ACTIVITIES in Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya:

West of the Mara River, beneath the Oloololo escarpment and bordered by Tanzania to the south lies the jewel of this great reserve: the Mara Triangle.

Not only is this the most productive part of the entire Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in terms of grass nutrition, but it is also spectacularly scenic. The huge grassy plains are dotted with widely spaced Balanites trees that give the landscape an almost manicured look, which together with the steep-sided escarpment and broad Mara River, provides a breath-taking backdrop for wildlife photographers.

For much of the year, the Mara Triangle has the lowest density of visitors in the Greater Maasai Mara, with just two lodges within its perimeters and a few on the northern border. The Mara Triangle has a high concentration of game all year-round including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) and diverse plains game such as cheetah, hyena, jackal, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, waterbuck, and many other species.

Suspended as it is on the rim of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, it is said that Angama Mara is where heaven and earth collide.

This exquisitely designed and luxuriously furnished lodge commands endless vistas across the Mara where you can watch buffalo grazing and elephant from the (exceptional) comfort of your deck.

Angama Mara is made up of two intimate camps, with 15 tented suites that are independently serviced, each with a pair of binoculars, and with facilities that include a remarkably designed communal area with a swimming pool, fitness gym, and library.

Here safari excursions are tailored to each guest, taking into consideration previous game experiences, personal passions, and time preferences. So, whether you choose to drift across the Mara in a hot air balloon, take a walking safari with the local Maasai, or enjoy a picnic in the exact location where scenes from the iconic movie ‘Out of Africa’ were filmed – you’ll discover that Angama Mara is on another level, literally and figuratively.

After settling in, enjoy lunch while savoring the splendid views. Using Kenya’s finest produce the chefs will prepare mezze platters, open sandwiches, crisp salads, and a hamburger, for you to enjoy.

In the afternoon your experienced guide will you introduce to the beauty of this reserve and the many creatures that call it home. A short drive takes you to the Mara River where hippos and crocs provide great photographic opportunities.

On return to the lodge after your game drive, watch the Mara change color as the sun dips away, wind down the day at the barazza fire pit sharing stories about your African adventures.

Gather for pre-dinner drinks and canapés before a quiet dinner on the deck, inside, or in the Library. Your choice. The food and ambiance are both of simple elegance and the wine will surely delight you.

Game Drive: The typical day at Angama is crafted around you, the guest. You are asked where you have been; what you have seen; what your great passions are; what you would like to do and when you would like to do it; – and game drives are structured accordingly.

You could leave the lodge at dawn, or decide to go on a game drive after breakfast, descend down Angama Mara’s private road and 25-minutes later find yourselves in the heart of the action – surrounded by more animals than they could imagine: the vast grasslands dotted with acacias are home to abundant herds, as well as Africa’s Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo.

East Africa Migration: Nowhere in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the wildebeest migration. As one of the world’s most spectacular natural events, over two million animals form part of this procession. Vast numbers of the Serengeti’s wildebeest, accompanied by large numbers of zebra, and smaller numbers of Grant’s gazelle, Thompson’s gazelle, eland, and impala join the search to seek fresh grazing and water.

The Great Migration is a clockwise, round-trip journey of around 1800 miles during which an estimated 250,000 wildebeest perish each year. Just witnessing hundreds of animals on the plains is a sight in itself. Particularly because they attract many of Africa’s impressive predators.

Lions, leopards, hyenas, and wild dogs follow the herds and give safari-goers excellent chances of seeing a kill in action. The precise timing of the migration is entirely dependent upon the rainfall patterns each year, and the location of the animals on the migration route varies from year to year.

Safari Shop and Craft Studio: Angama Mara’s Safari Shop offers you the opportunity to browse through a curated selection of Kenyan and African jewelry, fashion, artifacts, and literature. Leading off from the shop is a Maasai craft studio, where you can try your hand at beading or even perhaps have the Maasai ladies bead a bespoke item onto your clothing.

Hot Air Balloon Safari: The soft, early morning breeze takes the balloon southwards towards the Tanzanian border, with the typical flight path along the Mara River and its adjoining forest, and over the open plains beyond.

This is an unmatched safari – even the lions look up in surprise as one sails by – and all the animals of the Mara are visible from the air. A flight normally lasts around one hour and ends with a sometimes-bumpy landing amidst the termite mounds, all part of the adventure.

Once you’ve settled back to earth, toast the morning’s activities with celebratory champagne breakfast – specially prepared under a tree in the middle of nowhere. The perfect start to any day in the Mara, and for many, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Walking at Angama: Agama offers a host of different walking safari options. You could also choose to discover the Great Rift Valley on foot. Leaving Angama Mara and heading South along the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment, Maasai Naturalists offer guided walks through lovely forests and open areas in-between.

The birding high above the Maasai Mara is especially rewarding. Walking safaris at Angama Mara are tailor-made for every guest, and every fitness level is taken into consideration.

Depending on the time of day, and the length of the walk, they can include picnic baskets, blankets, or even a lift back to the lodge. From a gentle 2-hour stroll to a full day’s walk, you can choose exactly how you would like to discover Africa on foot.

The Shamba Garden: Angama’s Shamba, Kiswahili for a vegetable garden, has become a much-loved experience for everyone.

The Shamba keepers welcome you at the passionfruit bower which forms the entrance to the garden and guides you via meandering paths, through the 1-acre shamba, explaining all the produce and encouraging you to pick and taste along the way.

The design is magical and the shamba keepers eagerly share the story behind its unique layout. This is not just an ordinary vegetable patch!

Private shamba-to-table lunches in the garden under lovely towering shady trees are offered. You may pick your own ingredients which are then washed and readied for the freshest salads imaginable.

The butlers prepare a wicker basket filled with loaves of bread, local Kenyan cheeses, and chilled rosé wine to accompany the salad. Enjoy your lunch taking in sweeping views of the Mara below whilst watching the butterflies and birds dance around the garden.