Reviews of Tangulia Mara

"Lovely camp-including tents, main areas with views and property pathways. Very good vehicles.

They have two types of vehicles. The first day I was in, what I understood to be their newer vehicles. Very high rood covering and completely open-no windshield. These are very comfortable and roomy vehicles with great visibility. As a photographer, I found the lack of option to stand a bit problematic-both for spotting and for variety of shooting positions. It would be especially advantageous with such high grass. But they were very accommodating to switch me to one of their older style vehicles where you can stand. The visibility is a little less open as the trucks are bulkier and there is a windshield, but the amity to stand out weighed that. There was also better camera support shooting from seated. SO, overall both vehicles are very good, but I do think the newer ones are more suited to wildlife viewing and not equipped for photographers who might need lens support and different angles of view.

The camp itself is very good. My game drives were somewhat lacking, which can happen when dealing with wildlife.

The food was, in my opinion, well below what I would expect for a camp of this standing. Very disappointing. Honestly, this was a big shortcoming for a camp of this standing. The food was absolutely not at all comparable to other properties I have stayed at. In fact, I would say it was the most disappointing of any camp I have stayed at both in terms of quality, variety and presentation. (When plated(as opposed to served at the table, which was more usual) the food was just piled on the plate with no sense of presentation at all.) The lack of variety was very disappointing. (ie: over 4 lunches there were cubed beets served 3 times and pizza served twice(I will say the pizza was actually the best of what was served for lunches.) One lunch had 3 different servings of carrots on the plate-grilled, shredded carrot salad and cubed and mixed in rice. It was accompanied by a dry vegetarian patty, but when I inquired what that was made of, no one could tell me. One lunch I was served plain spaghetti noodles. No sauce. (There was a meat sauce for those eating meat but no sauce option for vegetarian. Packed breakfast included the same fruit option every day. A whole apple, orange or tree tomato ( I think?) These were the only fruits included all 4 mornings. I even mentioned that I don’t eat apples, but they were still on offer every day and again in the evening when a half of small apple by itself, warmed with a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon was served for desert. At dinner one night I asked what the vegetarian option was made of, and the server did not know. So, I opted to try the lamb cubes-(which were served on two of the 4 nights)-but found it very tough and difficult to chew. The soups in the evening were very good, as were the savoury items at breakfast, but other than that, very disappointing." See all these reviews: 4n in Kenya

"Wow such an amazing and special place! Nestled up in the hills in their own private area- it was so peaceful and you felt very much at one with nature. From the massive balcony of our tent as well as the main camp area you had a perfect view across the salt lick and to the river where there were always animals to watch. On our very last morning a mum and very young waterbuck calf came walking right under our tent.

The tent itself was huge. Nice wooden floor throughout, large beds, bathroom area, and as I mentioned the lovely balcony which was so big it had two sofas on it. Lovely furniture which looked like it was made out of reclaimed wood added to the special feeling of the tent.

The main restaurant/bar area of the camp was also a lovely spacious area to relax and have a drink in the afternoon or before dinner, with lovely relaxing sofas all around to sit on as well as plenty of space they laid out for dinner.

All the meals were delicious. We had picnic breakfasts out in the bush on 2 days and picnic lunch on one day, the rest of the meals back at the camp. The lamb stew was a dinner highlight for us but all the meals were freshly cooked and fabulous.

All the staff at the camp were so friendly and helpful, always eager to discuss what animals we had seen that day and make sure we had everything we needed. Very good at keeping our wine glasses topped up as well!

We mustn't forget the animals! Can't believe what wide variety of animals we say on our game drives - in the main national park on our very first evening we say the marsh pride of lions attempt to hunt down a buffalo, before being chased off by an angry herd of elephants who didn't appreciate being caught in the middle of the hunt.

We saw every animal you could think of, as well as many others. We couldn't believe there were so many elephants in the Masai Mara, it was great to see them moving across the open plains, the matriarch in the lead, as well as stopping and having a drink at different rivers. We saw several other lion prides, including 2 male lions having a munch on a hippo for breakfast.

We also saw a cheetah attempt to hunt down a gazelle. One day we went for a whole day safari to the Mara North area- we were lucky to see a rhino and her calf, lions having a sleep, wildebeest in their tens of thousands migrating over from the Serengeti- at one point all across the horizon were wildebeest. We also saw a group of wildebeest cross the river as part of the migration - an amazing sight (they all made it across - no crocodiles around!). It was also lovely to see some of the smaller animals - we saw several eagles, dik diks, loads of baboons (including a small baby attempting to climb up a bush), and mongoose to name a few.

Our guide, Lucy, was absolutely amazing. So knowledgeable about the animals and always knew exactly where she was going and where she could hopefully find different animals. She did a great job of showing us the wide variety of animals in the Mara. We feel very privileged to have been guided by one of the very few female guides out in the Mara.

Tangulia Mara feels extra special being the first Maasai-owned and run camp in the Mara, and it is clear how proud both the owners Jackson and Dominic and all their staff are of their camp and what they have achieved with making this amazing special place. Definitely an unforgettable experience." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya

"I stayed here for 4 nights and loved everything about it.

It has a wonderful setting and my tent overlooked the natural salt lick and a bend in the Mara river. Many animals were to be seen just sitting out on the verandah - including lions.

Jackson was not there but his partner, Dominic, was an attentive and interesting host.

Lovely food and my guide, Benjamin, was full of information and showed me the best possible sightings.

Lots of fairly rustic type furniture very much in keeping with the camp." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya

"The service felt very personalized, with a Masai celebration and cake commemorating our long-delayed family graduation trip on our final night. The food was excellent with very good vegan options and attentiveness to our group's dietary restrictions. The only non-dairy milk was coconut milk.

Our guide was superb, and the animal sightings were numerous. We were there in June 2022 - rainy season and pre-migration - and some sites could not be accessed due to muddy terrain. Also, the tall grasses and pre-migration status meant that some sightings were harder to come by. That said, even the drive from the airstrip on the first day was fantastic!

The site is beautiful - we could view game from our porch, and if the tents were "less polished" than other sites they were still luxurious: the showers were hot, everything was clean and spacious, and service was outstanding." See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya; 6n in Rwanda

"So glad Richard Trillo encouraged us to go to Maasai Mara and to Tangulia. It is great it is Maasai owned and run so very different from monster chain hotel camps. The owner, Jackson Looseye is amazing, expert friendly, sophisticated, worth a visit just to meet him.

Drive from the landing strip was a safari in itself with our great guide Benjamin. The camp has wonderful views over the green river valley, spent an hour just watching giraffes graze, there were always animals to watch from our terrace. Tent and location great.

The game and the birds are amazing here, we have enjoyed many safaris but this location had almost everything.

Good staff, and food a lot of care, breakfasts and sundowners by the river.

The walk and visit to the local village was a great experience, not to be missed. Very friendly if sobering." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya

"I stayed in Tangulia Mara for 11 days, as a solo female traveller. I felt very much at home in this very pleasant camp.

I indicated that during the pandemic I did not feel comfortable having communal meals, so I had my meals at a separate table, where I was joined in the beginning of my stay by Susan (assistant manager) and later by Damaris ( the manager). We had long talks about the various aspects of the Masai culture and their and my personal lives.

Whenever I was in the comfortable lounge area, I would be joined by one of the staff members, and we always had interesting conversations about the Masai people and the changes that are taking place in their culture. For me this was important as I was eager to learn, and I very much like to engage with the people whenever I travel in Africa.

Tangulia Mara camp is a rustic camp, that is beautifully located in a quiet part of the Masai Mara. The path from the lounge to my tent was newly paved, which was very comfortable as it rained a lot at night and my tent was located downhills.

The tent was airy and spacious, and decorated with nice wooden details and beautiful beadwork. There was a big container with drinking water, a fridge, and a fan.

I had a tent with a view on the salt lick and the Mara river, and every day I saw hippo’s, elephants, buffalo, giraffe, impala, waterbuck, baboons, and many birds from my big porch. The shower was great, and I would find a warm waterbottle every evening. At six in the morning I got hot tea in a thermos mug and biscuits in my tent, and we always enjoyed a picknick breakfast during our gamedrive.

Sometimes we would also take a picknick lunch.

I had Sophia and Dalton as my guides, they were a knowledgeable team, and good drivers which was important on the extremely muddy and bad roads in the Masai Mara.

We had wonderful sightings, and could stay there as long as I wanted to observe the behaviour of the wildlife. One of the many good things about Tangulia Mara is, that each guest/couple/group gets a private car if possible, even in the high season.

Last but not least: the food was very tasty.

The only downside is, that it can be rather busy with cars on sightings of predators, especially in the central part of the Masai Mara. The area where Tangulia is based, was much more quiet." See all these reviews: 12n in Kenya

"Tangulia was absolutely wonderful and we would return at the drop of a hat. From the location overlooking the river bend, to the large and spectacular thatched main mess area, to our pristine and comfortable new tent complete with spacious deck, everything was simply yet beautifully done without being excessively lavish. While the salt lick below the camp was really more of a lake certainly at the start of our stay, it was amazing to be able to sit and watch (as well as hear) the water raging past safe in the knowledge that we were sufficiently elevated to be out of harm's way. I know that other camps further downstream were not so lucky!

It was a delight to be hosted by the charismatic and charming Jackson, and our guide Benjamin was a font of insight and persistence in getting us good sightings - including a distant black rhino. He was also an excellent driver, which we very much appreciated given the challenges thrown up by the muddy conditions and raised water levels - although it was astonishing how quickly these improved with a bit of sunshine on them. Finally, as at Offbeat, it was lovely to have a vehicle to ourselves for the course of our stay." See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya

"Guiding with Benjamin was fantastic as usual and terrific to have the vehicle with the door removed and a mattress to lie on - although I suspect the senior warden will ban this in The Mara very shortly

Leonard is such a good vegetarian chef - he should always be in camp when veggies/vegans are guests - the variety of his menu and what he gives you to eat make meal times a real pleasure.

The new stone pathways to some of the tents are well designed to blend in with the landscape - great job" See all these reviews: 16n in Kenya

"Tangulia Camp was a great place to stay for our four nights on safari in the Mara - Tangulia is positioned above a bend in the Mara River, so our mealtimes were spent gazing at a backdrop of hippos, zebras and hyenas going down to the river's edge, with fabulous sunsets across the Mara beyond. The setting for the tents in the bush provided shade and privacy for each canvas tent, with the Maasai staff and askari guards (men and women) ensuring good service and security. We loved the proximity of wildlife in the camp - with hippos, zebras and possibly hyenas and other creatures coming up from the river after dark and making sounds through the night until sunrise, when we were brought flasks of tea

This is the first Maasai owned Camp of the Mara and Dominic .... and Jackson... are entertaining and charismatic hosts. Jackson is an expert guide and photographer, and well-known as a BBC and international television presenter and naturalist in Big Cat Diary and other documentary series.

Our guide and expert driver Benjamin was a storehouse of knowledge about the wildlife including the amazing bird life - as well as Maasai culture. He was focused on helping us see what we hoped to see, even if it meant some long day drives to the border of Tanzania to see the start of the wildebeest migration, which lucky for us, was late this year. In the Mara Triangle, down to the Tanzanian border we saw thousands and thousands of wildebeests, escorted by zebras, as they migrated into the Mara from the Serengeti. we also found the elusive cheetah just on the border. Over the next two days, Benjamin our guide was tireless in seeking places to witness one of the first wildebeest crossings as they reached the Mara River. They weren't ready before we had to leave the Mara and Benjamin sent us his own video a few days after we left, when those crossings finally happened. We devoted some of our drives to watching the wonderful Marsh lion pride and ventured further to find leopards as well as seeing baby elephants bathing by the river.

We thoroughly approved of Jackson and Dominic's work experience programme for future female guides - they want to create more opportunities for women and we enjoyed the additional company of Valentine, a student in her last year at college, completing a tourism degree, the first in her family to attend college.

The only extra activity which we took advantage of was the visit to a Maasai Boma or Village. Although this was laid on for visitors, it was great fun... and very informative. Our son was invited to 'jump' with the young Maasai men while our daughter threw herself into the women's dances and shopping for some of their craft items. The women of the boma were good business women, we found.

Food -- we enjoyed the convivial family style dining at a long table with room for 14 guests, all sharing their stories over dinner. Good salads and tropical fruit...with substantial main courses, plenty of wine, beer and spirits. We liked the provision of bush breakfasts and lunch on our long day drives....the final sundowner on the bluffs of the Mara River was a wonderful end to our stay.

The camp was well organised, with nice hot showers and good en suite bathrooms with running water. New tents are being erected this year which will be a further upgrade to the camp.

Our only suggestion would be to modestly smooth some of the track into the camp to allow for a slightly quicker journey into the Mara Park. And to find a way of switching to metal canteens for drinking water - to phase out individual plastic bottles asap. Borana gave a metal bottle to guests at the start of the trip - and provided filtered water in glass refillable bottles in rooms, plus jugs of filtered water at all meals. Very popular.

We would love to go back to Tangulia - many of the other guests had been there regularly - some several times a year for several weeks at a time. We found the Mara wildlife very very impressive, and not crowded, and this second leg of our Kenyan trip was a lovely complementary contrast with the landscape and flora and fauna of the Kenyan Highlands." See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya

"Tangulia Mara was a great camp in a very good location. Tented and rustic but nothing wrong with that. Also incredibly welcoming and homely!

The only Maasai owned camp in the Mara - there should be more.

Jackson the Owner/Host/Guide is a one of the most personable people I have ever met on my African travels on so many levels (Guiding experience, company, sense of humour, education, conversation, history etc.). He is also a bit of a celebrity having been a main participant in Big Cat Diaries (BBC TV Show). Now Co-Presenting a similar Show on Animal Planet.

The Game viewing was excellent, caught the Migration (impossible to count the Zebra and Wilderbeasts they were everywhere). Plenty of Lion action and we were privileged to see a full speed Cheetah chase and kill (which only happened because of Jackson's experience in positioning the vehicle and being patient). The chase finished in front of our vehicle. Saw Black Rhino.

We do not often plan on returning to a Safari Camp (as there are so many new ones to experience) but we will definitely be returning to Tangulia, apparently it is open all year round and there is lots of action even without the Migration. We go on Safari every year and so have seen a lot of camps in various countries - this camp is now in our top 3." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya