Olkinyei Mara Tented Camp

The lodge is amazing! We stayed in one of the premium tents and it was really spacious and well decorated. The bed and pillows were very confortable and everything was always clean. Every night, while we were at dinner, the staff would close the curtains and spray our room for bugs. Although this kind of tent was considerably larger than the others, I trust the other tents were likewise clean and confortable. The staff was really exceptional greeting us everyday with a smile and asking how the safari went. The food was the best we had in Kenya, even though we stayed at more luxurious resorts afterwards. There were always a couple of options and everything was cooked to perfection. The whole feeling at the end of the day was like arriving home to familiar faces and having a delicious homecooked meal. To our surprise, one night the staff organized a traditional dance around a bonfire and baked us a cake to celebrate our wedding as we were on our honeymoon. Finally, we booked two fullday game drives which were amazing! Our guide, Denis, is very experienced took us to see as many animals as possible.

We had a large luxurious tent for the family and it was really lovely. Despite the location there were no creepy crawlies. Staff were lovely and very helpful. Jeffrey looked after us for food. Maxson arranged our safaris, Maasai village visit and taxis. It was my wife's birthday and the staff did a very memorable song and dance for her (and a cake!). Food was ok, not spectacular.

Some gentle music in the bar area might have added atmosphere.

★★★★★ An Outstanding and Unforgettable Safari Experience Olkinyei Mara Tented Camp is outstanding in every way—from its beautiful accommodations and exceptional service to its delicious food. The entire team went above and beyond our expectations throughout our week-long stay. The camp is locally owned and led by Joseph, with Max overseeing management concerns and coordinating the guests’ daily activities and schedules. Their dedication, organization, and genuine hospitality are reflected in every member of the team. We especially want to recognize our room attendant, Johnson. He was extremely diligent in keeping our tent clean, fresh, and comfortable. He always made sure we had fresh water and towels and that our beds were ready for us after a long day of game drives. He was consistently available and willing to assist us with anything we needed. Our game-drive guides and drivers, Alfred and Dennis, were also exceptional. Through their knowledge, patience, and determination, we successfully saw the Big Five. They also helped make one of our biggest dreams come true—witnessing the Great Migration and an incredible river crossing. Their expertise and dedication made every game drive exciting, educational, safe, and unforgettable. We were also very impressed by the culinary expertise of the chefs—Geoff, Robert, Michael, and Julius. They prepared outstanding meals and made every effort to accommodate the tastes and preferences of their guests. Every meal was fresh, delicious, beautifully prepared, and something we always looked forward to after our game drives. Daniel, Joshua, Jeff, and Junior provided excellent service during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They were always friendly, attentive, and ready to assist with every guest’s needs. Their warm smiles and gracious service made every meal even more enjoyable.

The only minor disadvantage we experienced was the weak water pressure and hot water in the shower. We understand that water supply can be challenging in a remote safari camp, but improving the shower pressure would make an already exceptional stay even more comfortable. This small issue did not take away from our overall wonderful experience.

The room decor and our waiter Jeff.

The inadequate water pressure and shower facilities. It looked to be very luxurious, but an actuality took a long time for the water to heat up enough to take a very inadequate shower. This was the one accommodation we were looking most forward to on our trip and the one we were the most disappointed with in the end. In between safari drives, there's absolutely nothing to do.The tents are so stiflingly hot that even spending time inside them, was brutal. At checkout, we were told that they could not run a credit card in Kenyan shillings, which made no sense whatsoever because of their obvious international clientele, and then added a fee for using a credit card. We booked eight different properties on this trip and not a single other property did either one of these things. We felt like what was advertised was not delivered, and were very disappointed in the end.