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."
Related reading:
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month