Guest reviews Mara Bushtops

by Bjp55 San Francisco, California

Unbelievable Property

WOW, Mara Bushtops, WOW. My husband and I just got back from a 4 night stay at Bushtops to end our Uganda/Kenya honeymoon trip and it was incredible. Easily the most beautiful and luxurious accommodations we have ever encountered and such a wonderful finale to such an incredible trip. I cannot write enough to words to describe how special this property feels except tell you that I'm crying as I write this. Leaving was emotional! Our guides Nelson and Daniel made our trip. They were so knowledgable, knew the Mara with their eyes closed and were so fun to hang with for 4 days, we miss them dearly. Our server Leyban also went above and beyond for all our meals and our Butler, Pascal, kept us cozy with a drawn hot tub (+snacks & cocktails) after game drives and hot water bottles in our bed at turn down. Mara also has an airstrip and lounge in their conservancy so that was a nice surprise when we were leaving. Also, I had asked the chef for a recipe the day before we left and never saw him again but Nelson came through and it was in my inbox upon landing in the US, so sweet! Bushtops goes above and beyond and was the PERFECT end to our trip. We can't wait to return!

by Steven S Basking Ridge, New Jersey

The most luxury I could imagine

Pros: Impeccable service in every element. Room is to die for. View from terrace is amazing. Butler prepare hot tube for us with shampoo and roses and waited till we come back. View in restaurant and choice of wine - challenging the idea to drive to the park. Manager - Lawrence knows everything and can help and comfort any cranky customer. Doctors for Covid test were invited and waited for us on premises. Spa , massage were great. For a dollar spent best experience. Cons: Even though menu was matching luxury of hotel , food was just good. Local dishes were excellent but French , Italian, etc - slightly better then average. Driving in Masai Mara park till see main activities is a little bit exhausting. In no way it is fault of hotel. Masai Mara is large. Still from our previous experience - private reserves in South Africa and Botswana provide more fun with less effort.

by Lizandra L Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

First time in Africa & Kenya

WOW. I don't even know where to begin. It's our second day being back home after such an adventure and I can't stop thinking and quite literally, dreaming about our time spent in Masai Mara at Bushtops. When my husband and I visit anywhere, we are always looking to connect with the people. Obviously, exceptional service goes hand in hand but it's the people that always do it for us and the people here did not disappoint. There have been only 2x when I cried leaving a place and Kenya was my 3rd time crying when we had to depart. The team at Bushtops Mara were incredible. Truly, every single one of them were EXCEPTIONAL. Thomas, Stephen, Edward, Mercy, Jacob, and Dennis are all names and faces I will never forget. I didn't catch the woman's name at reception but she was just as wonderful as the rest of the team. Each person strives to put a smile on your face. They are authentic, kind, warm, wonderful human beings who truly take pride in what they do. And I cannot forget Martha who I'm not sure I'll ever meet, but she was the person who organized and coordinated our entire trip. The tents are beautifully decorated and the bed is one of the most comfortable beds I've slept in, ever. There is an indoor and outdoor shower with hot water and a hot tub if that's your preference. Everything runs on solar power and I think that's the coolest part. Everything is CLEAN and fresh. The food was outstanding each and everyday and the service at the restaurant was superb. When we arrived, we didn't have to do anything. Everything is well organized by the team and they make recommendations on what to do each day. Ultimately, it's your decision but I was thankful they had suggestions as it can be overwhelming when there's a lot to do with such short time. Many have asked if went through a tour company but all I did was reach out to Bushtops Camps and as mentioned before, they did it all. The only thing I was responsible for was booking my airfare to and from, scheduling our Covid tests, getting the E-Visas and additional health forms as required by the Kenyan government. Martha had booked all transfer from Nairobi to the Mara and all the transportation between airports. She also was able to schedule the Covid testing in Kenya in order for us to fly back to the US (required). One other thing I want to note is how diligent and responsible Bushtops was during this time as Covid-19 is still a thing. Masks are worn by everyone and they follow all health and safety measures to keep themselves and their guests safe. I felt very, very comfortable there. It also is helpful that everything is quite literally open and outdoors. Thank you so much Mara Bushtops! We had a phenomenal time and we hope to visit again in the future!

by K7287ALrichardp Alexandria, Virginia

Worth Every Shilling

My family and I visited Mara Bushtops last week for the safari experience of a lifetime. We received stellar service from every employee. The accommodations were luxurious, the food world class, and the guide (Hassan) knew his business. We saw the "Big Five" plus. We watched lions stalking a zebra, but the juvenile predators needed more experience, as the zebra did not become dinner that afternoon. We say the "Five Brothers"--a famous cheetah coalition known for its killing skills, as the five work together. The views of animals in front of the camp at a salt lick provided hours of entertainment. I saw over 20 giraffes, wildebeest, elephants, all sorts of gazelles, monkeys, zebras, birds---the only animals we did not see at the camp were the big cat predators. We saw them at the Masai Mara National Park during our daily game drives with Hassan. One tip: it got cool at night to the point we bought coats in the camp shop---nice souvenirs. You have a great ala carte menu at the camp restaurant, but the world class chef will prepare anything you want. We asked for local Kenyan cuisine and he accommodated our request. All in all, a stellar three days. We did not want to leave. As it was on our arrival via small aircraft from Nairobi (you can drive there, too, if you want), the staff met us at the aircraft, ensured we were hydrated, and then drove us to the camp. This all-inclusive safari camp was simply spectacular -- no detail was missed.

by 617sanjeevg Nairobi, Kenya

Mara Bushtops is the BEST lodge in the Mara!!!

On our third visit to the Mara Bushtops we stayed at the Leopard Suite as we are a family of four. With Two Bedrooms, Living and Dining Room along with the Signature Hot Tub, we had a fantastic stay at the Suite. We had the entire resort to our self which included 23 staff members who treated us like royalty. On the first day we saw a pride of 12 Lions within minutes from Bushtops in their private conservancy. An excellent sundowner was laid out for us. Our meals were of the highest standards and catered for vegan as the MasterChef created amazing menus for our Breakfast, lunch and dinner without repeating. The service was better then any of the 5* Hotels we have been to as we couldn't find any faults. We had a full day game drive with packed lunch in the Bushtops Landcruiser which stands out in the plains. My wife and I had a SPA which was very good. Having stayed at various lodges in the Mara, I can say with confidence that Bushtops is the Best