From
$2,809
Safari Camp · Maasai Mara, Kenya
Sentrim Mara Lodge
A 64 room safari lodge covers 100 acres by Ngama Hills near Sekenani Gate. It features tented and solid wall rooms, a pool, jacuzzi, spa, and nocturnal wildlife
The Ngama Hills rise gently from the eastern edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve — a ridge of acacia-covered terrain whose elevation gives properties built on it a perspective over the surrounding grassland that flat-ground camps in the reserve’s interior do not have. Sentrim Mara Lodge sits on the outer slope of these hills in the Ololaimutiek area, 3 km from Sekenani Gate and spread across 100 acres of uncleared bush. The lodge is positioned just outside the reserve’s boundary — a practical detail that means no community levy applies to stays here, reducing the total nightly cost compared with camps inside the reserve, and that the unfenced grounds allow wildlife to move freely through the property after dark. Baboons, elephants, zebra, and buffalo are regular visitors; the sounds of animals moving through the camp at night are a routine feature of a Sentrim Mara stay.
The lodge’s 64 rooms span three building types: canvas tents on wooden stilts with furnished verandahs and en-suite bathrooms, deluxe solid-wall rooms with the same amenity standard, and concrete family houses with two bedrooms, a living area, and a small kitchenette — the latter suited to families who want independence and space within a full-board framework. All rooms are solar-powered; Wi-Fi is available in public areas. The main guest area is anchored by a restaurant and bar with fireplace, a swimming pool with poolside bar, a jacuzzi, sun terrace, and spa — a facilities range that positions Sentrim Mara comfortably above the basic tented camp category while remaining accessible in price.
Game drives into the Maasai Mara National Reserve through Sekenani Gate are the camp’s primary activity, with the full reserve — including the southern Mara River crossing areas used during the Great Migration — accessible within 30 to 45 minutes of departure. The camp’s location outside the reserve also positions it adjacent to the Siana Conservancy, which permits night drives and walking safaris unavailable inside the national park.
Sentrim Mara Lodge is a 64 room safari base on 100 acres near Sekenani Gate. It offers diverse en suite rooms alongside a pool, jacuzzi, spa, and restaurant. A full activities program features game drives, balloon safaris, and cultural visits.
Why Stay Here
- Unfenced Grounds: Wildlife like elephants and zebra move through 100 acres of Ngama Hills terrain after dark.
- Sekenani Gate Location: Positioned 3 km from a main Mara entry point, placing the reserve 30 minutes away.
- No Community Levy: Being outside the reserve saves guests 80 dollars per person per night compared to inner camps.
- Three Room Styles: Features tented options, deluxe solid wall rooms, and concrete family houses with kitchenettes.
- Leisure Facilities: Includes a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sun terrace, and spa at an accessible price tier.
- Siana Conservancy Border: Access to night drives and walking safaris outside national reserve restrictions.
- Full Activity Menu: Offers game drives, balloon safaris, nature walks, bush breakfasts, and Maasai village visits.
Our Commitment to Conservation
Sentrim Mara Lodge operates on solar power across all rooms to reduce diesel dependency. Set on 100 acres of uncleared bush outside the reserve, it preserves native vegetation and wildlife corridors. Its position next to Siana Conservancy supports community conservation buffers.
Rooms & Accommodation
Sentrim Mara Lodge’s 64 rooms cover three configurations. The 44 tents are canvas units raised on wooden stilts with furnished verandahs, mosquito nets, in-room safe, hot shower, flush toilet, solar power, fan, wardrobe, and charging points. The 14 deluxe rooms are recently refurbished solid-wall units with the same en-suite standard, styled for guests who prefer a more permanent structure. The 3 family houses are concrete two-bedroom units with a living area, sofa set, coffee table, and kitchenette — fully en-suite, suited to families of up to 5. Wi-Fi is available in public areas. Solar power runs lighting and charging across all room types; electricity at fixed hours applies in some configurations.
Standard Tent
Canvas tent on wooden stilts with a furnished verandah facing the bush. King or twin beds with mosquito net, hot shower, flush toilet, fan, wardrobe, in-room safe, and charging points. Solar-powered lighting. The verandah is the tent's best feature — zebra and other wildlife graze within viewing distance during the day.
King or twin beds · Mosquito net · Furnished verandah · Hot shower · Flush toilet · Fan · Wardrobe · In-room safe · Charging points · Solar power
Superior Tent
A larger canvas tent on stilts with upgraded furnishings and a wider verandah. The superior tents are positioned for better bush views and have the same full en-suite standard as the standard tents with additional comfort in furnishing and space.
King or twin beds · Mosquito net · Wider verandah · Hot shower · Flush toilet · Fan · Wardrobe · In-room safe · Charging points · Solar power · Tea and coffee facilities
Deluxe Room
Solid-wall rooms recently refurbished to a comfortable standard, with a patio facing the gardens. En-suite bathroom with hot shower and flush toilet. All standard lodge amenities. Suited to guests who prefer a permanent structure over canvas.
King or twin beds · Mosquito net · Patio · En-suite bathroom · Hot shower · Flush toilet · Fan · Wardrobe · In-room safe · Charging points · Tea and coffee facilities
Family House
Concrete two-bedroom houses with a king bed in the main room, twin beds in the second room, a living area with sofa sets, and a kitchenette. Two en-suite bathrooms. The family house is the most independent configuration at the lodge and suits families and multi-generational groups who want private communal space alongside full-board service.
King bed + twin beds · Two en-suite bathrooms · Living area · Kitchenette · Sofa sets · Mosquito nets · Hot shower · Flush toilet · Fan · Wardrobe · In-room safe · Charging points
Experiences & Activities
Every moment at Sentrim Mara Lodge is crafted to immerse you deeper in the wild.
Game Drives
Open 4x4 game drives into the Maasai Mara National Reserve through Sekenani Gate, 3 km from the lodge. Morning and afternoon drives cover the southern Mara sectors including the Mara River crossing corridor during the July to October migration. Game drives are at additional cost.
Hot Air Balloon Safaris
Dawn balloon flights over the Mara plains, followed by a champagne bush breakfast in the field. Bookable through the lodge at additional cost. Available year-round; peak demand during the July to October migration window.
Guided Nature Walks and Birdwatching
Guided walks through the lodge's 100 acres and into the Ngama Hills area with experienced naturalists. The Maasai Mara ecosystem supports over 450 recorded bird species; early morning birdwatching walks are available as a standalone activity.
Maasai Cultural Visits
Visits to nearby Maasai manyattas with community-based guides, covering warrior traditions, beadwork, and homestead life. Evening Maasai dance performances are hosted at the lodge on most nights.
Night Drives and Bush Dinners
Night drives into the adjacent Siana Conservancy — permitted outside the national reserve — surface nocturnal wildlife unavailable on standard reserve game drives. Bush dinners in scenic field locations can be arranged on request at additional cost.
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Dining
The main restaurant at Sentrim Mara Lodge serves full-board buffet meals — Continental and full breakfast before the morning drive; lunch on return; dinner in the evening with the fireplace lit on cool Ngama Hills nights. The kitchen covers African and international cuisines with daily-changing menus; breakfast options include Continental, full English, vegetarian, vegan, halal, and Asian alternatives. The poolside bar handles daytime drinks and snacks; bush breakfasts and bush dinners in scenic field locations are available on request at additional cost. Sundowner cocktails can be arranged. Dietary requirements are accommodated with advance notice.
Gallery
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Sentrim Mara depends entirely on whether you prioritize seeing the iconic Great Migration or avoiding the crowds. For the ultimate wildlife spectacle, plan your stay between July and October, as the lodge’s location near the Sekenani Gate provides an excellent base for tracking the millions of wildebeest and zebras flooding the dry plains. If you prefer a quieter safari with a high concentration of big cats, the warm, dry shoulder season from January to March offers fantastic predator action and newborn calving with fewer tourist vehicles. Alternatively, visiting during the rainy “green seasons” (November to December and April to May) transforms the savannah into a lush paradise that is ideal for photography, vibrant birdwatching, and securing the most budget-friendly accommodation rates.
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Location & Getting Here
Destination
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Conservation Area
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Nearest Airstrip
Ol Kiombo Airstrip (40-min transfer) / Keekorok Airstrip (30-min transfer)
Transfer Time
45-min charter from Wilson Airport + road transfer. Road: 5–6 hrs from Nairobi.
Getting Here
Sentrim Mara Lodge is on the Ngama Hills in the Ololaimutiek area, 3 km from Sekenani Gate and approximately 250 km from Nairobi by road (5–6 hours). Nearest airstrips are Ol Kiombo (40-min transfer) and Keekorok (30-min transfer), both served by daily scheduled charters from Wilson Airport. The lodge's position outside the reserve means no community levy applies.
Safaris That Include This Lodge
Explore handcrafted itineraries where Sentrim Mara Lodge forms part of the journey.
