Angama Mara has quickly become one of the most talked about lodges in East Africa.
Kenya has had a reputation as one of the most romantic and beautiful spots on Earth since Robert Redford and Meryl Streep whispered sweet nothings to each other there during Out of Africa's famous picnic scene. Today, it is the site of one of East Africa’s most outstanding lodges: Angama Mara has been carefully built on two kopjes on the edge of the Mara Triangle escarpment.
The main drawcard for this lodge is the enviable view, which gives guests unparalleled views over the Maasai Mara from above.
The Swahili word ‘angama' means ‘to be suspended in mid-air' and it is a fitting name for your accommodation: each tent seems to hang on the edge of the Rift Valley, ensuring views that seem to go on forever.
Location and Access
Angama Mara is a safari lodge in the Maasai Mara in Kenya and is located high up on the Oloololo Escarpment, bordering the Mara Triangle.
Read also: Masai Mara Safari Camping
The Angama Mara Tented Camp is located just north of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and is served by a private airstrip, which receives daily flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport. The flight time from Nairobi Wilson Airport to the Angama Mara Airstrip is approximately 45 minutes. In addition, charter flights can be organised from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Angama Mara Airstrip.
Kenya is served by a number of international airports, including the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the Kisumu International Airport and the Moi International Airport in Mombasa. If your international flight arrives before 11:00 am, it’s possible to make a same-day connection to the Angama Mara Airstrip (minimum of two passengers) from Nairobi Wilson Airport.
In addition to scheduled flight routes, it’s also possible to charter a private aircraft directly to the Angama Mara Airstrip from various airports in Kenya. Unlike scheduled flights, these private charters have the benefit of no luggage weight restrictions, which makes them a good choice for those who can’t pack light. Local Kenyan airlines include SafariLink, Airkenya and Mombasa Air Safari. They all use Cessna Grand Caravans or similar aircraft that can accommodate 9 to 13 passengers.
If you land at the Angama airstrip, it is a short few minutes drive to reach the camp.
Accommodation and Amenities
Angama Mara comprises two separate camps of 15 tents each. Angama Mara is split into two separate camps, each built on its own kopje and each consisting of 15 tents. In 2020, Angama Safari Camp opened.
Read also: Immersive Safari at Sarova Mara
Each canvas tent as a 10m / 33ft wide front window that leads from the 70sqm / 750sqft interior onto the 35sqm / 375sqft deck. Bright red notes feature throughout the design, a nod to Maasai culture and a departure from more typical earthy safari tones. Though the structures are predominantly canvas, the interiors feel like elegant glass-fronted suites rather than tents, with super-king, extra-length beds, polished parquet floors, smart drinks cabinets, front-facing sitting areas, writing desks, and woven screens.
There are four family suites in total (two per camp) and children up the age of 12 may share a triple-bed tent. All units can be configured with a twin bed set-up, and it’s possible to request a triple room, accommodating two adults and a child under 12 years.
Each room features a double sink with luxurious amenities, a large bath tub, full size shower, reading chair and sofa. There are a few books in the room to pass the time between game drives - including the famed Out of Africa and a lesser known recount of Denys Finch Hatton’s life titled Too Close to the Sun. The rooms are appointed with all the amenities you could need and if you forgot something, the staff are all too happy to help you source an item for your stay. There are a lot of lights in the tent but with limited power and water supplies, be sure to use these luxuries responsibly.
Additional amenities include an electronic safe, a luggage rack, ceiling fans, charging points, and electric blankets in the beds for maximum comfort during the cool Mara evenings. Each suite has a butler’s lobby for the discreet delivery of early morning tea and coffee. Separated by a screen, each en-suite bathroom features a freestanding bathtub, a rain shower, a vanity unit with double basins, and a separate flush toilet. Through sliding glass doors in the bedroom, you’ll find a spacious viewing deck furnished with rocking chairs and a small table for private dining.
Each morning a butler will magically appear to tidy your room and reappear every evening while you are out for dinner to turn on your electric blanket (what a luxury!) and refresh your drinking water and tea/coffee supplies.
Read also: Your Guide to Masai Mara Camps
After lunch, spend the afternoon cooling off in the 12.5m / 40ft swimming pool, having a massage in your room or working out in the fitness centre.
The shared spaces at Angama Mara include a sophisticated restaurant with individual tables and a spectacular terrace where guests dine against uninterrupted views. There’s a cozy sunken fire deck with cushioned seating and a telescope for zooming in on the passing wildlife beneath. A crackling log fire in the library is a welcome retreat from the crisp Mara nights, and in this space you’ll also find a selection of DVDs to enjoy. The lodge’s 12-meter rim-flow swimming pool optimizes the majestic views from its deck, and the comprehensive fitness room has a selection of Technogym equipment and floor-to-ceiling stacking glass doors.
Rooms are equipped with fans, personal bars, safes, emergency sirens (the camp is unfenced to allow game to wander through), binoculars and a butler’s lobby.
Dining Experience
Good food is a central focus at Angama Mara and all the drinking water is purified and bottled in glass containers on site to keep its footprint as low as possible. A special treat is a ‘garden-to-table’ dining experience in the shamba, Angama Mara’s ‘mini-farm’ on the premises.
Typically your days on safari will begin early in the morning with a wake up call in your room and coffee delivery. Some safari goers will be out on game drive most of the day and others will return around noon followed by lunch at the lodge. Lunch would always consist of three courses at the lodge, followed by a restful afternoon before dinner service from 7:30pm.
Activities and Experiences
There are a few activities on offer at Angama Mara that are different to other lodges.
Game drives are tailored to the guests, and guides take a fully flexible approach. There is plenty to explore around the lodge itself, but the heart of the action is found in the Mara Triangle - one of Africa’s most iconic Big Five destinations and a treasure trove of wildlife. This is the ultimate game-viewing location, with all the most popular species present in abundance, including lion, elephant, leopard, hippo, black rhino, giraffe, buffalo, cheetah, and spotted hyena, to name a few.
One such activity is the “Out of Africa” lunch, served at the exact spot Karen Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton enjoy a picnic, overlooking the Maasai Mara. This was my favourite day throughout my stay and if you’re a fan of the film, you absolutely must make the most of the opportunity!
Angama Mara is unique for its photographic studio, where guests can request a private tutorial with the lodge’s on-site photographers. You might like to hire photographic equipment or learn more about the editing process on the large-screen Apple desktops.
Guests at Angama Mara can enjoy a variety of activities including morning, afternoon, all-day, and night safaris, walking safaris along the escarpment, hot-air ballooning safaris, and private vehicle safaris. Cultural experiences with the Maasai community are also available.
Other activities include:
- A hot air balloon safari is a magical way to observe the Maasai Mara from up high, taking off at dawn to experience the glorious sunrise over the plains.
- Known as ‘manyattas’, traditional Maasai houses are simple structures made of mud, sticks, and cow dung. These are always positioned close to the boma, a thorny enclosure where the Maasai keep their prized livestock safe from intruding wild animals.
- This romantic dining experience allows guests to dine on the Out of Africa kopje featured on the movie’s iconic poster.
Conservation and Community
Angama Mara is founded on the deeply embedded principle of running a profitable business to make a meaningful and sustainable difference to the communities that neighbour the lodge, and the wildlife and land surrounding it. Each guest at Angama Mara contributes a US$ 20 per night donation to the Angama Foundation, a separate entity set up to support projects that make a difference.
Guests contribute a small nightly donation to the Angama Foundation which has been set up as a separate non-profit entity. The Angama Foundation works closely with neighbouring schools and several conservation organisations including the Mara Conservancy, the Mara Elephant Project and the Anne K. Taylor Fund.
Additional Information
Everything about Angama Mara has been carefully calibrated: from the two camps where each of the 15 tents has a 10-metre / 33-foot wide glass front (perfect for watching the dawn hot-air balloons drift by) to the outstanding décor. But this unique coming together of location, views and design is completed by outstanding game viewing (the croc-filled Mara River, scene of much drama during the annual Wildebeest Migration, is a mere 20 minutes away) and a total commitment to social welfare through the Oloololo Wildlife Community Trust.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns.
Angama Mara prides itself on offering sublime service in exquisite surroundings.
Angama Mara has a private entrance to the 512 square kilometres (198 sq mi) Mara Triangle where all game drives take place. The Mara Triangle has abundant year-round wildlife, including the Big Five.
For those wanting to avoid the worst of the crowds, the Mara triangle laid out below Angama is the right place to be.
How to Get There
Reaching Angama Mara is simple and scenic, with multiple daily flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport directly into the Maasai Mara. Upon arrival, an Angama Mara guide will be ready to welcome you and escort you on a brief game drive to the lodge.
Alternatively, many travelers arrive via the Serengeti by crossing the Tanzania-Kenya border near the western edge of the Mara. This route includes a short flight to Tarime, a swift road transfer across the border to Kenya’s Migori airstrip, and a final quick flight into the heart of the Mara.
Lodge Information
Accommodation Details: Two distinct camps, each offering 15 luxurious tented suites
Maximum capacity: 30 guests per camp
Family-Friendly Features: Each camp includes two interconnected family suites
- Welcomes children of all ages year-round
- Childminding services available with female staff
Safety Measures: 24-hour security presence
- Lodge remains unfenced-guests must be accompanied after sunset
Arrival & Departure:
- Standard check-in at 12:00 PM
- Check-out by 10:00 AM, with a changeroom option for late departures
- Early check-in and late check-out available upon request and subject to availability
Amenities & Facilities:
- Swimming pool for relaxation
- 24V DC power supply
- Kosher-friendly kitchen facilities
- International 240V plug points available
Connectivity & Convenience:
- Mobile network coverage with various providers
- Widespread WiFi access across the camp
- Private and outdoor dining options
Payments & Services:
- Accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express
- In-tent massage treatments available
- Fully-equipped fitness room
Enrichment & Shopping:
- Each camp features a library with Africana book and DVD collections, plus a TV
- On-site safari shop for souvenirs and essentials
- Professional photographic equipment available for rent
Tented Suite Details
Bedding Options:
- Super king-size, extra-length bed
- Can be reconfigured into twin beds
Climate & Comfort:
- Equipped with fans
- No air conditioning
- No mosquito nets-sealed tents and high-altitude location make them unnecessary
Bathroom Features:
- Full bathtub
- Separate shower
- Twin vanities
- Private water closet
Convenience & Amenities:
- Complimentary personal bar
- In-room tea and coffee station
- Safe for valuables
- Mobile phone provided
- Emergency siren available
- Hairdryer included
Accessibility & Services:
- One tented suite is fully wheelchair-accessible
- Complimentary laundry service
- Binoculars provided for wildlife viewing
- Butler’s lobby for personalized service
Size & Layout:
- Tented suite spans 70 sqm (750 sq ft)
- Deck area measures 35 sqm (375 sq ft)
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