Luxury safari operator Wilderness will expand into Kenya for the first time this year, launching two properties in the Masai Mara as part of a broader growth strategy across East Africa.
The brand, known for its extensive footprint in Southern Africa, will open Wilderness Mara in June. Located in the Mara Triangle, the camp will feature 12 suites focused on viewing the great migration. Following this, Wilderness Mara Villas is scheduled to open in late 2026, offering two ultra-secluded private villas along the Mara River.
The Kenya expansion marks the latest phase in Wilderness' investment in the East African circuit, capitalizing on a regional tourism surge projected to reach 11 million arrivals by 2027.
The move follows a series of recent openings designed to link the region's key wildlife hubs. In Rwanda, the operator recently opened Wilderness Magashi Peninsula in Akagera National Park in December and Wilderness Bisate Reserve near Volcanoes National Park in 2024. In Tanzania, the company launched the mobile tented camp Wilderness Usawa Serengeti in 2023.
Wilderness stated the new Kenyan properties aim to deliver "ultra-luxury and conservation-focused" experiences, completing a circuit that now spans Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya.