Mara Mara Tented Lodge

Location

Perched in the Kogatende area of the northern Serengeti, Mara Mara Tented Lodge sits in what safari guides call the “river crossing zone” – that stretch of acacia-dotted savannah where the Mara River creates both barrier and lifeline for the migration. The lodge’s hilltop position, roughly 30 minutes from both Kogatende Airstrip and the river itself, provides sweeping views across the plains while maintaining enough elevation to catch cooling breezes even during October’s building heat.

This far northern location places you in one of the Serengeti’s most remote corners, where the ecosystem bumps up against the Kenyan border and the landscape shifts between open grassland, riverine forest, and rocky kopjes that serve as leopard lookouts. The Bologonja Hills rise to the east, while westward the terrain drops toward the Mara River’s meandering course. During the dry season migration months, you’re perfectly positioned to reach multiple crossing points along the river, though the specific locations shift yearly depending on water levels and the herds’ mysterious decision-making.

Operated by Tanganyika Wilderness Camps, they operate a collection of reasonably price safari properties across Tanzania’s northern circuit. In the immediate Serengeti region, sister properties include Mara Under Canvas, a mobile camp positioning itself at the Mara River from August to November, and Serengeti Kati Kati, their central Serengeti camp offering year-round wildlife viewing.

Rooms

The property’s modern African design philosophy creates spaces that feel contemporary yet contextually appropriate – think clean lines, natural materials, and a colour palette drawn from the surrounding landscape of khaki, sand, and acacia green. All accommodations feature raised wooden platforms that lift you above ground level, essential for both views and evening wildlife visitors.

Standard Tents: The canvas-walled tents spread between North and South camps deliver more space than their “tent” designation suggests. Each features either a king bed or twin configuration, with mosquito netting that manages to look decorative rather than purely functional. The real luxury lies in the bathrooms – proper freestanding bathtubs positioned for bush views, plus outdoor showers that let you wash off dust while watching zebra graze. Private terraces with safari chairs become evening headquarters for sundowner drinks and migration watching.

Bungalow Rooms: These solid-walled alternatives swap canvas for more permanent construction without sacrificing the connection to nature. The bungalows feature two interconnected rooms, making them ideal for families or friends who want proximity without sacrificing privacy. The same bathtub-with-a-view setup appears here, though the outdoor showers feel slightly less exposed thanks to strategic screening.

Family Accommodations: Both tent and bungalow configurations work for families – the tented option provides two interconnected canvas rooms sharing facilities, while the bungalow family rooms offer more solid separation between sleeping areas. Either way, children get their own space while parents maintain supervisory proximity, crucial when lion roars punctuate the night.

Every room includes those small touches that matter after dusty game drives: proper bedside lighting for late-night reading, enough electrical outlets to charge cameras and phones, and writing desks for those still moved to record safari experiences in actual notebooks. The modern African aesthetic continues through locally inspired soft furnishings and artwork that avoids both kitsch and cliché.

Communal Areas

The division into North and South camps creates an interesting dynamic – each functions as its own intimate property with dedicated facilities, yet neither feels incomplete. The main houses anchoring each camp blend indoor and outdoor living through design that maximizes air flow and view corridors.

The restaurants occupy prime position in each main house, with both indoor and terrace dining depending on weather and preference. The kitchen’s modern African interpretation extends beyond décor to menus that balance international techniques with local ingredients – expect recognizable dishes with East African twists rather than challenging culinary experiments. The bars stay open throughout the day, stocked with South African wines, local beers, and the gin and tonics that have become safari tradition.

The swimming pool – a rarity in mobile-style camps – provides afternoon refuge when temperatures climb. Positioned for sunset views, it becomes a busy social hub during the hot hours when even lions seek shade. The adjacent deck areas feature comfortable lounging spots that encourage that particular safari indolence where watching clouds drift across endless sky counts as activity.

Evening campfires draw both camps together, creating larger social circles for those who enjoy swapping safari stories with fellow travellers. The fires burn nightly, regardless of season, serving as both gathering point and atmospheric enhancement – there’s something primally satisfying about discussing the day’s leopard sighting while flames crackle and nightjars call.

The viewing decks extending from the main areas provide elevated perspectives across the plains. During migration season, these become observation posts where telescopes and binoculars cluster as guests track approaching herds. The design smartly incorporates multiple viewing areas to prevent crowding even at full occupancy.

Wi-Fi covers communal areas, though the connection’s reliability varies with weather and mysterious technical factors that staff attribute to elephants investigating infrastructure.

Activities

Game drives explore the Kogatende area’s varied terrain – open plains where cheetah hunt, riverine forest sheltering leopards, and rocky kopjes serving as lion lounges. From July through October, the Mara River becomes the focus as wildebeest and zebra mass at crossing points, building courage for their leap into crocodile-inhabited waters. Your guide’s knowledge (and local research) proves invaluable here, as crossing points shift daily based on herd movements and river conditions.

This à la carte system offers unexpected advantages for certain travellers. Private vehicles mean setting your own schedule rather than conforming to standard 6am departures. Want to spend an entire day at the river during crossing season? Your choice. Prefer leisurely brunches to dawn drives? No problem. The flexibility particularly suits photographers who need patience and positioning freedom.

Hot air balloon safaris (additional cost applies) launch at dawn, drifting over the plains as sunrise illuminates the migration below. The hour-long flights culminate in bush breakfasts with champagne – touristy perhaps, but undeniably spectacular when wildebeest herds stretch to every horizon.