Hello All, first time poster to the Africa Forum. I will be going for month long mission trip and am squeezing a safari onto this trip as well in the Masai Mara. Anyone stayed at the Mara Safari Club? Comments/likes/dislikes? Thanks for the input.

I'm just back from Kenya a few days ago. Are you talking about the Fairmont Mara Safari Club? I stayed at the Royal Mara Safari Lodge also called by some The Royal Mara Safari Club. There's a bit of a confusion about the names being so similar. The Fairmont originally called it the Royal Mara Safari Club and so did the Royal Mara Safari Lodge. I can't report on the Fairmont property, but the Royal is fabulous. There are 8 chalets now and George just started working on his hippo pond. It's a natural swamp area that will be a hippo paradise along with the river of course. I saw mating hippos here. WOW!!!!

There is the Mara Safari Club and the Royal Mara Camp.

The Mara Safari Club, recently takenover by Fairmont Hotels was completely renovated last years and is lovely, gets great reviews. However, is larger than Royal Mara.

Royal Mara is a recent addition to the Mara, with lovely large and well appointed tents. Only 8/tents are river facing and hippos out there day/night. Great grounds, meals served on the river in good weather (even on your tent deck if you wish); indoors if inclement.

Neither camp is located directly inside the Reserve, the Royal Mara being closer, Safari Club farther north... both still on private group ranch lands so night game drives can be done, unlike if staying at a lodge/camp inside the reserve.

Price maybe a determining factor. Also, when do you plan to visit?

Has anyone stayed at both the Royal Mara and the Fairmont Mara? We are trying to decide between the two. We were leaning toward the Royal Mara because it is smaller, but a travel agent in Kenya is pushing us toward the Fairmont... Any thoughts? Thanks!

Royal Mara Camp.

The tents are wonderful and it's a small camp with great river views, lots of hippos, great food, open safari vehicles.

Unless there are major price differences, or the agent gets a better commission from the (Fairmont) Mara Safari Club... the Royal Mara gets my vote.

I strongly support sandi's opinion!

The Royal Mara is a completely different product/experience than the Fairmont Royal Mara Safari. The first is an intimate camp with very personal touches and the latter is more a "hotel" kind of venue.

My vote would also go to the Royal Mara. And if i recollect correctly it's closer to the crossing points but still outside the reserve. The latter will be only of importance when travelling between August and October/beg. Nov.

Commission might a reason for pushing it as well as number of nights/year commitment from the TA.

SV

Thanks so much for your help! You definitely helped confirm our original thoughts... of course, then yesterday we saw that the fairmont mara is #3 on the Travel and Leisure list of best hotels in the world... I still think we might like the Royal Mara better, but it does make the decision a little harder! (obviously, it is a good decision to have...)

traveller74 and others -

Regardless whether Travel & Leisure or Conde Nast or other magazine ratings, realize that most who comment/vote, have only been to few of the many hotels, camps, lodges anywhere in the world. Some responders to these lists have only passed a property, walked thru a lobby or wish they had stayed rather than where they are. That's not to take away from the Mara Safari Club, but as it's large, been around for years, used by many tour operators, not surprising it would get more votes.

Traveler 74,

Those award lists let you know the winning places are not a scam or on the lowest end of the spectrum, but I would not deviate from my plans based on T&L's list. We all have varying criteria anyway of what makes a place #1 or #5 or whatever.

Here's another thought. Are you going to Africa for a top hotel or for what is outside of the hotel/lodging?

obviously, more interested in what is outside the lodging... and definitely understand the benefits of the smaller, more intimate hotels... thanks again for your help.