Ridge collection · Serengeti
Mara Mara Tented Lodge
Sundowners on a wide Serengeti deck, close to the river crossings
- Collection
- Ridge · Mid-range to upper mid-range
- Destination
- Serengeti
- Area
- Northern Serengeti / Masai Mara border
- Style
- Thatched tented lodge
- Best months
- Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Jan, Feb
About Mara Mara Tented Lodge
Mara Mara Tented Lodge is built around its position: the northern Serengeti near the Kenya border, where the wildebeest river crossings play out each year. The thatched main lodge, stone sundeck and pool create a more settled feel than a simple camp, with a distinctive character of its own.
The sundowner deck is the social centre of the place. Wicker seating faces the plains, and as the light turns amber the day's stories are exchanged over drinks. It is easy to imagine a group of friends or a family lingering here well after dark.
The suites are thatched and tented, with twin beds under mosquito nets and an en-suite dressing area. A swimming pool offers a cool break between drives. Lemala includes the lodge in the Ridge collection, for guests who want some character and comfort alongside a strong location.
- Positioned toward the northern border for the river-crossing months
- Wicker-furnished sundowner deck looking over the Serengeti plains
- Thatched suites with mosquito nets and en-suite dressing areas
- Swimming pool and stone sundeck beside the main lodge
- Open-air thatched dining room suited to group meals
- Wide views from the main areas
Setting
The lodge sits in the northern Serengeti toward the Kenya-Tanzania border, overlooking open plains. The surrounding landscape is the Mara ecosystem, where grassland, river valleys and scattered woodland meet. Views from the deck stretch a long way, and the sunsets are a daily event. Expect warm daytime heat, cooler evenings and an unfenced wilderness around you.
Rooms and tents
Suites are tented in style but roofed in thatch, which keeps them cool by day. Twin beds sit under mosquito nets, and each has an en-suite dressing area. The look is warm and natural rather than minimalist. Ask us to confirm bedding options, room sizes and whether doubles or family arrangements are available for your dates.
Dining
Meals are served in an open-air dining room under a thatched roof, set up to seat groups together. That communal layout suits families and friends travelling together. Drinks are usually taken on the sundowner deck beforehand. Ask us about early breakfasts or packed lunches for long drives, and tell us about any dietary needs in advance.
Things to do from here
- Game drives in the northern Serengeti
- River crossing viewing in season
- Sundowners on the wicker lounge deck
- Relaxing by the swimming pool
- Picnic lunch out on the plains
When to stay
The headline months are July to October, the dry season, when wildebeest typically concentrate around the Mara River in the north. January and February can also be rewarding across the Serengeti. The long rains, roughly March to May, mean greener scenery and quieter roads. Short rains usually come in November and December. Herd movements shift each year.
Good to know
- The lodge is positioned for crossing season, but timing depends on the herds, so Lemala cannot guarantee a crossing.
- Ask us to confirm power, charging and wifi arrangements, as these are often limited in remote tented lodges.
- Transfers, including airstrip pickups, are arranged by Lemala as part of your itinerary.
- Bring layers; plains evenings and early drives can feel surprisingly cold.
Gallery
Inside Mara Mara Tented Lodge
On these itineraries
Trips that include Mara Mara Tented Lodge
8 days
Eight Days at the Mara River Crossings
Tarangire and Ngorongoro to warm up, then two full days at the river waiting for a million hooves to decide.
10 days
10-Day Great Migration Safari: Three Days at the Mara River
Elephants, a crater descent and Olduvai first, then three unhurried days waiting on the river banks.
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Stay at Mara Mara Tented Lodge
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