JW Marriott Masai Mara Review: Luxury in the Savannah, a Truly Unforgettable Safari

Hakuna Matata, the famous Swahili phrase and popularized saying from the famed Lion King means no worries, and undeniably, at the JW Marriott Masai Mara, it certainly holds true. My recent stay in Southern Kenya was not only marked by excitement, but by tranquility and relaxation.

Over the five nights I visited the property, I was able to sample all of the services the camp offered while exploring the spectacular savannah that is Masai Mara. While this review will ultimately be a part of my East Africa trip report, I cannot but stop to marvel at the star of the show.

Location

Situated along the Talek River running the border of Masai Mara, the remoteness of the property was clear upon arrival as we crossed over the water on a rope bridge. Although all of the tents and most of the camp face the river, what really makes this property shine is how closely tied the JW was into its natural environment.

With no fence separating the wildlife from the grounds, don’t be surprised to see hippopotamus or zebra tracks during your stay. Despite being a brand-new property, I felt that the camp is embraced by its surroundings rather than being built over them.

Located a 45-minute drive away from the Keekorok Airstrip, or north of a five-hour drive from Nairobi, it is not possible to arrive without driving on at least one dirt road. Excellent for exploring the unbelievable nature reserve of Masai Mara, its location is perfect for a proper African Safari.

The Camp

A camp, rather than a lodge, is apparent upon arrival. The intimacy of the quant common area creates a warm and homey feeling difficult to experience at any hotel, let alone a chain property with more than 8,000 locations worldwide. The details of the decorations were a lovely touch and thoughtfully curated. They even provided warm blankets for those who are chilly.

Upon crossing the river to the entry of the hotel, the lobby flows outside to the stunning Fig Tree deck built upon a gorgeous and massive, well,… fig tree. This space is the living room of the property that offers you coffee and snacks in preparation for your early morning drive, as well as a place to kick back and relax with a drink of your choice from a small, yet well equipped bar, at the end of the day..

Behind the deck, there are two tents that are just as beautifully decorated. One, is a kids’ club and the other is a conference room, or more likely, the hotel’s photo studio. This is also where the property’s only TV is located, a perfect reminder that the focus of this camp is to relax and enjoy nature directly.

Parallel to the river, the deck flows into the second heart of the camp, the restaurant. While by no means is dining restricted to this venue, who would not want to marvel at the river while eating or enjoying a glass of wine with a table lit dinner under the stars.

Walking down the stone path that follows the restaurant leads you to a a gorgeous infinite pool. While you may not have to worry about hippos coming for a drink during the day, the pool is the perfect place to refresh during the hot, Kenyan afternoons.

Just behind the pool is, quite honestly, one of my favorite fitness centers of all time. Acknowledging that this gym is rather limited in equipment, there were very few patrons given that there are only 20 tents and never once was there any trouble with regard to overcrowding, access to equipment, and frankly, very few people were present. With walls that open to the great outdoors, it’s a challenge to not want to work out here, and if you know lazy ‘ol me, that’s impressive.

The spa is not only equipped with three gorgeous treatment rooms, all with individual balconies and shower facilities, but the gem is the center spa room ready with a steam room and sauna, as well as a private plunge pool. If you were to get a treatment at the spa, I would highly recommend requesting this room at no additional cost.

A final addition, not yet fully ready for guests during my stay, is the camp’s garden. Not only will this provide fresh produce, but it will ultimately allow guests to pick their own fresh vegetables, which can be prepared, on the spot, by the chef for lunch.

The Tents

While called ‘a tent’, the deluxe suite in which I stayed is hardly roughing it. The mesh siding of the structure may fool you until you see the gorgeous back windows facing out over the Talek River. With either a king bed or two doubles, there is more than enough room with more space than many Manhattan apartments.

The back of the room had two large wardrobes, ready with plush robes and slippers, as well as laundry bags for the fully-included laundry service.

Along the side of the room was a desk, however, the only possible reason I could imagine someone needing to work here would be to edit the unbelievable pictures they took on safari.

There are plenty of seating options, ready for lounging with a blanket and throw pillows, which face the beautiful scenery. This was the perfect spot to rest and recharge during the rainy time of our stay, and to enjoy the sounds of the drops on the canvas roof.

In the corner of the room is an expansive minibar. Always ready with a fresh bottle of wine, or assorted spirits, as well as non-alcoholic beverages ranging from soda to Kenyan tea, there are many options. One can’t forget some of the snacks that they left for us, including chips, nuts, and cookies.

The space flows into a gorgeous bathroom with light wood touches and marble counters. They provide plenty of bathroom amenities on the counter, with more available upon request.

The massive rainfall shower, with a handheld option, also had a second door that led to the outside of the tent where you could take an outdoor shower. So, if you want to see some baboons or Zebras while you shower, this is the place to do it.

Finally, on the back deck, just outside the bathroom, was a private hot tub. While on the smaller side, it is perfect for two people wanting to enjoy the evening and relax after a day out on safari, that is, until you are asked to go back inside due to a nearby elephant.

While no trouble at night, especially with the multiple fans, it is important to note that there was no AC within the tent, or throughout the property for that matter. The sides of the tent were left open during the day, with mesh keeping the bugs out and it did get quite warm, but I never had any trouble in the evenings.

Food and Beverage

When we met the chef on our initial tour of the property, I knew we were in for a treat. When I think of all-inclusive resorts, the fresh, well-prepared cuisine that I received at this JW Marriott is hardly what comes to mind.

I truly looked forward to all of the roughly 15 meals I enjoyed at the camp. While the menu may be limited, often with only 2-3 choices per course, do not expect the same menu day after day. Never once did I grow tired of the always changing available options.

When we wanted to try Ugali, a staple food of Kenya, without question, they made it happen. The same holds true for other types of food as well; I overheard the request by another family for pizza for their daughter. As long as there is time for preparation, the kitchen is very flexible and nearly anything is possible.

Although there are specific dining times for the three daily meals, it is completely possible to order at times that are most convenient for guests. We typically had lunch on the later side, after returning from our morning drives.

Further, one of the biggest highlights was being able to have a meal out in the bush. We typically took lunch to go, which was set up as a lovely picnic out under a lone tree. We even had lunch while watching hippos, giraffes, zebras, and elephants when out on an all-day safari.

The chef even considered the daily menu around my gluten allergy, making sure that despite my gluten limitation, there were always multiple available choices. Even during packed-meal game drives, there was always gluten free bread and muffins available, something that, to me, really speaks to their dedication to quality, as well as taking guests’ dietary needs seriously.

All of the food is fresh and full of flavor, so I was never left hungry. I loved the freshly squeezed juice in the mornings. While I do think that it could be beneficial to have some more variety, there was not a meal that I didn’t like.

Although I did not personally choose to partake, there are countless available alcoholic drink options, almost all of which are included with your stay. From champagne popped upon pickup at the airstrip, to South African wines that are recommended at meals, and spirits at the bar, I do not think I went more than 30 minutes without being graciously offered something to drink. I was a big fan of the iced hibiscus tea that I had upon arrival, and all of the other Kenyan teas that I was able to enjoy during my stay.

Despite having high expectations for food and beverage options on the property, these were still managed to be surpassed.

Service

When the staff to guest ratio is about 3:1, which was about the case during my stay, the service truly shines. Even at full capacity, the ratio is still nearly 2:1, an amazing opportunity to relax while everything is taken care of for you. From organizing transfers, to the snacks and drinks offered upon arrival, the service is incredibly well done.

When we were tired after a long day  searching for lions, we were offered the option to have dinner delivered to our tent. When swimming in the pool during the afternoon, we were given the choice to have lunch poolside.

This did not just mean a tray of food, but rather, an entire table set up and plated to enjoy our multi-course meal in the shade. I could not possibly write this review without thanking our waiter, Noah, who not only made every meal enjoyable, but brought the entire experience to the next level.

Back at the tent, our room attendant, Timothy, not only left us sweet daily notes, but was quick to help with anything, from delivering bathroom amenities, to helping prepare the hot tub in the evening. Even on departure day, we were able to have laundry done and folded, an amazing service in and of itself, all within just a few hours.

While I did not personally get a chance to visit the spa, the friend with whom I was traveling enjoyed a treatment and was extremely impressed. Despite booking only a 60 minute treatment, the experience stretched from before to after, with snacks and drinks offered, as well as a fabulous massage.

Last, but certainly not least, this review would be incomplete without our truly spectacular and unbelievable guide, Hassan. The quality of a safari, without a doubt,comes down to the guide, and by all means, he made this an unforgettable experience. He is not just a knowledgeable and great driver, but he is able to place guests in the perfect locations, at the right times, to see the amazing wildlife. 

This became clear when we were in a different location than many of the other vehicles, and he told us to just wait a brief moment. Seconds later, a leopard or rhino would approach, and the other vehicles then were trying to scramble to get closer.

The Last Point

While it is difficult to put all the amazing experiences that I have been lucky enough to enjoy into words, let me cut to the point and say that the JW was one of, if not the best, Marriott property that I have been fortunate enough to travel to worldwide.

Although you can tell that they are still in a soft-opening state, putting the finalizing touches on the property before peak season this summer when guests from all over the world come for the great migration, the property itself and their attention to detail is simply spectacular.

I truly do not like writing reviews this positive, as they almost make the stay seem sponsored. However, I can honestly say that after staying on my own dime (in my case using Bonvoy points), that it is challenging to find a downside to the JW Marriott Masai Mara besides the high price associated with a stay.

The commitment to service, attention to detail, and design of the property lend itself to a spectacular safari destination, and I have no doubt in my mind that this property will be a center point of not only the points and miles world, but of the safari industry for years to come.