The Masai Mara is so large that there are dozens of places to stay which also vary. From rustic living in tents to five star luxuries at a lodge, there’s a wealth of experience to be gained from the Mara.
The Serena Lodge is where I stayed and its grey exterior is far from a true representation of what it’s like to stay here. The interior is bright and beautiful, designed with sharp yellow tones and a somewhat hidden feeling, you’ll feel like you’re in an enclosure. Upon arrival I received the freshest and thickest mango juice I’ve ever drank. The staff know exactly what you need after a six hour drive to the Mara.
Once I got settled in I looked around at the room, which was much larger than I needed but the space was most welcome. The mirrors had Masai trinkets decorating them and the bathroom had all amenities, including mosquito repellent wipes. What really struck me was the wooden balcony, small and pretty, it gave a view overlooking acres of the Mara. I could see a few hippos and giraffes from where I stood, allowing a real sense of being in the centre of everything.
At one point in the night I looked outside and saw the shadow of three giraffes, but they were so still that I thought they were artificial shadows from décor. It was only in the morning that I found out they were real because of course, giraffes don’t move that much. The lodge includes paved stairways in different directions, with tiny streams running through. You’ll also find that in the wild you never can guess what you’ll encounter. Around the area there were tiny jumping frogs, vibrantly coloured lizards and even mongooses running about.
It’s hard to spot the lodge from afar as it’s discreetly camouflaged as to not disrupt the animals, or invite them into the establishment. The only reason we could find it was because my brother helped build one of the internet towers, which are all disguised as trees and far from an eyesore. The tower was next to the Serena Lodge, so once I knew what it looked like it was always easy to spot. Not that I planned on getting lost in the Mara, if I wasn’t with a ranger I could easily lose myself. Especially as it’s so large, yet I’ve only seen a quarter of it.
The variety of places to stay in the Mara also changes every experience. So every visit or one game drive is never the same. The camps allow the animals to come really close to you, while other lodges offer different views. During my stay I thought Serena was great and that balcony, plus the numerous game drives really did make it worthwhile.
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