Luxurious safari retreat opens in Kenya
JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, is set to unveil the highly anticipated JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge next month. Located in the belly of Kenya, the hotel is a scenic two and half hour’s drive away from leading business travel destination, Nairobi. Extend your stay by a few days and unlock the wonders of relaxation and well-being at its finest.
Set to welcome guests from 1st April 2023, JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will mark the brand’s very first luxury safari lodge and will sit within the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya – one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife conservation and wilderness regions. Overlooking the famed banks of the River Talek on the edge of the reserve, the mindful retreat will offer guests a harmonious backdrop from which to discover the Reserve’s stunning vistas, abundant wildlife, and endless plains, balancing the thrill of a game drive with opportunities to switch off and relax.
Embodying a holistic approach to wellbeing and enrichment, the lodge will be imbued with a sense of tranquillity and connection to its environment. The landscape will offer the opportunity to observe the “Big Five” that Masai Mara is home to including lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros, and elephants. Between June and September, the reserve is also host to the annual great wildebeest migration which sees more than 10 million animals travel a distance of 1,800 miles from the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania.
The lodge’s sophisticated Interiors will pay homage to the surrounding landscape drawing inspiration from the elements with soft warm tones and natural materials. In line with JW Marriott’s ethos of mindfulness and fulfilment, the lodge will be home to a number of thoughtfully designed spaces from the cosy Adventure Lounge full of books to get lost in and a space for young adults to take time for themselves, to the lodge’s cultural deck and pool deck where guests can gather and share tales of the day’s exploration before an evening of guided star gazing. At the heart of the camp is the JW Garden, a space to connect with nature and practice meditative reflection with unique seating areas. The JW Garden will provide camp chefs with home-grown, sustainable ingredients to craft personalised meals, mocktails and cocktails for each guest as well as daily event programming including live cooking and chef-led walks providing an opportunity for personal growth and liberating meaningful moments.
“With an abundance of natural beauty and calming surroundings, the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is a perfect retreat for the mind, body, and soul,” says Candice D’Cruz, Vice President Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will offer guests a serene backdrop to make once-in-a-lifetime memories as they connect with nature and leave feeling revitalised following a holistic, wellness-forward stay”.
Capturing the essence of relaxation and rejuvenation, The Spa by JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will emulate the serenity of the Reserve and offer tailored experiences that nourish the mind, body and spirit. The Spa’s signature treatments will blend locally inspired techniques and therapies complimented by natural and organic products sourced from the continent’s powerful minerals, oceans, flowers, herbs, fruit, seeds and oils, by the renowned African skincare brand, Healing Earth. Treatments will extend beyond body to mind and spirit with guided yoga, and a ‘Mara Celebration’ treatment using local botanicals and therapies.
JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will feature 20 private tents, including a Honeymoon tented suite with a private plunge pool and two interconnecting canopied suites, each with a private terrace and jacuzzi overlooking the river and the Mara plains. Each of the lodge’s 20 private tents will provide a peaceful sanctuary complete with amenities by Rituals and Healing Earth to recharge and reset, and in-room spa treatments available to order. Guests can enjoy the sunrise and reflect on the day’s adventure from the tent’s private terrace overlooking the River Talek, a water source and habitat for many wildlife. In addition, the lodge will offer a restaurant, lounge and bar, swimming pool, and fire pit area.
