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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Mara River Safari Lodge is a themed resort that offers a truly unique experience. Accommodation is composed of a series of comfortably appointed thatched dwelling orientated towards a landscaped inhabited by wildlife. With the shadow of Bali's sacred Mount Agung looming in the distance, embrace the rare tranquility of this retreat as rhinos, zebras and oryx graze contentedly at close range. Savor the raw beauty surrounding the lodge, while lions majestically roar declaring their status as the king of the beasts.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Family Resort
Location
Jl. Bypass Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra Km. 19,8, Gianyar 80551 Indonesia
Mara River Safari Lodge
785 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Mara River Safari Lodge offers an immersive safari theme that captivates guests, with many lauding the wildlife views from their rooms. However, opinions on the rooms are divided, with some expressing concerns about maintenance and cleanliness. Animal interactions are a highlight, yet the additional costs and basic amenities leave some guests wanting more.
The service is generally commended for its friendliness, but there are occasional reports of less attentive staff. Cleanliness is mostly satisfactory, though issues with bathrooms and linens have been noted. Overall, the perceived value is contentious, with criticisms focusing on the food quality and costs.
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Basic
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Underwhelming
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After spending 6 nights in busy Seminyak we had booked a room at Mara River and booked the Safari lodge, and we were glad we did. We stayed in a family room, which consisted of 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom a mini kitchenette, living room and balcony. Although not modern, the room was still clean. The bathroom were and outdoor style with and window which we quite liked as it was something different. The balcony had view of the safari animals. We also we see the animals straight from the bed. It was so relaxing and calming to sit and watch the animals.
The air conditioning in the master bedroom was working quite well. After sending out the technician and still not being satisfied, the lovely Fernando from reception organised for us to move rooms conveniently next door as it was late at night and we had already unpacked, he allowed us to keep our bags in the original room and sleep in the new room with the air conditioning working. This was much appreciated!
We got to enjoy having breakfast and dinner with the lions and an elephant ride to breakfast. We done the night safari which was an unforgettable experience seeing all the animals, being able to feed them and have the tigers crawl over the cage. We also done the day safari which was at fantastic experience in air conditioned bus.
Overall we are glad we had booked to stay at Mara River after an exhausting week in busy Seminyak, it was perfect to sit and unwind and listen to the animals.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel is unique because of its setup, the rooms have balconies with view of animal blocks and in morning you can attract Zebras by throwing carrots (provided in each room per day)
We stayed in Twiga room which is on first floor. Rooms are of decent size with beautiful bed and nice views of animal blocks.
Being inside a park, it has multiple dining options and each has its own specialty
Overall it was a great experience and we definitely recommend it for a different experience
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Date of stay: November 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Bali Safari or Mara River Safari was the deciding factor in selecting Bali as the destination for our holiday. Somehow this doesn't come up as a must visit when mentioning Bali. We would definitely recommend this for both kids and adults alike. Please note that this can get quite expensive especially for Bali standards which could be one of the reasons (for this not being listed among the must sees in Bali). It can also get really hot during the day. We loved all the feedings, starting with the petting zoo, standalone feeds to various animals like the elephants, giraffe, meerkats etc, feeding the animals from the room balcony and feed the predators. Dinner with lions and all the shows and safari were fun too. We got there around 11-12 and post check-in at the reception covered as much as we could getting to the room only around 6 pm after the last safari. For those staying at the hotel/resort they arrange a fire show at night as well as a photo with the animals. We can also book slots for Feed the Predators from the reception itself.
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just arrived back from our 1 night stay. We arrived just before 2pm and expected to be able to check in shortly after but was told there would be an hour wait, when I questioned this they said it was due to being fully booked the previous night, in my opinion this should have no bearing on the bookings for the next day. Food options are very poor and the surrounding areas are very poorly lit for walking in the dark. The fire dance in the evening was good but unfortunately not enough seating so you either need to arrived early or just have to stand for the whole performance time. We had to wake very early to morning of breakfast as the restaurant is so big if you want a chance to sit near to the tigers that is the only option you have. The next morning on our way to breakfast we were offered a free safari trip to compensate for the late checking in the day before. This safari was very unorganised, when we arrived there we were told we needed to wait a long time as there was already a group ahead of us even though we had arrived 20 minutes before the first one had started. You are only provided a maximum of 5 carrots to feed the animals from your balcony so the experience is over very quickly. We tried to get some food from inside the park but you are forced to give over more money than you are going to spend at one time and then when we asked for a refund for the money we didn’t spend they insisted on giving it back in cash rather than back to the card we had originally paid on. The only saving grace to this place was fernando working on the front desk who tried his absolute best to help with all the issues. Overall this place was very disappointing, staff were rude and unorganised and I definitely would not recommend this place to stay.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Manager Marketing, General Manager at Mara River Safari Lodge
Responded Oct 23, 2022
Dear MollyM06, Thank you very much for your visit and spent your time giving us your precious review. We do apologize if our service has not met your expectation. Our commitment is to provide excellent service to our visitors. Regarding the service issues, I have shared your notes in regard to our staff. The follow-up actions will be taken immediately for improvements, in order to avoid a re-occurrence in the future. We certainly hope we will have the chance to once again welcome you back to our lodge so that you can recreate new pleasant and unforgettable memories here.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This trip to Mara River was a big disappointment, brought family over for a holiday. This place has certainly let its self go. Yea I know “COVID”, but was our third resort on this trip and the others managed to have linen with no holes, bathroom floors what were dry and hand held shower that don’t fall down every time you use it. I agree with the other comments posted, stay somewhere else. The food is sub standard for a “fine dining” restaurant I got the feeling that the staff are embarrassed by what is being served. Come for the experience, stay Come for anyway else. I wonder which generic response I will get?
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
First off, I would recommend that you stay for 2 nights to be able to enjoy the experience. We found our room comfortable and clean, albeit a bit dated. The food was alright (nothing spectacular but tasty enough) and eating with Lions in the backgound is certainly a unique ane enjoyable experience. It was pretty special listening to the lions roar from your hotel room. You get a supply of carrots to throw to the animals outside your room (For us it was many zebra). We did the night safari, which was a great experience, but very short ( considering how much you pay for the experience). Note, that once in the park, if you want to feed any of the animals, you have to pay for the privilege). The pool is located on the edge of the safari plain , so you can hang over the edge and watch the various animals wander by (and the odd safari tour or two!) whilst enjoying a cocktail from the pool bar. Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Mara River, and would recommend it as a place to stay,
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Date of stay: August 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Twiga rooms are on the top leval, so you get a good view
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here for just the one night in a family Kifaru room. This room was huge, having two separate bedrooms and bathrooms with a large lounge area in between. The room had a luxurious feel and was immaculately cleaned. Was close to the pool, but we didn't have time to use it unfortunately. The room is quite a distance from reception and the Safari park so you can arrange a buggy to pick you up and drop you off. With our package we had our dinner and breakfast included. Both were buffets, and both were amazing with so much to choose from. This is a nice place to stay to experience the Safari park at a leisurely pace.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Everyone in our group loved this hotel, we stayed for 3 nights but could have easily stayed another night!
We were delayed in getting our room, but we just went for lunch in the lion restaurant and then sat by the pool until it was ready. In other hotels in Bali I found the staff really made the hotel, however this was not the case here, not all staff but generally I got the feeling that they were just too busy to give you a personal experience. It is expensive to eat here, as expected, and the food was not anything special. We did go for dinner at a local warung one night, they offer free transport too and the food was amazing there.
Breakfast was good, with a fair selection, however, lattes and cappuccinos are at an extra charge (with the price you pay I would expect them to be included). Around 9am, the lions are fed, it is a good experience to watch, before heading off into the park for the day.
We stayed in a family suite and it was amazing! Cleaned thoroughly throughout, huge, comfy bed, fresh towels and water daily. It was an added bonus to be able to sit on the balcony and watch the animals graze.
The pool area is lovely and relaxing, with a swim-up pool bar, comfy sun loungers and the spa. It does tend to get busy late afternoon though and there are limited seats.
Overall, the hotel is clean and relaxing, with great rooms and a novelty experience. It could be made even better with a more personal experience and better food options.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Unfortunately we were incredibly disappointed with the accommodations at Mara River Lodge. We stayed in the three bedroom family villa. The rooms were incredibly expensive and did not meet our expectations whatsoever. There were bugs and geckos in the room, the AC was broken and had to be fixed when we arrived late in the evening (however, the maintenance staff was very kind and apologetic about the late night inconvenience). The bathroom was incredibly stuffy and smelled like hay. The kitchenette lacked a sink or any simple amenities (like paper towels or a dust pan).
The food at the lion restaurant was not great and the night safari “bbq” is really just the buffet at the restaurant. Likewise, the fire show that is included in the night safari is the free show available to all guests and the “walk-in safari” is the same as the day safari. Despite those setbacks, the caged safari ride with animal encounters was a really cool experience. With the exception of the caged safari ride, the safari is really more like a zoo.
It was clear that the lodge was more concerned with making money than the comfort or accommodation of its guests. There were a number of incidents that made this clear.
Ultimately, I would not recommend staying at the lodge. The safari and night safari could easily be seen in a single day trip. But for the kids loving animals, I would have skipped the safari entirely.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Booked the resort for a safari experience so we could have the convenience of going to the safari whenever we wanted. Definitely found it more convenient than going to the safari as a day trip with small children.
The rooms were wonderful. We had the Kifaru villas, although our view of the animals were obstructed as we had the pool view. Rooms were a good size with comfortable mattresses and linen - blackout curtains were great. Living room had a comfortable sofa and a good amount of space.
Bathrooms had good water pressure and responsive water heating. The water can get hot very quickly, which was great for the cooler mornings.
Restaurant food was average, the ala carte and breakfast were better than the buffet dinner.
Rooms were clean, staff were fantastic. Shuttles made it easy to get to the lobby, and were easily contacted.
Overall would recommend if you’re going to the safari for the ease, especially if you’re not planning to rush.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bantayan Island, Philippines80 contributions61 helpful votes
We arrived the night before, watched the short fire show outside the restaurant, dined with the lions & went in the park the following day - departed after lunch. It's enough.
Yes we arrived around 10.30 and was able to drop our bags at the resort and head into the safari park - we popped back after 2pm and checked in then headed back to safari park - was able to access the park unlimited
Following day they held our bags til we were ready to head off
Jakarta, Indonesia460 contributions43 helpful votes
"If you wanna go out from your room to the lobby, it's pretty far walking so i suggest you, call the villa staf from your room to be pickup (7 Minutes)."
There are more places to choose from in the Gianyar area.
PRICE RANGE
$195 - $268 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
mara river safari hotel gianyar, mara river safari resort
LOCATION
IndonesiaBaliGianyar RegencyGianyar
NUMBER OF ROOMS
45
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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