•JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge General Manager Barnabas Wamoto, wealthy travelers have fully booked the hotel’s 20 tented camps going for (Sh421, 800) a night.
•Other lodges attracting the wealthy include Olare Mara Kempinski and Fairmont Mara Safari Club.
Image: JACKTONE LAWI
Players in the Safari luxury tourism segment have recorded increased bookings ahead of the peak seasons, as demand for high-end holiday destinations soars.
This is a change from the traditional norm where luxury has been associated with facilities on the beach.
For years, Kenyan tourism authorities and private sector players have invested in marketing the country in to lure especially coastal beach lovers.
However, there is an increasing trend where industry players are now introducing luxury into the traditional safari.
The Safari luxury tourism in Kenya combines the thrill of wildlife encounters with the comfort and opulence of high-end accommodations.
According to industry players in the tourism niche, it is among the most promising and they hope to seize the opportunity of the growing African travel market.
JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge general manager Barnabas Wamoto noted that wealthy travelers have fully booked the hotel’s 20 tented camps, going for around $3,000 (Sh421, 800) a night.
He pointed out that the East African region has been yearning for a mix of the Safari with some touch of luxury which has been missing.
“We are fully booked for the July to September- fully booked peak season, this kind of experience of luxury in the bush has been missing in the local market,” said Wamoto.
Marriot has over 8,000 hotels in 131 countries, but Kenya is its first tented camp with Mara Lodge able to accommodate 40 to 45 people at full capacity.
In Africa, Marriott International’s current portfolio features nearly 140 properties and more than 24,000 rooms across 20 countries and 19 brands.
The Marriot lodge joined other luxurious tented camps in the Mara in April this year.
Other lodges attracting the wealthy include Olare Mara Kempinski and Fairmont Mara Safari Club and properties like the Mara Serena Lodge, Sarova Mara Game Camp and Sala’s Camp located inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The luxury experience seems to be on demand in the region, with the global hotel brand now set to expand its Safari luxury experience into Tanzania.
This is through an agreement with Delaware Investment Limited.
The signing of JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge marks the brand’s first luxury safari lodge in Tanzania and is expected to open in 2026.
The lodge will be situated within the Serengeti National Park.
Kenya's luxury safari lodges and camps provide a blend of comfort, exclusivity, and immersion in nature.
From spacious tented suites with private verandas overlooking vast plains to opulent lodges nestled in the heart of wildlife reserves, every detail is meticulously designed to cater to the desires of high-end travelers.
These accommodations often offer personalised services, private game drives, and gourmet dining experiences showcasing local flavors and international cuisine.
East Africa is grossly under-invested in upmarket travel, with the region counting less than 15 top-of-the-line five-star lodges priced in the range of $2,500 (about Sh345,768) per person, per night.
The US has remained Kenya's leading tourists source market.
Across the East African region, Uganda is the top contributor and the second overall, closely followed by Tanzania and Rwanda.