Africa Adventures – Kenya Part 3

by wpx_exploremon Posted on

After we left the Angama’s mobile tented camp, we headed to Angama Mara‘s main lodge.  The day we left the tented camp was the same day as our hot air balloon ride so we had a very early start at 5:15 am.

Hot Air Balloon

There really are no words to explain the beauty of seeing the Maasai Mara from above, it was pure magic.

Watching the animals roam and interact from above was so interesting.  My favorite part was watching the giraffes gallop.  I love this video of the giraffes and can’t believe I was able to capture this beauty with my phone!
 
The entire morning was beautiful and peaceful as we floated through the sky.
The only part that was not peaceful was the landing.  One minute we soaring above the ground and the next, we were laying on it!

Our Angama Mara guide and vehicles followed our landing and then whisked us away to this gorgeous breakfast set up in the bush.

Angama Mara

Then, we were off to our new accommodations at Angama Mara.  While I loved all of the Angama properties, I do think we saved the best for last.  Angama Mara is truly special.  Imagine waking up to sweeping views of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, with the iconic Masai Mara stretching as far as the eye can see. Angama Mara is not just a destination; it’s an experience steeped in the magic of the African savanna. 
 
Perched on the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment, this luxurious safari lodge offers unparalleled vistas and intimate wildlife encounters, making you feel like you’re in the heart of a classic safari film – think “Out of Africa” vibes (scenes were actually filmed here). What sets it apart is the incredible balance between opulence and a deep connection to nature. With stunning tented suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, and the lodge’s personal touches such as sunset picnics, you’re in for an unforgettable adventure. Plus, being steps away from the world-famous Mara Triangle means you have front-row seats to the spectacular wildebeest migration and much more. It’s a haven for those who crave both luxury and authenticity.

And it is not just the tented suites that are gorgeous, the entire property and every experience is done with the utmost attention to detail.

But what really sets Angama Mara apart are the people.  You can feel that the people who work here really love where they work and what they do.  

The love the employees have for Angama Mara is a testament to its founders, Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald who worked for luxury safari lodges for most of their careers.  The chance to create Angama Mara coaxed them out of retirement and gave them opportunity to make intentional decisions to create the safari lodge they had always dreamed of.

Wildlife

I know I have shared a lot of wildlife pics already, but we had a stellar day of lion sightings on our early morning safari on our second to last day, so I have to share some of that.

The top photo of the lion cub was right after he climbed on his mom after feeding. I was able to capture the video – take a look HERE. I can’t believe we were able to get so close, our guide pulled a few strings to get us closer than technically allowed. He told us that lion cubs only nurse for 8 weeks so it is not common to see.

I know I mentioned it before, but our guide’s knowledge really was impressive. The bottom photos are of 2 of 4 lion brothers who live together in a pride. Lions are very lazy and sleep about 22 hours a day. We arrived a few minutes before they moved, the guide knew when to be there. Nobody else was around. He saw one of the lions yawn and our guide told us, “he will yawn three more times and then get up.” And yes, that is exactly what he did and his brothers followed slowly one by one, yawning exactly four times!

Before I sign off today, I also wanted to share my favorite still shot from the trip (even though it has nothing to do with lions!)

Thank you for following my Kenya adventure. If you need help planning your own exciting trip, please reach out to jen@exploremorefamilytravel.com!

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