What is mid-range accommodation?
Mid-range hotels/lodges are the perfect combination of value-for-money and comfort. Mid-range accommodation in Masai Mara National reserve often feature bigger rooms than budget hotels, with more amenities.
What is mid-range price?
Accommodation rating
“Mid-range” –This is your best option for comfortable, self-contained (‘en suite’) accommodation set in stunning locations that don’t cost a fortune or a lot.
Mid-range accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve
Keekoroko lodge
To begin with, Keekorok Lodge is the first property in the Masai Mara in southwest Kenya. Additionally, it is a Mid-range accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve. The lodge was opened in 1962 and is ideally situated in the direct path of the spectacular animal migration that occurs every year from July to October. Also, guests can experience unparalleled safari adventures, morning and evening game drives are a must for anyone visiting the reserve.
Location:
Located in the Masai Mara nature reserve, Keekorok Lodge offers traditional-style accommodation with a private patio. Additionally, the property has an outdoor pool with a terrace and views of nature.
Rooms
The spacious rooms have;
- a ceiling fan
- mosquito net
- hypoallergenic bedding
- a balcony with views of the garden
- the pool
The Lodge houses the Hippo Bar, which serves traditional dishes and overlooks the lake, and The Elephant Deck Restaurant, where you can enjoy a typical savannah dinner.
The property has a 24-hour reception and a children’s playground. Guests can go on safaris through the Keekorok nature reserve.
Activities
The property organizes a shuttle service to the Keekorok airfield upon request as well as full game drives, morning or evening game drives into the Maasai Mara Game National Reserve and Hot air balloon safari
Mara Ngenche Camp
“A simple tented camp at the meeting point of the Talek and Mara Rivers”
A Mid-range accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve Mara and comfortable tented camp located at the meeting of the Mara and the Talek rivers in the Masai Mara. As well as great resident game, from July to October, the Great Migration storm through the reserve, and because of the camps exceptional position on the river banks, it really is the best place to be based for a couple of days if a famous river crossing is on the bucket list!
Location
Mara Ngenche Tented Camp lies to the east bank of the Mara River, either side of the confluence with the Talek River. Before arriving at Mara Ngenche Camp, the bumpy track curves you through an indigenous riverine forest. For the ‘luxury and style’ the camp may be lack, its location on the banks of the rivers certainly makes up for that, especially as hippos and crocs are always seen… and heard!
Layout
The main area of the camp, which is set in the thicket, is split into three tents- a dining area, a lounge area and a bar. There is also an outdoor dining area that serves breakfasts and lunches, with views of the Mara River and sounds (loud sounds) of the hippos! The 10 tents in the camp have enough space from one another through the bush, where six tents overlook the Mara River and four tents overlook the Talek River.
Rooms
The tents are spacious tents with a private verandah, an inviting hammock and a plunge pool facing the river, although the river not directly from the tent. Overall, the décor may a little dated compared to some of the more modern camps in the Mara but the tents do give an authentic safari feel and are certainly comfortable enough, with huge wooden four-poster bed, solid wooden furniture and a large en-suite with a free standing bath and an open-air shower.
Activities
Generally, safaris in the Masai Mara tend to be longer than other national parks as guests like to really benefit from whole day game drives searching for different wildlife species or looking for the Great Migration or a famous Mara river crossing. As well as full game drives, morning or evening game drives into the Masaai Mara Game National Reserve are also offered, finished with sundowners in a beautiful setting.
Richard’s Forest Camp
“A cozy tented camp in a secluded area of the Ol Choro Conservancy”
Richard’s Forest Camp is set in the Ol Choro Conservancy in the Masai Mara, Richard’s Forest Camp is the original of the Richard’s camps, offering an intimate safari experience off the beaten track, with great game and resident big cats lurking close by! Like its sister property, Richard’s River Camp, the camp has a warm history behind it, with Richard and his family brought up in the Masai Mara, as well as playing an integral part of conservation projects in Kenya today.
Location
Richard’s Forest Camp is the original of the Richard’s Camps, located in the Ol Choro conservancy with 8 large traditional tents. The camp sits in a shady forest, offering guests plenty of shade and privacy… although it won’t be full privacy as the forest homes resident leopard, big cats, giraffe and other regular wildlife that come to visit the camp!
Layout
Richard’s Forest Camp has 8 tents tucked away along the forest, each looking out onto the Mara plains. The location and space in the camp allows for a range of places to relax and dine, including the cozy lounge with a roaring log fire, a beautiful indoor dining area and plenty of space for alfresco dining under the Kenyan skies.
Rooms
As the original Richard’s camp, the Forest Camp is beautifully authentic, furnished in a true African style featuring modern amenities. The canvassed tents are all a standard size, and have either twin or double beds, with extra beds available to put in for families. The bathrooms are spacious and include running hot water and flush toilets. In contrast, the showers are traditional bucket showers, giving it that often desired authentic ‘safari’ feel.
Activities
The camp offers a range of activities, from bush walks, day and night game drives, bush breakfasts, lunches and sundowners, cultural visits to a local Masai village and visits to a rhino sanctuary. As additional activities, day trips to Lake Victoria and hot air balloon flights over the plains of the Masai Mara are available for that something special! Richard’s Camp has recently become involved in the Mara Elephant Project.
Richard’s River Camp
Stunning camp set in a northern conservancy with plentiful game
Richard’s river Camp is located in the northern conservancy of the Masai Mara, Richard’s River Camp was set up in 2013, offering an intimate safari experience off the beaten track, with great game and resident big cats lurking close by! Like its sister property, Richard’s Forest Camp, the camp has a warm history behind it, with Richard and his family brought up in the Masai Mara, as well as playing an integral part of conservation projects in Kenya today.
Location
Richard’s River Camp is located on the open banks of the Njageteck River in the Mara North Conservancy. Because of its permanent water supply, it is the Ngoyanai springs that draw in the exceptional wealth of animals to and around the camp. The camp is quite secluded, offering an ‘Out of Africa’ experience without the plentiful safari vehicles that are seen inside areas of the Mara.
Layout
Richard’s River Camp has six tents and one family tent, sat either side of the mess tent on a wide and grassy environment, offering open yet intimate feel to guests. Each tent has a view onto the river and springs where you can see animals regularly, occasionally spotting the big cats and hearing the resident lion roar!
Rooms
As the newest of the Richard’s Camps, the River Camp is slightly more modern and contemporary. Richard’s partner, Liz, has freshly designed the tents, with light and delicate fabrics collected from her travels, which drape from the top, turning the simple canvassed tent into an elegant room. Each bathroom is large and well appointed, with hot and cold running water, flush toilets and modern showers.
Activities
The camp offers a range of activities, from bush walks, day and night game drives, bush breakfasts, lunches and sundowners, cultural visits to a local Masai village and visits to a rhino sanctuary. As additional activities, day trips to Lake Victoria and hot air balloon flights over the plains of the Masai Mara can be booked for that something special! Richard’s Camp has recently become involved in the Mara Elephant Project, which guests will soon be able to visit and see the great work behind.
Saruni Mara
A stunning lodge with some of the best views over the plains of the Mara
Similar to its sister properties across Kenya, Saruni Mara is all about its exquisite views over the Mara plains! Sitting on top of a huge hilltop in the bushy thicket, watching the sunset each night around a warm campfire or your stunning private verandah, could not be more beautiful. Saruni Mara offers a peaceful haven in the Mara, as the conservancy ensures guests of a truly exclusive safari experience with a low vehicle density.
Location
Bordering Kenya’s famous Masai Mara National Reserve, the lodge is away in the forest-like landscape in the Mara North conservancy. This area contrasts against the overrun and busier areas of the Mara. At Saruni Mara, guests will feel like they have the whole Mara to themselves. In this conservancy, there is game to be seen but because of the nature of the bushy environment, it be more difficult to spot than in vast plains of the Masai Mara Reserve.
Layout
Saruni Mara has six large, en-suite cottages and one family cottage, all spread along a stoned pathway with private, dramatic view across the Mara plains. Saruni Mara also has Nyati House- a private wilderness cottage located five minutes from the main lodge. Nyati House has a secluded valley view, offering exclusivity and privacy, with a private safari vehicle, guide and personal service.
Rooms
The six cottages are in keeping with their individual names. These are the Observatory, the Love Shack, the Photographer’s studio, the Artist’s studio, the Library, the Honeymoon suite and the family villa (which is also named the Natural History Suite). In Nyati House, the style is more traditional, with solid wooden features in the lounge, bedrooms and bathrooms. The main lounge and dining area of the house is open to the wilderness offering a relationship with nature. But don’t worry, there are plenty of Masai warriors to keep you safe!
Activities
The camp takes full advantage of its location in the Greater Mara Conservancies, offering game walks on the mountains and hills that surround the lodge. It also offers game drives which are usually done in the Mara North Conservancy. Although game drives can be done inside the Reserve, they tend not to be, as it is quite a distance from the lodge. Overall, Saruni Mara aims to give guests a real cultural experience, with local Masai people showcasing their culture, history, and tradition in the evenings. There is also a spa to relax and wind down from the exciting day!
Saruni Wild Camp
“One of the smallest camps in one of the best locations”
Saruni Wild Camp has refreshingly stripped back the lavish furnishings and décor, creating a camp focused purely on the safari experience… which is what Africa is all about! Sat in the heart of the Lemek Conservancy, tucked away in the thicket, the camp really does give its name credit, offering a truly exclusive and authentic experience in the wilderness.
Location
Saruni Wild is located in the Lemek Conservancy- a wild and scenic area with a huge wealth of wildlife. The conservancy boasts about its resident pride of lion (the Lemek pride), who never fail to impress guests. Aside from the big cats, the open plains of the Lemek conservancy are passages for the Great Migration passing into the Masai Mara Reserve.
Layout
With only three tents, Saruni Wilderness is the completely private and peaceful. The tents are set along from the main mess tent, with a good distance between them. The main mess area has simple furnish comfortable, with a dining area and a small cozy lounge with traditional designs and colors. The camp really emphasizes outdoor dining, cozy campfires and exclusive sundowners overlooking the bright African sunsets.
Rooms
All of the tents (two standard tents and one and one family unit) have spectacular views overlooking the open plains of the Masai Mara. The canvassed tents are a standard size, with large wooden beds and basic furniture. To emphasize the wilderness experience, the tents have gone back to basic with hot bucket showers. There is also no electricity (although charging points in the mess tent are provided) and dim lighting.
Activities
The camp takes full advantage of its location, as game drives are done in renowned and teeming conservation areas. These include Mara North Conservancy, Lemek Conservancy and surrounding conservancies. The game in these conservancies is plentiful. But, if guests stay for 3 or more nights, their stay includes a drive into the Masai Mara National Reserve. Other activities include night drives, bush meals, sundowners and hiking.
Offbeat Mara Camp
“An authentic safari camp in the Mara North Conservancy”
Offbeat Marais an intimate tented camp located in the Mara North Conservancy in an area of fantastic resident game including the Offbeat lion pride. The conservancy is much more exclusive than the reserve as only the camps inside the conservancy are in to game drive. Over 90 percent of the staffs are local Masai who helped build the camp in 2005, which gives a cozy and family-feel atmosphere.
Location
A Mid-range accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve that sits in the Mara North Conservancy of the greater Masai Mara. The wildlife in the Mara North Conservancy is blooming, with plenty of resident lion prides. This includes the Offbeat Pride located near the camp, good elephant numbers and much more. Additionally, the conservancy is only available to those camps that are inside, meaning it is quieter and more exclusive.
Layout
The main tent comprises of a safari bar, a dining area, a cozy lounge area for an evening drink, a fireplace and a forest deck. Offbeat Mara is conscious that it operates in a fragile ecosystem. Therefore, it is not a permanent structure and instead, purely canvas, with some local rock and soil to level the base for the tents.
Rooms
Offbeat Mara Camp is a small camp that offers a rustic safari experience, perfect for those looking for comfort and adventure. The camp is made of only seven tents – five double or twin tents and then two-family tents. The en suites are well-appointed and the showers are traditional bucket showers.
Activities
There is a wealth of activities at Offbeat Mara Camp. Day and evening game drives (until around 10pm) are in open-sided safari vehicles with a driver/guide from the camp. You can also do guided bush walks, cultural visits (to a village, a market and a local school during term time), hot air balloon safaris and of course, the safari essentials sundowners and bush meals.
Naboisho Camp
“Sheer exclusivity in a game-abundant conservancy”
A Mid-range accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve sat in a peaceful and game-abundant conservancy bordering the Masai Mara Reserve, Naboisho Camp offers an intimate and authentic safari experience. The conservancy benefits by its location, offering a wider range of activities such as horse riding, bush walks, off-road safaris and night drives. The camp is a great choice for those looking for a good quality game viewing in an untouched and pristine wilderness.
Location
The camp is sat in the private Naboisho conservancy bordering the Masai Mara Reserve. The 200km2 conservancy boasts the wildlife it homes, and so it should! With over 100 lions living in the vicinity, the conservancy has one of the highest lion densities in the world. Also living among the plains is abundance of elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and over 250 species of species.
Layout
Naboisho Camp offers an authentic and intimate safari camp experience. It has nine comfortable guest tents in the heart of the bush. A thatched lounge and dining area provides a cozy communal area for guests to enjoy the homely service, with the sights and sounds of the Kenyan wilderness. The tents are spread along the thicket, with private butlers and Masai staff on site to guide guests around the camp.
Rooms
The camp has nine tented suites spread along the thicket. The tents each have king-sized beds and en-suite bathrooms, with indoor and outdoor showers and flushing toilets. Each tent also benefits by having their own personal butler and a private veranda with a comfortable day bed. This is perfect to enjoy the pristine wilderness after an exciting day of game activities.
Activities
The Mara Naboisho Conservancy homes an abundance of wildlife. As a result, the game viewing activities are within the conservancy. The conservancy does not follow the same rules as the national reserves. Therefore, flexibility allows a variety of game viewing activities. These include;
- bush walks
- off-road safaris
- night drives
- fly camping
- wilderness bush picnics
- cultural
- community visits
- hot air balloon safaris.
The camp is very inviting to families. Additionally, it offers a children’s safari program. During this program, they learn bush skills, play traditional games and make local handicrafts.
Mara Expeditions Camp
“A small camp filled with plenty of elegance and luxury”
A Mid-range accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve sitting on a bend in the Ntiakitak River, this is a sweet and intimate tented camp. Additionally, this is where safari meets comfort. Although less lavish than its sister property Mara Plains, Mara Expeditions has a comfortable ‘safari feel’ to it. Open seasonally between June and October, the camp maximizes the safari experience. This is because it is in the prime location to see the great migration up close.
Location
The camp is set in the northern plains of the Masai Mara National Reserve, bordering the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. As the camp sits on the bend of the Ntiakitak River, the bushy environment provides plenty of shade and privacy… a beautiful combination with the peace and serenity of this area of the Mara.
Layout
The mess tent has a cozy lounge area with a wide verandah and comfortable hammocks overlooking the river. The dining area is next to the lounge, also with a view and an open-air and communal feel. The camp has five en-suite tents. Additionally, they are all well spread in the bush either side of the mess for peace and privacy.
Rooms
The tents are very comfortable and spacious, each with their own en-suite and wide verandah overlooking the river. Each tent has 24-hour electricity, charging plugs, running water and a memorable bucket shower experience.
Activities
From the camp, you can go for;
- game drives
- visits to authentic local villages
- local schools
- Great Plains community projects
- surrounding conservancies
Similarly to its sister property, the camp is great for photography lovers. Also, professional Canon camera and lenses are available to use during their stay. Additionally, you can get the photos on departure for memories.
Little Governors’ Camp
“An excellent camp located right in the heart of the game”
To begin with, Little Governors’ Camp is a smaller and more intimate camp than its neighbor, Governors’ Main Camp. Similarly, the camp is all about its location! It sits in the heart of the Masai Mara Triangle, an area shared by just one other camp!
Interestingly, it is a base for well-known film and documentary productions, such as the Big Cat Diaries. Also, Little the Camp is truly one of the best places for game viewing. Also, it offers a little more intimacy than other larger camps.
Location
In a more remote area of the Masai Mara Reserve, Little Governors’ Camp is located in the Mara Triangle. This area is an ever-changing landscape, bordered by the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment, the Mara River and the Tanzania border of the Serengeti National Park. The endless grasslands, the bushy thickets, the riches of the river and the fertility it promises, offer a thriving home for the huge number of wildlife. This is in the months of July to October, when the Great Migration herds pass through these plains.
Layout
Little Governors’ Camp has 17 en-suite canvased tents, all tucked into the edge of the forest, overlooking a natural waterhole. At night, they light the camp with lanterns and candles only, creating a soft and simple safari atmosphere. The bar tent is often the place to gather after a long and exhilarating day. Additionally, there is a roaring log fire and the dining tent for dinner. They serve breakfast in the open air, embracing the warm Kenyan sun.
Rooms
The tents are spacious, with a comfortable en-suite bathroom attached through the canvas tent. Also, the furnishings are basic, homing a minimalistic and subtle African design. Outside of the tents, there is a polished wooden-decked verandah which guests can use and enjoy the underrated ‘armchair safari’. Additionally, watch the every day life of the Masai Mara over the game-filled plains.
Activities
The Governors’ Camps combine the best locations, vehicles and guides to give the best game viewing experience in the world’s prime wildlife area. As an additional activity, the Governors Camps also offer their very own hot air balloon rides. It takes off from the plains behind the camp. Taking off just before the sunrise, the balloon carefully hugs the meandering banks of the Mara River, with exceptional views over the Mara plains, the escarpment and the Serengeti in Tanzania.
