JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge

We came for our honeymoon with high expectations, and JW Masai Mara exceeded every single one. The food was incredible, beautifully presented, delicious, and the team was so accommodating with any special requests. The level of service is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. One moment that says it all: we were relaxing by the pool when a sudden downpour started. Before we could even call, John appeared within seconds with umbrellas and walked us safely back to our room. Josiah was consistently warm and helpful and always brightened our day. Leshan, our main server, went above and beyond throughout our entire stay. The front desk team was equally amazing, every interaction felt thoughtful and genuine. Truly, every staff member we met was exceptional. This isn’t just a hotel; it feels like joining a family. Our game driver, Nicholas, was outstanding, deeply knowledgeable about Maasai culture and the wildlife, and his passion really shone through. We learned so much and are grateful for an unforgettable week of drives with him. The spa was another highlight. Our first treatment was so wonderful that we immediately booked a second a few days later. We will remember this trip for a very long time. Thank you, JW Masai Mara, for giving us the honeymoon of our dreams.

moving wonderful experience Review: My husband Peter and I had an extraordinary stay at the Mara Masai JW Marriott — one of the most unforgettable travel experiences we’ve ever had. The accommodations (Tents) are stunning: luxurious, spacious, and very well appointed. They have everything you can possibly need for your stay. While there’s no air conditioning, the fans kept things very comfortable. Evenings were cool, so no fans needed then. Service throughout was extraordinary. Nelson, who cared for our room, was so kind, warm, and, attentive. The little notes he left by our bed after a long day were so beautiful, and touching. We looked forward to them. We love Nelson. Or waiter, Leshan, truly touched our hearts. Over the days, we felt a real closeness to him — his warm greeting as we entered for meals, and his anticipation of our needs was amazing. The open conversations with him about the Masai culture were so interesting, and really added meaning to our trip. He too will be missed. We’re both very particular about eating healthy, and Chef Uttam went above and beyond. Every meal was fresh, healthy, and delicious — many ingredients came from their on-site organic garden (which we highly recommend visiting). He was gracious and incredibly accommodating, and the food was the best we’ve had on any trip. He literally prepared whatever we wanted!!!!! Our safari guide, Lorna, was phenomenal — deeply knowledgeable, passionate, and patient. Thanks to her, we saw everything we hoped to and more. One of the most moving parts of our stay (besides the animals) was visiting a nearby Masai village. It was certainly a very powerful, humbling experience. We’ll never forget that day. It’s a must see. It’s incredibly humbling. The entire staff— from the reception to the Masai escorts who walked us to and from our tent — were friendly, warm, and genuinely welcoming. A truly special place. We highly recommend anyone looking for a unique and pampering experience to go.

We miss the Safari and our stay at JW Marriott Masai Mara. Our guide, Leperes, was very experienced, knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about the wildlife. Game drive with him was both surprising and relaxing, and we felt safe in his hands. At the restaurant, Naicherwa always greeted us with a warm smile and excellent service, making each meal special. In our room, Florence took care of us, ensuring everything was in place and adding a personal touch. At the bar, Richard and Victor were always smiling and even created special drinks for us. We also want to thank Warrior and the rest of the team to make our stay unforgettable. Thank you to everyone for making our stay so memorable.

This place is magical and will always be a beautiful memory. The staff is amazing & the service is spectacular. This place will be forever be in my heart.

This was the best trip we have ever taken; anything I can say will not be enough. And the team at JW made it even more memorable. Special thanks to Lorna and Patrick! If you appreciate details, here’s a breakdown: 🌟 Pros: • Location: The lodge sits just outside the reserve, across a bridge. Each morning and evening, you’ll witness hippos—including babies—descending to the river below. Crocodiles are often visible right beneath you. • Experiences: Enjoy bush breakfasts, lunches, and sundowners. You can also have meals and snacks packed for full-day (10–12 hour) safari drives. The resort is all-inclusive. • Masai Village Visit: Bring cash and be ready to bargain—it’s part of the experience. Your local contact will even encourage it. • Camera Room: They provide a camera and have two full-time staff to assist with photography and editing. Bring your own SD card and allow time before departure to select and edit your best shots. (Tip: maybe don’t take 10,000 photos!) • Amenities: The bathroom and shower are top-notch—possibly better than other accommodations. The tent includes an outdoor jacuzzi and rivals luxury stays. • Laundry Service: Travel light! You get five laundered items per day, freeing up luggage space for souvenirs from the Masai village or lodge shop. • Communication: The team is just a WhatsApp message away. We got our guide’s number on Day 1 and coordinated everything seamlessly. • Staff: The team at JW is simply outstanding. ⚠️ Cons: • Crowded Sightings: Popular events like cheetah hunts or river crossings can attract 20+ vehicles. The animals seem unfazed, but it’s worth noting. • Tent Acoustics: Tents don’t have solid walls. We didn’t mind, but some guests found late-night conversations disruptive. It would help if the property clarified this upfront. • Store Prices: Check prices before buying (at JW) —some items may surprise you. • No TV: Not a downside for us, but worth mentioning for those who care. 💡 Tips: • River Crossings: These typically happen at Sand River and Mara River. We saw crocodiles at Mara River. • Calendar: Ask about all the events & options and spread them out. Ex: Bush breakfast (already planned ahead for multiple guests) • Travel dates: Based on our existing commitments and online recommendations and booked in August – not disappointed at all. July may have been better. • Arrival: Arrive on an early flight, so you can see animals on the way to the lodge and with enough time to settle in and then head out for a game drive (with a possible sundowner). You are paying $200 pp for that day. • Fees: The park fees cover 5 calendar days. That was fine with us, we used the last day for an outdoor lunch at the JW garden before heading to the airstrip. • Pace Yourself: To truly experience the Mara, ask your guide to slow down. You’ll spot more birds and soak in the surroundings. Fun fact: the hills where we saw a rhino smelled like basil!

Our five nights at the lodge this August were magical. The incredible experience began the moment we landed at Keekorok airstrip and were greeted by Lorna, and it never let up until we were saying our goodbyes to all the staff. The lodge feels intimate, beautifully designed to blend in with the surrounding landscape and well located to explore the different areas of the Mara. We loved our tent; it was a wonderful sanctuary to return to after a day in the bush, with Mercy always anticipating and taking care of what we needed. And the food was a delight, especially Kenya night. The chef was wonderfully accommodating to our requests which we really appreciated as we had kids in our group. Definitely ask about lunch in the JW Garden. All in all, nzuri sana! But the real magic of this place is its people. There’s a culture of kindness and warmth here that extends from the guides to the servers to the housekeeping staff. You get the sense that everyone is proud of what they do and loves where they work, and that energy is infectious. We have to give special thanks to a few people who made our trip so personal: - Our guide, Lorna, was an absolute superstar. Her knowledge of the Mara and its wildlife is amazing, but it was her patience and kindness that truly blew us away. She got us sightings of all the Big Five and made every game drive feel special without compromising safety. - Patrick, our server, was always there with a bright smile. He was so good to us and never said no to any special requests. - Mercy kept our tent welcoming and pristine, and we looked forward to her sweet, handwritten notes every evening. - A huge thank you as well to Moses and Felix at the Canon studio. The simple photography tips they gave made a huge difference and their help in curating our images were a fantastic bonus. What a treasure to bring home with us! And to Victor, Josiah, Leshan, Milton, Diana, and everyone else at the JW: Asante Sana! We will cherish the memories from this trip forever and are already dreaming of our return.