Kenya's Most Exclusive Safari Destinations: Crimson Brooke's Curated Collection of Luxury Camps

Location: Sand River near Tanzania border, perfectly placed for seasonal river crossings

Opening: August 2025

Accommodation: 20 elevated treetop suites with private decks and heated plunge pools

We recommend The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara when you want front-row migration drama with five-star polish: it sits along the Sand River near the Tanzania border, perfectly placed for seasonal river crossings and big-game action. You'll stay in one of just 20 elevated treetop suites, each with a private deck and heated plunge pool, plus personalized butler service. Game drives are private in open-air Land Cruisers following the migration route; between outings you can refine your shots in the Photography Studio or dive into the Map Room's migration insights. Evenings bring sky-deck stargazing dinners, a wine-cellar experience, and an authentic boma, with a Wellness Hub featuring a heated pool and gym for downtime. Access is seamless via Keekorok airstrip transfers, and you can enjoy Marriott Bonvoy perks during your stay—ideal if you value loyalty benefits.

Location: Talek River's edge in the Reserve with 21 tented suites

Accommodation: 21 tented suites with private decks and outdoor pools for wildlife viewing

The JW Marriott Masai Mara offers five-star comfort at the Talek River's edge in the Reserve, with 21 tented suites—some featuring private decks and outdoor pools for wildlife viewing. The camp provides quick access to game drives, a Canon Photography Studio, and a spa with sauna and cold plunge. Guests can also earn or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points while enjoying an intimate, all-inclusive safari experience.

Location: Directly on the Sand River, near Tanzania border in quieter corner of the Reserve

Style: 1920s-inspired elegance with 16 tents in two intimate "mini-camps"

We recommend Sand River Masai Mara when you want old-school safari romance right on the migration's front row: the camp sits directly on the Sand River, near the Tanzania border in a quieter, more secluded corner of the Reserve—some seasons you can even watch crossings from your verandah. You get 1920s-inspired elegance with just 16 tents split into two intimate "mini-camps" for extra privacy, plus unhurried, guide-led day drives into game-rich plains. Riverbank breakfasts and the camp's far-from-the-crowds setting add to the sense of exclusivity, and its Ecotourism Kenya Gold rating means your stay supports responsible practices.

Location: Oloololo Escarpment, 10 minutes from Ololoo Gate with front-row Mara Triangle views

Accommodation: 4 suites, 2 family suites, and 7 luxury tents with private jacuzzis and gardens

Style: Intimate luxury with spa, yoga, and transformative wilderness experiences

We recommend Pearl Mara when you want an intimate, elevated sanctuary that puts you front and center for the breathtaking wildebeest migration spectacle. Perched serenely upon the Oloololo Escarpment just 10 minutes from Ololoo Gate, this exclusive haven offers unparalleled comfort with each dwelling featuring a private jacuzzi, garden, and modern amenities including spa and yoga facilities. With only 13 accommodations total, it feels genuinely intimate while offering breathtaking vistas of the Mara Triangle. More than just luxury accommodation, Pearl Mara is designed as a transformative experience that invites you to reconnect with nature's embrace while enjoying quiet opulence that blends seamlessly into the vibrant landscape.

Location: Contemporary, glass-fronted river suites on a quiet bend of the Mara River

Accommodation: River suites with private decks for hippo watching, plus exclusive Geoffrey Kent Suite

When we recommend Sanctuary Olonana, it's because you get a rare mix of style, privacy, and access: contemporary, glass-fronted river suites right on a quiet bend of the Mara River (you can watch hippos from your deck), plus exclusive time in the Oloisukut Conservancy for guided walks and night drives away from the crowds. If you want top-tier privacy, the Geoffrey Kent Suite adds a private infinity pool, dedicated vehicle and guide, and in-suite dining. We also value their strong conservation and community work, which lets your stay have a positive local impact. In short, it's a design-forward, riverfront base with outstanding guiding and service that feels more immersive and purpose-led than most traditional tented camps.

Location: Perched atop the Oloololo Escarpment with floor-to-ceiling glass suites and endless Mara views

Style: Contemporary luxury with smart logistics and cinematic experiences

When we recommend Angama Mara, it's for the combination of wow-factor and smart logistics: the lodge is perched atop the Oloololo Escarpment with floor-to-ceiling glass suites and endless Mara views—and it even has its own nearby airfield, so you touch down just minutes from camp. Game drives start faster via Angama's private access road into the Mara Triangle, letting us skip gate queues and reach wildlife quickly while avoiding the busiest areas. Beyond the drives, their Photographic Studio lends cameras, offers tutorials, and does on-site editing/printing—perfect if you want pro-level images without hauling gear. And for signature moments you won't get elsewhere, we can arrange the "Out of Africa" hilltop picnic on the very kopje where the film's iconic scenes were shot, plus a farm-to-table Shamba lunch where you pick your own ingredients. In short, Angama blends cinematic views, quicker access, and immersive, design-led experiences that most Mara properties can't match.

Location: Private Olare Motorogi Conservancy with limited guest numbers

Accommodation: 12 luxury tents along the Ntiakitiak River

Olare Mara Kempinski offers exclusive big-cat experiences in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, with limited guests and vehicle numbers. Enjoy off-road sightings, guided walks, night drives, and 12 luxury tents along the Ntiakitiak River for a quiet, wildlife-focused stay supported by Kempinski's renowned service.

Location: Private Olare Motorogi Conservancy with 12 glass-fronted tents overlooking wildlife-rich valley

Style: Intimate luxury with June 2025 refurbishment, infinity pool and Nasaro spa

We recommend Mahali Mzuri when you want the Mara's drama with real exclusivity: it sits inside the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy—renowned for very low vehicle density and superb big-cat viewing—so game drives are uncrowded, with off-road tracking and true night drives that most reserve camps can't offer. The camp itself was freshly refurbished in June 2025 and kept intentionally intimate at just 12 spacious, glass-fronted tents overlooking a wildlife-rich valley, so you're soaking up the action from your deck between drives. You're also right on the path of the Great Migration in season, and your stay supports conservancy-led conservation with direct benefits to local Maasai communities—so it feels both elevated and purposeful. For downtime, the infinity pool and Nasaro spa add a polished, resort-level touch that many bush camps don't match.

Location: Near Musiara Airstrip for easy access, in heart of game country

Opening: August 2025

Accommodation: 8 luxury suites plus family suite with private lounges and bath-with-a-view

We recommend Paradise Plains when you want a brand-new, intimate camp with serious creature comforts right in the heart of game country: just 8 luxury suites plus a family suite, each with a private lounge and bath-with-a-view, and rare wellness extras like a pool, spa, gym and butler service. Set near Musiara Airstrip for easy access, you're out on the plains quickly for classic morning/afternoon drives—and the camp can arrange night drives, hot-air ballooning, sundowners on scenic ridges, rich birding, and Maasai cultural visits. Stays include full board, curated drinks, shared game drives, and Musiara transfers, with the option to book an exclusive-use vehicle—so the experience feels polished and personal without losing the wild. As a just-opened August 2025 property from The Wilder Group, it blends fresh design with a secluded, wildlife-rich setting—an elegant alternative to larger, busier Mara camps.

Location: Banks of Ewaso Nyiro River, Samburu National Reserve

Accommodation: 12 luxury tented suites with river views

Style: Intimate riverside luxury with cultural immersion

We recommend Soroi Larsens when you want a stylish, intimate base right on the Ewaso Nyiro River—newly renovated tents line the riverbank, so you're watching elephants and birds from your deck between unhurried game drives. What sets it apart is the photographer-friendly setup: a purpose-built hide for eye-level shots and a star-bed experience for unforgettable nights under the Samburu sky. For extra indulgence, the Deluxe Suites add a plunge pool, outdoor shower, private lounge, and dedicated butler—perfect if you want privacy and pampering without leaving the wild. And being in Samburu means a strong chance to tick off the "Samburu Special Five" (Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk)—a uniquely northern Kenya highlight that many Mara camps can't offer.

Location: Rocky bluff in Lumo Community Wildlife Conservancy, Tsavo West

Accommodation: 12 exclusive luxury suites with panoramic views

Style: Elevated eco-luxury with breathtaking vistas

We recommend Soroi Lions Bluff when you want dramatic, crowd-free safari with real community impact: the lodge sits high on a ridge in Lumo Community Wildlife Conservancy between Tsavo and the Taita Hills, giving you endless views—often all the way to Kilimanjaro—and a front-row seat over an ancient elephant corridor. With just 12 beautifully styled suites, it feels intimate and unhurried, and we can add experiences you won't get in national parks—true night drives, guided walks, and time in the lodge's professional photo hide for eye-level shots at the waterhole. The result is an immersive, conservation-led stay in an uncrowded setting where your visit directly supports local communities and wildlife protection.