a variety of cats including lion, cheetah, leopard and the shy serval during a stay in these parts.

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