Awaken your Amani
Amani Mara
The Swahili word “Amani” originates from Arabic meaning peace, desires, wishes, aspirations. Amani Mara is an eco-conscious luxury safari oasis nestled in Kenya’s world-renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
Favoured by an unbeatable location, we reside in a tranquil area known as Olare Orok within the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem. A mere 5 km from Maasai Mara National Reserve. Such unique positioning right outside of the reserve allows for more activities such as nature walks, night game drives, bush dinners and elaborate sundowners.


Accomodation
Offering only 10 African style cabins, our artfully designed accommodations effortlessly combine luxury with nature, staying true to our ethos of ensuring a perfect symbiosis between our guests and surrounding wildlife. Salvaged wood beams of native eucalyptus and African olive support an immersion into nature that breeds an authentic experience cocooned in luxury. Perched high above the Ntiak Ntiak River and devoid of neighbours, our private hideaway offers panoramic views of resident wildlife and the ultimate in privacy and personalised service.
Relax
Distinct pathways lead each of our guests to their carefully placed abodes, each river-facing, unveiling private viewing decks and patios, ensuring a refined retreat. Profiting from our unfenced property, guests enjoy morning coffee on their discreet patios watching animals roam before them.
Our infinity freshwater pool, so intricately situated into the hillside, overlooks this magic waterway brimming with hippos, crocodiles, and other wildlife.

The Amani experience
Guests enjoy a custom-made personalised experience curated in part by the Suleman family, owners of Amani Mara, their beloved slice of paradise. As a family affair and labor of love, the Suleman family oversees Amani Mara’s daily operations and their immense passion and hospitality evoke friendships and a longing to return.
Offering a restful sanctuary to nurture our guests on every level—spiritual, emotional, physical—we invite you to relish in the adventure of awe-inspiring Africa and
Awaken your Amani...
One with nature
Our passion for conservation and sustainability promotes eco-tourism with our planting of 12 trees per guest—double the amount required to offset most travel and tipping your trip into a carbon-negative. Amani Mara is fully solar powered with a backup generator in the case of an emergency. All guest rooms are equipped with an independent solar hot water system. In line with our eco-conscious ethos we promote limiting water usage by encouraging quick showers.

Extraordinary experiences

Game drives

Nature walks

Night game drives

Bush dinners

Hot air balloon rides

Cultural visits
Our story
"If you build it they will come... "
Our story began in the early 1990’s

F.A.Q.
If there is anything left unanswered do not hesitate to ask
Due to our unique location 5 km from the national reserve we are able to offer guided bush walks, night game drives, magical sundowners, bush dinners, balloon safaris and cultural visits.
We are not a fenced property and thus we have resident plains game that
wander within the premises
The biggest and only regret we hear from our guests is that they wished they stayed longer with us. Although it never feels quite long enough at our sanctuary in the bush, we highly recommend a stay of at least 3 nights to capture the true experience of Amani mara
Please have a look here for a guideline of what to bring on your safari in the wild
Amani mara is situated 5 km from the national reserve which is approximately
15 mins to the park.
While we are located in the heart of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, we are not members. Game drives are done in the national reserve
Amani mara has 24 hour solar electricity with a back up generator. Therefore power supply is always available
Testimonials
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Perfect place to spend your honeymoon! – I couldn’t recommend this beautiful eco lodge enough! The rooms are absolutely stunning, the views to the Mara are out of this world. The food was incredible, especially the sizzling… read more lamb dish! The highlight of our entire honeymoon was definitely the Maasai dance and cake we were given after one of our dinners, it was quite emotional and a beautiful moment. We also planted trees before our departure and received a leaving gift. The attention to detail was just amazing. Thank you so much AMANI for making our honeymoon and our safari so so special. And thank you Sully for chatting with us throughout our stay, we loved learning about the lodge and the animals! We will be back!
Ana Weir
October 1, 2023Exceed our expectations – Our recent stay with “the Amani family” was one of the most humbling experiences we have had.
This camp has been created with the utmost respect for the Mara… read more and the environment whilst providing a luxurious base to take in the sounds and scenery after a long game drive.
The family is amazing, Sam and Sully are very knowledgeable and have a great welcoming friendly team.
The lodges have been creatively designed and furnished beautifully.
We are so glad we stayed here and can’t wait to return again, hopefully for longer next time!
The planting of a tree is a great touch, I left the camp with a very emotional connection to nature.
Thank you!
March 7, 2023Unique experience! – Hello everyone!!!
We stayed here from October 10-13 and we have no words to describe the wonder of this facility….
First of all we arrived late in the evening and… read more they waited for us by making dinner just for us,beautiful rooms with small terrace directly on the majestic savannah,change towels every day and in the evening after dinner they make you find the hot water bag in the bed to warm it up because in the evening temperatures drop …breakfast,lunch ,dinner and packed lunch super with food even for intolerant people like me to whom they made find soy milk!
Maximum care and attention to the customer,all the staff kind and helpful always and surprises that I can not list because it is right and I hope you discover them yourself!
A magical experience that we highly recommend,a heartfelt thank you to all the staff of Amani Mara!
Elena and AlessioElenatale10
October 25, 2023unforgettable – What an impressive place. You drive onto a small road, and suddenly there is a very beautiful lodge. It seems like paradise. You will receive a very friendly welcome. The… read more view from the lounge is heavenly. The rooms are so incredibly beautiful. At night you hear the animals, hippos, lions, birds, you are so close to nature. Sully and James took us on a night safari. We experienced unforgettable things, we saw the hunting of lions on Impalas up close. We were very lucky to see that. In addition, Sully saw a Leopard in the tree, in the dark. He has an eye for it. The staff there are super friendly and helpful. Almost uncomfortable. Someone always walks with you to the room in the dark. You feel very safe there. The food is delicious. The last evening, New Year’s Eve, we had diner outside with a fire and oil lamps, so much atmosphere. Highly recommended, you must have been here.
DW
January 1, 2024 -
The best place to stay during your trip! – Our stay at the camp was fantastic! We stayed here for 3 nights and the staff made sure our stay was as good as it could be! The gamedrives … read more were amazing, the food was delicious and all the staff took such good care of us! Our great driver Daniel always took us to the right places to see as many animals as possible! He made sure we had a great spot to watch the great migration!! Everything was well organised and they made sure our trip was unforgettable!
Renske B
August 7, 2023BEST PLACE IN MAASAI MARA – YOU ROCK – A wonderful place. We stayed two nights and the hotel exceeded our expectations. The symbiosis with nature was total. The owners and all the staff were 100% committed to making… read more our stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. The rooms delicately designed with elements of the place and with a view of the park without equal in the Maasai Mara. We have seen zebras, hippos, birds, and at night heard hyenas. Zebras were everywhere near the cabins. One night the staff made us a very special dinner that included dances with the Maasai tribe under the starry sky and with a large bonfire that enlivened the beautiful table with a very rich buffet. I had the pleasure of meeting the owners who told me about the history of the hotel and the passion they have for what they do is evident, putting a lot of effort and affection into a hotel in harmony with nature and with the local people. Everything is recycled, they take care of the environment and show how to run a sustainable business. Thank you all for making us feel part of the family and for participating in the planting of nine native trees that are our legacy in the Maasai Mara. Amani Mara Camp a place to return 1000 times.
Cathy R
August 6, 2023Amani Mara – a top-notch luxury camp with a great staff! – I’d like to give our heartfelt thanks and a big "shout out" to our host, Sully, and his team at Amani Mara!
Being the first stop on… read more our safari, we arrived in the dark with no idea of our surroundings. We were greeted by a lone but attentive staff member who had apparently waited up for us and got us settled us into our rooms (the architecture of which seems spun from stories of Tarzan and Swiss Family Robinson). This was followed by cold cocktails and a delicious dinner in the very impressive dining room. I would like to say we slept like babies but, being our first night and trying to acclimate to new surroundings, the sounds of animals grunting outside our room kept us a bit on edge. What a surprise awaited us the next morning when we awoke to a glorious view of the surrounding bush and a river below populated by hippos (the source of the night snorting). It made for a very memorable cup of African coffee.
Sully, a 5th generation Kenyan and self-described "bushman" was an excellent host. Having spent his childhood exploring the bush around the camp, has a formidable knowledge of all the creatures great and small and shared some pretty funny (if somewhat hair-raising) stories. A labor of love, he and his family have truly created a magical camp and cultivated a top-notch staff to accommodate his guests.
It was one of the highlights of our very excellent safari.s w
August 9, 2023Lovely wild – My goodness location is ideal position to hide from the noisy world.
Here is total silence and serenity.Hippos,jackals,lions make the base choir and the numerous bird species lights up… read more Lovely location for even honeymooners and you will enjoy.
Food is a la carte but excellent.You are spoilt for a choice.Picnic lunch box is out of this world.Rooms nice and great staff.Wachira44
February 1, 2024 -
why I will go back to Amani Mara – I have been to the Masi Mara twice before. This boutique lodge is new since covid and I will not go any where else on my future visits. The vision… read more of the parents is now carried out by the two sons. Sam runs the lodge with perfect combination of guests comfort and a very happy and devoted staff. To be cared for by the Amani team is to be graced with luxury and surrounded by beauty (as well as guest safety). I still marvel at the construction of all the accommodations, food and the river just in front of the main lodge where you can see all the animals over a 24 hr period.
Sully the younger son is the head game drive person. Although young, he has a knowledge beyond his years. He knew where the animals would be and how they behaved. He has unending energy, enthusiasm and respect for the Mara animals (and he is also a sharp ‘birder’). After 5 days of game drives, he still found new experiences for us to see the animals and entertained us with stories and humor.
Have no hesitation to book here. It is a life changing experience.L9518GYmarianneb
August 19, 2023Trip of a lifetime!! Safari was truly amazing. – My family (wife and 2 teenage boys) went to this camp for the safari and it was the ultimate highlight of our trip. A safari sounds really cool, but… read more this is beyond that. The site of the camp, along a creek/river is a great starting point, where you can sit in the dining hall with a view of hippos, alligators, monkeys, and more. I could have sat in that camp spot for hours, but the real adventure is in the Kenyan Reserve. Our trips were usually from 8am until 4 pm, for 3 days in a row. Each day your driver takes you out into the savanna and lets you get to see these amazing animals out in their natural habitat. We saw Lions (one day eating a Zebra carcass), giraffes, hippos, elk, wildebeests, warthogs, elephants, leopards, tons of birds, baboons, and more. It is a different experience seeing these animals out on this land, because they all know that these touring vehicles do them no harm and thus they just go about their day and give you a look over. The amount of pictures I took is beyond anything else I have ever done, and would recommend borrowing or buying a great camera with a really good lens. I took close to 2000 pictures and could have taken more. The boys had a great time. So did my wife. The hut/structure that you get to stay in is great and the food at this place was beyond my expectations. All of the meals were a buffet or choices and many were well seasoned. My wife had her of this place from a fellow teacher who has been there twice, and I can understand why. If I have any friend wanting to do a safari, then I would not think twice for even a second about recommending this all inclusive safari. The other thing I would highly recommend, which we did on the last night, is the night safari trip, where they take you out into the reserve and they use "red" lights, to find the animals. They can’t see the red light frequency, but they do hear your vehicle. We saw some hippos, and even a leopard. It was better than I though it could be. We were there for a total of 5 days, and while the drive from the Nairobi airport is long (5-6 hours), if you can afford flying into Amani Mara (don’t know that cost), you will land about 20-30 minutes away from the camp and that would allow you even more time to relax and enjoy day walks around the camp, as well. Trip of a lifetime!!!
zachl574
August 2, 2023Absolutely Perfect! – Our five days at Amani Mara were beyond superb. We had been to the Maasai Mara 10 years before and were worried that nothing could compare. But we… read more should not have worried, as this perfectly run eco-conscious oasis in the Maasai Mara is in a beautiful setting with amazing wildlife viewing right at the lodge and cabin balconies — hippos, crocodiles, lion prides, a resident leopard, zebras and a multitude of other plains game and a wonderful variety of bird species. The authentically African-style lodge is truly special. It was created over many years by the hard work by the Suleiman family (starting with Ashif, a 4th generation Kenyan whose family came to Kenya in the late 1800’s ) whose passion for the Maasai Marai –its ecology, wildlife and its people –is exceptional and truly contagious. They enhanced the river environment to restore perennial flow and planted over 50,000 trees– all of which have matured into the remarkable rich wildlife and plant-life habitat present today. The lodge and cabins are works of art achieved by the creative and talented owners and local Kenyan craftsmen; they have fabulous woven thatch- type enormously high ceilings/roofs made of plants from the coast of Kenya supported by huge African olive tree beams and great wooden trunks. Not only beautiful, our cabins were also, well-equipped, comfortable and extremely well appointed. (I was even able to dry my hair with a hair dryer– a luxury I appreciated.) I should add that I always felt safe at Amani Mara— there was always someone protecting us including a Maasai joining us when we ventured to or from our cabin after dark.
Daily, the chef prepared gourmet selections ( we loved the watermelon gazpacho) and packed yummy lunches and breakfasts when we opted for bush meals during safaris. There were private sundowners in memorable sunset settings with acacia trees and silhouettes of giraffes, bush breakfasts after viewing sunrise ( a must in the Maasai Mara) and surprise outdoor dinners by camp fire enhanced by a bit of fun and entertaining Maasai singing and dancing (some of the staff of Amani Mara participated). The owners made us feel like royalty– Ashif and Shelina Suleiman made it a point to give us a warm and personal welcome. And, their sons Sam (the on-site manager) and Sully (the safari guide extraordinaire) catered to our every whim. Sully who grew up exploring the bush, along with James, a very entertaining and first-class Maasai guide, gave us the safari drives of a lifetime. They know every nook and cranny of the Maasai Mara and how to best approach it. Every day was different and special. The term "Amani" appropriately describes this gem of a luxury bush camp which exceeded our desires, wishes, and aspirations. 5 stars is not enough.FarAway120947
August 27, 2023Wild & wonderful! – Beautiful place! Away from everything & yet we have everything we need! Stunning vista of the mara in the lounge. So wild, such a diff experience! The staff is great,… read more the food is amazing, even the warm roll of bread is yummy! Kudos to their chef! The dinner under the night sky w/ fire & Maasai dance, so wonderful! Shem, thank you so much for always attending to us & providing my food request!
It’s really a family-owned place, cozy & comforting! Samad & Soheil, pls keep it up!Ruby D
February 1, 2024 -
This is my 6th visit to Africa, and my 3rd visit to Kenya. I am an experienced world traveler and was completely amazed by the quality and care of… read more service provided by the Amani Mara camp. We had 3 rooms – #s 1, 2 and 3 booked for 2 nights, arranged on a Safari with a tour operator, after specifically requesting the Amani Mara camp.
First of all, the location is AMAZING. The hotel sits on a bluff overlooking a river with trees and vegetation that are very supportive of wildlife. You can wake up in the morning, walk onto your balcony or the open restaurant balcony and immediately view hippos, lions, zebras, elephants, giraffes, monkeys, wildebeest, baboons, crocodiles and my daughter’s favorite – dik diks. And this is before you even leave the hotel for a game drive.
This is a luxury camp – with individual lodges as rooms, and with thatched roofs and tent openings onto the balcony. They light a roaring fire in the evening, provide hot water bottles to the bedrooms and manage to weave in nature throughout the feel of the camp including the amazing bathrooms. The food is fantastic for both breakfast and dinner – the best we had throughout our 14 night stay.
The quality of the camp is overshadowed by the personalized and superb service provided by Sam, George, Emily and the team. The service manages to feel individual and friendly rather than pretentious. Each morning they were scanning the hills for wildlife to point out to us, and sharing more about the area, the camp, and the history. My daughter really wanted to see dik diks and Sam sent his entire team to find them for her without being asked.
We had 2 amazing highlights of our brief stay – an outside, individual dinner for our family in Masai tradition with warm blankets and bonfires, and the nature walk. If you stay there DO NOT MISS the nature walk which starts late afternoon and optionally ends with sundowners. You will be so pleased you did this walk, and the sundowners experience here is perhaps my all time highlight over my 6 visits to Africa.
They also support an orphanage in Narok county, housing 50 orphans. Please consider supporting their efforts in building better lives for the future. They will be happy to tell you about the great cause and are appreciative of all the support they receive.
One of my daughters already has decided she wants to honeymoon in the Amani Mara camp, and all of us can’t wait to return.
My personal opinion – don’t hesitate to book the Amani Mara camp.raverusa
June 3, 2023Children love it here too! – We absolutely love Amani Mara. Everything about it – the accommodations, the food, the amazing staff, the setting, the safari drives and the family behind it all!
Wanted to… read more include two 7 year olds reviews of the place – including the safari animal count, the “bootiful” rooms and how friendly the family is (including the dog).
Seriously – everyone went out of their way to make the children’s stay extra special. For those of you thinking of bringing children!claudia
March 1, 2024We had a great time during our time at Amani Mara. We were lucky enough to be the only guests at the time of our stay, which made the experience… read more very intimate, quiet, and enjoyable. Sam, Sully and the entire team made sure to make our stay memorable and unforgettable. The walking safari, followed by a sundowner was brilliant. We highly recommend Amani Mara, and we will always have great memories of the place.
Jakub M
March 13, 2023Once in a Life – Thanks our manager Geroge & his crews. Price worth. They upgraded us to a luxury Suite, no complaints. Thanks for all your works & tailor made meals… read more to us what we want. Appreciate. We did night game drive, guided bush walk, hot air balloon, bush dinner. It is incredible & must Once in a life.
elizapao
October 21, 2023