Marriott makes luxury safari debut with property in Maasai Mara
JW Marriott has opened the Masai Mara Lodge, marking its debut into the luxury safari segment.
Located within Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve in the south-west of the country, the lodge features 20 private tents with terraces overlooking the River Talek, a water source and habitat for wildlife.
There is also a tented honeymoon suite offering a private plunge pool, while two interconnecting king and twin suites are aimed at families with children over the age of six – the minimum age of guests at the lodge.
Guests will also be able to take advantage of guided game drives to observe the “Big Five” which the Maasai Mara is home to, including lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros and elephants.
Between June and September, the reserve is also host to the annual great wildebeest migration, which sees more than 10 million animals travel a distance of 1,800 miles from the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania.
Features of the lodge include a spa with tailored experiences and signature treatments. Elsewhere, the Fig Tree Lounge offers panoramic views of the surrounding plains from the indoor and outdoor bar.
Indoor and alfresco dining is on offer at Saravi Restaurant while guests can also head into the reserve to enjoy freshly prepared “Bush Breakfasts” or dinners while soaking in the savannah vistas.
GIVING BACK
The lodge donates a percentage of the nightly rate per person to The Maa Trust, an organisation empowering local people by promoting small business start-ups, while 60% of the lodge’s team are locals, with plans to reach 70%, the company said.
Meanwhile Marriott began a partnership with the local community during the development of the lodge, with the JW Marriott Masai Mara’s Apprenticeship Programme supporting young women from the community who wish to begin careers in the hospitality industry.
A focus on sustainability is also a key consideration, with the lodge’s water treatment plant providing recycled and sanitised water while food waste goes to the lodge’s compost site. Water wells are also dotted around the lodge for animals to quench their thirst.
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Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
