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Welcome to Angama, inspired by the Swahili word for ‘suspended in mid-air’. Located high above the floor of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Angama Mara is a remarkable owner-run safari lodge overlooking Kenya’s Maasai Mara, considered by many as the loveliest game reserve on the continent. Here guests will find a lodge where everything is as it ought to be: two intimate camps of just fifteen tented suites each, a private airfield and access to the Mara below, tailor-made safari days and a famously warm Kenyan welcome.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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Angama Mara seems to offer a polarizing yet often luxurious experience, nestled in a serene setting with beautiful views that many guests enjoy. The hotel's amenities, including diverse dining options and unique activities like game drives, earn rave reviews, as does the attentive and warm service provided by the staff.
Cleanliness is another high point, with travelers noting the spotless environment. However, some guests report concerns over room privacy, a lack of air conditioning, and the noise level, while opinions on value for money are split, with a few finding it overly expensive.
Atmosphere
Mixed
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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Where do I begin.. this was truly an unbelievable experience! We stayed here for 5 nights and already am planning to come back. The service was some of the best I have ever experienced. Our guide Sammy was the best guide we have ever had on safari! He was such a joy to be around! We had the best time and he took amazing care of us. We learned so much from him and look forward to seeing him again. Our server George was top notch! He was so nice and worked really hard to make sure we were spoiled the entire time. He really went above and beyond! Abraham took care of our tents and you could tell he really took time to make sure every little detail was perfect. My mom has worked in house keeping for 30 years and the fact that she was blown away says everything you need to know about Abraham! The camp is truly a luxury safari camp. The tents were amazing and the views were endless! The people and the place truly inspired us to help the local villages as well. We can not wait to come back.
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Date of stay: March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicky Fitzgerald, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 23 Mar 2021
Dear Ivan Sammy, George, Abraham and the Angama family join me in sending you heartfelt thanks for coming to stay with us especially so during these upside down times. And your lovely review filled our hearts to overflowing. We simply love what we do: delighting our guests giving them a holiday of a lifetime and by doing that well we can make many small and meaningful differences to in our communities and in the Mara Triangle. Sammy, George and Abraham are still beaming from ear to ear thanks to your gracious feedback on them - especially Abraham as our tent stewards are often our unsung heroes. We will be waiting for you with arms open wide to welcome you back to your home in the Mara Warmest thanks Nicky
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We had a wonderful stay at Angama - truly amazing with one of the most incredible views imaginable. The Angama service is extremely personalized and excellent attention to detail is given. The rooms are spacious and beautiful and we were lucky enough to look on to the 'Out of Africa' hill as well as sweeping views of the Mara plains below. Kenneth was our guide - he was enthusiastic and passionate throughout and managed to spot things miles away in the distance. He realized we were interested in birds and took time to stop for every raptor we passed, to tell us the name. The interior service was great with attentative waiters and the food was just delicious and beautifully presented. We had a great time and thank you so so much to everyone involved.
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Date of stay: March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicky Fitzgerald, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 22 Mar 2021
Dear Jess Kenneth joins me in thanking you not only for coming to stay with us but also for this lovely review. I was delighted to read that you loved everything about your stay and I have forwarded your review on to the Angama family. Looking forward to welcoming you back Warmest thanks Nicky
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We started our East Africa trip at Angama Mara camp and it was an amazing experience. The location of the camp on the ridge allows you to see great views of the Maasai Mara region and early in the morning you see the hot air balloons going across the region. The accommodations are 5 star and the staff is there to make your experience one you will never forget. We went in August so we could experience the great migration and we were not disappointed. Sammy, our ranger for the trip, took us out the first afternoon and we were able to experience 4 of the big 5 in the first two hours. There is a huge wealth of animals and seeing the great migration was a real treat. We went for a hot air ballon ride the next morning and this is a must adventure to enjoy the animals and region from a different vantage point. Sammy was great and gave us a wwealth of information about each of the animals and the great migration. One afternoon we sat and watched a wildabeast crossing of the Mara River and how the predators feed off them as they crossed the river. The food was outstanding and the service was equally outstanding. I would highly recommend the Angama Mara camp and their staff for the best way to enjoy and experience the Maasai Mara region.
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Date of stay: August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicky Fitzgerald, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 04 Oct 2021
Hi Charlie I was delighted to read your lovely review on TripAdvisor. Thank you so much for choosing to come and stay with us and sharing your story about your time at Angama Mara. August is a very exciting month with all the drama of the mega herds and the sheer chaos that goes down with the river crossings. It certainly is a once in a lifetime experience and I was happy to hear that you saw one (I have been banned from river crossings because apparently my sobs disturb everyone else). Sammy joins me in thanking you for the kind words you wrote about him. Doesn't he have the best laugh ever? I am sure you had heaps of fun with him out on safari. And the chefs say please come back soon so they can feed you some more. Heartfelt thanks from us all at the lodge Nicky
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My husband and I just spent 4 nights/5 days at the Angama Mara resort. This was beyond anything we expected. We were picked up by John at Nairobi Airport who gave us a very helpful overview of Nairobi and our upcoming flight to the lodge. We then took the flight to the lodge where we were picked up by our guide, Jackson. Within minutes we spotted a rhino and baby - such a phenomenal way to start our holiday.
We were then greeted by the entire team upon arrival at the lodge. The lodge is breathtaking, the views on the rift valley are sensational. All the staff are incredibly helpful and we really enjoyed chatting with them. I had seen a picture of a brownie on their Instagram page and mentioned this to one of the waiters and it appeared on the menu the following night. The rooms are pure luxury with a deck overlooking the Mara - sitting on this deck with my binoculars after lunch was a great break between game drives.
Jackson (our guide for the duration of the trip) was great. He knew everything about each animal and taught us so much about the animals, the Masai Mara and Kenya in general. He was also very good at ensuring that we kept a distance from the animals and did not disturb them. We were very lucky to see the Big 5 two days in a row.
We also did lunch in the vegetable garden (Simon taught us about the various vegetables and prepared us a wonderful salad), picnic lunch where Out of Africa was filmed and the bush barbecue. All of them were fabulous. This brings me to the food which was absolutely delicious. I could not fault a single dish. Bonface took care of us throughout our stay and was such a delight, always had a smile on his face.
We also did a game drive with Adam which I would highly recommend to anyone wishing to improve their photography skills. Adam was also very insightful in telling us about the various animals and migratory patterns.
Overall, we could not fault anything about our trip; and we are already planning when to return to the lodge.
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Date of stay: March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Steve Mitchell, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 14 Mar 2022
Dear Katrina, Thank you for this lovely review, which is just wonderful to read and gives us great joy. We're glad you managed to experience so much of what we offer during your stay and I have shared your feedback with the whole team - Simon, Adam, Jackson, Bonface and Big John Thuku in Nairobi all asked me to send their thanks. You were indeed very lucky to see the Big 5 two days in a row, but gameviewing is anything but predictable and the Mara Triangle is never ceases to surprise our guests! Thank you for coming to stay with us in the first place, given the added complexities of travelling these days, and we look forward to welcome you both back in the near future. Regards, Steve
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We just arrived from Finch Hatton Tent Kenya Tsavo National Park, and I initially was disappointed- no real sitting rooms, no real comfy spaces or any spa and 2 camps, with a very minimal pool that didn’t even have real shade BUT then I learned and had the most amazing safaris, best cuisine, extraordinary hospitality and Maasai Mara park is vast, huge and sighting animals doesn’t require patience as they are everywhere!! This is where the wildebeest great migration and many many lions and giraffes .. I think the big 6.. I did not see the leopard but it was Magestic and the guides were excellent!! We really enjoyed the nature walk learning about the multi use of the plants for medicine. Two very fun and smart guides took us for this a walk/hike and one held a rifle, which was so interesting and made me feel extra safe and protected. However I never once felt threaded by the animals. I wanted to hug them and play with them.. naïveté me!! The views from our “tent” the ceilings are over 15 feet high and this a stunning structure and there is full bar, fridge, showers but here are 2 minor things.. I turned the gorgeous tub on for a deep warm soak and sand and tiny bits came out. I tried twice as I always clean the tub at a hotel. The manager said they just needed to flush it and repump which he offered to do immediately but frankly I didn’t want them in my tent or listening to water pump and flush.. it just wasn’t that important I was resting after a wonderful long Safari day. The sundowner was fun! Fun to meet other guest especially since there are almost no Americans!!
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Date of stay: August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Steve Mitchell, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 22 Nov 2023
Dear Donna, Thank you for sharing your feedback about your stay, and my apologies for the trouble with your bath water - from time to time the filters do give us trouble given our rural location. And while I'm glad to hear you did enjoy meeting other guests, we do welcome many Americans with our arms wide open. Thank you too for your personal comments on the architecture and design, noting that most of our guests quite like the privacy of massages on the decks of their tented suites. With best regards from the whole Angama team. Steve
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Angama continues to be the standard by which all other African safari camps are measured against. The ability of the staff to create a feeling of relaxation, comfort, and accommodation is borderline magical. The tents are very posh, the linens are soft, the beds are enormous, the food superb. Things that I have found true at other lodges seem to be extra true here- the staff, the guides, the amenities, and the architecture are all a level above. Plus it has the best view of any camp I have ever been to. I have been twice now, and will go again.
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Date of stay: December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from NickyFitzKenya, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 06 Jan 2020
Dear Daniela What a great start to the year - thank you so much for this wonderful review. The title you chose made me smile. As you might know Angama Mara was the 60th property that my husband and I built and operated over many years and all the learnings (successes and mistakes - many of the latter) were distilled into the design and training of the staff for Angama. It's great fun having an 'only child' now and I am delighted that this appeals enormously to our guests and travel partners. Thank you for being such a loyal guest and we eagerly await your return to this lovely corner of Africa. From us all at the lodge our heartfelt thanks and wishing you a great 2020 Warm regards Nicky
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Angama is a truly magical place with stunning views, fantastic staff and guides and luxurious accommodation. The food is excellent and the service of all the staff is absolutely superb with nothing being too much trouble. George, our camp manager was really professional and also very personable. He would come and visit us a dinner most evenings to ask about our day and if he could do anything. Our guide, Ekai, had eyes everywhere spotting game from a great distance. He was himself great fun and our family had a great time with him with many funny moments. He respected the wildlife and would take care not to frighten the animals especially the cheetah mum and her cubs. Well done him as many other guides from other camps would have stressed her out while she was trying to protect her babies. He was so enthusiastic about finding all game which made us all excited.
During our stay we experienced the bush barbecue which was in a magical setting with so much food. On another evening we watched the Masai dancing round the Boma whilst drinking cocktails and eating tasty canapés. We experienced the Out of Africa experience which involved having drinks and nibbles on the famous Out of Africa rock. To finish our stay we were treated to a delicious lunch in the Shamba which is where Angama grow their own fruit and veg. Absolutely brilliant.
We had a chance to look round the Angama mobile camp down in the Mara itself. It is very luxurious and you wint want for anything. Hope to stay a night there sometime.
Can’t recommend Angama enough. You will not be disappointed and we will certainly be going back!,
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Date of stay: September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Steve Mitchell, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 21 Nov 2022
Dear Trek. Thank you for writing, your first time on Tripadvisor! I'm sure they give you points or something to encourage you to keep going ;) We really enjoyed reading your feedback, and have shared it with the team - which has got Ekai into something of a spotting game with the rest of the guides, and Ibrahim and his team at ASC asking when you will be coming back? With our warmest thanks for coming to stay, and letting us spoilt you so. Best regards, Steve
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Angama is a stunning location with amazing views. The lodge is beautifully designed, well kept, and inspires relaxation and adventure. The food is brilliant, so many locally sourced ingredients, with lots of produce from the shamba, their garden. But what really bought it all together was the staff. Their passion, dedication, love and care made for an unforgettable week.
We fell in love with our camp manager James. His sweet, caring, passionate nature made sure our needs were always met. He went above and beyond, got to know us personally and cared to our individual needs.
Douglas made our safari experience fully tailored to our interests and full of excitement. His enthusiasm drove us to be curious and ask our own questions. He opened our eyes to the hidden stories of the Mara and it’s inhabitants, which would’ve gone unseen otherwise. We can’t wait for the release of his book, recounting his experience over the last ten years of his guiding journey.
Sadera our waiter, we adored. His light hearted nature was contagious. We loved every dining experience. He got to know our preferences and dietary requirements and was always a joy to see around the lodge during the day.
We miss you all already! Emma, Kath, Tess, Susan & Tim.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from NickyFitzKenya, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 27 Feb 2020
Dear Emma, Kath, Tess, Susan and Tim Thank from us all for coming to stay at Angama Mara. The team is tickled pink by your kind words especially James, Douglas and Sadera. They asked me to pass on their warmest thanks and to tell you how much they enjoyed looking after you at the lodge. Please come back - we miss you too! Warmest thanks Nicky
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Being a fan of "Out of Africa" and realizing that the Angama Mara was the site where the movie was filmed, I just could not resist to book a stay there. We were truly amazed at the view of the Maasai Mara from our "tent" and from the hotel restaurant.
We stayed for 7 nights. Only one camp/section of the resort was opened due to the COVID situation, we felt all of the guests were comfortably spaced out while having meals at the restaurant. The only exception was that on one rainy night, we have to stay inside the enclosed restaurant to watch the parade/dance, our group just stayed for a few minutes since we were not comfortable seeing another guest smoking indoor and within arms length of each other.
Going out for game drives are the most memorable part of our visit. Fred (our guide) was very knowledgeable and hard working. He is a bird expert and even carries a bird encyclopedia with him! We started at sunrise everyday, and on a few occasions, we stayed out until sunset! Fred was very attentive and took good care of us when we were caught in torrential rain showers. As you may know, the weather is unpredictable here and when it rains, it pours hard! So, having a rain jacket would come in handy. Fred even serves us picnics (breakfast + lunch). Having picnics at the Mara is such a pleasurable experience!
Complaints and Cautions - Since the resort is located in the wild, there are plentiful of insects flying around. Insect repellent and Sunscreen are a must. Just be mindful while walking within the resort grounds, you may encounter a friendly zebra. Also, the monkeys are quite aggressive and they howl very loud. While dining at the hotel restaurant, we noticed the hotel owner and upper management were having meals at the nearby table. During the entire time, no one bothered to come over and did any sort of greetings or introduction. Having stayed at many luxury resorts, this is quite awkward because they will gladly greet and meet you unless they are very occupied with VVIPs. Well, you can say at the Angama Mara, they very much respect the privacy of resort guests.
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Date of stay: March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicky Fitzgerald, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 24 Jun 2021
Dear Teddy Thank you so much for coming to stay with us in March. Fred asked me to please send his warmest thanks for the kind words you wrote about him in your review. I was delighted to hear that you are an Out of Africa fan and that you enjoyed the view from your tent. Tent 14 in North Camp does offer some of the very best views of the beautiful Mara Triangle. My apologies for those pesky baboons - it is their home but I do so wish they would behave a little better and not make such a racket calling out to each other. It was such a pity that it rained on the night of the Maasai performance and it had to come indoors making you feel a little uncomfortable. On these occasions we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. With regard to your disappointment at not having been greeted by me please accept my apologies. Our stays overlapped by one night and it was most remiss of me not to have come over and introduced myself. Your agent Katie went to great lengths to advise us that you both highly value your privacy and I hope we met your expectations in that regard. Once again my warmest thanks for coming to stay Nicky
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Don’t know where to start or how to end this review. Everything, Everyone and The Lodge itself is spectacular. If your considering don’t consider, just book it and you won’t regret it. The views, the rooms, the surrounding, the game drives, the staff, the food was above and beyond amazing. I worked with Tamsin arranging everything before our arrival and she was wonderful to work with. Sophie was our game driver and she was amazing! She knows the Mara like the back of her hand and could tackle some of the rain soaked tracks, where others wouldn’t dare to venture. She is a true professional in the Mara. The rooms are stocked with Gin, Whiskey and wine which is all included. There is a beautiful pool with views. We were there in March so a bit too cool to swim. The restaurant was great! Always has great drinks (alcohol and non-alcohol) and food ready in hand. The rooms had astounding views of the Mara and binoculars are providing for game viewing. We saw the big 5 and so much more on our game drives! I hated leaving Angama. They say Africa is a once in a lifetime experience and I’m so glad Angama made it a perfect one. Definitely have a yearning to go back at some point in my life. Thank you angama for everything.
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Date of stay: March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicky Fitzgerald, Owner at Angama Mara
Responded 14 Sept 2020
I am so sorry that your beautiful review on TripAdvisor slipped past me and I am only replying now. The world is upside down thanks to the pandemic but that is n o excuse for my lack of manners. From your gorgeous title, to your unrestrained enthusiasm and to the kind words about the team we simply love this review - thank you so much. I see you cracked the girl power team in Tamsin and Sophie and I know they are both tickled pink by your comments. Please don't thank us. It's our great joy to welcome our guests and spoil them rotten and without them we would be nothing. How lucky we are to have such wonderful guests. Warmest thanks Nicky
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Dear Kristi.
I'm so sorry for the delay in answering this question, as I hadn't seen it. Angama caters for many different dietary requirements, and yes, there are plenty of gluten-free options available which Evans and his team are adept and experienced in producing. Hope you have what you need to finalize your trip, if in any further doubt please write to us at the email address listed. Best, Steve (CEO & Co-Founder)
Hampshire, United Kingdom153 contributions95 helpful votes
There really isn't a lobby as such. As we arrived, we met the manager at one end of the dining room, which is pretty much open anyway, except in the rain, and from there we moved out onto the large decked sitting and dining area where all the introductions and briefings were conducted in the fresh air. The only problem is that the view from here over the Masai Mara is so fabulous that it's really not that easy to concentrate!
Johannesburg, South Africa46 contributions58 helpful votes
Hello from Angama
We are delighted you are coming to stay with us next and so look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful Mara.
The response above from Charlie is pitch perfect - who needs a marketing team when your guests do it for you? Thanks so much for coming to stay with us Charlie and for jumping in with an answer.
There certainly is a good chance you may see a crossing in October but those pesky migrating animals have a program all of their own - most unpredictable.
But of what I can assure you is that you will not be disappointed by your game viewing experience - the Mara never fails to deliver.
We will do all we can (cookies, marshmallows) to keep the wildebeest in Kenya in time for your arrival.
So looking forward to hosting you here at Angama
Warm regards
Nicky Fitzgerald
Owner
There are more places to choose from in the Maasai Mara National Reserve area.
LOCATION
KenyaRift Valley ProvinceMaasai Mara National Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
30
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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