tl;dr – Marriott hasn’t even dropped the pre-release for this one yet.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Marriott is opening a safari lodge. I’ve done a bit of digging here and made a few calls to confirm this one. Joining Marriott Bonvoy soon is Kinara, a Luxury Collection Safari Camp, Masai Mara.
Slated for a June 30th opening (we’ll see), this property looks like a pretty solid addition to the ‘safari on points’ portfolio. If you’re new here, 1) consider subscribing! And 2) I’ve laid out all the options for redeeming points for an African safari here. I’ve also reviewed one of Marriott’s existing safari lodges – Leopard’s Sands at Kruger National Park. Ok, let’s dive into the details about Kinara.
Kinara, a Luxury Collection Safari Camp, Masai Mara
Kinara will be Marriott’s first Luxury Collection property in its growing safari portfolio. As a soft-brand property, Kinara is a departure from Marriott’s previous strategy of pursuing ‘new-build’ Kenyan safari lodges, like the JW Masai Mara, Ritz-Carlton, and upcoming JW Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve. My research reveals that Kinara is a rebrand (more accurately, a complete renovation) of Mara Eden Safari Camp. The locations of the properties, and the fact that the Mara Eden Safari Camp is ‘temporarily closed’ are the two dead giveaways. (I also called to confirm).
It appears Marriott’s taking the ‘luxury’ part of Luxury Collection seriously here, as Kinara looks pretty nice. It’s a true all-inclusive safari experience, and Marriott’s clearly aiming to provide an intimate Bonvoy alternative to some of the other luxe safari brands folks may know (Singita, &Beyond, A&K). Rates include airstrip transfers and a personalized butler service.
Let’s start with the reason you go on safari – the game drives. Daily game drives are included (unclear if there are multiple per day, but I’m guessing so), and guests will ride in open Land Cruisers. Refreshments are provided, and Canon cameras are available for use as well.
Mara Eden has (had?) 14 tents, though it’s unclear if Kinara will have the same number or more. Marriott’s has aimed for ~20 rooms at its other safari properties, so I’d imagine the renovation might have also included the construction of a few more suites. Choices include the standard Kinara tented suite, a two-bedroom suite, and a three-bedroom signature villa.
Dining, which again is included in the full board, includes a bush breakfast, picnic lunch, and sundowners, a champagne breakfast, and a high tea experience, as well as wine pairing sessions with an in-house sommelier.
For fitness and non-safari ‘to-dos, there’s a modern fitness center and a pool.
I couldn’t find rates closer for or around the alleged June 30th opening, but here’s some sample pricing (both points and cash rates viewable) for February 2027.
Of note, for anyone considering a stay at Kinara, there’s a grand opening offer where you can earn 15, 000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points per stay, valid 7 days a week, from stays between August 25th and November 17th, 2026.
My Thoughts
I like the move here by Marriott. In the past, I’ve mentioned how I’m less likely to visit the Masai Mara Ritz and JW properties due to the environmental concerns surrounding both properties. Kinara is located about 40 minutes away from the Ritz, on a less critical wildlife crossing. Separately, as it’s an existing property, I haven’t found any information to suggest that its location has created a significant disturbance to the ecosystem. On top of all that, to me, this property does look better than Marriott’s other safari lodges. I’m a big fan of the The Luxury Collection properties and though I’m very much on the outside looking in, this property feels like, with the right management, it could be competitive with some other luxe lounges.
Other Marriott Safari Lodges
Lastly, in the event you’re curious about the other Marriott safari properties, I’ve short-listed them below:
Luxury / Upscale:
- JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge
- Leopard Sands Kruger Park
- Kinara, a Luxury Collection Safari Camp, Masai Mara
- The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp
- JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge – (Expected 2026)
- JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve – (Expected 2026)
- Turaco Ngorongoro Valley
- Mapito Safari Camp, Serengeti, Autograph Collection
Economic:
If this was helpful, I’d appreciate you subscribing!
