The Mara Intrepids ranked in my book as one of my top guest experiences, for service, safari, accommodations and of course the food. It exceeded our expectations in every respect.
Service: It was evident all throughout our stay that the staff really liked their jobs and interaction with the guests. Kudos to the management for great HR work! Our concierge/service manager Nelson was not only very friendly and forthcoming, he had a superb eye for personalizing the stay. That included knowing our sleep schedules, wake-up calls, food needs, and daily game drive plans. He was just on top of everything with no reminding. Also, big kudos to Tom, MaryAnn, the Edwins and other staff for providing other housekeeping and staff support all through.
Safari: Unlike a lot of other lodges, the Mara Intrepids hosts 3 daily games drives (1.5, 1.5 and 3 hours- from 6 am to 6pm). We were really really lucky to be assigned to our safari guide Dennis. Apart from being extremely knowledgeable on general Kenyan political/social affairs, he was an excellent game tracker. Above all, he was patient in explanation, adventurous and enthusiastic for each drive (and we did probably 12 in all), ensuring we saw most all of what we came to see. We bundled the morning/afternoon drives into one 4.5 hour long drive to explore further into the Mara, and well away from the camp. One added perk is that we had both our guide Dennis' service and the jeep to ourselves the entire trip- no multiple groups. It was very personalized.
Accommodations: 5 star rooms, within a tent with fully appointed amenities. We lacked for nothing we'd find in any other top hotel. Being that the lodge is deep within the reserve, water and energy obviously have to be parceled. So, just be aware that water can sometimes take a few minutes to heat through their manual boiler, and electricity is off for a few hours in the afternoon (you won't really need it anyway because its so bright).
Food: So what can I say. I'm still a little stunned that a little lodge in the middle of the African savannah could produce such excellent cuisine in both quality and taste. I can easily say that the food here rivaled many of the better surf/turf places in my hometown of San Francisco. For ex. they served excellent fresh grilled salmon (when there's no salmon anywhere near there). There are three meal services, with breakfast being a la carte with hot/cold options and lunch/dinner being prix fixe with around 2-3 options per course. Main entrees are usually a choice between 1 fish, 1 meat/chicken, and 1 veggie (typically Indian fare). Its a lot of food, so can guarantee you will not go hungry. Kudos to the chefs, sous chefs and staff!
Some tips:
-The website unfortunately doesn't do a good job of warning guests about the upfront cash requirement for park fees, which are $75/pp per day in cash. The reserve asks for all days to be paid in advance. Luckily we were able to do this via credit card through the front desk.
-Cash access services are fairly limited, but the lodge does do a good job of working with you via credit card
-The nearest airstrip to the lodge is Olkiombo, which flies to-from Wilson airport in Nairobi (International travelers will have to take a cab/shuttle from Jomo Kenyatta to Wilson). Once in Olkiombo, the lodge is about 1,000 feet away. Total flight time there is about 45 minutes.
-The lodge has wi-fi and computer services. However, given its remoteness, expect that internet access is a bit slow so don't plan on doing any large file loading. Email is fine. Then again, if you're in a safari, you really shouldn't be on the computers anyway!
-The lodge sits right on the Talek River, so most guests will be close to the water for some excellent views. Safaris commence on either side of the river depending on which animals you want to see.
Well, we're back home and we really miss this safari! A lot of it is owed to our wonderful stay at the Mara Intrepids. Safari trips generally aren't cheap, but this place really was worth every penny.
