Masai Mara is one of the most family friendly destinations in Kenya with an endless things to do checklist for both adults and kids. The Masai Mara game reserve famed for the great wildebeest migration river crossing event has one of the world’s best game view boasting an impressive population of four big 5 Animals- lion, leopards, elephants, buffalo. However while travelling as a family your experience starts from your stay in a safari lodge especially if you are a young couple travelling with kids. The best facility should have a family tent, children discounts, children activities and baby sitting services. In this posts we shall look at the best facilities for family safaris in Masai Mara.
1. Mara Serena lodge
The facility is the only safari lodge in the famous Mara triangle, a strategic section of Masai Mara game reserve offering unmatched game experiences. Concealed in a grove of Savannah woodlands and perched high small elevation on the sides of Mara river guests at Mara Serena are treated to a premium bush experience enhanced by a luxury stay. The location of the facility offers a boundless view of the drama in along the Mara river with the stretch being one of the major crossover point of the Serengeti herds. Mara Serena has 8 family suites with each with interconnecting room, common sitting areas, private bathroom and two private balconies. All the suites are perfectly set to offer limitless view of the surrounding natural magnificence. To keep the children engaged Mara Serena offers children activities like guided bird walk, tree planting, cultural talks and board games to keep underage children occupied when the parent are on a safari. Baby sitting services are offered on extra charges for travelers with infants.
2. Sanctuary Olonana
The sanctuary Olonana is set out on a private stretch along the Mara river boasting unparalleled view of game scenes viewable right from the comfort of your private room. All rooms are glass walled with a limitless view of the river and surrounding wilderness. Each suite has a private a river-facing deck offering bird eye view of scenes of crocodiles and hippos that bounds the stretch. The Sanctuary Olonana is not fenced and has resident wildlife including a lions pride frequently wandering in the vicinity of your room. Sanctuary Olonana has 3 family suites each with one reconnecting room for children, beautiful Africa artifacts decorations, floor to ceiling glass wall, fully stocked mini fridge and a common family dinning area. Kids of all ages are allowed into this facility. Children not participating in game drives has activities like performing traditional dances, cultural dances and learning how to make and shoot bows and arrows. Children specialist game drives are also offered at competitive rates. Baby sitting services are available at extra charges.
3. The governors camp
The governors camp is the best governors collections owned facility for family safaris in Masai Mara. Hidden in one in a riverine forest along Mara river, the governors camp perfome the magic of creating an authentic bush experience enhanced by profound serenity. The governors camp has a family tent with two rooms that can accommodate up to 4 persons and a cot. Each facility has ensuite bathroom and a private veranda. The facility has a select children menu with an option of early meals. At governors camp there are children programme like bird walk and cooking lessons. Importantly, children below 16 years enjoy discounted rates and 3 years infant are exempted from charges. Baby sitting services are offered at extra-charges.
4. Governors private camp
Also owned by the governors camp, the facility is set in an alluring bend of the famous Mara river a stretch with extensive riverine forest and riparian areas. The location of the camp creates unending scenes of wildlife grazing and hunting in the long Savannah grasslands all year round. Governoprs private camp is ideal for large families taking over the entire camp. This facility has just seven tented suites offering home style and exclusive stay. The facility can accommodate up to a group with a minimum requirement of booking 6 tents. Underage children of below 12 years enjoy discounted rates while infants get free accommodation. Baby sitting services are offered on request.
5. Kicheche mara bush camp
Kicheche Mara is a small tented camp facility set out at a spellbinding spot at the heart of Mara North conservancy. The magical location features an alluring immaculate wildernesses, exciting fauna and avian scenes; and a river cutting across. This is enhanced by unmatched personalized family style stay perfectly befitting your desired family safari experience. The family suite has two adjoining rooms, private bathroom, a common lounge facility furnished with sofas and a private dinning area. At Kicheche Mara there a bucketful of children activities to keep them engage all round, Some of the most common engagement include Masai bracelets and ornamental beading, bow and arrow making and shooting and a short guided wilderness stroll.
6. AndBeyond Bateleurs camp
The facility is set in a private concession area in the north most section of the Masai Mara game reserve and right at the foot of the Oloololo escarpments of the Gregory valley. With just two tented camps with nine suites AndBeyond offers a home style stay in an atmospheric location. Guest in the facility are treated to endless game scenes with throngs of wildlife permanently living in the surrounding wilderness.Here guest can engage in bush activities like night safari drives, normal daytime game drives and walking safaris. The family canvas as adjoining rooms with en suite amenities, a private butler and housekeeper. Children of all ages are allowed into the facility. Here children can engage in normal bush activities including a short guided bush walk.
7. Sarova Mara camp
The facility is set at the heart of the Masai Mara game reserve in an astoundingly wildlife-rich location. Sarova Mara is designed to a luxury family style canvas facility with interlinking rooms and facilities like a swimming pool, archery, table tennis, mini golf, pool table, dart and a spa. Each family suite has a capacity of up to 4 guests and has a common lounge area for the family. 12-4 years children visiting this facility have a chance to engage in supervised in-house activities like bead making when the parents are on game drives. At Sarova Mara camp you can also participate in family safaris activities like bush walk and sundowning. Importantly, baby sitting services are offered on request.
8. Karen Blixen camp
The facility is set at the western edge of Mara North conservancy closeby the famous Mara river. This camp is famous with travelers seeking a complete luxury experience amidst unending game scenes in the off beaten tracts of the famous game country. Here all the camps are set in keenly appointed spots with limitless view of the river right from your room. The family suite is configured into two conjoined tents each with a double occupancy. Children of all ages are allowed to visit the facility. Karen Blixen offers children activities like bow making and arrow shooting, bush walk, throwing seed balls using catapult e.t.c Additionally, Karen Blixen offers guests on family safari a rare opportunity to bound through isolated family bush meals. Children menu can be prepared on request.
9. Mara intrepids camp
The facility is set in an extensive riverine forest near the confluence of Talek river a hotspot for leopards the most elusive of the three Mara big cats. Here you have an opportunity to relax at the balcony and watch the hunting drams as they unfold. The camp is built into a classic style canvas with large poster beds. The faqmily suites can be configured to accommodate up to4 members. What distinguishes Mara Intrepids for family safaris is the Kids club guaranteeing unparalleled cultural and bush experience for underage who might not participate in the game drives. To create the bonds members family bush meals can be organized on request.
10.Ol Seki hemmingway’s Mara camp
This facility is set at the heart of Naboisho conservancy one of the main private wilderness in greater Mara region. The conservancy is one of the major migration corridors for serengeti herds and stay here guarantees a boundless view of the migration epic happening at the vicinity of your camp. The family suite has two double bedrooms adjoining a large living area, dinning area, a complete kitchen, a butler ,fully stocked bar and a fridge. In this facility children create memories by going out with masai guide to learn about the culture, arrow shooting, bush survival tactics and guided walks in search of animals footprints.
