Where it all began
Our story
It was then that our owner, Ashif Suleman, tentatively agreed to view a property in the Mara that a local Maasai was struggling to sell, and struggling for good reason. Upon arrival, Ashif stared out at the vast property—too rocky, too open, and no source of water. In all of his better judgment, Ashif would have passed on the opportunity as many had before him; however, there was another element at play—this gentleman aspired to sell the land to send his daughter to school. Persuaded by this need of his Maasai friend, Ashif found himself the reluctant owner of 50 acres in present day Olare
Barren land
Investors who surveyed the property described the landscape akin to “Mars” and said nothing could be done with it. Ashif then began to visit numerous camps and soon realised a common flaw—all camps were located within thick forests with beautiful cover, but with this they had taken over the habitat, compromising its former wildlife. As his property lay barren, infested with tsetse flies, Ashif made the decision to build his camp above the river, adopting a unique design amenable to wildlife inhabitants as they evolved over time and space.


Unique construction
This was truly an exercise in building something out of nothing, and the first and most critical element? Water. By building a water catchment, the river no longer dried up once the dry season came, making way for our current home to over 70 hippos, 4 crocodiles, multiple lion prides, a resident leopard, a multitude of plains game and a variety of bird species. In a grand display of commitment and sacrifice, Ashif then sent his wife and two children, Sully and Sam, to Australia to complete their education; next, he settled into a tent on the rocky property, where he resided alone for 7 years, as he oversaw each bit of Amani Mara’s eco-conscious development.
A dream come true
Although the land was full of rocks and other natural materials for construction, this became a very labor-intensive project. Stones were retrieved from the river and the surrounding property, many of them now adorning the main lounge area and reinforcing the locally crafted wood of the African olive tree. These beams were salvaged from deforestation sites and instead used in the construction. Designing his dream bush camp as he went along, Ashif carefully selected and placed local stones, beams and pieces of driftwood in his evolving structures, one by one. Every detail of Amani Mara today has a story behind it. The artful and original mix of concrete roofs, resembling the traditional mud and dung roofs of the Maasai homes, and great wooden trunks and beams of African olive trees was a sight no visitor the the camp forgot.

Amani was born
One day Ashif and his contractor were sitting on a beam looking over the barren landscape. “Do you hear that?”, the contractor asked Ashif.”What? I cant hear anything”, Ashif replied. “Exactly” the contractor said. “You cant hear anything. Iko na amani (it is so peaceful) and there is nobody around”. “Amani”, Ashif replied. “Hmm. Don’t worry if we build it they will come!”. And come they have.
Today Amani is a haven for wildlife, from the bugs to birds and big game.

Tree planting
Our African-style cabins were crafted with help of local Maasai women, who plaster their traditional houses with a mixture of cow dung and mud. The river is now perennial, meaning it always flows, even during times of drought. The planting of indigenous trees was one of our first steps to rejuvenate our land; and, to date, we have planted over 50,000 trees. As indigenous trees take much longer than exotic species to mature, we are only now, ten years later, enjoying the fruits of our labour with a variety of species that continue to greatly enhance our landscape and its wildlife. Wanting to involve our guests in this special practice, we invite each guest to plant and name their tree before they depart.
A new Amani
In 2022 Amani Mara underwent a huge renovation in which our concrete roofs were demolished, making way for new cooling thatched roofs. To this day, Amani Mara holds fast to an unwavering commitment to ecosystem sustainability and wildlife conservation. Our tree planting, water catchment and other efforts have transformed a barren rocky landscape into a green, varied and wildlife-rich ecosystem. It is our hope that every living being finds their amani in our camp in the splendid Maasai Mara. And we very much look forward to awakening that which is yours. Welcome home.

We very much look forward to awakening that which is yours
Welcome home
Testimonials
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A once in a lifetime experience! – All we can say is wow! This place is a must stay! My husband and I really loved all of the staff here. The camp is located right on a… read more river and you immediately can spot hippos, zebras, and many other kinds of wildlife as soon as you walk in. Sully and Sam are brothers who operate Amani and are incredibly knowledgeable, fun and hospitable. The nature walk with sully is a must! We heard wildlife all around the camp at night and in the morning, it was exciting! The food was delicious! The fireplace is lit at night and there is a beautiful pool overlooking the river. They have guards that roam the property all day and night to make it feel safe. I would definitely stay here again!
November 29, 2022Amazing place – We were only for two night in Amani Mara. It was an amazing stay and experience: we loved every second of our stay! Great and clean room, very friendly and… read more helpful staff. The owners are very nice and make you feel like beeing at home. Owner Sully joined our gamedrive with Fred: we learned so much about the nature, culture and animals. The camp is eco friendly.
Wish to come back again! The camp was selected by the touroperator Matoke Tours Nederland).Naomi de Bruin
February 1, 2024Amani Mara – a superb African experience – The most authentic experience on theMasai Mara, on the northern end of he Serengeti plains, with superb service, deluxe accommodation and spectacular scenery. One can enjoy a coffee or… read more cocktail at the pool overlooking a dozen hippopotami or crocodiles in the creek below, or the occasional Cape Buffalo or giraffe walking across the opposite ridge. Don’t come here unless you want the true MASAI experience- their hospitality, traditional song and dance, and their guided expeditions. From Amani Mara “Camp” take a half day or whole day tour to watch the mass migration, or all of the big 5 . Truly this was the best vacation we had enjoyed in many years.
Fraser H
August 13, 2023Absolutely fantastic, with wonderful staff and stunning views of animals all over. The food is one of the highlights and is really special. The owners are also really fantastic people… read more who I am honored to have met. It is really a place where memories that will last a life time are made.
codylen
August 11, 2023 -
Lo-ve-ly!! ❤️ 🦒 🐘 🦁 🦛 – We had the good fortune of staying here for 3 days, including New Year’s Eve. We were welcomed by the whole team with a delicious beverage and the pampering… read more never stopped. The rooms are beautiful, with a stunning view & spacious. The food is delicious, there is attention to detail, the team is helpful. They organized a “ sundowner” which was incredible (new concept for us, but love it!) , every meal was delicious, including our packed lunches for an all day outing. Our New Year’s dinner was outstanding & it included a Maasai dance. The Host family was friendly , engaging , and helpful. They shared great stories. It all culminated with a tree planting ceremony, before we left. We had an unforgettable stay, and we’re grateful to the whole team.
January 10, 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, 2023The place to go if you are planning any trip to Kenya – We spent two nights in Amani Mara, as we first arrived in Kenya.
It was, by far, the best experience we had in the whole trip to Kenya. The… read more best I’ve ever had in Africa.
The location is simply amazing.
Accommodations, both so elegant and comfortable, are in perfect harmony with the surrounding environment. The food is delicious, both the one served at the restaurant and the one provided in the lunch box they give you for any long game drive. It was the first time in Africa for our two daughters (10 and 8), the first game drive for them and they found it astonishing. For this, we owe a special thank to Sully, our extraordinary guide, and to Daniel, our Masai driver. A big thank for giving us both the most unforgettable game drives and the most fascinating spots to enjoy sunset or dawn. Thank for the huge knowledge of the animals, the places and the culture– which comes straight along from a great passion and a history of integration with the local population.
Thank for giving us all these great memories, that we’ll keep so dear with us.
The extraordinary competence and professionalism and the heartly and warm welcome of all the staff, made the experience at Amani Mara both unique and authentic.
Definitely the place to go if you are planning any trip to Kenya. Don’t miss it.nadia t
September 1, 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 -
Lovely 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, 2024Wonderful experience! – We were only there for a day, but wished we could have stayed longer. Sulley and Sam were wonderful hosts. George and the rest of the staff, very nice and… read more friendly. The food was wonderful and they did a wonderful birthday celebration for one of party. The facilities are beautiful as is the the view. Sully took us on a once in a lifetime night drive. He said we were so lucky and I cannot explain all that happened, but rhere was a lioness kill, drama with a rival male, efforts to fight off hyenas and extra drama with a forgotten cub. It all worked out! So amazing. On top of all this they have you plant trees before you leave and they plant 13 for everyone the guests plant. A wonderful place to visit! Highly recommended.
Joe E
October 22, 2023Amazing experience! – Amani was the final stop of our first safari in Kenya and we were not disappointed! The views from the main lounge area are amazing. Guest accommodation, food and staff… read more were all really good. On our last night we had a dinner under the stars which was definitely a big highlight. We will recommend this camp to any friends coming over for a safari and will hopefully be back to visit again in the future!
James M
October 20, 2023Home Away From Home – It is impossible to find the right words to describe the outstanding experience we had here. I will tell you that the staff here are some of the most incredible… read more people I have ever met. Sam feels like part of our family. George and Annie were incredible human beings, and we were blown away by how excellent the service was. The property itself feels like something someone can only dream of. The camp was luxurious, and the surrounding wildlife felt comfortable being there. Falling asleep to the sound of the lions on the prowl made me feel like I could only be dreaming. Despite us being right in the home of the animals, the security here made me feel safer than being in my own home. We had dinner under the stars, and we could not believe how incredible it was. We quickly considered the staff to be our friends and we enjoyed looking through the star map with them and pointing out constellations while eating some of the most delicious food we have ever eaten. Personally, I am a kitchen manager and the pure culinary expertise and heart that went into the plate presentation was mind blowing. I almost want to keep this place just for us because it is truly a hidden gem. Our family has traveled the world and we have never experienced such incredible service in our entire lives. We enjoyed drinks after dinner in the main lodge and sat down to play some games (there were plenty) and Sam came to hang out with us and taught us so much about wildlife and the culture. If we could have spent the whole trip here, we would have. From arrival to departure, the staff pointed out the incredible wildlife sprawled over the terrain right out front, and you can tell they absolutely love what they do. We opted for a nature walk where we were able to sit on a rock ledge and watch the Hippos pop up and down from the water right in front of us. This led right into the sundowner which again was something out of a dream. When we returned, the staff had spotted an animal I was eager to see and had not yet. They guided us over near to where they were (staying out of their way of course) and my one wish came true. The number of happy tears during our stay was endless. Can’t wait to return here.
June 11, 2023 -
Trip 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, 2023We 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, 2023Amazing place with the most pleasant staff! – What an amazing spot! We stayed for only 2 nights and I felt sorry I hat to leave.
We’ve had very nice game drives with Fred and Sully and we… read more saw so many wonderful things. I hope to visit this lovely place again to see how the tree I planted is doing and I will certainly stay longer then!Nella V
February 1, 2024We loved Amani Mara, the hosts were lovely and welcoming.
We were lucky to be able to take a walk with Sully and explore the area around the camp,… read more whilst feeling safe from harm, we learned all about the culture the nature and traditions whilst we walked through the area to the hippos. We were then able to sit and watch the hippos from a ledge above the water that they were in. One of the best things we have done this whole trip.
The Camp made us feel really welcome, all the people we met were lovely, Daniel and Andrew, Ashif and everyone else.
We were staying when another couple were celebrating their honey moon and the Chefs and the team all came out singing a lovely song and presented the newly weds with a cake, then the came back in with one for us as we were celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary. It was lovely,
We planted a tree and named it so feel like we are now forever connected to this beautiful place.
The Facilities are great – rooms good with all the facilities that you require… the food was lovely and the lounge facilities great
Really loved our stay here.suec891
January 24, 2023