JW Marriott debuts in luxury safari sector
JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio, has announced the opening of JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the brand’s debut in the luxury safari industry.
Located within the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, the new lodge finds home in one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions. Comprising 20 private tents, the lodge’s interiors, designed by Kristina Zanic Consultants, draw inspiration from the elements with soft, warm tones, natural materials and textures, and native colours threading through the space. Many of the tents feature terraces overlooking the River Talek, while the honeymoon suite comprises a private plunge pool.
Outside of guestrooms, the lodge’s communal spaces take the form of a Cultural Deck – where guests can relax around a fire pit – and the Spa by JW, where treatments and therapies use products by African skincare brand, Healing Earth.
“Fostering meaningful connections and nourishing the soul is at the heart of the JW Marriott brand, so entering the luxury safari segment is a natural next step,” said Bruce Rohr, Global Brand Leader at JW Marriott. “Offering our guests once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a deep connection to place, JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge balances the thrill of a game drive with thoughtful opportunities to switch off and take it all in. We are excited to welcome travellers to a transformative and wellness-forward stay delivered with JW Marriott’s legacy of extraordinary hospitality.”
As for F&B, the heart of the site is the JW Garden, an outdoor space where guests will discover home-grown, organic ingredients – including the lodge’s signature rosemary – which are used by on-site chefs in their cuisine. Fig Tree Lounge, meanwhile, offers panoramic views of the surrounding plains from an indoor and outdoor bar, while dining at Sarabi Restaurant means an indoor and alfresco dining experience.
JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will be run in connection with the local community, donating a percentage of the nightly rate per person to The Maa Trust, an organisation that promotes the small business start-ups of local people. Similarly, the lodge aims for 70% of its workforce to be local people, ensuring the hotel’s contribution to the socio-economic development of the region.
Further strengthening its ties with the locale, the construction of the property has increased power installation in the area and provided access to clean drinking water for locals through a water treatment plan, while waste reduction and recycling will be integral to its daily running – food waste will be placed at the lodge’s compost site, for instance, and water wells dotted around for animals’ benefit.
