79 Best Hotels in Kenya

Perched high on a hill deep inside the Mara Triangle part of the reserve, attractive domed huts echo the style and shape of the traditional Maasai manyattas. Each hut has rooms that echo the ethnic theme of the exteriors with soft, honey-color furnishings and a personal balcony that overlooks the plains and the distant Oloololo Escarpment—the views are spectacular. Though it's highly unlikely, if you do get tired of gazing out at the endless rolling grasslands where the migration takes place each year, then keep watch at the busy waterhole below the restaurant for a continuous wildlife show. Activities include ballooning (expensive but the trip of a lifetime), guided walks, bush barbecues, and game drives. After bouncing around in an open-sided game vehicle, it's great to enjoy a relaxing massage at the Maisha Spa. The Maasai dancing is also spectacular.

If you want to turn back the clock and immerse yourself in the kind of safari ambience that Ernest Hemingway enjoyed, this is the place to do it. From the superb and gracious service to the touches of antique luxury—claw-foot tubs, faded antique rugs, wrought-iron candlesticks, old gramophones, polished butlers' trays—the Cottar family's 80 years of experience certainly shows. Sit outside your own spacious, authentic white tent on a wooden rocking chair and watch the hills and valleys below, or relax in the deep red armchairs of the main tented lounge and admire the old photos and prints. At night as you sip a brandy snifter under the soft glow of oil lamps by a log fire, you'll forget all about the 21st century. The tents, with separate lounge and bedroom areas and floor-level canvas decks, are in a huge, 250,000-acre exclusive concession between the Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Loliondo reserves. Because it's a private concession, you won't see the masses of other tourists that you can hardly help bumping into elsewhere in the Masai Mara itself. Because they operate just outside the reserve, Cottar's game vehicles are also allowed off-road, which means more freedom to follow game. The legendary fourth-generation Kenyan Calvin Cottar could be your guide (at extra cost), but his experienced colleagues won't let you down either. Enjoy a quiet moment in the tented reading room, or rest in a hammock by the natural rock pool. The owners pay the local Maasai community for land use and have helped finance the local school and nearby clinics so that the camp and its activities are seen as a part of the surrounding land and its people.

The rooms in this spectacular hotel are in three villas, and as each has a sitting room with white couches, antique Swahili furniture, and African paintings and sculptures, you'll feel as though you're staying in an ultra-stylish private beach house. Two of the villas have swimming pools in front, and all look out onto the beach. Rooms are large with spacious en suite bathrooms, and the Royal Suite has magnificent views and antiques. The whole property suggests a designer with a gifted eye for detail. The food is excellent, with a focus on seafood, and because the owner is Italian, there's always a pasta course. Nonguests can book for lunch or dinner, and it's worth making the short trip here from Shela just to immerse yourself in the surroundings.

Translating to "suspended in mid-air", Angama has one of the best views in the Mara as it sits at the very top of an escarpment, with dramatic views over the valley below. Divided into a north and south wing, the property feels intimate with just 15 suites on each side. The main area is urban and contemporary, with large glass doors drawing the outdoors in, and a sunken fire pit with red cushions where you can hang out in the evenings and feel as though you're floating over the Mara. Rooms have indoor bathtubs and large wooden verandas from which you can spot giraffes and elephants trekking up and down the small hills beyond. You're never short of activities as there is a photography studio where you can rent equipment, get lessons in wildlife photography, or hire a photographer to shadow you for the day. There's a map room with more than 60 maps, and a beading room where Maasai women from the local community can teach you how to handmake the colorful jewelry which is significant to their culture. This is one of the most family-friendly properties around, too, with activities such as spear throwing with Maasai warriors and making ice cream with the chefs. Sundowners, complete with Maasai men and women chanting and dancing around a bonfire on the edge of a cliff with the most dramatic of views are unmissable. Even the drive up here is very scenic, past a hippo pool where you might spot them basking in the mid-day sun, up the escarpment through a thick green forest with a reservoir and plenty of game.

The traditional Borana cattle ranch—a part of Kenyan highland history—was given a whole new lease on life in 2013, when 21 highly endangered black rhinos were translocated here from Lake Nakuru National Park and from the neighboring Lewa Conservancy; they're easily viewable as you drive around. The luxuriously spacious and well-appointed cottages, designed into the hillside, have private verandas that offer views of large numbers of resident game that come to drink at the waterhole in front of the lodge in a landscape that has attracted countless artists and photographers. Visitors are given an added opportunity to sample ranch life with some of Africa's most spectacular horseback safaris and the stables have more than 50 horses—riding allows you to appreciate the scenery in silence and get close to plains game such as giraffe, zebra, and eland. You can also go rhino tracking on foot, mountain biking, and fishing or simply relax by the infinity pool and enjoy the views. Sundowners at Pride Rock, the inspiration for the Lion King movies, come with incredible sunsets and spectacular views. The food at Borana is enhanced by fresh seasonal vegetables and salads from their garden and most of the meat and dairy produce comes from the ranch. The rates are inclusive of full-board accommodation, some drinks, activities and a 24% mandatory contribution to conservation per person, but exclude conservation fees (US$105). You can also consider other accommodations such as the upscale Lengishu House, on the same conservancy.

One of Kenya's most environmentally friendly camps, this lovely spot in the Kuku Group Ranch—the natural corridor between Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks—is owned by an Italian couple who are deeply committed to the environment and the local Maasai community. The camp's name means "Camp of the Hidden Treasure" in Swahili, and was the first camp in Kenya to be gold-rated by Ecotourism Kenya for its efforts in sustainable tourism, and has won other prestigious international ecotourism awards. It's also co-owned by the Maasai, and the ranch itself stretches 1,115 square km (400 square miles) from the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro and up into the Chyulu Hills in the east. Activities include game drives (where the game is really wild and not used to vehicles), guided walks including the trek into the cloud forest along the peaks of the Chyulu Hills, bird-watching, and cultural visits. Take your kids to the Maasai school and open their eyes to a completely different way of life. The main lounge and dining areas are in Tembo (Elephant) House, which has superb views of Kilimanjaro and the Taita Hills. All the thatched roof tented cottages have great views, as well as wooden floors, a veranda, and an en suite bathroom with flush toilet, and hot and cold running water. The Hemingway and Simba tented suites also boast king-size beds and a dressing room, while Kanzi House is a thatched villa that sleeps up to eight and has a swimming pool. Note that there is an additional US$120 per-person, per-day conservation fee, which entirely benefits the local Maasai community.

The best place to stay in Meru, this stylish and romantic lodge is set above George Adamson's original campsite, where he and his wife, author Joy Adamson, released their lioness Elsa (after which the lodge is named) back into the wild. It's a strikingly attractive lodge both for its elevated position and for its imaginatively designed thatch cottages. Since rooms are constructed on the slopes of a hill and most stand on stilts, no two cottages are the same. There are boulders for walls, the tents have expansive views of the park, trees grow through the roof, and spacious interiors are furnished with handcrafted furniture, hand-woven rugs, and earth-toned cushions, throws, and bedspreads. All the cottages have complete privacy, but if you would like your family to stay together and have your own private infinity swimming pool, go for Elsa's Private House, which sleeps four (extra beds can be added for kids) and has a small garden. Watch the plains game ambling through the grasslands from your veranda or view predators or rhinos in open-sided game vehicles before sundowners at the palm-fringed hippo pools. Meals here are excellent, and there's a relaxed thatched bar and lounge area with low-slung wood-and-cushion chairs and sofas overlooking the main swimming pool that is cleverly carved into the rocks.

At the turn of the 20th century, Denys Finch Hatton---if you saw the movie Out of Africa, then you'll have some idea, even if it's rather over-romanticized, of who he was---left his native England and fell in love with Kenya, cultivating a reputation for leading classy, exclusive safaris for American tycoons and British royalty, among others; his legend lives on in this superb, award-winning camp that's now part of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition. This camp is expensive, but it's the most luxurious place to stay in Tsavo West and it's worth it; your every whim is catered to, and dinner is served at a table sparkling with silver and crystal as strains of Mozart (Denys's favorite composer) softly fill the African night. The camp is in groves of old acacia trees around a natural spring that is home to hippos, crocodiles, and numerous species of birds near the Kenya/Tanzania border. The tents are luxuriously furnished with antique furniture, wooden chests, and even a daybed on your personal veranda; all tents have outside showers, freestanding copper bathtubs, and viewing deck facing the hippo pools. The spa features a hammam, gym, yoga studio, and two infinity swimming pools. 

Overlooking the Talek River, this luxury lodge is as stunning as it gets with plenty of communal areas to lounge in and contemporary guest rooms that have private wooden decks, each with a Jacuzzi. The on-site Sarabi Restaurant offers delicious dinners that can be served indoors or under the African skies and guests gather around the fire pit in the evenings on the large outdoor viewing deck, drink or cigar in hand, to trade stories from the day. Meals are largely farm-to-table, with fresh seasonal produce and herbs harvested from the on-site organic garden. The great service adds to the charm of this lodge.  

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is another one of Laikipia's conservation successes—there's an excellent chance of spotting both black and white rhino, the Grevy's zebra, the more elegant cousin of the regular plains zebra, and the rare aquatic sitatunga antelope. The Craig family emigrated from England in 1924 and still lives on the same 65,000-acre property, but instead of raising cattle, with the cooperation of the local communities, they have returned the area to a wildlife haven. Try game-spotting from a different angle—on top of a camel or from the back of a horse, on your own two feet, or ride in the family's incredible retro-style biplane. The 10 cottages are attractively furnished with a big wooden bed, hand-carved chests, and comfy chairs, and some have bathtubs as well as a lounge area with fireplace. If you need to cool off, take a dip in the lovely pool or work out in the gym or tennis court. The food is wholesome and hearty with lots of organically grown herbs, vegetables, and fruit, and meals are taken around a vast communal table.

One of the finest boutique resorts in Kenya, Maji means "water" in Swahili and the first thing you'll notice on arrival is the "lazy river" swimming pool that winds in a semicircle across the main building, wrapping itself through palm trees and lounge areas, all in view of the beach. Once you’re done fantasizing about jumping in the pool, you’ll notice the art—every nook and cranny has stunning original work from both traditional and contemporary African artists and the entire hotel is one big gallery. Each of the 15 rooms has sky-high ceilings and is uniquely designed with hand-carved furniture and local textiles. The Maji Moto Bar and the Kahawa Tamu Coffee Lounge provide ideal spots for relaxing or simply bag a giant luxury daybed overlooking the beach. Dinner is a delight and tables are set up in romantic spots all around the house and pool and menus feature beautifully presented Swahili, Indian, and Mediterranean specialities with an accent on fish and seafood.

Quite possibly the best camp in all of the Mara area, Naboisho Camp is in the 210-sq-km (82-square-mile) Mara Naboisho Conservancy, which has exclusive use for only those guests staying at the handful of lodges there—there are no hordes of safari vehicles here. According to the camp's manager, the density of wildlife increases every year. While you take your breakfast under the shade of an acacia tree, you're likely to see herds of antelope grazing the plains, a handful of giraffes nibbling at the trees, and numerous zebras mingling between wildebeest, impala, and buffalo. Along with all the big game, the Mara Nabiosho Conservancy has also become home to a large pride of lions, as well as the rare wild dog. Naboisho Camp is exceptionally well designed, and each of the nine spacious tents are set well apart from one another, giving you that beautiful sense of having the bush entirely to yourself. Tents are tastefully decorated and all have en suite bathrooms and outdoor double rainfall showers. The comfortable thatched dining and lounge areas extend out onto a wooden deck, where you can while away your time in comfortable couches, G&T in hand, viewing game at the nearby waterhole. Many activities, including game walks and drives, are included in the price, while extras include horse-riding and the Mara balloon flight. Children over five are welcome and there's a kids' safari program with the entertaining Maasai guides, which might be identifying animal tracks or visiting a local school.

Located on the Maasai-owned Mbirikani Group Ranch on the southwestern flank of the volcanic Chyulu Hills, this stylishly romantic and superluxurious lodge is considered one of the best in southern Kenya. It is dramatically perched on a hillside, so every suite has great views of the plains, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and several waterholes. No two of the ten large suites in six stand-alone villas are the same. They all have rooftop "star beds," which are accessed from the veranda by a winding stone staircase, which allow you the option of sleeping under the stars but with all the comforts of your suite just below. All but two of the suites have private pools, too. Some villas have four beds each and private sitting rooms and are ideal for families or small groups of friends. Excellent food and friendly, attentive service are the norm. Meals are taken in the centrally positioned dining room with a big open fireplace for those chilly nights, or in the wine cellar, or on the terrace next to the pool or even in a private lantern-lit boma. A wealth of activities are available at Ol Donyo and included in the rates—bush walks, game drives, mountain-biking and day trips to Amboseli National Park, but the standout activity is horse-riding and the stables are home to more than 20 horses suitable for all abilities.

Known for its beachfront location in Shela, lovely accommodations, and superb food, there's an atmosphere of total laid-back charm at Peponi. Anything goes here, but don't be fooled, the hotel is impeccably run by the matriarch Carol Korschen whose family opened the property in 1967. You'll sleep in a sea-facing room with polished honey-color mud floors, whitewashed ceilings with beams of old black wood, a massive four-poster bed, and kelim rugs. On your sea-facing veranda, get comfortable on lie-out chairs and watch the boats bobbing out to sea. The food is legendary, and the restaurant is one of the most popular in Lamu—try the giant prawns in butter sauce or a traditional Swahili-style meal around a big brass platter on the floor.

Rekero is beautifully situated deep within the Masai Mara National Reserve and is tucked away in a grove of trees on a river bank near the confluence of the Talek and Mara rivers. You'll sleep in one of only nine tents (which include two family tents), each hidden from the other and all with great views of the plains and the river. There's an ancient wildebeest crossing practically on your doorstep, so you won't have to bounce around for hours in an open-sided game vehicle to find the action. Tents are bright and comfortably furnished with double beds, handwoven rugs, and en suite bathrooms. As the camp is unfenced, expect all kinds of game to wander past your tent, but you'll be safe within your canvas walls, and a Maasai warrior will escort you to and from the main areas. Rekero has been going now for more than 30 years, and many of the enthusiastic and knowledgeable team have been there for substantial time and offer excellent service. Perhaps the best spot to catch the sunset is from a swing chair strung up on a tall tree right on the banks of the river, or a few feet away in the large raised wooden deck where meals are served. Ol Kiombo Airstrip is some 20 minutes away from camp.

It's not just where Sasaab is located but how it's situated that makes it a wonderful place to stay in the Samburu region. In Westgate Community Conservancy, west of Samburu National Reserve, this wonderful camp spreads across a hillside high above the Ewaso Nyiro River; there are spectacular views from every vantage. You can go on a morning bird walk, take an afternoon hike over kopjes (small hills) to a spectacular sundowner, or ride a camel through a dry riverbed. There's also the opportunity to go walking and fly-camping in the further reaches of the conservancy. Sasaab balances opulence, characterized by oversize tents and fine Moroccan architecture, with environmental consciousness, exhibited by solar-powered electricity and community outreach. They actively support local villages and collaborate with Ewaso Lions, a lion conservation-study program. Every tent is a palatial, split-level affair with four-poster beds, personal plunge pools, and grand sitting rooms that quite possibly have the longest couches you've ever seen.

It's not just where Sasaab is located but how it's situated that makes it a wonderful place to stay in Samburu. Because it's in a conservancy rather than a game reserve, you can explore the surroundings without a vehicle; and because it spreads across a hillside high above the Ewaso Nyiro river, there are spectacular views from every vantage. You can go on a morning bird walk, take an afternoon hike over kopjes (hills) to a spectacular sundowner, or ride a camel through a dry riverbed. There's also the opportunity to go walking and fly-camping in the further reaches of the conservancy. Sasaab balances opulence, characterized by oversize rooms and fine Moroccan architecture, with environmental consciousness, exhibited by solar-powered electricity and community outreach. They actively support local villages and collaborate with Ewaso Lions, a lion conservation-study program. Every room is a palatial, split-level affair with four-poster beds, personal plunge pools, and grand sitting rooms that quite possibly have the longest couches you've ever seen.

Built of stone and thatch, these luxurious double-story villas are elegantly furnished; you can choose between the Garden Villa, the Cliff Villa, or the Beach Villa (book months in advance for the latter), each with its own unique architecture and interiors. Expect handmade furniture—made on the property—and comfortable beds, chairs, and sofas that complement the family's global collection of fascinating artifacts. The villas have either three or four en suite bedrooms with extra rooms for the kids, wide balconies and verandas, and a geometric-shaped pool that borders the Indian Ocean. The service is superb and so is the à la carte Mediterranean cuisine, served either alfresco or in your villa. Go for a safari, enjoy all the beach and water activities, or leave the kids with a nanny and be alone for a while.

Situated beside a natural flowing spring with spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, this lodge's ocher-color guest rooms line paved walkways that weave through landscaped gardens. The food, cooked with locally grown herbs and vegetables, is excellent, particularly the house-made pasta. Because the lodge is near the Enkongo Narok Swamp, there's always plenty of game around, and it's common to spot elephants from your breakfast table. Take a game drive, go walking with a Maasai guide, enjoy a bush breakfast, have sunset drinks on top of Observation Hill, or relax at the swimming pool and sundeck. The rooms are small and fairly basic, but they have touches of Maasai-inspired decor, walk-in showers, and verandas. Always remember to keep your doors and windows closed to keep out marauding vervet monkeys, which look cute but can make off with your belongings. There is one suite, which has its own private garden and rooftop balcony, and which has direct views to Kilimanjaro. What the lodge lacks in luxury is more than made up for by the friendly and helpful staff, and it's family-friendly.

When Ernest Hemingway wrote The Snows of Kilimanjaro, he stayed near the area on which this attractive lodge was eventually built. It's in lush established gardens in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro near the Tanzanian border. You'll stay in a roomy mud-and-thatch en suite hut, gaily decorated with wood, animal motifs, and brightly colored soft furnishings. Enjoy a hearty breakfast and lunch buffet inside in the big African-theme dining room, or eat out beside the pool, where there's also a pleasant poolside bar. In the evening sit down to a four-course meal where you can choose between European, African, or Asian dishes. There is a stunning lounge area and great viewing deck. It's also a great place for kids—there's plenty of room for them to run around, a lovely pool, and babysitters are always available if you want to be child-free for an evening. The lodge offers lots of activities including game drives, guided walks, and trips to Maasai villages. If you want to have a go at climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the lodge can arrange that, too.

This large mid-range safari lodge may not have the intimacy of a small tented camp, but its location is superb as it overlooks the Aruba Dam—one of the best places to see wildlife in the whole of Tsavo East. There's almost a constant parade of red elephants crossing the plains, so-called for the way they collect the red clay dust of the park, and they often stop to drink, bathe, and splash around in the dam. There are several other waterholes nearby, too, and spotting animals is easy because the lodge lies on the flat savanna grassland. The sprawling public areas feature wooden decks and red-tiled roofs, while the majority of rooms are in stone cottages that have verandas and small but adequate bathrooms—those wanting more of a bush experience can opt for one of the six more upscale tents. All meals are buffet-style, the food is varied, tasty, and plentiful, and the restaurant has outside tables shaded by canvas umbrellas with tremendous views over the dam. Apart from game drives, specialist bird walks and visits to Lugard Falls to see crocodiles and hippos can be arranged.

If you're among the many who saw Out of Africa and began fantasizing about your own African experience, then you'll be happy to know that this totally private and very romantic world-class camp is just below the famous hill from the unforgettable final scene. The spacious tents have polished wooden floors and a wooden deck with steps leading down to the bush and encircling trees below. A massive four-poster bed dominates the tent's interior—a handy, long, padded stool, great for sitting on while putting on and taking off your boots after a game drive, sits at the foot of the bed. Walk to the back where, surrounded by glass from the walls to the ceiling, is an oval copper bathtub which overlooks a small garden but retains privacy. The public areas—also made of wood and canvas—are decorated with old leather armchairs, antique Persian rugs, framed maps, and a gin bar where you can wander in as you please and fix yourself a drink. Some three or so warthogs, which never seem to leave the premises, will be only a few feet away as you tuck into lunch under the shade of towering trees. The game-viewing will keep you busy by day and night, but do try to include a picnic on the edge of the scenic Oloololo Escarpment—it will induce dreams of those who once hunted and gathered here millennia ago. The gym, pool, and shop overlook the bush, and you might spot a dazzle of zebras while running on the treadmill. 

Perched on the edge of a riverine forest below the Oloololo Escarpment, Kichwa Tembo (head of the elephant in Kiswahili) lies directly in the path of the migration making it one of Kenya's most sought-after camps. The en suite tents are spacious and have seemingly never-ending views of the plains from the verandas. You'll be surrounded by the unforgettable sounds of the African night as you drift off to sleep. During the day you can take a dip in the pool between activities or just relax on your veranda while you fill out your bird and mammal lists. Don't forget to keep an eye out for passing animals: there'll be predators galore, as well as blue- and red-tailed monkeys, the mischievous banded mongoose, and a curious warthog may come up to your tent doorway. The candlelit dinner on the banks of the Sabaringo River is a must-do for anyone. The staff here is attentive and charming.

This family-run property has four villas, each with a private en suite bedroom; the villas can be rented individually or as a group. Decor is sourced locally but also draws inspiration from the owner's travels around the world. There is a communal dining area and bar, as well as various nooks and crannies with an adjacent pool overlooking the garden and sea. There's also an iconic pink-colored three-story tower that has a rooftop terrace perfect for sundowners or even sleeping under the stars. The menu is seasonal and features a lot of Kenyan coastal dishes such as Swahili fish curries with plenty of vegetarian options, but can be tailored to your preferences. The main draw is the ambiance, as well as that pristine stretch of beach perfect for frolicking.

About a half-hour drive from the town of Naivasha, Crater Lake Tented Camp is situated in the cauldron of a crater in the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, on the edge of a lovely salt-water lake, which itself lies just off the southwestern shore of Lake Naivasha. The views here are exquisite: pale fever trees flank the water and attract more than 200 species of birds as well as black-and-white colobus monkeys. The tented rooms all look across the lake, and the brick-built bandas are set back a little. The decor is underwhelming, but the views more than make up for it, especially from the restaurant deck that sits right over the deep green water. There's also the option to camp here and you can hire tents and all other equipment. Definitely make time for the interesting two-hour guided walk through the sanctuary and a night drive when you might see hippos, hyenas, and bush babies.

This quality five-star resort is the perfect place for a honeymoon or some après-safari pampering. Service is excellent, with welcome little touches, such as a cocktail brought to your room before dinner and a bottle of cold water placed next to your bed at night. Stylish suites, with Indonesian teak furniture, flat-screen TVs, large bathrooms, and private patios, are lined along a breezy coral-colored central walkway. Superb five-course dinners are served in the restaurant overlooking the pool and beach. The buffets, with all conceivable seafood delicacy on display, are outstanding, and on Fridays there are gala dinners around the pool with live music. The reception areas are a bit impersonal, reminding you that the hotel is part of a chain, but the service and attention to detail is equal to that of a smaller boutique hotel.

This mid-range resort will make sure you get the best out of your beach break. The well-equipped rooms each have a balcony or terrace, it offers all the sporting and entertainment facilities you could wish for, and 300 meters (984 feet) of lovely palm-fringed beachfront. Choose a garden room overlooking lush greenery and flowering plants, or a deluxe room with sea view and spa bath. Coral Rock Cafe is the main buffet restaurant and there are Asian and seafood venues, too. There's a huge range of activities from tennis, squash, pool, and table tennis, to waterskiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, and sailing. A ride in a glass-bottomed boat out to the coral reef is mandatory. Don't pass up the chance to get a massage at the Maya Spa. At the end of the day watch a movie in the state-of-the-art cinema, or try your luck in the glitzy casino. There's a great kids' program that will entertain the tots while you do your own thing.

A 45-minute drive from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is a luxurious paradise bush lodge in a seemingly remote and hidden valley. In earshot of the roars of the Nairobi lions, the Emakoko offers spacious, beautifully designed rooms with huge verandas built into the side of a valley on the Mbagathi River. Game drives are included in the room price. The owners are experts on Kenya and its wildlife and could be the best advisors you encounter on any of your travels. It is also easily accessible for visits to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see baby elephants or the Giraffe Centre. The lodge bar and communal dining area overlooking the swimming pool is a good place to relax after the rigors of a long flight.

Tucked within a shady acacia forest on the exclusive Mara Naboisho Conservancy, the luxury tents at this comfortable and contemporary-styled camp have great views across the plains. Verandas have daybeds and/or hammocks which are perfect places to kick back in-between safari activities. The en-suite bathrooms have safari bucket showers that are filled with hot water on request. There are lavish dining and lounge tents, although for much of the year meals are taken outside, or in the bush while on a game drive; relaxed meal patterns depend on what everyone wants to do. There’s a thatch-covered hide on a deck overlooking a salt lick where elephant and buffalo are frequent visitors. Because it’s on a conservancy, bush walks and night drives are available and Encounter Mara also offers visits to a local Maasai village and full-day excursions into the Masai Mara National Reserve proper.

Although the Fairmont's camp area has manicured lawns and flowers, it is surrounded on three sides by the croc- and hippo-filled Mara River, so you are always close to the wildlife. Within each spacious tent, the bedspread of the four-poster mosquito-netted beds are made of the iconic red cloth used for Maasai warrior robes, while brightly colored handwoven rugs, comfortable chairs, and big windows ensure aprés-safari comfort. The main lodge is themed old-style safari with deep padded-leather-and-fabric armchairs, beaded lamps, an open fireplace, and an inviting wood-panel bar. Keep family and friends informed of your big-game adventures with Internet access in the library, or write in your journal on the spacious outside deck that leads to a pool, complete with bar and private massage tents. Forgo one morning game drive in favor of a hot-air-balloon safari over the Mara plains followed by a bush Champagne breakfast—you'll thank us—or stroll in the footprints of the hippo-trodden path, escorted by a Maasai warrior (four people minimum).