J.W. Marriott Masai Mara Review: A Gluten-Free Friendly Luxury Safari

Travel in Southern Africa is unlike anywhere else in the world. A safari should be (and probably is) on your bucket list. However, planning a safari as a Celiac or someone with food allergies can be intimidating. But incredible properties like this one make it easy!

This J.W. Marriott Masai Mara review covers everything. But, I’ll focus on what stood out to me as Celiac with other food allergies. I hope that by the end of this post, you’ll be able to book confidently and enjoy your trip!

TLDR—This property is absolutely incredible for a celiac. It’s amazing, and they do gluten-free incredibly well.

Some of the links on the page are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase from one of the links, I earn money at no extra cost to you. I’ll only recommend brands I’ve used and love (or an alternative I would book myself). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I always pay for my own travel. I’ll be sure to let you know if that ever changes. If you choose to click through and purchase – thanks so much for the support!

Just remember, my celiac isn’t your celiac or gluten-free journey (or anyone else’s). Some of the things I’m comfortable with, you may not be, and you may have a different experience with the restaurants than I did. I hope you do because I had a great experience! But, you do you, no judgment and no pressure. I hope to shed some insight to make your planning easier.

J.W. Marriott Masai Mara Review – Did I Feel Safe as A Celiac?

The big question I want to answer is probably why you’re reading my post and not one of the other big points blogs that also reviewed this property.

Yes, 100%. I was surprised that I felt as safe as I did. It was so good I’d really love to go back.

They took great care of me, and I had an incredible, relaxing vacation. Plus, I ate well the whole time!

Booking: Things to Know

You can book the J.W. Marriott Masai Mara through their website or a third-party site.

I booked my stay with Marriott points directly through Marriott.

This is a luxury property, so it is expensive. It’s also all-inclusive. So, your game drives, meals, snacks, and even some activities are included in the price.

Expect to pay $2,000-$4,000 per night, depending on your party and the time of the year. It’s not cheap, but no luxury safari stay will be.

And if you’re traveling gluten-free, the high-end properties are most likely to accommodate you.

I’ve done other safaris that were celiac-safe and much less expensive.

Look at my Botswana or self-drive through Kruger plans for more affordable options.

Victoria Falls could be another good option; stay there and safari nearby.

Other Costs

Even at that price tag, there will be a few other things to pay for.

Visas

As an American, you’ll need a visa to enter Kenya. It costs $30 per person. You can apply online. I recommend applying several weeks before your trip. It wasn’t a long process, but it can ruin your trip if you push it too late.

Transportation to The Masai Mara

You’ll enter the country in Nairobi. But, the Masai Mara is a several-hour drive to the park. Or, a short plane ride. The property will help you arrange your transportation after you book.

I flew both ways. If I did it again, I’d drive out to see the scenery and fly back. But, if you prefer flying, it is quick and easy.

Park Entrance Fees

The park entrance fees are the heftiest addition to the cost. As of 2024, the fees have increased. They’re now more comparable with the fees in Tanzania at Serengeti National Park.

January 1 -June 30. – $100/day for adults and $50/day for Kids
July 1- December 31- $200/day for adults and $50/day for kids.

It adds up quickly! But this fee is the same no matter where you stay in the park. I try to remember that it’s just the cost of going and that it helps protect the park and its animals.

Gratuities

You can leave gratuities to the staff on the property. The office staff will assist you with it on your last day if you need to.

It wasn’t expected. But the service is great.

Spa Treatments, Hot Air Balloon Safarai, or Cultural Visit

None of these are required. Your days will be busy without adding any of these to the list. But they are available to you if you’d like.

The spa is amazing. The middle room has a sauna and a plunge pool!

Before you Arrive

Before you arrive, the property will help you settle your transportation to Keekorock airstrip.

There are various little airstrips throughout the Masai Mara. The airline runs a bit like a bus. It stops at the airstrips that have a pickup or drop-off scheduled. Your flight may have several stops. It wasn’t bad, but it was unlike anything else I’ve experienced.

They partner with another agency to help you book anything in Nairobi if you need assistance.

You’ll fill out a pre-visit questionnaire with information to help them prepare for your stay.

Otherwise, it’s really easy. Just make sure you get your visas!

Getting There

This is a bit about getting to the property but also about how to structure the rest of your trip.

To maximize your time at the J.W. Marriot Masai Mara Lodge, stay at an airport hotel in Nairobi on your first night.

I stayed at this one and was able to eat breakfast and dinner there, though there are some gluten-free-friendly restaurants in the city.

Take one of the early flights from Nairobi to Masai Mara. This way, you can go on a game drive that afternoon. If you leave later, you’ll miss out on one opportunity for a game drive.

When you land at Keekorock airstrip, your J.W. Marriot jeep will meet you there, complete with snacks and drinks!

You can pay your park entrance fees on arrival at Keekorock.

Then, you’ll have a mini-game drive on the way to the property, where you’ll be greeted when you arrive.

If you arrive early, you’ll have time to check in, get settled, and go for the afternoon drive before dinner.

Having a night in Nairobi at the end of your trip is also wise. You can take a later flight from the property and not be rushed in the morning. The flight times can be a bit unpredictable since there are several stops on the itinerary.

It would’ve been nice to have a relaxing last morning at the property.

You can also opt to drive to the property one or both ways.

The Room

One of the biggest surprises on arrival was the little jars of snacks clearly labeled as gluten-free and dairy-free. My mouth fell open. I knew it would be a good stay.

Photos and videos do this the most justice. But, to summarize, the bed is so comfortable. The room is massive. The rainfall shower is relaxing. I love an outdoor shower now.

The turndown service is next level. The “windows” being open and the breeze blowing during the day is somehow one of the most luxurious things.

What to Expect Each Day During Your Stay

The start of your game drive depends on you and your guide. Unless you opt for a private game drive, it will also be determined by the rest of the group you’re with.

The season you visit will also impact your times. The goal is to be out in the park just after sunrise and before sunset, when the animals are most active.

But, typically, expect to wake up quite early and grab tea and coffee.

Then, you’ll head out for game drive number one.

After the first game drive, you’ll have breakfast and some time to relax around the property between breakfast and lunch.

Then, you’ll head out for drive number two before returning for dinner.

During the great migration, you may go for a full-day drive and spend some time among the herds.

Rinse and repeat for the duration of your stay. There are way worse schedules to keep.

Game Drives

The game drives in Masai Mara are the best of the five parks I’ve been to. It was the stereotypical grassy savannah for much of the drive, but it was beautiful.

You have the chance to see all of the Big 5 here. Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos are certainly incredible, but so are the other animals.

Please don’t go into it with expectations, though. Be excited to see what you see. There are incredible birds and animals that aren’t the Big 5. Rhinos are especially elusive, but leopards can be, too.

You may get to check on cheetahs or watch herds of giraffes and zebras.

Be prepared for a good time.

The Marriott provides binoculars so you can get a good look at animals if they’re farther away. You can also try your hand at spotting.

The jeeps are remarkably comfortable. You shouldn’t feel too uncomfortable as you bounce around the roads. You’re in the vehicles a lot since you can’t really hike around in lion territory, so it’s important that they’re comfortable.

The game drives are the reason you go on this trip. You’ll have a great time here. I had a good experience with a few different guides, though. Sophie was my regular guide, though, and she was the best.

The Food: Gluten-Free

I have Celiac. I’m also allergic to sesame. My husband is allergic to dairy. So, I was throwing a lot at the property regarding our diet.

Note none of my allergies are anaphylactic. That’s a wholly different level and I feel for you!

The previously mentioned pre-arrival document includes a place to record food allergies and requests. The property requests the information early. It’s nice that you don’t have to dig around to find the right people to answer questions.

When you arrive at the property, you can tell they’ve used the information to plan for your stay.

The menu rotates daily except for breakfast.

I had gluten-free muffins, a huge assortment of yogurt, berries, juices, omelets, and more at breakfast.

You can look at a lunch and dinner menu daily to place your order. The menus aren’t marked, but the staff can quickly answer questions. Usually, they have the information for you before you ask.

In addition to the rotating menu, the chef welcomes you to order off of the menu if you’d like. My husband ordered off the menu once because he liked the previous day’s lunch so much that he wanted to have it again!

One day, I ordered yogurt and fruit for lunch because I was stuffed from breakfast. The chef came out to ensure I wasn’t unhappy with the menu and to see if he could do anything for me.

The staff will go above and beyond to help care for you.

My favorite part of dining at the J.W. Marriott Masai Mara Lodge is that the staff was consistent throughout our stay.

So, I had to explain my food allergy situation to very few people. “Explain” is a bit too heavy of a word. They already knew, but I asked questions to try to be safe. I expected to have to manage my diet at every meal. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was.

I was relieved that they’d already be prepared with the information I needed at each meal. This incredible detail immediately made me feel better about ordering.

I’m not sure they realize how special that is. But, it made the stay so much easier.

I didn’t do a full-day game drive, so I can’t attest to how the picnic lunch would be. I have no reason to believe it would be anything other than incredible.

The Property

The property is beautiful. It’s small with only 20 tents and easy to navigate.

There is a pool, fitness center, and spa.

The fitness center is a bit small, but so is the property. So, it works. Plus, the views are incredible.

The dining area is open-air and overlooks the river.

There is a fire pit at night where you can talk with your travel mate or the other guests.

Other Activities and Amenities

There are some cultural activities you can participate in at the property. For example, traditional bracelet making and spear throwing. Taught by a Masai woman on staff to help make sure the property and guests stay connected to her culture.

You can also tour the property, including the vegetable garden!

The property doesn’t have a fence, so animals can wander in. Masai warriors are on staff to walk you to and from your tent when it’s dark out. I learned there’s a leopard that lives in the area, so take them up on it!

I love photography, and my favorite part was the Cannon rental studio. You can use a camera and lens during your stay (as long as they’re available), and the photographers on staff can help you edit some of your pictures if you’d like.

The cameras are incredible. They make it easy to get wonderful pictures even if you aren’t an experienced photographer.

Bring your memory card so you can take home all your pictures.

You can also hire one of the photographers to come with you and do a photo shoot for the day. Our Jeep mates did this, and it looked really fun!

J.W. Marriott Masai Mara Review- Is it worth it?

I absolutely believe the J.W. Marriott Masai Mara is worth it. I stayed at other nice properties in Kenya, but none compared to the Marriott.

It’s expensive in dollars or even in points. If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime luxury safari experience, you’ll love it.

As a celiac, the only safari where I felt this comfortable with those handling my food was in Botswana. And that was a very different experience since I was camping. For a gluten-free safari experience, this property can’t be beaten.

If you choose to go, let me know how it is for you! I’d love to compare notes!