Kicheche Mara Camp

OVERVIEW:

Kicheche Mara is a small, traditional bushcamp in Kenya’s wildlife-rich Mara North Conservancy, bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Game drives, bush walks, fly camping, and community visits ensure guests receive the perfect balance of wildlife viewing, adventure, and cultural experiences. Kicheche prides itself on the responsible use of resources, environmental conservation, and investment in the local community – and the camp has a highly respected Gold Level Eco-rating Certificate from Ecotourism Kenya in recognition of its successes. Rates at Kicheche Mara Camp are full board and include meals, local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, picnics, shared game-viewing drives, laundry, escorted bush walks, and the community discovery activity.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Kicheche Mara Camp is located in Acacia Valley, in Kenya’s Mara North Conservancy. Scheduled flights by light aircraft take approximately 1 hour from Nairobi Wilson Airport, and guests can also arrive by private charter. It’s approximately 20 minutes by car from the airstrip to the camp.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT KICHECHE MARA CAMP:

Accommodation at Kicheche Mara Camp comprises ten spacious, insect-proof canvas tents, including a family suite with two separate en-suite bedrooms for up to five guests. Twins, triple, and quad configurations are available on request. The tents are well spaced along the valley, alongside a seasonal stream, each offering views of the woodland from its veranda. Inside, you’ll find a breezy, uncluttered space with mesh doors that zip up completely, allowing uninterrupted views and light flow. The furnishings are simple yet modern, and include heavy wooden bed frames, bedside tables with reading lamps, writing desks, natural-weave rugs, open wardrobes, and stands for drinking water. The well designed yet unfussy en-suite bathroom in every unit provides hot running water and a flush toilet. Outside, there’s a small table and a couple of director’s chairs ideal for in-camp wildlife viewing.

The main areas at Kicheche Mara Camp include two tents – one with a comfortable lounge with a small library and selection of board games, and the second for communal dining, where evening meals are sometimes served around a long table. More frequently, guests are invited to dine al fresco under the starry night sky, accompanied by the sounds of nature and the crackling campfire. Picnic breakfasts and lunches are also a favorite with those who prefer to maximise their time out on game drives. The camp has its own small boutique, which stocks an assortment of clothing, maps, and souvenirs.

ACTIVITIES AT KICHECHE MARA CAMP:

Kicheche Mara Camp offers a varied selection of activities. The primary focus is game drives, but bush walks, cultural experiences, and fly camping also feature amongst guest favorites.

• Game drives – Early morning and late afternoon game drives take place in customised 4×4 vehicles, with plenty of flexibility so guests can enjoy the wildlife without worrying about schedules. The Mara North Conservancy is inhabited by all Big Five species, as well as cheetah, wildcat, and enormous herds of herbivores – wildebeest, hartebeest, giraffe, gazelle, zebra, to name just a few! Hippos wallow in the Olare Orok River, while monkeys, baboons, and bushbabies clamber amid the trees. From July to October, the Great Migration storms through – and from January to March, the Lolta Plains wildebeest amass in the conservancy to feast on the short, sweet grasses.
• Bush walks – Walking allows for closer encounters with the Mara’s flora and fauna and offers a fantastic opportunity to observe the diverse local birdlife. Particularly keen hikers can even incorporate an overnight stay at Kicheche’s fly camp to get to know the area really well.
• Fly camping – Walking enthusiasts can enjoy guided walking safaris with adventurous overnight stays in a fly camp deep in the heart of the bush. These excursions are led by one of Kicheche’s senior guides and an armed ranger. Please be aware that fly camping incurs an additional cost.
• Village visits – Guests can visit one of the local Maasai villages to gain insight into the local people’s unique, age-old way of life, with an interpretive talk by your guide. Please note that this experience incurs an additional cost.
• Community projects – Kicheche’s Community Trust supports the local school, medical clinic, and Discovery Centre. It’s possible to visit the school during term time. Donations are welcome.
• Hot air ballooning – Hot air balloons launch each morning at sunrise, soaring over the Maasai Mara plains for an hour or so before landing for a champagne breakfast.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.