Tipilikwani Mara Camp

“Stunning stay overlooking the Mara”

In February my wife our two young girls and myself had an amazing time here!! We had three nights which was great length of time. Firstly the views from the lodge itself were excellent, you watch straight out onto the Mara. A real highlight was spotting Hyena for the restaurant with my daughter. St… more

In February my wife our two young girls and myself had an amazing time here!! We had three nights which was great length of time. Firstly the views from the lodge itself were excellent, you watch straight out onto the Mara. A real highlight was spotting Hyena for the restaurant with my daughter. Stunning array of bird life as well. The food was excellent!!! Lunch and Dinner we had the lodge very tasty and excellent service the staff were very good with our children. Breakfast we had during our game drive was a hot breakfast, sat by the Mara River!! The room was beautiful. I would recommend this lodge to anyone, honeymoon, family or retired couple.

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“Wonderful lodge just a suspension bride away from the Mara”

Our tent was comfortable with a lovely decked area and large shower room. Our tent was closer to the village than a previous stay in the Mara and we could hear noise from the village at night, along with dogs barking. That said it didn’t last all night, and didn’t stop us sleeping but worth mentio… more

Our tent was comfortable with a lovely decked area and large shower room. Our tent was closer to the village than a previous stay in the Mara and we could hear noise from the village at night, along with dogs barking. That said it didn’t last all night, and didn’t stop us sleeping but worth mentioning in case you’re a light sleeper. Service was always superb from Bernard and Samuel who made sure we had everything we needed. Food was good and always a choice at lunchtime and dinner time, breakfast was a buffet with freshly cooked eggs. The only thing we’d have liked was the offer of a wake up call, and tea/coffee brought to our tent in the morning. Small detail in all honesty as the lodge is authentic and lovely.

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“Tipilikwani mara camp - a serene and special place right next to Massai Mara”

Tipilikwani mara camp is situated right next to the Masai Mara. A pedestrian bridge takes you directly into the Masai mara where you can get picked up by your driver/guide. The atmosphere is calm and filled with warmth. The staff is super friendly even catering to special wishes and remembering you… more

Tipilikwani mara camp is situated right next to the Masai Mara. A pedestrian bridge takes you directly into the Masai mara where you can get picked up by your driver/guide. The atmosphere is calm and filled with warmth. The staff is super friendly even catering to special wishes and remembering your preferences. The rooms are luxurious tents offering a very comfortable stay with all amenities you will need. Everything is clean and well maintained. For my wife and me Tipilikwani has a special place in our heart because it does everything right a camp/lodge and offers such a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere.

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“Cozy and Rustic Tent Lodge”

We stayed at Tipilikwani for 3 nights in Jan 2026 to explore the Masai Mara. The Lodge is located about 15-20m drive from Talek Gate (but be warned, it's a bumpy road), and right across the Mara on the other side of the Talek river. The grounds are lushly set inside heavy forestation, with a stone… more

We stayed at Tipilikwani for 3 nights in Jan 2026 to explore the Masai Mara. The Lodge is located about 15-20m drive from Talek Gate (but be warned, it's a bumpy road), and right across the Mara on the other side of the Talek river. The grounds are lushly set inside heavy forestation, with a stone path, giving a jungle-like feel. I specifically wanted a tented room to have a “glamping” experience, and Tipilikwani delivers on this; the bedroom features 2 queen-sized beds, dark wooden furniture, and African decor as accents. I particularly liked the dim light setup, because it adds a coziness to the room at night. Outside the tent is a patio space facing the sunset, where you could linger in the evenings and have a sundowner; the vegetation across from our tent was a little too thick to see the actual Mara and the animals though. The bathroom, however, is the rough spot, with discolored grout on the tiles, some permanent stains in the toilet, obvious mold, and a constant musty smell - I think the hard water likely contributes to a lot of the unpleasantness of the bathroom, but it doesn't give a clean impression. Be aware that there is no AC in the room (just a fan supplied); but across our 3 lodges in Kenya, none ever featured AC - because while noon temps might reach 85F, the nights cool down to the 60s, and the rooms can even feel chilly by morning. One interesting feature of the Lodge is a metal bridge that straddles the Talek River and into the Mara; you can easily just walk over and be amidst the animals since no one will stop you (but of course, officially you're not allowed to meander on foot outside of a vehicle in the park). This bridge was sometimes used for pickup and drop off by our guide, which was really convenient and time saving. There is also a medium sized pool, which no one ever seems to use and isn’t really staffed either. Lunch and dinners were served Ala carte style over 3 courses; I wasn't sure if this is always the way, or if the Lodge was just too underbooked to serve a buffet. Breakfast did feature a small-ish buffet, and interestingly, individual French press coffee per table. Overall the food was fine, not especially tasty or memorable. Staff seems to alternate between being very friendly (Dan in the restaurant, and the tall skinny night Masai chaperone come to mind), to apathetic and detached. Perhaps it's a cultural thing. Overall Tipilikwani is an ok place to stay, and convenient. But I think the tents show their age and are a bit rustic - the bathroom feels gross; while there are premium elements (e.g, the ala carte dining and the plethora of toiletries in the room), it's most certainly not a luxury lodge, so have the right expectations.

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