Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Maasai Mara

Mara Serena Safari Lodge sits high on Ol Donyo Oseiya Hill in the Mara Triangle, giving it wide views over the Mara River and the open plains of the Maasai Mara. The elevated setting is one of the lodge’s biggest attractions, with the views stretching out from the private balconies, restaurant, bar and swimming pool. The lodge gives you a good combination of wildlife access and full lodge facilities. Game drives take you into the surrounding Mara, while back at the lodge you can enjoy the swimming pool, spa, restaurant and other facilities without giving up the feel of being in the middle of safari country. Families are also well catered for, making Mara Serena a practical choice for travellers who want a comfortable lodge with easy access to the Mara’s wildlife and the wider wildebeest migration area. It is a larger lodge rather than a small, intimate tented camp, so it suits travellers who prefer more facilities and space while still wanting to stay close to the action of the Maasai Mara.

Where Is Mara Serena Safari Lodge Located?

Mara Serena Safari Lodge sits on Ol Donyo Oseiya Hill in the Mara Triangle, giving it a superb position overlooking the open plains and a broad bend of the Mara River below. The Mara Triangle covers about 510 km² and is generally quieter than some of the busier areas of the wider Maasai Mara National Reserve, making this side of the reserve particularly appealing for travellers looking for a more relaxed safari setting. It is also an important area for black rhinos, with much of the reserve’s rhino population found within the Triangle. From Mara Serena, the Mara River is about 2.9 km away, while Oloololo Gate is approximately 22 km and Musiara Gate about 39 km away. The lodge’s elevated position also means you can enjoy wide views across the surrounding plains right from the property. The lodge is already within the Mara Triangle, so there is no need to give a separate distance from the wider Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Rooms and Suites at Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Mara Serena Safari Lodge offers a choice of standard rooms, family accommodation and a larger Mara Serena Suite. The rooms are designed around the lodge’s elevated setting, with private balconies opening towards the Mara River and surrounding plains.

Lodge Rooms

Standard rooms are available as double, twin and triple rooms, making them suitable for couples, friends and small families travelling together. The interiors bring in Maasai-inspired colours, hand-painted details and textured fabrics, while keeping the comfort and practicality expected from a full-service safari lodge. Rather than facing inward like a conventional hotel room, each room makes the most of its setting, with the surrounding Mara landscape forming part of the stay.

Mara Serena Suite

For guests looking for more space, the lodge has one larger Suite with a king-size master bedroom and a separate living room. It also has two private balconies overlooking the Mara River, giving couples and other guests more room to relax between game drives. The separate living area and more refined furnishings make the Suite the lodge’s most spacious accommodation option.

Room Amenities and Private Balconies

Rooms come with mosquito-netted beds, a private balcony, writing desk, complimentary Wi-Fi, a ceiling fan and a modern en-suite bathroom with designer toiletries. Bathroom layouts can vary between rooms, with some featuring walk-in showers and others offering bathtub arrangements.

Children and Family Stays

Families are welcome at Mara Serena Safari Lodge, with family-friendly facilities and accommodation available for guests travelling with children. Children aged 3 to 11 sharing a room with adults are charged 50% of the adult rate, while children under three stay free. Babysitting is also available at an additional charge.

Restaurants and Dining at Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Dining at Mara Serena Safari Lodge is closely tied to the surrounding landscape. Meals can be enjoyed in the Main Dining Room, beside the Mara River, around the pool or out in the bush, giving guests different ways to enjoy their meals during a multi-night stay.

Main Dining Room

The Main Dining Room serves a selection of local and international dishes prepared with fresh ingredients. Large views across the Mara plains and river continue into the dining space, keeping the safari setting present throughout breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Hippo Pool Breakfast

For a more memorable start to the day, breakfast can be served beside the Mara River at the Hippo Pool. Chefs prepare and serve the meal outdoors on the shaded riverbank, allowing guests to enjoy breakfast while taking in the sights and sounds of the Mara.

Bush Dinners and Poolside Barbecue

Evening dining can move outdoors with a bush dinner beneath the stars. The lodge also offers a lantern-lit poolside barbecue, giving guests another relaxed setting for dinner without having to return to the main dining room.

Bar and Sundowners

The bar sits beside the restaurant, with views extending across the plains and towards the river. For sundowners, guests can head out into the Mara after an afternoon game drive, stop at a scenic spot and enjoy a drink as the sun sets across the Mara Triangle. This gives the dining and drinks experience at Mara Serena a strong connection to the safari itself, rather than keeping everything within the lodge.

Swimming Pool, Spa and Fitness

Rock-Enclosed Swimming Pool: Mara Serena has a rock-enclosed swimming pool set high above the plains, with wide views towards the Mara River. Its elevated position gives guests the same open outlook enjoyed from the lodge’s restaurant and bar. It is a good place to slow down between morning and afternoon game drives, particularly for families and travellers staying for several nights.

Maisha Spa and Gym: The Maisha Spa & Gym gives guests a comfortable place to unwind after a day of game drives and other safari activities. The facilities include steam treatments and the signature Oringa Massage, with additional massage and beauty treatments available at the Spa & Wellness Centre. Spa treatments come at an additional cost and are separate from the standard accommodation package.

Other Facilities at Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Mara Serena offers a wide range of facilities and guest services, making it a good choice for travellers who want more amenities than a small tented bush camp can provide. These include:

• Gift shop
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Concierge service
• Babysitting at an additional cost
• Business centre
• Complimentary lobby newspapers
• Dry cleaning
• Laundry service
• Free self-parking
• Fitness centre
• Airport transfers on request

The lodge also uses solar energy, water recycling and sustainable waste-management practices as part of its operations.

What Is Included at Mara Serena Safari Lodge?

Accommodation at Mara Serena is offered mainly on a full-board basis, covering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Game drives are also included in the nightly accommodation rate. Some safari experiences and services come at an additional cost, including:

• Hot air balloon safaris
• Spa treatments
• Babysitting
• Airport transfers

The Maasai Mara National Reserve entry fee is paid separately from the lodge accommodation.

Safari Activities at Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Staying at Mara Serena Safari Lodge gives you several ways to enjoy the Maasai Mara, from classic game drives across the Mara Triangle to balloon safaris, Maasai cultural visits and dining experiences out in the bush.

Maasai Mara Game Drives

Game drives are included in the nightly rate and take you into the surrounding Mara Triangle in search of the area’s wildlife. Depending on the season and where the animals are moving, you can encounter wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, hippos, Nile crocodiles, large cats and black rhinos. The Mara changes throughout the year, so each game drive brings a different opportunity to see the wildlife and landscapes that make this part of Kenya so special.

Hot Air Balloon Safaris

For a completely different view of the Mara, you can take a hot air balloon safari at dawn. As the balloon rises over the Mara Triangle, you get a broad view of the plains and wildlife below before returning to the ground for the rest of your safari day. Balloon safaris come at an additional cost and are not included in the standard nightly rate.

Maasai Village Visits

A visit to a Maasai village adds a cultural side to your stay. It gives you time away from the game drives to meet local people and learn more about Maasai traditions and daily life.

Sundowners and Bush Dinners

After an afternoon game drive, you can stop in the bush for a sundowner as the day comes to an end. Bush dinners take the experience a step further, with dinner served away from the main lodge and out in the Mara surroundings. These experiences allow you to enjoy the landscape for longer rather than heading straight back to the lodge after your game drive.

Hippo Pool Breakfasts

Breakfast can also be taken out in the bush at the Hippo Pool, where the setting near the Mara River adds a wildlife element to the meal. It is a relaxed way to combine outdoor dining with the chance to watch the river and its surroundings while you enjoy breakfast.

Great Migration at Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Mara Serena Safari Lodge sits high above the Mara Triangle, giving guests sweeping views across the plains where the Great Migration unfolds each year. From around July to October, huge herds of wildebeest move through the Mara, with the Mara River becoming one of the key areas to watch as the migration progresses. One of the advantages of staying at Mara Serena is that you can take in the migration landscape even before heading out on a game drive. The lodge’s elevated position gives you wide views across the surrounding plains from the balconies and communal areas, so you can keep an eye on the activity while relaxing at the property. The migration is seasonal, and the exact timing of the herds and river crossings can vary from year to year. July to October is the main period to consider, but there are no fixed dates for when a particular herd will arrive or cross the river. For the best chance of seeing the migration, your safari timing should allow some flexibility around the movements of the herds.

How to Get to Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Mara Serena Safari Lodge is accessible from Nairobi by both air and road, making it easy to include in a Kenya safari whether you prefer a quick flight or a scenic drive through the country.

Flying from Nairobi: Flying is the quickest way to reach the Maasai Mara from Nairobi, with the journey taking about 45 minutes. Once you land at the local Mara airstrip, you can continue to the lodge by road, with transfers arranged as part of your safari or directly with the lodge. For travellers who prefer a more private transfer, a helicopter journey to the Mara is another option and can be arranged for a more direct arrival.

Driving from Nairobi: The drive from Nairobi to Mara Serena Safari Lodge takes around 6 to 7 hours, depending on road conditions, traffic, and stops along the way. This is a good option if you are travelling overland through Kenya and want to take in more of the countryside before reaching the Maasai Mara.

Airstrip Transfers: Once you arrive at the Mara airstrip, the final journey to Mara Serena Safari Lodge is by road. Transfer arrangements can be made with the lodge or through your safari operator, allowing you to connect directly with your accommodation after the flight.