Built on a kopje near the Mara River in the far-northern Serengeti, Lamai blends into its surroundings so well it’s nearly invisible. There are two lodges, one with eight rooms and another with four, each with its own dining areas and swimming pools. All rooms have African-themed decor and soothing earth tones and are open-fronted, with great views.
Cottages are gloriously large and combine four-walled designer touches not possible in tents (earth tones and adobe walls) with open-to-the-elements frontage. From public areas high on the kopje, views stretch all the way to Kenya. Watch for dwarf mongooses and rock hyraxes, and nearby there's terrific wildlife watching year-round.