All You Need to Know About the Pool
at Angama Mara
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Pool & Beach (13)
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Pool review highlights
... skin. Angama Mara wouldn’t be complete without an infinity pool, swimming on the edge overlooking the Mara triangle is one...
... the maps. There is also a photography studio, an infinity pool, gym and a movie room, all of of which looked great but we...
... experience - floating over original forest and hippo pools culminating in an extraordinary champagne breakfast out on...
Most popular question about the pool
... we are visiting next year in October (2020), what is the temperature in your pool at that time? We would like to lounge around by the pool in our downtime,...
Answer from NickyFitzKenya
Nov 2019 |
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Reviews that mention pool
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Passion and vision creates a masterpiece, Angama Mara is a masterpiece. It was surreal to me; I was sitting on a rocking chair overlooking the breathtaking view of Masai Mara from my tended suite balcony. The open skies complementing the vast land of the Mara, making you feel like you belong between the heavens and the earth.
Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald vision for Angama Mara is a clear dedication, after over 30 years of traveling and operating 60 luxury lodges in Africa, India and other places they perfected their idea and emerged with an amazing concept for luxury lodge.
Angama means suspended in mid air and that is exactly what it was, situated on the Mara triangle and the rim of Rift Valley. The view of the Masai Mara is breathtaking and comforting. You could see the different colours of the Mara coming together to create a picturesque scenery, I was awed and inspired. Each tented suite is placed with a binocular to view the different animals of the Mara. One of my major highlight was watching the hot air balloons early in the morning with the binoculars, the different colour balloons dancing on the horizon.
The interiors was nothing short of beauty and quality, the design incorporated the Masai culture infused with contemporary modern design creating a calming and relaxing atmosphere. This is noticeable as soon as you walk in, making you feel right where you want to be. The tented suites were perfectly thought through in terms of setting to give the most satisfactory stay, from an open shower overlooking the Mara to relaxing bathtub and even electric blanket for those cold nights. Every suite was equipped with small fridge, a Masai shuka, and other small items for comfort. I was impressed with the Africology guest soaps and lotion, the smell was soothing and soft to the skin.
Angama Mara wouldn’t be complete without an infinity pool, swimming on the edge overlooking the Mara triangle is one the best experience. The 12m x 6m heated pool is just right for the quick swim before hitting their fitness room which is fully equipped with the Technogym equipment.
Staying at Angama Mara was one of my best travel destination, the views from north Camp and south camp were out of this world and magical. The service was astounding; everyone was friendly and always ready to assist. Everything was thought through to give me a perfect stay. A memorable stay that will always stay etched in my memories.
Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald vision for Angama Mara is a clear dedication, after over 30 years of traveling and operating 60 luxury lodges in Africa, India and other places they perfected their idea and emerged with an amazing concept for luxury lodge.
Angama means suspended in mid air and that is exactly what it was, situated on the Mara triangle and the rim of Rift Valley. The view of the Masai Mara is breathtaking and comforting. You could see the different colours of the Mara coming together to create a picturesque scenery, I was awed and inspired. Each tented suite is placed with a binocular to view the different animals of the Mara. One of my major highlight was watching the hot air balloons early in the morning with the binoculars, the different colour balloons dancing on the horizon.
The interiors was nothing short of beauty and quality, the design incorporated the Masai culture infused with contemporary modern design creating a calming and relaxing atmosphere. This is noticeable as soon as you walk in, making you feel right where you want to be. The tented suites were perfectly thought through in terms of setting to give the most satisfactory stay, from an open shower overlooking the Mara to relaxing bathtub and even electric blanket for those cold nights. Every suite was equipped with small fridge, a Masai shuka, and other small items for comfort. I was impressed with the Africology guest soaps and lotion, the smell was soothing and soft to the skin.
Angama Mara wouldn’t be complete without an infinity pool, swimming on the edge overlooking the Mara triangle is one the best experience. The 12m x 6m heated pool is just right for the quick swim before hitting their fitness room which is fully equipped with the Technogym equipment.
Staying at Angama Mara was one of my best travel destination, the views from north Camp and south camp were out of this world and magical. The service was astounding; everyone was friendly and always ready to assist. Everything was thought through to give me a perfect stay. A memorable stay that will always stay etched in my memories.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from NickyFitzKenya, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 02 Nov 2016
Oh my, but your beautiful review simply took my breath away. As I was reading it I could almost hear you speaking - it felt that heartfelt. From the whole Angama Mara family thank you so so much for this amazing post. Actually, we are tickled pink by it, if the truth be told. I know that doesn't sound very adult but life is too short to be proper! I am delighted that all the little touchpoints we lovingly put in for our guests caught your attention right down to the binoculars and the electric blanket. Our guests love using those binos to spot game on the plains below the lodge, especially when quietly sitting in the red rockers with a glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc at hand and the shuka-inspired blanket tucked over their knees. We love spoiling our guests and we love it even more when they tell us how much they love being spoiled. Totally makes our day. I will share your gracious review with the team and from us all - asante sana! Warmest thanks Nicky
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We've just come back from 5 nights at Angama Mara and had an excellent time - it was so good we decided to stay an additional night!
Facilities
Facilities are top notch, especially when you consider how remote the location is. The dining area has the same spectacular view as the rooms and feels much more like a ‘home’ than a ‘hotel’. There are nice lounging spaces which were great to relax in after a long day and meet other visitors and discuss their experiences.
The new map room is a very nice touch and is almost museum-like. If you are interested in the history of Africa, you will love it as there are lots of historic maps with interesting detail (e.g. one showing Dr Livingstone’s route on his expedition to find the source of the River Nile) - it might be good to have some informative materials available for visitors who might not have the knowledge to fully interpret the maps.
There is also a photography studio, an infinity pool, gym and a movie room, all of of which looked great but we didnt get to try as we were busy on our game drives! The nice thing about all the common areas is they are tastefully constructed in brick, which means they are nice and cool during the heat of the day and warm during the cold nights.
There are also a number of outside areas, such as the Shamba, the Out of Africa picnic spot, the forest for the bush bbq area, all of which we did and thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately we weren’t able to experience the boma as it rained on the day.
Rooms
Whilst called a tent, this would be a huge understatement! They are very well furnished, with lots of small details that really show the teams extensive experience in building such camps. There is a large area with the bed (with a heated blanket), a sitting area then a stand-alone bathtub and a shower area. There is a glass front across the whole room so you really do get the exceptional view at all parts of the room. The room has a 24/7 power supply and the desk has a box which has plugs for all countries and also USB slots. The WC is the one part of the tent that is fully encased in brick/glass, meaning it fortunately did not get as cold as the rest of the tent during the night - this must have been intentional!
The room also features a minibar which must have been restocked at least three times a day. Whenever we would come back after our morning game drive, afternoon game drive and then dinner, it seemed someone had restocked the fridge! We drink a lot of water so this was very appreciated.
Location:
The panoramic views from the property are truly phenomenal. Whilst every visitor will have seen the photos, these do not do it justice as a cameras field of vision is not wide enough to capture it. We were fortunate enough to stay in tent 14 in the North Camp where you could not see any other tents. Whilst it was a slightly longer walk to the facilities, it was so worth it. We will never forget watching the multiple sunrises from our balcony whilst drinking the freshly brewed coffee brought directly to our room as our wake up call.
A couple of the reviews mention a ‘long’ drive down the park from the escapement - the drive in reality is around 10-15min and we found it to be very enjoyable due to the exceptional views as you descend into the valley. These views are so good that other camps drive up the escarpment for their sundowners!
Service
The service is truly outstanding. The team have struck the perfect balance of attentiveness without being obsequious. Everyone is very friendly and keen to know how your day is going and if there is anything they can do to improve it.
Wiki was our butler and was excellent. Every night at dinner he would ask us (without prompting) what time we would like to wake up the next day and would bring us freshly brewed coffee at that time (even for our 4:30am wake up for our hot air balloon!). He always had a smile on his face and a cheerful mood. He also remembered our table preferences for our lunch and evening meals, which was yet another nice touch.
Having read the few negative reviews on here before our stay, it’s clear the team have really taken the feedback onboard. For example, the minibar being religiously replenished, drink preferences being remembered, enquiring whether we were happy with our guide, laundry being returned same day without fail, a printed guide of all things at the camp, etc. It is perhaps the most impressive thing as it shows the team really does care, listens to guests and is keen to be the best.
Food
Majority of the fresh vegetables come from the Shamba garden and you can really taste it in the delicious salads. The menus tended to offer a variety of cuisines, with the cooking having a nice fresh ‘homemade’ feel. The curries were especially delicious, though do border on the spicier side so watch out if you are sensitive to this. The meats were excellently cooked, in particular the pork chop which is certainly one of the best I’ve ever had. We also did the bush BBQ one night which was a nice event with a number of different options available alongside an extensive starter platter. It was also a nice opportunity to socialise with other guests staying at the camp. The one comment on the food is that on a couple of occasions, parts of the dishes were lukewarm and felt like they had been sat on the plate whilst other elements finished cooking.
Game drives
The game drives were really fantastic. We were lucky enough to see all the big 5, including sightings of lions every day! We were also very fortunate to watch a group lions undertake a successful kill and on our last day we saw a leopard. The Mara is a spectacular place and even on drives where you don’t see much (which is rare), we found the incredible scenery kept us entertained. We would recommend having the picnic breakfast as you can stay out during the morning and nothing beats eating in the bush!
Alice was our guide and we couldn’t have asked for anything more! She was a wealth of knowledge about the animals, the Mara, Kenya and Maasai culture. Her endless stories and cheerful demeanour really made our game drives so enjoyable. She clearly has such a passion for her job and is such a kind person - her first comment when we saw the lion kill was that she wished the other lovely couple we shared our vehicle with for a few days were still with us to see it too!
Value
The camp is on the more expensive end, but we still thought it was fantastic value. Other camps we looked attended to offer a morning game drive and an afternoon one, specifying length of around two hours. At Angama we were able to go on drives as long as we liked and at anytime we liked. Half of our game drives were private (at no extra cost) and our longest one was eight hours! There is no schedule you must adhere to and everyday your guide asks what time you would like to start the next day and you can stay out as long as you like.
The other big point I would say is MAKE SURE YOU BOOK DIRECTLY AND NOT WITH A TOUR OPERATOR. Helle in Angama’s reservations team was brilliant, and even organised our additional night despite it being the Easter weekend. Having contacted a number of tour operators for this holiday, they will overcharge you and not provide anything you can’t get from the Angama team. The tour operator markup was was well over $3000 vs booking directly - it’s almost insulting to receive such quotes when you can find out in 10 minutes what it costs to book directly.
One thing I would like to mention is regarding the Maasai village visit. It is an incredibly interesting experience as it is an actual Maasai village and an insight to their lives. However the visit seemed a little ‘manufactured’ at times. One thing to be aware of is the hard sell to buy their wares, with the end of the visit devolving into a number of the villagers emptying out their bags of goods onto their respective stands in what felt like a market. This really reduced the authentic feel of the visit. If there was just a single stall with a few items with an authentic non-market like feel, we would have been more inclined to purchase some souvenirs. Perhaps this feedback should be provided to the village for future visits.
Having said this, I would still definitely recommend doing the visit as it does provide a deep insight into the culture and way of life. The villagers were very happy to answer any questions which was where we learnt more about the genuine aspects of their culture.
Facilities
Facilities are top notch, especially when you consider how remote the location is. The dining area has the same spectacular view as the rooms and feels much more like a ‘home’ than a ‘hotel’. There are nice lounging spaces which were great to relax in after a long day and meet other visitors and discuss their experiences.
The new map room is a very nice touch and is almost museum-like. If you are interested in the history of Africa, you will love it as there are lots of historic maps with interesting detail (e.g. one showing Dr Livingstone’s route on his expedition to find the source of the River Nile) - it might be good to have some informative materials available for visitors who might not have the knowledge to fully interpret the maps.
There is also a photography studio, an infinity pool, gym and a movie room, all of of which looked great but we didnt get to try as we were busy on our game drives! The nice thing about all the common areas is they are tastefully constructed in brick, which means they are nice and cool during the heat of the day and warm during the cold nights.
There are also a number of outside areas, such as the Shamba, the Out of Africa picnic spot, the forest for the bush bbq area, all of which we did and thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately we weren’t able to experience the boma as it rained on the day.
Rooms
Whilst called a tent, this would be a huge understatement! They are very well furnished, with lots of small details that really show the teams extensive experience in building such camps. There is a large area with the bed (with a heated blanket), a sitting area then a stand-alone bathtub and a shower area. There is a glass front across the whole room so you really do get the exceptional view at all parts of the room. The room has a 24/7 power supply and the desk has a box which has plugs for all countries and also USB slots. The WC is the one part of the tent that is fully encased in brick/glass, meaning it fortunately did not get as cold as the rest of the tent during the night - this must have been intentional!
The room also features a minibar which must have been restocked at least three times a day. Whenever we would come back after our morning game drive, afternoon game drive and then dinner, it seemed someone had restocked the fridge! We drink a lot of water so this was very appreciated.
Location:
The panoramic views from the property are truly phenomenal. Whilst every visitor will have seen the photos, these do not do it justice as a cameras field of vision is not wide enough to capture it. We were fortunate enough to stay in tent 14 in the North Camp where you could not see any other tents. Whilst it was a slightly longer walk to the facilities, it was so worth it. We will never forget watching the multiple sunrises from our balcony whilst drinking the freshly brewed coffee brought directly to our room as our wake up call.
A couple of the reviews mention a ‘long’ drive down the park from the escapement - the drive in reality is around 10-15min and we found it to be very enjoyable due to the exceptional views as you descend into the valley. These views are so good that other camps drive up the escarpment for their sundowners!
Service
The service is truly outstanding. The team have struck the perfect balance of attentiveness without being obsequious. Everyone is very friendly and keen to know how your day is going and if there is anything they can do to improve it.
Wiki was our butler and was excellent. Every night at dinner he would ask us (without prompting) what time we would like to wake up the next day and would bring us freshly brewed coffee at that time (even for our 4:30am wake up for our hot air balloon!). He always had a smile on his face and a cheerful mood. He also remembered our table preferences for our lunch and evening meals, which was yet another nice touch.
Having read the few negative reviews on here before our stay, it’s clear the team have really taken the feedback onboard. For example, the minibar being religiously replenished, drink preferences being remembered, enquiring whether we were happy with our guide, laundry being returned same day without fail, a printed guide of all things at the camp, etc. It is perhaps the most impressive thing as it shows the team really does care, listens to guests and is keen to be the best.
Food
Majority of the fresh vegetables come from the Shamba garden and you can really taste it in the delicious salads. The menus tended to offer a variety of cuisines, with the cooking having a nice fresh ‘homemade’ feel. The curries were especially delicious, though do border on the spicier side so watch out if you are sensitive to this. The meats were excellently cooked, in particular the pork chop which is certainly one of the best I’ve ever had. We also did the bush BBQ one night which was a nice event with a number of different options available alongside an extensive starter platter. It was also a nice opportunity to socialise with other guests staying at the camp. The one comment on the food is that on a couple of occasions, parts of the dishes were lukewarm and felt like they had been sat on the plate whilst other elements finished cooking.
Game drives
The game drives were really fantastic. We were lucky enough to see all the big 5, including sightings of lions every day! We were also very fortunate to watch a group lions undertake a successful kill and on our last day we saw a leopard. The Mara is a spectacular place and even on drives where you don’t see much (which is rare), we found the incredible scenery kept us entertained. We would recommend having the picnic breakfast as you can stay out during the morning and nothing beats eating in the bush!
Alice was our guide and we couldn’t have asked for anything more! She was a wealth of knowledge about the animals, the Mara, Kenya and Maasai culture. Her endless stories and cheerful demeanour really made our game drives so enjoyable. She clearly has such a passion for her job and is such a kind person - her first comment when we saw the lion kill was that she wished the other lovely couple we shared our vehicle with for a few days were still with us to see it too!
Value
The camp is on the more expensive end, but we still thought it was fantastic value. Other camps we looked attended to offer a morning game drive and an afternoon one, specifying length of around two hours. At Angama we were able to go on drives as long as we liked and at anytime we liked. Half of our game drives were private (at no extra cost) and our longest one was eight hours! There is no schedule you must adhere to and everyday your guide asks what time you would like to start the next day and you can stay out as long as you like.
The other big point I would say is MAKE SURE YOU BOOK DIRECTLY AND NOT WITH A TOUR OPERATOR. Helle in Angama’s reservations team was brilliant, and even organised our additional night despite it being the Easter weekend. Having contacted a number of tour operators for this holiday, they will overcharge you and not provide anything you can’t get from the Angama team. The tour operator markup was was well over $3000 vs booking directly - it’s almost insulting to receive such quotes when you can find out in 10 minutes what it costs to book directly.
One thing I would like to mention is regarding the Maasai village visit. It is an incredibly interesting experience as it is an actual Maasai village and an insight to their lives. However the visit seemed a little ‘manufactured’ at times. One thing to be aware of is the hard sell to buy their wares, with the end of the visit devolving into a number of the villagers emptying out their bags of goods onto their respective stands in what felt like a market. This really reduced the authentic feel of the visit. If there was just a single stall with a few items with an authentic non-market like feel, we would have been more inclined to purchase some souvenirs. Perhaps this feedback should be provided to the village for future visits.
Having said this, I would still definitely recommend doing the visit as it does provide a deep insight into the culture and way of life. The villagers were very happy to answer any questions which was where we learnt more about the genuine aspects of their culture.
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Room Tip: Make sure to book directly and not with a tour operator
Ask for the North Camp rooms on a lower...
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Steve Mitchell, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 20 May 2022
Dear O H, How lucky we are to be able to share the Mara and host guests like you, who give themselves the flexibility to stay an extra night and take the time to write such a remarkable review. Thank you for choosing Angama, letting Alice, Wiki and the rest of the team spoil you so, for enjoying the facilities so extensively as you did, and tailormaking every safari day - a hallmark of our offering. Your feedback gives us confidence in our pursuit of outstanding service - and the balance between being attentive without being obsequious, as you so deftly put it - thank you. Your comments of the village visit are absolutely spot on, and we this experience is certainly not for everyone, with many of our guests preferring to rather interact in a more genuine way with the professionals on our team - be it at boma, on a walk with a naturalist, or with the mamas in the beading studio. I'm sorry that you missed the reference guide in the map room which assists in interpreting the display, and if part of some dishes were lukewarm. We hope to welcome you back to Kenya again in the near future, perhaps to our new mobile camp or down to Angama Amboseli, opening next year. Best regards, Steve
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed six nights in this beautifully run place. The warmth of the staff, the exquisite glass fronted tented rooms with views to take your breath away, were elegant and every possible need catered for. The food is great and the guide we had was just marvellous - so informative, humorous and nothing was ever too much trouble - his name is Lemaalo and anyone who gets him is really lucky. One of the many high points was a surprise dinner with lanterns and fire out in the bush. The balloon ride we took was a once in a lifetime experience - floating over original forest and hippo pools culminating in an extraordinary champagne breakfast out on the plain - hard to beat! No one would regret staying here.
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Room Tip: All the rooms are excellent with wonderful facilities and views.
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from NickyFitzKenya, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 10 Feb 2018
Dear Anabel Lemaalo and the Angama family join me in thanking you for coming to stay with us and for taking the time to write this lovely review. I think you were our first guests to go on a 'sketching safari' and we learnt from you that cameras are not the only way to capture the beauty of the Mara and its wildlife. More and more guests are asking for 'slow safaris' - I think we should be offering sketch pads :) Heartfelt thanks from us all Nicky
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My family of five, plus my mom and dad, spent five nights at Angama Mara and were very happy with our experience there. If you go during the migration, it is pricey to stay here, but the resort truly delivered a first class experience.
Upon arrival in the evening, we were greeted right off the plane by John, who took us to a special room and saw that we got through customs quickly and easily. I was a little nervous flying into Nairobi not knowing quite what to expect. Safety was always our first priority coming to Africa for the first time. After customs, we were driven in two private cars to our first class hotel. Both John and the other driver were so friendly and they told us a lot about Kenya. John met us the next morning to transport us to Wilson airport for our flight to the Mara, and again, he took our passports and handled every detail of the check in process in the airport for us.
When we arrived in the Mara, Benjamin, who was our guide for the entire stay, picked us up and brought us to the resort. We were greeted by the staff of Angama employees who would personally take care of us for our time there. Each guest is serviced by a team of people - an overall service manager, a steward who attends to your suite, your food server, and of course your guide. You really get to know these kind people because they are with you throughout your visit. They refer to you by name, they quickly learn your food and beverage preferences and offer them proactively, they seat you at a familiar table inside and outside, and literally, you tell them exactly what you want to do and when you want to do it. Each day is planned exactly to your preference. Breakfast menu is same each day, but full of choices. Every day fresh juice and smoothies, great coffee and espresso drinks, yogurt and daily breads/scones, plus whatever hot meal you like. Lunch and dinner vary, but again usually 5-10 options and always a few safe choices like a burger, steak, salad, if you don’t feel too adventurous. Well presented. Atmosphere is warm and casual. Wore casual clothes every night. Did not feel had to dress up for dinner.
Was the food at every meal 5 star? No, but it was very good food and prepared with care. Chef comes out to see guests. Happy to make snacks for you in the lounge anytime. Boys loved the guacamole. Would only recommend a few more special dessert options at lunch and dinner for those of us with a sweet tooth. :)
The best and most important part was the safari experience. We felt our guide was the best in the Mara. Benjamin has many years of experience, and it showed. Driving the truck through difficult terrain, getting the best spots for viewing the animals, knowing all the other guides who put us onto the best sightings...this guy made sure that every trip out was a good trip. The best way to describe what it feels like when a key sighting happens is like the paparazzi seeing a big name celebrity. Huge rush of trucks all descending on the sighting hoping to get the best photos for their guests. Think 10-15 trucks for really rare sighting of a leopard. Benjamin is soft spoken and reserved, but we felt very safe with him and we saw every animal we wanted to see. Joked that we always had the pole position. He struck us as the senior statesman of safari guides. We were very happy with the animal viewing.
We also did a walking safari with Fred, who happens to lead the Massai performance (and is also a safari guide). Really liked this too - as you see big things in the truck and small things on foot. You are accompanied by an armed security person for this trip, and well briefed on what to do if you encounter a dangerous animal, which rarely happens. Again, Angama takes no chances with safety. After 7 pm, you are escorted to your suite by an armed security person. The resort has a small army of local Massai warriors patrolling the property for any sign of concern.
We went to the Massai village one afternoon. It was educational and humbling. They charge a 20 dollar per person entry fee to open their homes to visitors, which is certainly appropriate. Be prepared for a bit of a sell to buy their beads and other wares. Many of the Massai people are polygamous, which is deeply rooted in their culture.
Finally, the suites are very comfortable and tastefully decorated for the setting. This is not the Four Seasons, it is a lovely bungalow with a very beautiful view of the Mara. Good shower and tub, hot water never an issue, bed comfortable, drinks and snacks always there. The power occasionally goes, but comes back quickly. Door locks from inside, but no one locks or uses key when they are out. Never used the pool once, it is lovely, but we felt there were other things we wanted to do more. Was surprised at how cool it was at end of June. Wore long sleeve T shirt and fleece every day. Worried about bug bites which were not a problem, very few bugs when driving or sitting at resort.
In summary, this was one of my favorite vacations. We get to go to many lovely places, and while they all have their own charm, this place (both the Mara and the resort) was special. If you want to go someplace where you simply don’t have to worry about anything, I highly recommend Angama Mara.
Upon arrival in the evening, we were greeted right off the plane by John, who took us to a special room and saw that we got through customs quickly and easily. I was a little nervous flying into Nairobi not knowing quite what to expect. Safety was always our first priority coming to Africa for the first time. After customs, we were driven in two private cars to our first class hotel. Both John and the other driver were so friendly and they told us a lot about Kenya. John met us the next morning to transport us to Wilson airport for our flight to the Mara, and again, he took our passports and handled every detail of the check in process in the airport for us.
When we arrived in the Mara, Benjamin, who was our guide for the entire stay, picked us up and brought us to the resort. We were greeted by the staff of Angama employees who would personally take care of us for our time there. Each guest is serviced by a team of people - an overall service manager, a steward who attends to your suite, your food server, and of course your guide. You really get to know these kind people because they are with you throughout your visit. They refer to you by name, they quickly learn your food and beverage preferences and offer them proactively, they seat you at a familiar table inside and outside, and literally, you tell them exactly what you want to do and when you want to do it. Each day is planned exactly to your preference. Breakfast menu is same each day, but full of choices. Every day fresh juice and smoothies, great coffee and espresso drinks, yogurt and daily breads/scones, plus whatever hot meal you like. Lunch and dinner vary, but again usually 5-10 options and always a few safe choices like a burger, steak, salad, if you don’t feel too adventurous. Well presented. Atmosphere is warm and casual. Wore casual clothes every night. Did not feel had to dress up for dinner.
Was the food at every meal 5 star? No, but it was very good food and prepared with care. Chef comes out to see guests. Happy to make snacks for you in the lounge anytime. Boys loved the guacamole. Would only recommend a few more special dessert options at lunch and dinner for those of us with a sweet tooth. :)
The best and most important part was the safari experience. We felt our guide was the best in the Mara. Benjamin has many years of experience, and it showed. Driving the truck through difficult terrain, getting the best spots for viewing the animals, knowing all the other guides who put us onto the best sightings...this guy made sure that every trip out was a good trip. The best way to describe what it feels like when a key sighting happens is like the paparazzi seeing a big name celebrity. Huge rush of trucks all descending on the sighting hoping to get the best photos for their guests. Think 10-15 trucks for really rare sighting of a leopard. Benjamin is soft spoken and reserved, but we felt very safe with him and we saw every animal we wanted to see. Joked that we always had the pole position. He struck us as the senior statesman of safari guides. We were very happy with the animal viewing.
We also did a walking safari with Fred, who happens to lead the Massai performance (and is also a safari guide). Really liked this too - as you see big things in the truck and small things on foot. You are accompanied by an armed security person for this trip, and well briefed on what to do if you encounter a dangerous animal, which rarely happens. Again, Angama takes no chances with safety. After 7 pm, you are escorted to your suite by an armed security person. The resort has a small army of local Massai warriors patrolling the property for any sign of concern.
We went to the Massai village one afternoon. It was educational and humbling. They charge a 20 dollar per person entry fee to open their homes to visitors, which is certainly appropriate. Be prepared for a bit of a sell to buy their beads and other wares. Many of the Massai people are polygamous, which is deeply rooted in their culture.
Finally, the suites are very comfortable and tastefully decorated for the setting. This is not the Four Seasons, it is a lovely bungalow with a very beautiful view of the Mara. Good shower and tub, hot water never an issue, bed comfortable, drinks and snacks always there. The power occasionally goes, but comes back quickly. Door locks from inside, but no one locks or uses key when they are out. Never used the pool once, it is lovely, but we felt there were other things we wanted to do more. Was surprised at how cool it was at end of June. Wore long sleeve T shirt and fleece every day. Worried about bug bites which were not a problem, very few bugs when driving or sitting at resort.
In summary, this was one of my favorite vacations. We get to go to many lovely places, and while they all have their own charm, this place (both the Mara and the resort) was special. If you want to go someplace where you simply don’t have to worry about anything, I highly recommend Angama Mara.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from NickyFitzKenya, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 01 Jul 2019
Dear Kirsten I was delighted to meet you all last week and thank you so much for coming to stay with us at Angama Mara. We love hosting multi-generational families at our lodge - they always have so much fun sharing this grand safari adventure together. And thank you for this whopping review! No other word to describe it. I have read it through a few times and shared it with the whole Angama family (thanks to WhatsApp) and on behalf of us all thank you for your immensely kind feedback. Benjamin, needless to say, is over the moon. His usual big smile now wraps twice around his face. Fred and John also join me in thanking you for mentioning them by name. And thank you for being upfront about safety concerns both in Nairobi and at the lodge and I was so comforted to hear that you all felt safe at all times. The safety of our guests is of paramount importance to us all. And aren't we lucky in the Mara Triangle and up at the lodge to be pretty much bug-free? I know you experienced some 'eciting' weather but happily this is what keeps all the nasties well away. Your comment about more desserts was gratefully noted: we have heaps of desserts in the kitchen and we now know when we have hungry young men and sweet-toothed guests in camp we need to tell them what's hiding in the kitchen and the ice cream freezer. Please give my warm regards to your parents and charming sons and tell them we now only serve guacamole in bigger bowls. Those teensy ones are hopeless! Heartfelt thanks from us all Nicky
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
I recently had the opportunity to spend a few nights at Angama Mara, and I have been left blown away by the experience. To say that it felt like the most special place on earth would be a significant understatement.
From the first dramatic intake of breath when confronted by the setting and vista, to the daily marvel at the attention to detail displayed throughout your stay, Angama Mara is definitely a safari experience not to be missed.
The rooms are immaculately decorated - stylish, comfortable, inviting and thoughtful. The food each meal is fresh, abundant and, quite simply, delicious. The communal areas of the lounge and pool are where you want to spend your time - if you're not out adventuring with your incredibly knowledgeable guide in the spectacular Mara, of course.
But, most importantly, the staff will make your stay your best stay away from home yet. They are warm, kind and thoughtful. But most importantly, having experienced the full range of hospitality in my various trips, they are authentic and real. Something that makes the entire experience very, very special.
You'll absolutely want to go back. And soon. I know I do.
From the first dramatic intake of breath when confronted by the setting and vista, to the daily marvel at the attention to detail displayed throughout your stay, Angama Mara is definitely a safari experience not to be missed.
The rooms are immaculately decorated - stylish, comfortable, inviting and thoughtful. The food each meal is fresh, abundant and, quite simply, delicious. The communal areas of the lounge and pool are where you want to spend your time - if you're not out adventuring with your incredibly knowledgeable guide in the spectacular Mara, of course.
But, most importantly, the staff will make your stay your best stay away from home yet. They are warm, kind and thoughtful. But most importantly, having experienced the full range of hospitality in my various trips, they are authentic and real. Something that makes the entire experience very, very special.
You'll absolutely want to go back. And soon. I know I do.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from NickyFitzKenya, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 05 Apr 2016
Dear Taryn We have received lovely feedback on our lodge and your review feels like the icing on the cake. It was beautifully written and every word made the team feel so proud of what they strive to do each day and that is delight out guests. This is our first review by a solo traveller and we were delighted to hear that going on safari is a great way to spend a few days. Please come back soon Warmest thanks Nicky
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Questions & answers about the pool
Answer from NickyFitzKenya
Nov 2019 |
Hello from Angama
We are delighted you will be visiting us next October and thank you so much for getting in touch.
You will definitely be able to lounge by the pool between safaris and as for the water - it may just be a dip in and out depending on the weather and how hardy you are? I was there in October and saw guests swimming ... but I wasn't brave enough to try the water. There is a hot shower at the pool so if you need instant thawing it is right there :)
Warm regards
Nicky
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