Sand River Masai Mara | The Masai Mara One Of Kenya’s Best Safari Lodges

We sit at a private table on the water’s edge, enjoying a gourmet lunch served by our personal waiter. On the other side of the Sand River – from which this luxury Kenyan safari lodge gets its name – are the sweeping plains of the Serengeti. Every year, masses of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle cross this very river on their northerly passage into the Masai Mara as part of the Great Wildebeest Migration. When deciding where to stay, friends had told us there are three river-crossing sites at Sand River Masai Mara, so here we are. Come a day or two, we’ll be smack in the middle of the action! The manager, George, pointed out that one site has a sausage tree next to it. He says that lion sit there and simply pick off wildebeest at their leisure. I’m equally thrilled and mortified… In the meanwhile, we’re enjoying the camp, and hoping to see the Big Five.

Morning in the Masai Mara. I walk across the carpeted wooden floors of our tent to the outdoor shower, perched on the edge of the river. There’s a slight chill to the air but I’m warmly wrapped in my robe. Within seconds, the massive showerhead releases a strong jet of hot water. From where I wash, I can see over the river into the Serengeti, catching a glimpse of the mounting wildebeest as the rising sun turns the sky a mottled pink. As I walk back towards the tent, the fresh smell of coffee wafts towards me, and I see a tray of tea, coffee and biscuits laid out on our private wooden deck. Sitting on the edge of our enormous four-poster bed, I gently wake my companion. Looking around, I think again how lovely our tent is: the bathroom with its massive bath, the marble-topped double sinks, the colonial-style interior – all leather and wood, which, apart from the mixed-blessing of Wi-Fi available throughout the lodge, makes me feel like a 1920s explorer. We sit out on the deck to, sipping our tea and coffee and enjoying a little pre-breakfast theatre on the river’s edge. It’s a prime location to watch wildlife activities – hippo grunting in the river beneath us, birds darting down into the grass to feed, vervet monkey swinging in the trees. And before us, the Serengeti, Tanzania’s most famous national park.

I love having an outdoor shower; what an experience to watch the activity on the Sand River while going about your daily ablutions. That said, you can bank on incredible viewings no matter where you are at the lodge … we were able to see wildebeest crossing the river during lunch in the dining area! And once, during the sudden African dusk, we heard the chilling sound of a lion roaring nearby. Other than game viewing, we had great fun playing billiards and swimming in the pool. I also loved the elegant luxury, and the colonial memorabilia used as decor.

• Luxurious, colonial-style tented camp, with games room and pool. It has 16 tented rooms (four twins, 11 doubles and one family) spread across two separate but adjoining areas – Sand River and Little Sand River.
• Personal butler on request, private dining, private vehicles available (additional cost) and set in a secluded area of the Masai Mara National Reserve, right on the Great Wildebeest Migration route with three river-crossing points.
• Game drives, bush meals, bush sundowners, dinner under the stars, hot-air ballooning (additional cost) and cultural visits (additional cost).
• Children permitted, and children’s activities on offer. One family tent, plus four others have day beds that can be used as extra beds.

• Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
• It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
• Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you.  Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
• However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.