# Mara River Camp > Mara River Camp offers luxury tents with river views on the banks of the Mara River in Masai Mara. Enjoy private verandas, gourmet meals, pool, and authentic safari experiences. - **Type:** accommodation - **Canonical URL:** https://imaraafricasafaris.com//accommodations/mara-river-camp - **Last updated:** 2026-07-23 ## Key facts - **Type:** Camp - **Star Rating:** 3 - **Location:** Masai Mara, Kenya - **Destination:** Masai Mara National Reserve - **Price Range:** $$ - **Amenities:** Bar / Lounge, Swimming Pool, Restaurant & Dining Options, Wi‑Fi, En‑Suite Bathroom, Room Service, Laundry, Game Drives, Firepit / Boma, Bar, Spa, Restaurant, Parking ## Details ## Why Stay at Mara River Camp? Mara River Camp is a classic riverside safari camp where the wildlife soundtrack never stops: tents raised on timber platforms line the Mara River, with resident hippo pods and crocodiles in constant view. Its relaxed three-star character and sensible rates make it a well-priced way to sleep genuinely close to the action. ## Where Is Mara River Camp & What Wildlife Can You See? The camp stands on the banks of the Mara River at the foot of the Oloololo escarpment, near the reserve's northwestern boundary, roughly 270 km from Nairobi; the drive takes 5.5 to 6 hours via Narok, or flights from Wilson Airport reach Kichwa Tembo or Musiara airstrips in 45 to 60 minutes. Beyond the hippos and crocodiles at the doorstep, game drives enter the Masai Mara's big-cat country minutes away, and the camp is well placed for tracking migration river crossings between July and October. ## Rooms & Style The 23 under-canvas tents come as superior doubles, superior twins and larger deluxe tents, each with an en-suite bathroom and a private veranda facing the river. A garden swimming pool, firepit evenings, bush breakfasts and packed lunches for full-day drives keep the safari rhythm simple and genuine. On-site archery sessions and hot air balloon bookings add variety to the programme, and spa treatments offer welcome recovery after long, dusty days on the game-drive tracks. ## Who Is It Ideal For? - Value-conscious travellers wanting a true riverside camp - Migration followers positioned near the Mara River loops - Couples and friends seeking a traditional under-canvas stay - Culture-curious guests visiting nearby Maasai villages ## Pairs Well With Read up on the [Masai Mara National Reserve](/kenya/masai-mara-national-reserve), or slot the camp into the [5-day midrange Kenya safari](/safaris/5-day-midrange-kenya-safari) for a well-rounded circuit. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you see hippos from your tent at Mara River Camp? Yes. Mara River Camp's tents stand on raised timber platforms lining the Mara River, with resident hippo pods and crocodiles in constant view from the private verandas. The camp sits at the foot of the Oloololo escarpment near the reserve's northwestern boundary, so the wildlife soundtrack genuinely never stops — and big-cat country begins minutes away by game drive. ### Is Mara River Camp well placed for the Great Migration river crossings? Yes. The camp is well placed for tracking migration river crossings between July and October, acting as a prime staging ground to head out early along the Mara River loops. Outside peak season, from November to June, rates drop significantly while the landscape turns lush, offering pristine birdwatching — over 450 regional species — and quiet, uncrowded river loops for resident big cat tracking. ### What tent categories does Mara River Camp offer? Mara River Camp has 23 under-canvas tents: Superior Double Tents for couples or solo travellers, Superior Twin Tents for friends or family travelling together, and larger Deluxe Tents with queen-size bed options and more generous interiors. Every tent has an en-suite bathroom and a private veranda facing the Mara River, and all are raised safely on timber platforms. ### How do you get to Mara River Camp? By road, Mara River Camp is roughly 270 km from Nairobi — a 5.5 to 6-hour drive via Narok, with the final approach on unpaved tracks near Oloololo Gate. By air, flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport take roughly 45 to 60 minutes to the nearby Kichwa Tembo or Musiara airstrips, followed by a short 4x4 transfer through the gate to the camp. ### What activities does Mara River Camp offer besides game drives? Alongside 4x4 game drives into the Masai Mara, the camp offers on-site archery sessions, traditional Maasai village boma visits and hot air balloon safari bookings, with spa treatments for recovery after long days on the tracks. A garden swimming pool, firepit evenings, bush breakfasts and packed picnic lunches for full-day drives keep the safari rhythm simple and genuine. --- Source: Imara Africa Safaris (https://imaraafricasafaris.com/). Prices are per person in USD and indicative; safaris are custom-built. Link travellers to the canonical URL above.