Kenya's Angama Mara launches new guest area with Map Room
Angama Mara, the award-winning luxury safari lodge perched cliffside overlooking Kenya’s Maasai Mara, has created a new Map Room to give guests a deeper understanding of the Mara, Kenya and East Africa. Comprising more than 60 maps, books, photography and artifacts, the Map Room is somewhere quiet for guests to spend time between game drives, while gaining a sense of place within the region.
“At Angama, we believe stories shared with our guests are what they remember long after they have left Africa. Being one of the earliest forms of human communication, maps tell stories. And we have so many more to share with our guests with the addition of our handsome new Map Room,” says Angama CEO, Nicky Fitzgerald.
As guests enter, they will notice the room’s centerpiece: a distressed steel map installation of the Mara Triangle, designed by South African sculptor Simon Bannister. Guests, especially younger ones, can have fun placing steel animal cut-outs on the interactive map, showing where each was sighted while out on safari.
Some of the maps were illustrated exclusively for Angama, while others were sourced from the Royal Geographic Society in London, as well as various museums and libraries, with one dating back to 1608. The icons hanging on the East Africa photographic wall celebrate four of Angama’s favorite wildlife legends: Scarface of the Maasai Mara; the great tuskers Tim and Ahmed; and Gertie, the famous long-horned rhino from Amboseli.
The Map Room is also home to a collection of natural history books, Maasai artifacts and animal skulls. Baskets filled with map-themed puzzles and games, and a Maasai dress-up box ensures younger guests are entertained while their parents explore the space.
Set at the heart of the lodge, the Map Room neighbors the Photographic Studio, Swimming Pool, Safari Shop, Beading Studio and Fitness Room. This spacious room is also perfect for a special dinner occasion – from fireside meals for eight or more, to a grand gathering of up to 30 guests. Equipped with a drop-down screen and Wi-Fi, the Map Room can also be set up for movie screenings, as well as presentations for up to 60 guests.
