Mara Sopa Lodge, Masai Mara, Kenya

Location:

This lodge is one of the first lodges to be build in the Masai Mara game reserve and it sits at an altitude of 2104 meters and 206 kilometres south of the equator. The lodge is located just inside the national park entrance. Specifically, it's 240 kilometres from Nairobi which is approximately a 5-hour drive. Once at the lodge you are not permitted to leave the grounds on foot due to the surrounding wildlife. Wildlife is not actually visible around the lodge as the grounds are surrounded by a fence to keep the animals out.

Room Comfort:

We found the spacious, cottage style rooms with en suite bathrooms and verandas to be very comfortable. Accommodations consist of 50 traditional round large huts with thatched roofs. Each hut is divided into two rooms.  The furniture inside was authentic African wood furniture and fairly nice. The bathroom was also very large and spacious. The bed had a large curtain-like mosquito net that was pulled around the bed at night which we felt was more of a decoration than an effective way to keep mosquitoes away. The staff spray the rooms against mosquitoes in the evenings so they are not really a problem. The bathroom was rather basic and bland, but was spacious and functional. We really enjoyed the look and feel of our room.

Cleanliness:

The room was very well maintained and clean. In the evenings, a room attendant came by to turn down the bed, spray the room and prepare the mosquito net. The lodge grounds, restaurant and swimming pool were also very well maintained and clean. The staff was dressed in clean professional uniforms.    

Service:

The service at this lodge was great. Check-in and check-out were simple and efficient. Warm towels and welcome drinks were provided upon our arrival. There are plenty of staff onsite to ensure the guests are attended too. There is a large sitting area with a bar and fireplace with friendly staff talking to the guests. The staff always gave us a friendly smile and hello when we walked by. The hotel also offers nightly activities, such as feeding of the hyenas, or a traditional dance, and more.

Food

The buffet dinners and buffet lunches were good. It was similar to the typical food received at all inclusive chain resorts around the world, but it was delicious nevertheless. There was a good variety of food to chose from to satisfy most customers. We received a packed lunch on one of our safaris and the packed lunches were pretty basic. They consisted of a sandwich, boiled egg, fruit, juice and a dry cake.

Overall Value:

Overall, we enjoyed our stay here. The staff was great and the rooms were clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated. Even though this hotel is quite large and busy we found that the lodge is well staffed to ensure their guests are well taken care of. We would recommend this lodge to others traveling to the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Other Notes:

Most of the clientele at this hotel were seniors.

Our Rating: 4.3/5   Year Reviewed: 2009

For the best possible price of accommodations in the Masai Mara, please visit Expedia.ca. You can also visit the hotel's website at: sopalodges.com

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