Royal Zebra River Safari Lodge

Royal Zebra River Safari Lodge stands on the Talek River, on the edge of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and takes a maximum of 16 guests. There are eight glass-fronted suites of 124 square metres each — five facing the open savannah, three set back among the croton bushes — and all of them have the same fittings: a separate indoor lounge, a private balcony furnished for in-suite dining, an en-suite bathroom with indoor shower, bathtub and outdoor shower, a stocked minibar, a tea and coffee station, satellite television if you want it, mosquito nets, fans, a safe and a private butler. Power runs 24 hours a day and Wi-Fi reaches the rooms, although the connection can be slow this far out.

The main area has indoor and outdoor lounges, a fully stocked bar, dining areas and a live cooking station, and the evening ends around the campfire. There is a swimming pool looking out over the plains, and spa treatments are given in the suites. Wildlife comes down to the river right below the lodge, and during the migration the herds are visible from the property. Guests on the game package get a private open 4x4 and their own KPSGA-certified guide, with transfers from the Talek and Musiara airstrips and the Sekenani gate; walking safaris, Maasai village visits, balloon flights, bush breakfasts and dinners and sundowners are all arranged from here.

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