Angama Mara will open on the edge of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment overlooking the Mara Triangle in the Masai in June this year. Bookings have already opened, with the first guests arriving on June 12.
The lodge consists of two camps of 15 tented suites, each accommodating a maximum of 30 guests. The tented suites include a king bed or twin beds, a bath, shower and twin vanities. Each suite has its own deck. Each of the camps has two interconnected family tents. Children of all ages are welcome and child minding is also provided.
The lodge has a large swimming pool, fitness centre and library. In-room massage can be arranged and there is widespread WiFi coverage. Activities include game drives, walking safaris, all-day safaris, community visits and hot-air ballooning. The lodge is owned and operated by Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald, who both have more than 35 years’ experience in the safari industry.
Angama’s Kate Fitzgerald spoke to Tourism Update at ILTM in Cape Town this week about the new development. “Angama means suspended in mid-air in Swahili,” said Fitzgerald, adding that the name was chosen as the property is 300 metres above the Masai Mara on the Great Rift Valley. This meant it offered unobstructed views of the Mara, she explained, adding that the Mara River, where the annual migration takes place, could be seen from the lodge.
Describing the look and feel, Fitzgerald said: “We are in the heart of Masai land and have taken a departure from beiges and khaki, with bright red and blue.” Architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens have created properties including Ngorongoro Crater Lodge; North Island and Makalali Bush Camp.
Access to the lodge is provided by several scheduled flights daily from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Angama Mara’s private hardtop airfield, or by road from the Masai Mara, Nairobi and the Serengeti (via Lake Victoria border posts: Migori in Kenya and Tarime in Tanzania).
