Fairmont Mara Safari Club

Pros: location is excellent, very nice amenities, food is very good, and game drives with Moseka were also good (despite not finding a male lion). I was injured during this trip and the nurse Betty took great care while redressing my wounds. All staff were very polite. The property itself is beautiful. Wake up service and morning coffee delivery was a very nice personal touch. View of mara river and hippos grunting away will never be forgotten. Cons: disorganised staff - they didn't know we were on our honeymoon trip despite telling them in advance. Phone did not work in the room and our room was in the far wing of the property. There were a lot of staff at the property who mentioned that they are assigned to us specifically but then we had to rely on the other staff. During checkout, they couldn't figure out we had prepaid in advance. They booked hot air balloon for us on the day of checkout only to then later rush us to pack in hurry when they could have simply told us to keep our luggage ready a day in advance.

I have just returned from another amazing stay here. Like other guests commentated, the friendliness and service from all the staff could not be improved upon, there is nothing they will not do to make your stay the holiday of a lifetime, but be warned you will want to return! All the tents face onto the River Mara, so you can hear the hippos grunting calls sounding like laughter, both during the day and sometimes at night too. The beautiful sounds of nature, birdsong echoing through the trees, the hyrax with their unusula nocturnal calls, and even hyenas laughing and lions roaring on some nights, the sounds of Africa! The accomodation tents are impressive with 4 poster beds which incorporates the mosquito nets, shower, toilet and washbasin. There is a verander at the front which makes a lovely place to sit and relax, sheltered from the midday heat. Lunch and dinner may be buffet, BBQ or al a carte and held in the Boma, or perhaps alongside the river or inside the restaurant. There is a swimming pool to relax beside and beautiful grounds to roam around and maybe you will see a bushbuck who pops in to graze on the lush lawns. The day starts off with a wake up call and tea/coffee or hot chocolate with a cookie or slice of banana cake brought to your tent. The morning 2 hour drive starts at 0630. This is the most likely time to come across lions on a kill if you are very lucky, or walking across the savanna looking for a place to rest up for the day. Keep your eyes on the trees and treelines and maybe a leopard will be walking past. Driving across the savanna there are herds of elephants browsing on the bushes or long grass, giraffes nibbling on the Balanite trees dotting the grasslands. Not forgetting the usual zebras, wildebeasts antelopes and gazelles providing a colourful addition to the rolling grasslands interspersed with treelines. So peaceful, so beautiful. Any or all can be seen perhaps on the same drive, but everytime you see them, if you look you can see differences so there is always something new to see. At around 3.30pm there is a 3 + hour game drive, giving more opportunities to see the Big Five, all can be found locally. Extra activities available include a visit to a local village. It is where the Maasai live, maybe even your guide. In the village they will sing and dance and you can join in, go into one of their tiny homes which are built by their wives and then have the opportunity to by ornaments or beadwork which the wives make themselves. Also available a massage, bush breakfasts, bush dinners with a bonfire you can sit beside and have a drink or more. A sundowner on Aitong Hills whilst watching the sun sink. Or treat yourself to another opportunity of a lifetime, Hot air Balloon flight followed by champagne breakfast out on the savanna. There are so many awe inspiring things to see and do that will give you memories to look back on for many years. Fairmont Mara Safari Safari Club is located on the Olchoro Co

We had such a wonderful time at this hotel. We really couldn’t have asked for more. Our Guide Reuben was one of the loveliest people I have ever met and he really the made the whole experience special. Simon was our waiter and he was also very friendly. Thank you to Patrick for keeping the pool clean and for talking to me about ****nal football club. I could not have asked for more, this was a wonderful place to stay.

How to even begin to describe the magic of this place. Definitely the highlight of our trip to Kenya!! The tents were so comfortable and cozy, placed right next to the Mara River. We could regularly see monkeys and hippos from our windows. We were catered constantly, every single member of the staff here will do their best to make you feel like royalty. Especially our waiter, Gilbert. He was so attentive to us and our children. Also, the food was the best we had in Kenya by far. We had two game drives a day and they were absolutely breathtaking. You need to ask for Alex! He is very knowledgeable, and he could always spot the animals, even when they were undetectable to the naked eye. We learned so much with him; and every single game drive felt like the best one ever. Alex would almost always get to the animals first, allowing us to engulf everything this amazing land and these magnificent creatures had to offer. With no human interference. Experiencing wildlife at it’s finest. It was just us, blending in the background, getting to see first hand how nature really works in the Massai Mara. The experience of being in a reserve, is completely different than the one you get in a national park. It’s well worth the price difference. In national parks you only get to see animals from the road, far away. Sometimes even only with binoculars. Surrounded by dozens of trucks. Here it’s just you…the land, and the animals. Priceless. You won’t regret it! And just like us, you’ll be daydreaming about the time when you may return to the Fairmont Safari Club.

Fantastic location in the Mara. Convenient to great the local air***** and awesome animal adventures. We actually used this as the base for a visit to a Maasia Mara village - a great cultural experience. The accommodations were wonderful - what you would expect on an African safari but so much more. The food was fabulous along with the staff - meeting your every need. I would strongly recommend staying at this club.

From the moment our guide Lenkoko picked us up from the air***** we were treated like royalty. He carefully explained our trip to the lodge and as we drove he pointed out a variety of animals. Lenkoko went on to expertly tell us about each species life, hunting habits and behaviour. Not only did he talk about the animals but of the land, culture and the history of his area. His tracking skills and and intimate knowledge of the area enabled him to have us at the right spot at the right time to see the big five. He was a very good and safe driver especially after some heavy rains and had to negotiate the vehicle through some flooded roads. Lenkoko was very friendly and made it possible for us to have a once in a lifetime experience.

Amazing. What more could you ask for? For our family, this had it all: beautiful lobby/bar/restaurant area with fireplace, outdoor seating, and decadent buffets for each meal. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who will go the extra effort to make it a great stay. Lovely tents with all the creature comforts. Remote location with very knowledgeable and engaging guides who get the vibe of the group. Outdoor pool! And I have been on many Kenyan safaris as I lived here for 5 years. Simply excellent!

One of the best luxurious camps in mara. Service, food, facilities, safaris everything 110%. Our safari driver Jeremiah was a super, knowledgeable safari game driver. We saw loads of animals and he had an amazing knowledge about all animals. Our server Marie was the best. She looked after us as her own family, she would have all our favourite needs and requirements ready for us before we had food. Lovely personal touch. Stephen and Anthony the senior staff are just too good at their job. Personal, smiling, and ever ready to help even on holiday. Best best stay ever in Mara with best service, camps and safari.