About Angama Mara

Angama Mara: Our full report

Situated in the western part of Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, the luxury Angama Mara opened in 2015.

It is set in a commanding position on the rim of the Siria-Oloololo Escarpment, looking down onto the Mara Triangle. The lodge comprises two identical, self-contained camps, each with 15 tented suites, its own central area, and independent services.

Angama Mara takes its name from the Swahili angama, meaning 'suspended in the air', and it is truly in a superlative position. The site was formerly occupied by Olkurruk Mara Lodge, which was built for the crew and stars of Sydney Pollack's 1985 blockbuster movie, Out of Africa. The original lodge sadly burned down, but it has allowed the brand new Angama Mara to make use of the outstanding location.

Angama Mara was built by Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald, who continue to own and help run the lodge. Over the past 30 years, they have created and worked at some of the best safari lodges in sub-Saharan Africa, and this new venture has clearly been influenced by some of their other projects – including Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater Lodge , which was built in 1995.

The 30 tented suites at Angama Mara, each covering an area of more than 100m², are split evenly between the 'South Camp', which faces south-east, and the 'North Camp', which looks directly east over the Maasai Mara. The Suites in the South Camp arguably have slightly better panoramic views, although a steeper drop off in North Camp can make this feel quite dramatic.

Although three walls and the roof of the suites are canvas, they feel more like modern, open-plan apartments than safari tents. All are glass-fronted, with superb views over the Mara from every part of the room – the bed, the bath, the sitting area or the shower. However, although you can choose to sleep with the sliding doors open, admitting fresh air and some sounds of the wild, some guests might feel quite removed from the surrounding wildlife. Each suite does, though, have a large, decked veranda with two modern red rocking chairs – a great place to while away the afternoon or indulge in a private dinner.

Inside, each suite is art deco in style: with polished dark wooden parquet flooring; high, well-lit, pink ceilings; and walls made from a combination of white quilted screens and exposed brick. Tasteful flashes of red, gold and bronze add to the sophisticated appearance. Red is the signature colour of Angama Mara and there are nods to this throughout the lodge, from the cushions and soft furnishings to the staff uniforms. We liked the clever touches such as the attractive drinks; a writing desk that has an ingenious charging box with a variety of plug adaptors; and stylish furniture which made the rooms feel modern and high-class. All guests are provided with Nikon binoculars for use during their stay, however you need to request these from a member of staff as they are not kept in the rooms due to risk of theft.

All of the tented suites contain double or twin beds, and four of them (two in each camp) are interconnecting, with a shared balcony, making them suitable for families. The beds have electric blankets, which are surprisingly welcome at night, when it can be pretty chilly this high on the escarpment.

Since the suites are open plan, the bathroom is separated from the lounge only by a comparatively small decorative screen. We felt that you would need to be fairly comfortable with the person sharing the room as there is not much in the way of privacy here. There is a free-standing bath, a vanity mirror with double basins and gold taps, a separate flush toilet and an excellent rain shower. A selection of Afro-chic toiletries is also supplied.

Each camp has its own main area, housed within one large building with a terrace, and this, together with the division of the suites, combines to make the lodge as a whole feel smaller than it really is.

The restaurant and bar area looks very professional, not dissimilar to a top-end restaurant in a major city. Polished red floors, rustic wood-beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls and yet more flashes of bronze and red continue the contemporary theme. To one side is a cosy library, where a log fire is lit on colder nights and guests may choose to have a private dinner at the large dining table. There is also a TV here, with a selection of DVDs should you want to watch a film in the evening.

However, by far the most striking feature of Angama Mara is the splendid terrace and 'baraza' (meaning 'meeting place'), which overhangs the Siria-Oloololo Escarpment and gives arguably the best views of the Mara to be found. Breakfast, lunch and often dinner are served on this terrace, and the sunken firepit with comfortable red cushions is an excellent place to meet for a drink before dinner. There is also a telescope here so that guests can look for wildlife in the Mara Triangle. This came into its own on our last visit, when we watched a black rhino browsing while we enjoyed our morning coffee!

The activities at Angama Mara are varied and flexible. Most guests will want to make use of the lodge's fully open vehicles and go on game drives in the Mara Triangle section of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, accompanied by a top safari guide. This large district is visited by very few other lodges and camps, and remains comparatively quiet compared to other areas of the Mara, but gives excellent wildlife-viewing from a network of well-maintained earth roads. Parts of the Mara Triangle are also open to off-road driving. As well as game drives, you can do guided walks on the escarpment.

If you just want to chill, you'll find a decent-sized solar heated infinity pool (12m x 6m) with suntrap walling around three sides, as well as a fitness suite, and the option of massages on your own veranda (at extra cost).

There is an excellent photography studio onsite, with a couple of photographers in residence. Guests are welcome to visit the studio where the team can help you to edit your photos and teach you a few photography skills. They also have Canon and Nikon camera bodies and lenses available to hire at extra cost, or alternatively you can arrange to hire a photographer for the day for a special photo shoot.

On our last visit we were also really impressed with the Map Room, which housed a large number of ancient maps of Africa from days gone by. There are also several fascinating maps depicting the geographic range of different bird, plant and mammal species, in addition to a collection of old animal skulls and fossils. This space is dominated by a large wooden table, and this can also be as a private dining area for groups. A naturalist is based at Angama and they would be happy to chat through the local flora and fauna, and they can also offer guided nature walks along the escarpment.

There is a well-stocked curio shop on site, and local ladies visit Angama on a daily basis to create a range of beaded products, from belts and jewelry to bags, as well as bespoke commissioned pieces. Guests are welcome to join the ladies for an hour or two and they can teach you how to bead your own jewelry.

A visit to the local village, costing US$35 per person, can be a rewarding – and very immersive – experience. Guests will meet the village chief, who will give a talk, and you will be welcomed with a dance – but be prepared to be sold some souvenirs at the end! Any purchases can be paid for by card at the end of your stay.

If you are feeling particularly active there is also the option to run with a Kenyan, and join the local staff running team for a morning run along the escarpment. A high level of fitness is recommended, as they can easily run up to 20km each day.

Roughly twice a week the Angama team arrange a communal sundowner experience for all guests at their onsite boma, with a dance performance by local Maasai, many of whom work at the lodge. This is accompanied by hot snacks and their signature cocktail of the day.

Angama Mara has also built a huge vegetable garden, which provides seasonal, fresh produce to the lodge. Tours of this impressive shamba (meaning 'farm' in Swahili) are also very popular, and it is also a lovely spot for lunch.

The team behind Angama Mara is doing a great amount for the local communities too. Each guest makes a US$10 per night donation, which is invested in community and conservation projects in the Mara Triangle. So far they have built a village for the staff that includes a clinic and dispensary, while they have also built classrooms at a nearby school and dormitories so that teachers could stay there.

Guides from the lodge are also educating children about the benefits of conservation as well as working very closely with the Mara Conservancy, which manages the Mara Triangle, assisting them with anti-poaching. This is particularly important in this unfenced area, which has such a high population of elephant and rhino.