Emayian Luxury Camp

We spent 3 days and 2 nights here, and it was the most fun I’ve had in a national park in Kenya. On our game drives, we saw how much Maasai Mara lives up to its reputation. We spotted the Big Five within a couple of hours, though maybe we were just lucky. The wildebeest crossing at the Mara River was another highlight. The camp made us feel welcome from the beginning, with Maasai dances, help with our luggage, and refreshing drinks. Each guest or couple has a private tented room, and since only booked guests stay at the camp, it felt intimate. After a long day, a warm private jacuzzi was waiting for us. It was my first visit to the Maasai Mara, and I can’t wait to return.

I was staying with my family for two days at Emayian Luxury Camp when a hot water bottle broke on the second day and burned me. It was very painful, and I wasn’t offered a painkiller or proper first aid. For a luxury camp, I expected much more care around guest safety. I hope management takes this seriously and improves its safety measures.

The tents were spacious and comfortable, and we had an enjoyable stay at the lodge while exploring the Mara. But calling it “luxury” set expectations the place didn’t meet. Everything worked, yet the design and atmosphere didn’t feel luxurious, and the large tents weren’t especially well decorated. The food was very average, sometimes below average compared with other lodges on our trip. Breakfast in particular was repetitive and offered little variety. Our stay was part of a package, so I can’t comment directly on value for money, but the luxury label feels misleading.

The people here were the best part of my whole stay in Kenya. Everyone was incredibly kind and keen to help. And the food was divine, every single thing I ate was 5 star. We’ll be coming back for the rest of our lives! 🙏