Marriott To Open Its First Luxury Safari Lodge In Africa In 2023 - TravelAwaits

Marriott International is getting into the safari business.

The company announced this week that it will open the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge within the Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

Marriott expects the lodge to open sometime in 2023.

"As a brand rooted in mindfulness, we cannot think of a more perfect retreat for the mind, body, and soul than the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya," Bruce Rohr, vice president and brand leader for JW Marriott, said in a release.

The lodge will be located on the banks of the River Talek on the edge of the reserve. It will offer views of vistas, plains, and wildlife.

It will include 20 private tents, one presidential canvas-topped pavilion, and two interconnecting canopied suites, each with a private terrace overlooking the river. 

The lodge will also include a restaurant, lounge bar, spa, and a large outdoor terrace with fire pits that will host traditional Masai dance performances in the evening.

"JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will offer guests a luxurious backdrop to make once-in-a-lifetime memories as they connect with nature and wildlife as never before," Rohr said.

And connecting to nature will include observing the plethora of animals that call the reserve home. Lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceroses, and elephants live and thrive in the reserve. And during the summer, a wildebeest migration takes place when more than 10 million animals travel nearly 2,000 miles from the Serengeti.

"This landmark project is in response to travelers' growing desire for experiential offerings that enable them to build a deeper connection with their chosen destination," said Jerome Briet, Marriott's chief development officer for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The lodge will join more than 120 other Marriott properties in Africa, and more than 8,000 hotels across the world.

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