Mara Major Camp

Mara Major Camp is the perfect place to stay for an authentic Kenyan safari experience. The lodge staff are local Maasai that truly make the place special. We were the only guests at the camp because we stayed at the beginning of the rainy/off season and they were so attentive to us, taking care of all our needs. The food is great and the chef works hard to present you wonderful meals. He also catered to our weird food needs. One of the Maasai took us on game drives around Maasai Mara Reserve and did a fantastic job driving and getting us close to the animals. He took us to see Lion cubs, cheetah cubs, and even a leopard cub! We also watched a Lion hunt and kill! Spectacular experience! The complaint I have has nothing to do with the camp, the stay, or the camp staff, but rather the false information advertised on Expedia. I don’t know if this is Expedia’s fault or the owners that run the camp off site. First, the camp is advertised as “all inclusive.” This is not true. You only get the lodging and meals, but you’re hit with ridiculous extra fees for anything else: transportation, game drives, other activities, anything to drink besides water, etc. So I warn when booking, this high price you’re paying for your stay doesn’t cover much. Second, the advertisement claims you will have free transportation from the nearest airstrips to the camp and back again. This is also not true and we were hit with another unexpected charge to get to the airstrip after our stay. Be warned.

We loved staying at the Mara Major Lodge. Yes, it was pricey… but worth it. The tentalows are lovely and we got to hear many wild animals during the night, the staff was LOVELY and helped us plan all our excursions from A-Z! Special shoutout to our sweet game driver Sam. All the staff was Maasai as well, which was a lovely cultural immersion and they were all very open and friendly. Oh and the entrance to the park is so close, you can see it from the lodge! So convenient.

This was our first trip to Masai Mara and it was unforgettable! We stumbled across Il Muran and it did not disappoint! The stay exceeded our expectations. The hospitality at the camp was top knotch. We were welcomed by local Maasai and they took care of us during our entire stay! Our guide Antony was the BEST in Masai Mara. With only 2 game day drives, he knew exactly what to do and where to go, to see the most animals we possibly could. We couldn't be more grateful for our experience. I was in close communication with the camp leading up to our stay. They answered every question I had & it made the trip stress-free! The tents were very clean and the beds were comfortable. We were surprised with a heated water pack daily so the bed was warm at nighttime. It was a nice touch! The location is incredible! We had zebras grazing on the camp daily. We even saw a monkey, hippo, and elephant from our camp. And the stay was very close to a pride of lions! On our last day we were surprised with breakfast in the bush. It was a very special ending to a once in a lifetime trip!