Aruba is a great value (even though the prices have gone up quite a bit in recent years). All our tents faced onto the river (we could see hippos below), and they were far enough apart that you couldn't see your neighbors. The tents were HUGE, and had many great amenities.
The food was good (a little less so the nights they served a buffet, but we still liked it). Sammy, our waiter/manager was great in satisfying our every request. We loved having hot water bottles put into our beds at night (it was pretty chilly).
The one big downside was there was no water pressure- the water just dribbled out. The beds were a bit short and the pillows slightly uncomfortable, but I would stay here again in heartbeat.

The camp is run efficiently and the food is excellent. The staff was warm, friendly and we learnt a lot about Maasai culture from them around the camp fire. An easy going and relaxed atmosphere, helps to make you feel at home.

My fiancée and I stayed at Aruba Mara for 5 days during the Wildebeest migration. It was her first time on safari, while I had worked previously in the safari business in Kenya and Tanzania. I was not sure what to expect from a tented camp so reasonably priced. But the Lonely Planet review got it right: Aruba Mara is arguably the best value in the Masai Mara. The owners, Gerdi (German) and Paul (Masai) are excellent hosts and care deeply about giving their guests an authentic, high quality experience, including surprisingly good food, private game drives (we did not arrive with our own vehicle), and an openness to creating activities according to the tastes of its guests. The tents were well-situated and clean, the Masai staff were genuine and amusing company, and we felt perfectly safe at all times.

If you want to travel to Masai Mara and live in tents that take care of your most important needs (comfort, spacious, ensuite bath / toilet) at the most economical price - this is the right place! The under-canvas camp consists of 6-7 large tents (plus many smaller ones) that can sleep upto 3 people in each comfortably. The dining area is more basic as compared to the lodges, and the spread is not lavish - but everything is just right - quantity and quality! The owner Gerdi Simon is extremely hands on and the camp staff is willing to go to any lengths to ensure you have a comfortable stay. The water pressure in showers does suffer occasionally but there is always a hot water solution available! On one occasion I stayed in a smaller tent with an outside toilet - it's a great experience to shower under an open sky on the African savannah! All tents have an outside wooden balcony with seating area which faces the Talek river. There was a resident hippo when I visited Aruba first time - you could hear him all the time! There is a bench which faces the opposite bank and overlooks the Mara - on one occasion a female leopard with cubs had made a home within sight of the camp! Plus there is plenty of bird life within camp. The camp is located a min drive from the Talek Gate, so you are technically outside the park but can view the plains and animals from across the river. Park fees need to be paid every time you enter the reserve, but there is plenty of wildlife - lion, leopard, cheetah - even outside the reserve. For people who want to see the Africa on its terms this is a fantastic pricing opportunity. Imagine staying economy whilst getting treated like business class - that what we felt like when we were lucky enough to view the migration incl a river crossing last year! But remember, this is a natural setting and typically for nature / wildlife buffs...