From
$7,339
Luxury Lodge · Maasai Mara, Kenya
Olonana Lodge
14 canvas suites perched on the Mara River's edge, the Maasai Mara's most intimate address and the front-row seat for the Great Migration
Olonana Lodge occupies a covetable position just north of the Mara Triangle, on a secluded stretch of the Mara River bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Below the terraces of the lodge, a resident pod of hippos wallows in the shade of acacia trees that screen Olonana from the outside world, and from the restaurant, guests look out directly onto the spot where hippos cross. This is the section of the Mara River ecosystem that the wildebeest must navigate each year on their migration between the Serengeti and the northern Mara, and Olonana’s position places it within a short drive of several of the primary crossing points.
This is where the A&K Sanctuary story began. Hidden on this same stretch of river, Olonana Lodge opened in 1999 as a pioneer of modern safari style, expanded and rebuilt since, but carrying the same founding philosophy. The lodge takes its name from Olonana, the great Maasai laibon who shaped his people’s relationship with the colonial-era British administration; it is not a casual naming, and the character of the property reflects it: quietly commanding, locally grounded, and without need of embellishment.
The fourteen glass and adobe suites are solidly built, permanently structured and mudded each year by Maasai women using local clay, a counterpoint to the canvas construction of more conventional tented camps. Each suite faces the river. The main area opens on three sides to the water, and the logic of the layout is that the lodge becomes an extension of the landscape rather than a retreat from it. Afternoons offer a heated swimming pool, in-suite spa treatments, a gym set within a rewilded garden oasis, and — for families — giant Jenga and croquet on the lawn. Dinners are farm-to-table, drawn from the lodge’s own organic garden, served in the boma as the river runs below.
A dedicated coordinator at Olonana lodge arranges visits to the nearby initiatives supported by A&K Philanthropies (AKP), including school lunch and safe water programmes in the surrounding Maasai community.
14 canvas suites on timber decks above the Mara River, a dining room open to the sound of hippos at night, and the wildebeest crossings minutes from your door. Named for the great Maasai laibon Olonana: unhurried, deeply rooted, completely sure of itself.
Why Stay Here
- 14 adobe suites on the Mara River, hand-mudded yearly by Maasai women.
- Two-bedroom suite with infinity pool, private chef, and dedicated vehicle and guide.
- Named for Olonana, the great Maasai laibon — a name that carries deep respect for place and people
- Full-board and all game activities included — drives, walks and sundowners, no in-camp transactions
- Just north of the Mara Triangle, minutes from the Great Migration's iconic river crossings.
- Each stay funds school meals, clean water, and wildlife conservation across the Mara ecosystem.
- Restaurant overlooking the spot where hippos cross — breakfasts always offer a different watery drama
- Guided bush walks with &Beyond rangers and Maasai tracker teams
- Heated pool, gym, and in-suite spa set within a decades-rewilded garden oasis.
- Year-round Big Five game viewing — resident lion, leopard, elephant throughout
Our Commitment to Conservation
Olonana Lodge embeds its conservation ethos in every detail, Maasai rangers lead game drives, Maasai women mud the suites annually, and a lodge coordinator connects guests with nearby AKP school and water initiatives. Fourteen suites on a private river stretch keep the footprint intentionally small.
Rooms & Accommodation
All fourteen suites at Olonana Lodge face the Mara River and are solidly built structures — glass-fronted, adobe-walled, and mudded annually by Maasai women using local clay. The design reflects the lodge’s founding restraint: local woods and stone, homespun textiles, locally commissioned African art, warm lighting, and nothing superfluous. Each suite features floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a private deck with panoramic river views, a king-size bed, en-suite bathroom with double vanity, large bathtub and rain shower, ceiling fan, complimentary minibar and safe. The Geoffrey Kent Suite — the lodge’s premier accommodation — offers two en-suite bedrooms, an additional family room, a wraparound private deck, a private infinity pool overlooking the river, a private lounge and dining area, meals prepared by a personal chef, and a dedicated vehicle and safari guide throughout the stay.
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River Suite
Full canvas suite on a private timber deck above the Mara River. Hand-stitched linen, copper fittings, writing desk facing the water, indoor and outdoor showers. Designed to disappear into the bush — and it succeeds entirely.
King or twin beds · Private deck · Indoor & outdoor shower · Double vanity · Ceiling fan · Evening turndown · 24-hr camp staff · Complimentary minibar · Safe
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Geoffrey Kent Suite
The lodge's most exclusive retreat — a two-bedroom suite with wraparound decking, infinity pool, private lounge, dedicated chef, stocked bar, and exclusive vehicle and guide. A family room and triple rain showers make it perfect for families or milestone celebrations.
Two king en-suite bedrooms · Family room · Private infinity pool · Wraparound deck · Private lounge & dining · Personal chef · Dedicated vehicle & guide · Fully stocked bar · Double vanity · Rain shower · Wi-Fi
Experiences & Activities
Every moment at Olonana Lodge is crafted to immerse you deeper in the wild.
Great Migration River Crossings
Olonana Lodge sits minutes from the primary Mara River crossing points. Crossings peak July–October; your ranger monitors radio networks continuously, and when one begins, drive time is measured in minutes.
Game Drives
Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, rhino and full plains game year-round. Pre-dawn and mid-afternoon in open vehicles with a dedicated ranger and Maasai tracker. The guiding is, consistently, what guests recall most clearly.
Guided Bush Walks
Walking changes the scale of everything; prints, insect architecture, the way grass moves. Led by qualified rangers with a Maasai tracker reading the environment in real time. Available most mornings.
Sundowners in the Field
A cold drink at a fold-out table as the Mara light drops. Your ranger chooses the location based on the day's sightings. Included in the rate.
Ready to plan your stay?
Our specialists are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Dining
Meals at Olonana Lodge are served in the open-sided restaurant overlooking the section of river where hippos cross — so breakfasts, served early before drives, carry a built-in wildlife element that no other room in the lodge can match. The kitchen is built on a farm-to-table philosophy: the chef grows organic ingredients in the lodge’s own garden, and lunches and dinners draw from that harvest, prepared and served in the boma as the river runs below. The food is confident and unfussy — a kitchen that understands its guests have come for the Mara, and that the table should support the experience rather than compete with it. Bush breakfasts and sundowner drinks in the field are available throughout the stay. All beverages except premium imported spirits are included in the rate.
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Best Time to Visit
The Maasai Mara is a year-round destination, and Olonana operates across all twelve months without compromising on the quality of the game-drive experience. The resident wildlife — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, cheetah and the permanent herbivore populations — ensures that drives are productive in every season.
The Great Migration’s northern Mara chapter runs from July to October, when the wildebeest and zebra herds move up from the Serengeti in search of grass, and the Mara River crossings reach their dramatic peak. This is the Mara at its most intense, and it is the primary reason most international guests time their visit to align with the July–October window. Availability at Olonana Lodge during this period books early; reserve well in advance for the migration season.
January and February offer excellent conditions — dry, warm days, low visitor numbers and superb predator viewing as the resident prides take advantage of calving season on the southern plains. June marks the transition month before the Migration arrives: the Mara greens after the long rains and the wildlife concentrations are already building. November and December bring the short rains — brief afternoon showers, freshly washed landscapes and some of the least crowded game viewing of the year.
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Location & Getting Here
Destination
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Conservation Area
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Nearest Airstrip
Ol Kiombo Airstrip (~15 min drive)
Transfer Time
45 minutes by light aircraft from Wilson Airport, Nairobi; approximately 15 minutes by road from Ol Kiombo Airstrip
Getting Here
Olonana sits on a private Mara River stretch, 280km southwest of Nairobi, just north of the Mara Triangle. Access is by light aircraft from Wilson Airport to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip (45 min), then a 15–20-minute transfer; road takes around six hours. The location is ideal for the Great Migration (July–October) and pairs well with Amboseli, Samburu, or a Zanzibar extension.
Safaris That Include This Lodge
Explore handcrafted itineraries where Olonana Lodge forms part of the journey.
