Wildlife at Amani
Extraordinary encounters at Amani
Amani Mara is unfenced. The three big cats—lions, cheetahs, leopards—and other big game—elephants, hippos, Cape buffaloes, rhinos, giraffe—as well as gazelles and other plains game, roam freely. Our expert guides ensure your safety and that the adventures awaiting you will make your time with us unforgettable. Having a water source year-round at Amani Mara ensures that wildlife live here year-round. You can annually witness here not one but two wildebeest migrations, the famous ‘Great Migration’ originating in the Serengetti as well as a more local ‘Loita Migration’. Our wildlife haven offers protective habitat also for birds, zebras, eland, crocodiles, and numerous other smaller creatures, including hyena, jackal, warthog, ostrich, mongoose, hyrax, and much more.
Sully's Wildlife
We invite you to join Amani Mara’s wildlife expert par excellence Sully Suleman on his adventures as he captures wildlife encounters at Amani. His favourite adventures are with our resident leopard Natito!

Testimonials
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Home 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, 2023Wonderful 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 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, 2024The 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, 2023 -
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, 2023The Jewel In Maasai Mara’s Crown – I stayed at Amani Mara for 3 weeks solo with the intention of healing and finding peace in nature and it was truly transformative. As I was there for a… read more significant amount of time, I wanted to provide a thorough review for other travelers and to recommend at least a 3 night stay as a lot of the other guests I socialized with were really bummed they had such a short stay planned after seeing the place!
LOCATION:
Amani Mara feels very exclusive and is not near other camps- wonderful as you’re not seeing the lights from other camps and hearing them making for an organic bush experience that doesn’t feel “commercial.” They are only 15 minutes from Maasai Mara park, and I could never tell the difference as the drive there was a safari with as much wildlife as the park! When I first arrived to Amani Mara, they have an unmarked yet beautiful entrance, and I was greeted by the manager and other staff who welcomed me with a cold towel (that smelled of lovely essential oils), a welcome drink, and then taken into the perched main area with a jaw dropping view of the savannah and a river directly below with resident hippos, crocodiles, you name it. I hadn’t realized that I would be able to spot wildlife from my dining table (and the entire property)!
POOL:
Their infinity pool is really gorgeous and on the hillside overlooking the river with wildlife. I appreciated their comfy loungers and attentive pool service serving drinks, etc.
DINING:
Speaking of dining, this was one of the reasons that I initially chose Amani Mara as they offer a hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily at the property (with picnic options for game drives, of course). Most of the other camps I explored only offered hot dinner options. I was shocked at how amazing and artisan the food was- they have even hired a new pastry chef and the desserts are divine! They accommodated all of my food sensitivities with substitutions and made me feel very comfortable doing so as their wait staff is very kind and professional. TIP: Do not miss their “Dinner Under The Stars” and Bush dinner options- they are so gorgeous with the same great food.
ROOMS:
Overall loved how all of Amani Mara blended into nature and was very private. The way it was built, no one else will pass by your “villa” as there is a pathway that veers off onto each room. Also, all of the villas are facing the river with views and I could not see any other villas from my viewing deck outside. Rooms have a natural feel giving a “ safari experience” but luxury touches that make them very comfortable.
WILDLIFE:
A big differentiator between Amani Mara and other options I considered is that it is unfenced and the experience feels very natural. One of my favorite memories is of the zebras who stopped by my room daily to “say hello”. You are completely safe on your viewing deck to watch wildlife, and you are escorted to your room in the evenings by a true Maasai security guard. I always felt safe.
GAME DRIVES TIP:
I learned to use the drivers that Amani Mara recommended as they have been doing this for YEARS and really had the inside scoop for the best experience. For ex, the driver received a call from other Maasai friends who shared a leopard sighting and we ended up being the only other vehicle there to witness it.
SERVICE:
As someone who loves luxury hotels,their service was BEYOND 5 star hotel Ben by United States standards. Silly, but I remember thinking “this must be how celebrities are treated at hotels” HA!
I was so impressed when another guest shared that the staff had prepared an earlier dinner for her kids by the pool where they were swimming, and then watched the children in their guest room while the parents had a romantic dinner in the dining room— at no additional charge! I found the staff very open to accommodating to guests as opposed to being rigid about things.
There were several evenings when lions or a leopard were found not far from the camp, and upon getting word from their security, the owners came into the main area to invite everyone to hop on their safari vehicle to go and see them. This was not counted as a “game drive” or anything of that sort- this is just how passionate they are about guest experiences and how “above and beyond” they do things.
As it’s family owned and managed, the brothers, Sam and Sully, have somehow mastered socializing with guests and making them feel comfortable without ever imposing on anyone. The entire staff wowed me with anticipating needs -remembering my favorite beverages, bringing me my favorite snack when they saw me in the dining, etc.
Amani Mara and Kenya have my heart forever and I CANNOT wait to return someday. Thank you for all of your hospitality and the memories I’ll have forever.
March 1, 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 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, 2023 -
THE place to stay! – The best place to stay in the Maasai Mara! I love the history of this camp and how it has developed over the years. Super rooms, so comfy… read more and a true Kenyan Safari experience. The sound of the hypos every day was so magical it felt like being in a movie! The service and food was superb and I can’t recommend this lodge enough! Being able to hear all the different animal noises at night was a amazing!
sarabB7677DZ
July 29, 2023Perfect 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, 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, 2023We 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 -
Amazing 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, 2024We had mixed experiences here. On the first night, we were not provided with a mosquito net. There were many mosquitos in the room at night. The quality of the… read more food needs improvement. The room felt gloomy. We believe the owner realized our not so happy experience and he tried to rectify that by waiving off the laundry and drinks bill. That was a nice gesture from him. The owner was very friendly, we had nice discussions with him. We liked the ambience of the open air dinner which we had on the last night of our stay. Room and toilet were clean. Staff were helpful. View from the common/dining area was beautiful. I would rate it 3.5 star out of 5
chaktatha
June 19, 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, 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, 2024