LW Design Group unveils a visionary concept for The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp, the brand’s first safari property in Kenya, set to open in August 2025.
In the untamed heart of Kenya’s iconic Masai Mara, perched along the tranquil banks of the Sand River, a new chapter in experiential luxury is about to begin. The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp, brought to life by the globally acclaimed LW Design Group, redefines safari living with a bold blend of bio-philic architecture, cultural reverence, and elevated design.
This landmark project marks a double debut—introducing The Ritz-Carlton’s first tented safari retreat and LW Design’s inaugural venture into the world of safari camps. The result is a property that not only celebrates nature and tradition, but also elevates them to an art form.
Luxury in the Canopy
The camp’s revolutionary design takes a literal step above the rest. Every structure is elevated three meters off the ground, not only as a practical safeguard against seasonal flooding, but as a design philosophy that shifts the safari perspective—placing guests eye-level with the treetops.
It’s a choice that turns each suite into a serene viewing deck, immersed in the sights and sounds of the African wilderness. “Our vision was to create an experience that truly redefines the luxury safari—where world-class sophistication meets the spirit of the Mara,” says Pooja Shah-Mulani, Managing Partner and Creative Director at LW Design.
Guests begin their journey by crossing a 30-meter-long suspension bridge—symbolically and physically leaving the modern world behind and stepping into a realm where time slows and nature reigns.
A Canvas for the Wild
Each tented suite is designed to dissolve the boundaries between interior comfort and the natural world. Canvas walls roll up completely, inviting in golden light, the whisper of wind through acacia trees, and the haunting cries of distant wildlife. It’s an immersion that’s intimate and expansive all at once.
Landscaping honors the native ecosystem, preserving local vegetation and crafting seamless transitions between lodge and landscape. Dappled light filters through the canopy, while the river’s gentle murmur and cool breezes set a multisensory rhythm that evolves with the seasons.
