JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge

Wow! Visiting from Canada as part of our honeymoon for October 1-6, this was part of the trip of a lifetime! From the moment we got off the plane, we felt like royalty treated by the staff at JW Masai Mara lodge. We've only had positive interactions with the staff and other guests, whether it was Thelma at front desk, Diana their cultural ambassador, or even the servers that were not specifically assigned to us, we had a delight being treated like no other hotel. We were assigned Vincent as our driver and Faith as our spotter, as well as Leshan as our waiter. We had so much fun joking around and just fitting in at the lodge. Vincent has over 17 years of experience as a guide, and it shows as not only was he able to find the animals that we were looking for, but also put us in a great position for photography by ensuring he shut the car off when we were beside animals, to putting our vehicle in as low of a position we could get to see the animals. We could tell Vincent is a well-respected guide given he seemed to always have connections to other drivers (whether JW or not) to find out about animal spottings. Speaking of photography, it was a great benefit to have the camera rental from Canon's partnership with the lodge. We brought our own camera, and having the camera rental meant we were both out on the drives and having fun! A safari without a proper camera does not do justice for the experience, and we felt extremely lucky to have two for our game drives. The only criticisms would be the food options; while at worst things tasted decent to even amazing, there wasn't much choice in the breakfast menu as we would have liked. Still, the soups and fish dishes for lunch and dinner were amazing. This was our first safari adventure, and we are so glad to have gone to JW Marriott Masai Mara! While we can't say its the best in Kenya if we haven't been to any others, I wouldn't be surprised if it was for any guests that have been to this lodge and other safari experiences. Until next time.

The JW Masai Mara is an amazing hotel and experience. The hotel does so many things exceptionally but has a few things it needs to work on in order to get to 5 ⭐️. Pros: -Our game driver, David, and the experience in the reserve were phenomenal. Truly next level - David was willing to take the drives at our pace and we were out with him for 2 full days during our 5 day stay. He is next level. -The Canon studio and getting to use the camera made our trip photos SO much better! This is a HUGE pro. We did not take advantage of the support to edit our photos but we should have. We did have them move the photos to our phones and for about 2000 photos it took less than 5 minutes. This might be the best amenity at the hotel. -The front desk crew & management are very helpful and kind. Diana particularly was wonderful in sharing the Masai culture with us. We appreciated her stories and hospitality. -The property is beautiful & very well maintained. Additionally the rooms are incredibly well appointed. The outdoor shower was a huge favorite for us. We also appreciated not having a tv so we could connect with nature & the full experience. -The spa is wonderful! We didn’t do any treatments due to wanting to maximize time on the drives but we loved using the steam room, sauna & cold plunge. Just make sure you make an appointment to use them. -The rooms are so well taken care of during your stay. Our housekeeper and mini bar attendant were amazing. -The ability to book an experience like this on points is fantastic. We heard a stat that 80% of the visitors are on points. Cons: 1. The tip culture is OUT OF CONTROL. We had read the reviews and brought cash to tip our driver, house keeper, servers, etc. We are happy to tip for great service. However 2 experiences left a sour taste in our mouths. 1st, our restaurant server told us on the first day that he should be tipped individually and not to tip using the restaurant check (which is weird that they give you this at an all inclusive). We were so turned off that we only tipped him on the restaurant bill & did not hand him any cash. It made our restaurant experience very uncomfortable the whole week. 2nd, a Masai warrior is required to walk you to & from your tent at night for safety. They expect a tip each time as well. One gentleman even stopped short of the restaurant and looked us up and down until we handed him a 20 (all that we had). He showed up to our tent the next morning to walk us to the breakfast, which is not required, saying there was an animal nearby. We highly doubted that because he did the same thing for a tip in the morning. We were so put off by it. 2. For a place that commands $3000 a night, you’d expect that there would be choices at the restaurant. The theme night concept is fun for a day but when every meal has an Indian food flair to it, it gets old fast if you don’t like Indian food. We asked for something different on the true Indian food night and were treated like we were abso

Graziemille à tutti….My husband and I have been celebrating our retirement at the JW Masai Mara lodge in Kenya in September. A once of a lifetime experience. Everything has been well over our expectations. And I am not talking about seeing the big 5, that we had the chance to observed, but about the people. Every person working at this lodge was fully dedicated to our well beiing. Millionni di bacioni a Fintan, our wonderful Masai lady guide with her Signature red hair…same for Francis at the restaurant, Joseph, and all the personnel of the restaurant and the bar. Grazie Thelma Kinyutu at the guest experience staff for your help and beautiful smile. The housekeeping team was great, always with a gentle memo at our attention. Discovering the culture and traditions of the Masai was wonderful. Thanks Dana and chief of the Masai village for your generosity and authenticity, helping us understanding the Masai people and culture. Even the gardener during our visit has taken the time to do a complete and detailed visit. Also a big thank to the administrative personnel, Mark Oduor and Carol Muriithi in Nairobi for their support during the reservation process and securing us after the disastrous flood. You are wonderful. Now, we hope to come back again in the next future…. You deserve all 10 stars!!!

My stay at JW Marriott Masai Mara was nothing short of extraordinary. This resort is, without a doubt, the best I’ve ever visited. The emotional connection I felt with this place was largely due to the incredible staff. Their attentiveness and ability to anticipate our needs before we even voiced them, was unparalleled. From our housekeeper Anne, to our server Patrick and our safari driver Vincent, I got to know each of them personally. We shared countless stories, creating a bond that made our stay even more special. One morning, my wife was suffering from a migraine. I casually mentioned it to Patrick, our server and before I knew it, the entire team had rearranged everything to accommodate her needs. Their coordinated effort and genuine care was truly remarkable. A special thanks to our safari guide, Vincent. He went above and beyond to ensure we had the best animal viewing experiences. His knowledge and dedication made our safari unforgettable. The level of service we received was beyond anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. They really spoiled us, making our stay unforgettable. I highly recommend JW Marriott Masai Mara to anyone looking for an exceptional and personalized experience.

Every comfort yes but it’s the people that work here that make the experience beyond. From the perfect cappuccino the barrista finishes with a flourish to the warm bottle in the bed with turn down service you will feel cared for and delighted by the warmth, smarts, and humor of guides, waitstaff, front desk etc. to top it off-they grow all their own veggies on site which elevated the freshness and quality of the menu. Go!!

Absolutely spectacular!!! We enjoyed everything about this property and its staff members! From the moment we were greeted at the Keekorok airstrip to the moment we were returned for our departure, we were made to feel like family and treated like royalty! Our experience far exceeded our expectations and we were fortunate to have the pleasure of visiting with General Manager Fairman Muhingi to congratulate him on the success of the property and carefully chosen staff members. My husband loved the Canon studio onsite. They provide a high-quality camera with a huge lens for the guests to use on game drives at no additional cost. And, of course, professionals to teach how to use the camera and edit the photos. What a perk!! Thank you to our fabulous and fun safari guide Fintan, our wonderful server Leshan, bartenders Richard and Victor, barista extraordinaire Josiah, our room attendant Anne, and Kennedy, Serina, and Thelma who seem to be the ones making sure that all guests have a fabulous all-around experience. Asante sana to everyone at the JW Marriott Masai Mara. We miss your beautiful smiles and can’t wait to visit you again!

This Marriot property is by far the best we have stayed at in all Marriot and other upscale properties. This property is set apart by the level of service of here. Every single thing is thought of with the intent to ensure guests feel fully relaxed and on vacation. Although every single person here made us feel so welcomed and taken care of, we especially appreciated the care of certain individuals. The Marriot brand is so lucky to have this staff here at Mara. Firstly our game driver Jacob. Folks if at all possible to have him as your safari guide it’s worth it. He knows every inch of this park, and it’s clear people know him in the area. We were so impressed by his ability to read animals behaviour and move accordingly to where they will be so you can see and get the best shots. Super pleasant accommodating guy, cannot say enough about him, he’s absolutely wonderful goes above and beyond. Moses in the photo studio. Took time every single day to help us export photos, give us tips on editing and just be a wonderful encouragement to people so new to photography. My husband generally is not a photo person and he is now wanting to take lessons and perfect his skills for sure due to Moses. Victor the bartender. Wonderful guy, so attentive and great conversations. He’s an expert at making drinks and really tries to ensure you have a great experience. You will arrive and everyone will say welcome home, it’s not at all a faux, you feel it through the entire stay. We are so impressed and will certainly recommend this.

My husband and I had the absolute best trip staying at the JW Marriott Masai Mara. The team made our honeymoon so special. The staff, food, amenities, spa and overall experience was fabulous. Chad and I couldn't have asked for a better place to stay for our honeymoon. We are so beyond grateful for Moses who came on a game drive with us and taught us how to use the cameras and took photos of us during our village visit. We really appreciated Wilson who helped us throughout our stay, our amazing waiter Benjamin for surprising us with lunch in the garden and a private dinner one night, and of course, we are so lucky that Sophy was our driver. Sophy took us to the village and shared with us so much about her culture and taught us all about the Masai, Kenya and different African animals. Sophy surprised us with an opportunity to dress in the Masai traditional wedding clothing and beads and we danced and celebrated our wedding with the village. Thank you again, JW Masai Mara. We will most definitely be back one day!

The place is immaculate. The location is stunningly beautiful. The cabins/tents are spacious and relaxing. Most of them overlook the river. The accommodations are stuffed with loads of freebies and ample of towels. The food is masterfully carved. It caters to everyone’s palette with special attention by the head chef Rajiv Ranjan. Our server Patrick took great care to ensure we were not hungry throughout our stay. The safaris were well planned. Our safari guide, Vincent’s mannerisms, attention to details, hospitality, and his determination that we saw and got most from our safari trips was exemplary. With nearly 17 years of solid Safari experience he knows the nooks and crannies of the bushes. The facility provides free cameras with telescopic lenses to use during the stay. A nice touch to add to a great experience. Every moment can be caught and on the last day the well experienced photo lab staff downloads the pictures to your cell phone or laptops. Every member of the staff knows you personally by name.- specially James from housekeeping. He made efforts to meet every basic and specific needs. Special mention of Wilson in the reception desk who took the extra mile to identify, locate, and help us buy artifacts we were specifically looking for. He contacted the store in Nairobi and ensured we find the artifacts- this special touch was exemplary. A professionally managed facility catering to every need to ensure comfort and a great Safari experience. We also learnt they provide opportunities for the Masai children helping them with internships and hospitality administration experience so they can then venture out to other similar facilities or apply for jobs if open within the facility. We will definitely recommend this place for a life time experience. Well worth the trip and stay!