The Maasai Mara is a wild, protected reserve with accommodation ranging from simple camping to lavish tented camps. Opened in 1984, the locally managed Sarova Mara Game Camp is one of the reserve’s original resorts, and although it has 75 tents, it still feels personal.
At a glance
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Rooms: 75 tents
Stayed in: Luxury tent
Best for: first-time safari travellers who want comfort in the wild
Reviewed: July 2014
8.8 out of 10
Setting and arrival
The reserve lies 260 kilometres from Nairobi, more than five hours by road, so I flew with AirKenya. Several stops turned an hour’s flight into a much longer one, but the views over the Mara made it almost an aerial safari. My guide was waiting at Keekorok Airstrip with a Land Cruiser, and after a short drive the camp’s grand gates swung open.
The camp
After a quick check-in and a late lunch, the camp revealed itself as remarkably modern for a self-sufficient property in the middle of the Mara: a full swimming pool, restaurant, bar and spa, with electricity, hot and cold running water and even Wi-Fi. Tents line the gardens within a secure electric fence.
Dining and safari
Multiple dining options embrace the atmosphere of the park. Game drives are led by a Maasai guide in a well-equipped Land Cruiser, and there are plenty of other activities on offer.
The verdict
Extremely friendly, caring staff and astonishing comfort in the wilderness make Sarova Mara a superb introduction to safari in Kenya.
- Rooms: 8.5
- Service: 9.5
- Dining: 8.5
- Facilities and spa: 9.0
- Location: 9.5
Sarova Mara Game Camp, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.
David stayed as a guest of the hotel. Based on a stay in July 2014. Facilities, menus and prices may have changed since.
