Angama Mara has opened! This much anticipated newcomer to Kenya’s bespoke safari scene has taken just 11 months to build since the first peg was planted – a ground breaking achievement in itself.
There is little that is conventional about the creation of Angama Mara: translated from Swahili to be suspended in mid-air, it is the only luxury lodge to be set high up on the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, with views that stretch for miles across the Maasai Mara 300 meters below. Its 30 tented suites, split between two totally separate camps, have been crafted by Nairobi’s finest tent maker, using the world’s largest custom built cutter/plotter and a further 42,000 man hours to complete.
With a pedigree in lodge high design, architect duo Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, working alongside stylista Annemarie Meintjes, have designed the tented suites with 11meter wide floor to ceiling windows – another industry first. Whilst taking inspiration from Nairobi’s Muthaiga Club but with a major departure from the norm, the guest areas will also offer a one-of-a-kind multifunctional space centred on the magnificent views.
Flexibility and ingenuity will be at Angama Mara’s core with days planned around what the guests may want to do, and when. As their wishes change from day to day guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the knowledge and companionship of more than one guide. The guiding team will also endeavour to match like-minded guests with each other: birders will go on safari with fellow birders and serious photographers the same. First-timers to Africa will be guided differently to old-timers. Holding guiding in the highest regard, Angama Mara’s guides have been chosen for their ability to find animals off the beaten track, their great knowledge and storytelling skills but most of all for giving their guests an unforgettable safari.
Another stand out point is Angama Mara’s access to the acclaimed Mara Triangle, a remote part of the Maasai Mara renowned for the year round quality of its game viewing as well as for the reduced number of vehicles that can access it. Wildlife viewing can also be enjoyed straight from the lodge looking down onto the plains below whilst resident game around the lodge is plentiful too. Every tent is equipped with binoculars and there is a spotting scope in the guest area.
Tailor-making their safari further, guests will also be encouraged to eat where they prefer, when they prefer: out on safari with a picnic under a solitary tree, privately on the deck of their tent, more romantically in the guest areas or family-style on long tables under the stars at a Bush BBQ. Celebrating Kenya’s best, they will enjoy tea and coffee from the Highlands, beef from the north, freshly grown fruit and vegetables from owner-run smallholdings and seafood from the coast.
And finally, it is not usual to see those with 30 years in the luxury safari industry having a hands-on approach in the day to day running of the business. Both at the lodge and in the market place, owners Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald’s active involvement will assure the sole and full focus of the management in ensuring their guests’ safari is as unforgettable as Angama Mara itself.
More about Angama Mara
With its modern interpretation of a 1920’s safari, unquestionably one of the attractions of staying at Angama Mara is because of where many of the most romantic scenes from the film Out of Africa were filmed 30 years ago adding romance and nostalgia to the guests’ stay. The Out of Africa kopje (small hill) which features on the movie’s poster has been left untouched for guests to picnic in private and explore.
With safaris being one of the most bonding, exciting and learning holidays on the planet it is only natural that Angama Mara welcomes children of all ages with arms wide open. There are four sets of 2 interconnecting tents, tailor-made menus and more activities than can be imagined to be enjoyed with or without parents.
Doing Well By Doing Good is Angama Mara’s ethos. They believe that by making guests happy they can make a real difference in the community in which they operate. Without happy guests they don’t have a business and without a profitable business they cannot make meaningful and sustainable differences. The Angama Foundation will engage with neighbouring Maasai communities and with the Mara Conservancy to deliver on their promise of Doing Good.