MAASAI MARA, KENYA — The iconic Maasai Mara ecosystem is set to welcome a landmark addition to its hospitality landscape. Mara Leisure Camp, long cherished as a gateway to East Africa’s most celebrated wildlife sanctuary, will close its doors for a comprehensive transformation and re-emerge in 2027 as Mara Ardhi — a premier luxury lodge experience that honours the land, the wildlife, and the communities that call this extraordinary place home. “Ardhi,” meaning “earth” or “land” in Swahili, encapsulates the vision at the heart of this reinvention.
A Complete Transformation, Rooted in Heritage
The redevelopment of Mara Leisure Camp into Mara Ardhi represents one of the most ambitious hospitality upgrades in the Greater Mara region in recent years. The project involves a full-scale reconstruction of guest accommodation, common areas, and back-of-house facilities, reimagining the property from the ground up while preserving its irreplaceable location within the wildlife- rich Mara corridor.
The lodge’s architectural vision has been entrusted to Hesse Kleinhoog, the award-winning South African architect renowned for his sensitive, landscape-led approach to luxury wilderness design. Mara Ardhi will feature a collection of spacious, eco-sensitive luxury tents and cottages, each designed to blend harmoniously with the surrounding savannah landscape. Guests will enjoy panoramic views, private decks, and interiors that draw on natural materials and traditional East African craftsmanship — elevated by world-class comfort and contemporary design sensibilities.
Kleinhoog’s design philosophy, celebrated across multiple award-winning projects throughout Southern and East Africa, centres on architecture that recedes into its environment rather than dominating it — a principle that informs every element of Mara Ardhi, from its low-profile silhouettes to its locally sourced materials and passive cooling design.
World-Class Amenities in a Wilderness Setting
Mara Ardhi will offer guests an immersive yet indulgent experience, including:
• A signature restaurant, bar & coffee shop showcasing curated menus inspired by Kenyan culinary traditions and locally sourced ingredients.
• Guided game drives by professional naturalist guides
• Cultural immersion programmes with neighbouring Maasai communities, supporting authentic engagement and fair economic partnerships.
• A dedicated conservation education centre, reinforcing Mara Ardhi’s commitment to wildlife stewardship and habitat protection
Community Partnership and Conservation at the Core
From its very foundations, Mara Ardhi is built on the principle that responsible tourism must benefit people and nature in equal measure. The lodge will also partner directly with local conservation organisations working to protect the Mara’s wildlife migration corridors and biodiversity.
“Mara Ardhi is not simply a new name or a new look — it is a new covenant with the land. We are committed to delivering an experience that is luxurious, deeply authentic, and genuinely transformative, for our guests, for the Maasai people, and for the wildlife of the Mara.”
James T Scott — Director of Tourism, Marasa Africa Lodges
Opening Details and Reservations
Mara Ardhi is scheduled to open its doors to guests in early 2027, ahead of the Great Migration season. A limited number of founding member rates and inaugural season packages will be made available for advance reservations. Prospective guests and travel partners are invited to register their interest through the official channels below.
MEDIA & RESERVATIONS CONTACT
Marasa Africa Lodges Claire Mitchell
Head of Sales & Marketing – Africa
Email: Claire.Mitchell@Marasa.Africa
Website: www.marasa.net
