Masai Mara, Kenya
I stayed at Sanctuary Olonana for 2 nights and flew from Ol Pejeta on an internal flight to the Masai Mara which took 50 minutes.
There are 15 Glass Sided Suites and one Geoffrey Kent Suite, and I stayed in one of the Suites, which I can honestly say was the most impressive accommodation I have ever had the pleasure of staying in.
Sanctuary Olana is located on a private stretch of the River Mara and is home to a pod of hippos who leisurely sunbathe on the bank and swim to cool down, their grunting throughout the day is a joyous and comforting sound!
The suites are huge and bright with floor to ceiling glass windows and so peaceful with only the sounds of the river and the hippos. Each suite has a king-size bed, generous bathtub (positioned to ensure a view) and a long shower with 3 rainfall heads. There is a large lounge area, again with stunning views, a stocked mini-bar and tea and coffee facilities, and a long decking area complete with a comfy double day bed. When entering your suite for the first time it really is a ‘wow’ moment.
The lodge has a separate gym, in-room spa treatments, swimming pool as well as a fabulous bar and restaurant where the food served is divine.
The game drives in the Masai Mara are superb and the benefit is you do not have to travel far to see the animals. You can enjoy morning and night game drives and relax in the camp by the pool during the heat of the day. You can also choose to do a walking safari accompanied by knowledgeable guides and park rangers and this gives a different perspective on the bush. A hot air balloon ride is also a popular choice to have a bird’s eye view of the Mara and the animals.
The wildebeest migration period usually takes place between July and October in the Masai Mara but can change yearly. This is an incredible sight to see as a million-plus wildebeest and zebra follow the fresh grasses, but it will be when there are the most vehicles on the reserve, when I visited there were very few, so it was fabulous to see the animals in peace and quiet.
I feel very fortunate to see so many animals and their babies, I didn’t expect to see this. To see so many and as close as we did was truly magical, you imagine seeing this before you go but it still doesn’t prepare you for how wonderful it is until you are there in the African bush, in the peace and with the gorgeous African scented air.
