Angama Mara, Maasai Mara

The name Angama comes from a Swahili word meaning “suspended in mid-air,” and once you arrive, the name makes perfect sense. Angama Mara sits about 1,000 feet above the floor of the Great Rift Valley on the Oloololo Escarpment, with sweeping views across the Mara Triangle and the vast plains of Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The lodge stretches across three kopjes along the escarpment, with its east-facing position giving the suites beautiful views of the morning light. Far below, the Mara Triangle offers excellent wildlife viewing throughout the year, while the Mara River, one of the key areas during the annual Wildebeest Migration, is about 20 minutes away by vehicle. Angama has two separate camps, North and South, with 15 tented suites in each. With the camps spread across the escarpment, the lodge feels intimate and spacious rather than like a 30-suite property, giving guests plenty of room to enjoy the views and the surrounding landscape in peace.

Where Is Angama Mara Located?

Angama Mara sits high on the rim of the Siria-Oloololo Escarpment, on the western edge of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. Its position gives the lodge a remarkable outlook across the Mara Triangle, with the vast plains stretching out below. The lodge is built around three kopjes, which form an important part of its character and setting. One of these kopjes is also associated with a memorable scene from the film Out of Africa, adding another layer of history to an already distinctive location. The escarpment faces east, so the morning light comes straight into the glass-fronted tents as the sun rises over the Mara. It is a beautiful way to begin the day, with the landscape opening up right in front of you. Game viewing is available throughout the year, and the Mara River is only about 20 minutes away by vehicle. This makes it easy to reach the river area during the season when the Wildebeest Migration moves through the Mara.

Tented Suites at Angama Mara

Angama Mara has 30 tented suites, shared equally between Angama North and Angama South, with 15 suites in each camp. Each side has its own guest areas and communal spaces, giving both camps a more intimate feel rather than making the property feel like one large lodge.

Glass-Fronted Tented Suites

Each tented suite covers more than 100 square metres, including the private deck. The first thing that stands out is the enormous 11-metre-wide, floor-to-ceiling glass frontage, which opens the entire room towards the Mara plains below. The views are part of the room from almost every angle, including from the bathtub, so you can stay in your suite and still feel closely connected to the landscape outside. Classic safari canvas in olive and cream covers the roof and remaining walls, while touches of Maasai red add warmth and character to the interiors. Beds are extra-length kings, with the option to convert them into twins when needed. Every suite has its own private deck, giving you a quiet place to have breakfast, enjoy a drink, relax in the afternoon or simply sit and watch the Mara below.

Family Suites and Child Policy

Families have four dedicated family suites to choose from, with two located in Angama North and two in Angama South. Children aged six and above are welcome at Angama Mara. For families travelling with children up to 12 years old, the suites can also be arranged with a triple-bed configuration. Having family suites on both sides of the property gives families the choice of staying in either Angama North or Angama South.

Suite Amenities and Accessibility

The suites combine the character of a classic safari tent with the comforts expected from a high-end lodge. Inside, you will find:

• Extra-length king-size or twin beds
• Polished parquet hardwood floors
• Ceiling fans
• Electric blankets
• Charging points
• Personal bar
• Drinks cabinet
• In-room safe
• Bathtub and shower
• Separate toilet
• Twin bathroom vanities
• Hairdryer
• Private deck
• Butler’s lobby
• Luggage rack
• Emergency siren

Angama Mara is unfenced, so wildlife can move through the property. The emergency siren in each suite is an important part of the safety setup, particularly when moving around the camp after dark. One of the suites is specially equipped for guests with disabilities. There is also a small practical touch worth knowing about: rubber slippers are provided because the polished floors can become slippery when wearing socks.

Restaurants and Dining at Angama Mara

Dining at Angama Mara is not tied to one restaurant or one fixed setting. Meals can take place in the main lodge, on your private deck, in the gardens or out in the Mara, giving each day the chance to feel a little different.

Main Lodge and Private Deck Dining

You can enjoy meals in the main lodge or have them served privately on your suite deck. With the decks looking directly across the Mara plains, the views remain part of the experience while you eat. Private dining can also be arranged in the suite for those times when you would rather enjoy a meal away from the communal areas.

Shamba Garden-to-Table Lunches

Shamba brings a different setting to lunchtime, with fresh local produce coming straight from the lodge’s garden. It is a relaxed place for a long lunch, particularly during the quieter part of the day between morning and afternoon safari activities.

Forest BBQ and Mara Picnics

For an evening with a different atmosphere, the Forest BBQ takes place beneath the trees with lanterns lighting the setting. Meals can also be taken out into the Mara for a picnic, bringing you even closer to the landscape. Having several dining options means that a multi-night stay does not have to follow the same routine every day.

Open Bar and Lounge

Each camp has its own open-plan bar, where guests can help themselves to drinks throughout the day. The bar flows into the lounge and library before opening towards an outdoor dining and viewing area overlooking the Mara plains. It is the kind of space where you can settle in with a drink after a game drive, spend some time in the library or simply sit outside and take in the view.

Swimming Pool, Fitness and Wellness

The central pavilion is where you will find several of Angama’s shared leisure and wellness facilities, giving guests a comfortable place to slow down between safari activities.

Infinity Pool and Escarpment Views

The approximately 12.5-metre (40-foot) infinity pool sits in a position that opens directly towards the escarpment. It is an ideal place to cool off after a game drive or nature walk while keeping the valley views in front of you. The pool forms part of the central pavilion facilities. The exact arrangement of swimming pools between the two camps should be confirmed before specifying whether each camp has its own pool or whether guests share this central facility.

Fitness Centre

The fitness centre is also located within the pavilion and comes with a good selection of equipment for guests who want to keep active during their stay. You will find an elliptical trainer, treadmill, exercise bikes, free weights, Pilates balls and a ballet bar for stretching. Large folding glass doors open towards the valley, so you can work out while still enjoying the views outside.

Spa Treatments

Massage treatments are available at Angama, with the option of having a treatment on your private deck. This gives you the chance to enjoy some quiet relaxation without leaving the privacy of your suite. The central pavilion also has a library with satellite television, African films and a collection of books, together with a cloakroom for guests who need somewhere to freshen up before a later departure.

Beading Studio, Photography and Other Facilities

Angama goes beyond the usual combination of accommodation, dining and safari activities, with several facilities that add something different to your stay.

Maasai Beading Studio

The Maasai Beading Studio brings women from the neighbouring community to the lodge to make jewellery, belts and other accessories. You can spend time with the women, learn about their beadwork and even commission a piece of your own. Finished jewellery and other items are also available through the adjoining Safari Shop, giving guests an opportunity to take home something made within the local community.

Photography Studio

For guests who enjoy photography, Angama has a dedicated photography studio with camera bodies and lenses available for rental. A large-format printer is also available, allowing you to work on your safari photographs and print a selection of your favourite images before leaving the lodge. With the Mara landscape and wildlife right outside, the studio is particularly useful for photographers who want to make more of the images captured during their stay.

Weddings and Maasai Blessings

Angama also provides settings for weddings and special ceremonies. Traditional wedding arrangements can be held at the property, including celebrations in a brush-packed Maasai boma at sunset. For something rooted in local tradition, Maasai Blessing ceremonies can take place on the crest of the Out of Africa kopje, creating a memorable setting above the surrounding landscape. Other useful facilities include Wi-Fi throughout the property, laundry service and room service.

Safari Activities at Angama Mara

Angama Mara gives you several ways to enjoy the Maasai Mara, from private game drives and guided walks to relaxed bush meals and time spent with the local Maasai community. The activities make good use of the lodge’s position above the Mara Triangle, so you can combine wildlife, scenery and time at the lodge without spending the whole day on the road.

Private Game Drives

Private game drives give you the freedom to shape your day around what you want to see. You can set your own pace, spend longer with a particular sighting, or take more time when you come across a subject that is especially interesting for photography. The lodge’s position above the Mara Triangle also puts you close to the reserve, so you can get into the Mara without a long transfer before your game drive begins.

Guided Nature Walks

A guided nature walk lets you experience the Mara from a different perspective. Away from the safari vehicle, your attention shifts to animal tracks, plants, insects, smaller wildlife and the finer details of the landscape. It is a slower way to experience the surroundings and works particularly well when you want a break from vehicle-based game viewing.

Bush Barbecues and Sundowners

Bush barbecues and sundowners bring another side of the Mara into your day. Rather than returning to the main lodge for every meal or drink, you can enjoy time out in the landscape with the open Mara around you. The setting makes these occasions particularly memorable, with the elevated position offering broad views across the surrounding landscape as the light changes towards evening.

Cultural Experiences

Time with the local Maasai community adds a cultural side to your stay at Angama Mara. One of the most engaging ways to experience this is through the lodge’s Beading Studio, where you can meet Maasai women, learn about their beadwork and see the skill that goes into creating the pieces. It gives you the chance to connect with the people and traditions of the area while seeing the work of local women up close.

How to Get to Angama Mara

Most guests reach Angama Mara by light aircraft from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport. The flight to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip takes about 45 minutes, followed by a road transfer of roughly 30 minutes to the lodge. Angama Mara also has its own private airfield, giving guests another option for flying directly to the lodge. If you are travelling this way, your safari operator can arrange the flight and onward transfer as part of your stay. The lodge is unfenced, so wildlife can move freely through the property. After sunset, guests should not walk around the camp on their own. Lodge staff are available to escort you safely between your tent and the main areas of camp.