Olonana lines a quiet bend of the Mara River, in riverine forest on the reserve’s western edge below the Oloololo escarpment. Its all-glass contemporary suites put the river — and its resident hippo pods — center stage from bed, bath and private deck alike.
The location works hard: the Mara Triangle’s gate is minutes away, crossings happen along this very river in season, and the lodge’s long-standing community projects with the neighboring Maasai village are the real thing.
Glass-fronted suites over the Mara River — hippos below your bed and the reserve on your doorstep.
— Evance & JenniferYou never pay more than booking direct — usually less. And everything around the lodge is handled.
As a trade partner we access preferred rates and seasonal offers the lodge doesn’t always publish — you’ll never pay more than booking direct. And a lodge can only sell you its own beds; we build the journey around it: international flights, the right nights, and where you go next.
A private car waiting at the airport, light-aircraft hops timed to your route, and a guide who already knows your name. Book direct and the gaps between camps become your problem; book with us and there are none.
We know which suites sit closest to the hippos, how Olonana’s western position works for Triangle game drives, and when the river in front of the lodge itself hosts the migration’s drama.
A missed flight, a weather delay, a change of heart mid-trip — you contact one person, and we re-arrange everything behind the scenes. The lodge looks after you on property; we look after the whole journey.
Evance & Jenny were always ready to assist while on our vacation… we felt at home.
Hippo pods live in the bend below the suites — the soundtrack is permanent and unforgettable.
Among the Mara’s most striking rooms — glass, timber and the river beyond.
Minutes from the Mara Triangle’s gates — the reserve’s best-managed, least-crowded sector.
In season, wildebeest cross the Mara River nearby — some years, within sight of the lodge.
Decades-long health, water and education projects with the neighboring community — visits with substance.
If the dream is hippos from the bathtub, this is the address.
The contemporary glass suites are a departure from safari canvas — striking and comfortable.
August–October puts the river crossings on your doorstep.
The Maasai partnership here predates the marketing era.
July–October for crossings on the Mara River; excellent resident game year-round. April–May are the long rains.
3 nights — river mornings deserve as much time as game drives.
The Mara chapter of a Kenya circuit, pairing naturally with Laikipia or Amboseli.
The full Kenya picture — Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia and how they fit together.
Explore Kenya Safari →Where the herds are in your month, and how to place your camp for the crossings.
Explore The Great Migration →Big tuskers under Kilimanjaro — the classic pairing with the Mara.
Explore Amboseli →Tell us when you want to go and what matters most to you — the animals, the food, the quiet. We’ll design your private, bespoke luxury Kenya safari around Sanctuary Olonana and take care of everything in between. No pressure, ever.
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