Points safari alert: New Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott safari camps are opening in Kenya
Marriott is doubling down on luxury safari lodges with the signing of two forthcoming camps in Kenya: The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara Safari Camp and JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp.
The venture with Lazizi Mara Limited and Lazizi Solio Limited will open the first Ritz-Carlton-branded safari camp and the second JW Marriott safari camp, following the JW Marriott Masai Mara, which opened back in 2023.
New Marriott safari camps and lodges have long been rumored. In a statement, Jerome Briet, Marriott's chief development officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the company has seen "incredible success" in the safari segment and that there's a "growing appetite for outdoor lodging and nontraditional hospitality experiences."
And best of all, those experiences will give Marriott Bonvoy members a new way to see and experience the world while earning and burning points.
Related: This is the best time to take an African safari
The Masai's first Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara Safari Camp will be the first of the pair to open, with an expected date of August 2025. That camp, located in the Masai Mara National Reserve, is touted as a treetop retreat "elevated amongst the trees on a secluded island by the famous Sand River near the Tanzanian border." It will feature 20 tented suites with living areas, sunken lounges, infinity plunge pools, and indoor and outdoor showers.
Ritz-Carlton's first take on a safari experience will also offer multiple dining experiences, a restaurant with a wine cellar, a deck for stargazing, a spa, an outdoor gym, a swimming pool, a photography studio, and more. And, of course, the resort handles curated game drives to see the national park's ample wildlife.
"This project seamlessly blends The Ritz-Carlton's legendary sophistication with the untamed beauty of the Masai Mara, delivering a transformative escape and an innovative, first-of-its-kind offering that will shape the future of luxury safari travel," Sandeep Walia, Marriott's chief operating officer for the Middle East, Europe and Africa, said in the statement.
Reservations for Ritz-Carlton's first safari camp are now open and start at $2,646 per night, though award availability is not yet open. The rate is all-inclusive.
Related: Stay at these amazing Ritz-Carltons across the world
Kenya's second JW Marriott safari camp
Scheduled to open next year, the JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp will be found at the Solio Game Reserve "nestled between the majestic slopes of Mount Kenya and the peaks of the Aberdare Mountains." The camp will offer 20 luxury tents with private plunge pools and even some two-bedroom suites.
The property will include a signature JW Garden, four dining experiences, a sky deck restaurant, a Spa by JW, a swimming pool, a fitness center, a horse barn and a boutique. Guests can take advantage of horse-riding safaris, night game drives, nature walks and even quad biking. The 45,000-acre Solio Game Reserve and 19,000-acre Solio Ranch Conservancy are famous for rhino breeding and rehabilitation programs, and guests can visit the rhino orphanage.
Rates are currently unavailable for the JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp.
"Kenya is synonymous with the ultimate safari experience. These projects are set to redefine Kenya's luxury safari segment while promoting conservation and community development," said Shivan Patel, director of Lazizi Group of Companies. "Our continued collaboration with Marriott International underscores our shared commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences that celebrate the region's natural and cultural heritage."
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