Sanctuary Olonana Camp: Suite Selection, Pricing, and Practical Details for 2026

Sanctuary Olonana: Quick Reference

Sanctuary Olonana is a 14-suite lodge on the Mara River in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Suites have floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Rates run $1,150-1,800 per person per night sharing (varies by season). Located 15 minutes from Kichwa Tembo Airstrip. Park fees: $100/day January-June, $200/day July-December for non-residents. The Geoffrey Kent Suite (opened 2019) has two bedrooms, private pool, and dedicated guide.

Sanctuary Olonana Camp occupies a stretch of riverine forest along the Mara River. Most Mara camps sit on the open plains. Olonana sits in the trees, which changes the experience in ways that matter.

I’ll start with the thing that catches most guests off guard: the hippos.

The Hippo Situation (Suites 1-5 vs 10-14)

A resident hippo pod lives directly below the decks of Suites 1 through 5. Hippos grunt, splash, wheeze, and make a sound that can only be described as laughing. They do this all night.

If you’re someone who sleeps through anything, Suites 1-5 are fine. The proximity is incredible—you’ll watch hippos from your bed at dawn.

If you’re a light sleeper, request Suites 10-14. The river curves, and the forest buffer muffles the noise. You still get the river view. You just don’t get woken at 2am by a hippo territorial dispute.

I learned this after a guest on a honeymoon package complained they hadn’t slept properly for three nights. Nobody had warned them. Now I always ask about sleep patterns before confirming suite allocation.

What Makes Olonana Different (The Glass Box)

Most Mara luxury camps are tented. Canvas walls, mesh windows, the sounds of the bush filtering through at night. Romantic, but you will have a moth, a spider, or a mosquito in your room at some point. That’s just how tented camps work.

Olonana is different. The suites are glass-and-steel construction with floor-to-ceiling windows. The rooms are essentially hermetically sealed. Guides sometimes call it the “luxury glass box” for the Mara—designed for people who want the wildlife experience without insects sharing their pillow.

The temperature regulation is interesting too. The exterior walls have a traditional adobe finish, and every year local Maasai women from the neighbouring community are contracted to hand-apply fresh clay using traditional mudding techniques. This isn’t just aesthetic. The clay layer regulates temperature naturally, keeping rooms cooler than the surrounding savannah without running the air conditioning constantly. Most guests don’t know this happens—it’s done between seasons.

Safari Packages Including Masai Mara

We arrange Masai Mara safari packages year-round. Prices below are per person sharing and include accommodation, transport, park fees, and driver-guide.

Package	Price
4 Days Nakuru + Mara	£1,209 – £2,615
5 Days Masai Mara	£1,548 – £3,476
6 Days Kenya Safari	£1,809 – £3,942
7 Days Kenya Safari	£2,165 – £4,724
8 Days Kenya Safari	£2,053 – £4,200
9 Days Kenya Safari	£3,282 – £6,821
10 Days Bush and Beach	£3,500 – £7,200
12 Days Safari	£4,178 – £8,886
14 Days Honeymoon	£3,887 – £6,233
Kenya Safari and Beach	£2,500 – £5,200

Prices fluctuate with the USD/GBP exchange rate. Park fees: $100/day non-resident January-June, $200/day July-December.

Book Your Safari Package

Included: Private Land Cruiser, driver-guide, park fees, full-board accommodation, Nairobi airport transfers, bottled water.

Excluded: International flights, Kenya eTA ($30), travel insurance, tips ($15-20/day), alcoholic drinks, hot air balloon ($505-560).

Getting There (The Slow Transfer Trick)

Kichwa Tembo Airstrip is one of the busiest in the Mara. Daily flights from Wilson Airport take 45 minutes.

From the airstrip, Olonana is a 15-minute drive. Most guests arrive, get bundled into the vehicle, and are rushed to the camp for the welcome drink.

That 15-minute transfer passes through a high-density leopard area in the riverine forest fringe. I’ve seen more in those first 15 minutes than on some full morning drives.

My advice: tell your driver you want a “slow transfer.” Don’t let them rush you. The welcome drink can wait. That stretch of road between the airstrip and camp is prime leopard territory, especially in the late afternoon when most flights land.

By road from Nairobi takes 5-6 hours via Narok. The last section is rough, particularly in the rains. I only recommend driving if you genuinely enjoy the journey. Most guests fly.

The Geoffrey Kent Suite (Private Access Details)

The Geoffrey Kent Suite opened in 2019—two ensuite bedrooms, private infinity pool, dedicated vehicle and guide for your entire stay. It’s the most expensive option at Olonana, roughly $2,800-3,500 per person per night depending on season.

The suite has its own private driveway and bridge. You never cross paths with other guests. Complete separation from the main camp.

If you’re booking for the “private chef” experience, know that the kitchen is actually separate from the suite. Food-focused guests should ask to visit the organic garden behind the staff quarters. It’s tucked away and rarely offered as a standard activity, but that’s where they grow the herbs and vegetables for the camp’s kitchen. For people who care about farm-to-fork cooking, it’s the highlight.

Activities at Olonana

Game drives run twice daily—morning departure at 6am, afternoon at 4pm. The camp uses open-sided 4×4 Land Cruisers. Standard Mara vehicles, nothing special, but the positioning near the river means good access to the main crossing points during migration (30-40 minutes from camp).

Bush walks are included. You can’t walk in the main reserve, but the conservancy areas allow guided walks. Different experience from a vehicle. You notice animal tracks, dung beetles, the smell of wild sage.

Hot air balloon safaris can be arranged—$505-560 per person. The flight launches at dawn, about 40 minutes from camp. You float over the Mara for an hour, land for champagne breakfast in the bush.

The Out of Africa sundowner: Olonana sits at the foot of the Oloololo Escarpment. The final scene of Out of Africa—Denys Finch Hatton’s grave, the lions on the hill—was filmed on the escarpment directly above the camp. Ask your guide to take you to the exact film coordinates for a sundowner. Much more intimate than the standard park viewpoints, and most camps don’t offer it.

Best Time to Visit (The November Hack)

July to October is migration season. The wildebeest are in the Mara. River crossings happen (unpredictably). Rates are highest. Park fees are $200/day.

January to June has lower rates and $100/day park fees. January-February is the second dry season—clear skies, fewer tourists.

November is worth knowing about. It’s short rains—green landscape, occasional afternoon showers. Sanctuary often waives the single supplement specifically for November. Most luxury camps charge 30-50% extra for solo travellers. Olonana is one of the most solo-friendly high-end lodges in the Mara during this window.

April-May is long rains. Some camps close. Olonana stays open at significantly reduced rates, but roads can be difficult.

The Shower Warning (Tall Guests)

The bathrooms look stunning in photos. Open-air design, enclosed but open to the sky, views while you shower.

Practical note: the water pressure and drainage design can be awkward. If you’re tall (over 6 foot), the rain shower head in certain suites—Suite 4 in particular—is positioned in a way that makes washing your hair difficult without hitting the back wall.

It’s a minor thing, but worth mentioning if you’re tall and particular about showers. Request a suite with better bathroom ergonomics when booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions guests ask most often when booking Olonana.

How much does Sanctuary Olonana cost per night?

Rates vary by season. Expect $1,150-1,800 per person per night sharing, fully inclusive. That’s roughly £920-1,440 at current exchange rates. The Geoffrey Kent Suite is $2,800-3,500 per person per night.

Which suite should I request?

Suites 1-5 for wildlife immersion (hippos directly below, but loud at night). Suites 10-14 for light sleepers (river view, quieter). Tall guests should ask about bathroom layout.

Is Olonana good for people afraid of insects?

Yes. The glass-and-steel construction is hermetically sealed. Unlike tented camps, insects don’t get in. Guides recommend it specifically for guests who want safari without the bugs.

Does Olonana charge single supplement?

Yes, except in November when they often waive it. If you’re travelling solo, November offers the best value.

How far is Olonana from river crossings?

Main crossing points are 30-40 minutes from camp. Your guide will have radio contact during migration season.

Book Your Sanctuary Olonana Safari

We handle Masai Mara bookings directly—no middlemen, no booking fees added on top. Tell us your dates, whether you’re a light sleeper (Suites 10-14) or want the full hippo experience (Suites 1-5), and we’ll put together options that match your budget. Solo travellers should ask about November rates when Olonana often waives the single supplement. Couples celebrating anniversaries or honeymoons might consider the Geoffrey Kent Suite for complete privacy. We can also combine Olonana with other Kenya destinations—Amboseli, the coast, Samburu—into a longer itinerary.

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