Spirit of the Masai Mara — Hotel in Siana ward

We have been on many holidays in the Mara area and we can honestly say this was one of our favourite holidays. The Spirit of the Masai Mara was magical. The Spirit team were so friendly and professional, there was nothing they would not do for you and you can tell they are very passionate and enjoyed their jobs and are cared for by management.||The room is beautifully decorated and had a wonderful sitting room. The standalone bathtub with an incredible view of the hills was a lovely touch. The cottage was spotless and had a mini fridge and tea/coffee making facilities. The bathrobes were so soft and luxurious. The bedding was clean and of a high quality. There were eco-friendly local toiletries available and a hair dryer.||The main lounge area, dining room and bar was fabulous. Plenty of seating areas to relax and wind down after a game drive. The bar was well stocked and plenty of variety of drinks available at reasonable prices. There are plenty of games, books and children's toys to keep little ones occupied and older children too!||The food was sensational with many of the dishes inspired by the food grown in the Spirit garden. The chef was amazing and so talented. There was also a children's menu which was great for my older teenager who is a little fussy.||There was a zip line for the children, archery and plenty of opportunities to learn some skills from the Masai like hut building, and many more activities.||The swimming pool was so clean and set into the hill with plenty of sunbeds and parasols. ||The safari guides were highly trained and skilled experts in looking for animals, birdlife and the local flora and fauna. They had ponchos for the cold mornings which were so cosy and kept us very warm. The game drives were interesting and the guides worked very hard to make sure we saw plenty of wildlife. You can also under the guidance of the safari guides have a go at driving the safari vehicle.||Overall, everything was catered for and so well thought of for every guest. It was luxury, but with a wonderful community feel you don't experience at other lodges. Our family have left with special memories and we will definitely visit again. Thank you to all the amazing...

Wow, in short I've fallen in love with Spirit of the Masai Mara. If you love everything about an African safari then you'll class this as heaven. Set in a wonderfully secluded conservancy the accommodation is fantastic, the views to die for and the staff....well, they make the place. Always attentive, always smiling.

My trip was very much highlighted by the game drives into Masai Mara. Laban, my guide was brilliant, bringing the bush to life. We saw some incredible things, sightings that live with me forever. Lion, leopard, serval, elephant, hyena and of course, so much more. The Masai Mara is simply spectacular.

And there's more to Spirit than just game drives and hospitality. I'm used to the Kruger park which is predominantly drive, drive, drive, braai however, there's so much to do on this conservancy. Walks, swimming, safari vehicle driving (yes, there is), a variety of kids activities and all topped by one of the most extraordinary par 3s in golf.

Set up on a cliff face, golfers have the opportunity (at a small cost) to try and hit a green below them. The green is in the shape of Africa and sits 415 feet below the tee. It HAS to be seen to be believed!!

I should mention again the kids/family element. It's a tough sell for some parents to bring kids on safari. The boredom factor can set in for children as it's often the same thing day in day out. Not at Spirit, I'd say there's plenty to keep the kids engaged. Whether it's playing in the pool, going on short safe walks, playing games etc etc. I would absolutely recommend this place to families.

Lastly, I found the Masai extra special due to the people. Whether it be the staff at Spirit or those people that I met in the villages or at the gates they really are a welcoming bunch. There's something pretty unique about their way of life and tradition and that's interwoven with everything at the lodge and throughout the area.

Google, can I give Spirit 6/5 stars? ...

The Spirit of the Masai Mara is an amazing lodge with beautiful staff. From the Nairobi team who ensured we had a seamless booking process to the lodge where we were received by Susan and the team. On arrival we were picked by a safari jeep driven by Laban one of the professional tour guides at the lodge who later drove us to the lodge where the team welcomed us with a Maasai dance, "I can't remember the lyrics". The check in process was smooth and the briefing as clear as day . I was allocated No.10 which would be my home for the next 3 days. Susan in Guest relations had already ensured that my bags were already in the room before hand and walked me down with a proper briefing of what to expect and how to wave at the resident waterbucks outside my room. The room service was perfect, i would get ironed clothes in the wardrobe. During meal times the chef Saitoti made mazing meals served either as a-la carte or family style which was impressive. The chapatis, salads and dressing were just spot on. As we were unwinding Nahashon ensured the cocktails gave a "tasty dance" and the coffee brewed to perfection. The security team lead by Sayiaton ensured that the lions kept to their territory and as well ensured punctual wake-up calls for the morning game drives. I had amazing experiences like golfing using bio-degradable golf balls and to top it up a behind the wheel, experience where i got to drive a jeep in the heart of the masai mara. |The last day was so emotional i had to soak myself in the bathtub for an hour before breakfast whilst looking for the courage to pack by bags. Did i mention that the pool is just 1.5 Meters deep ? well it is very clean and child friendly having swam 1 KM on Saturday afternoon. |My overall experience was amazing and i will definitely be back with my friends and family for another spiritually...