Kicheche Mara is my all time favorite African Safari Camp
Brian Jackman – Journalist UK
the camp
Kicheche Mara Camp is a classic tented camp hidden in a beautiful valley in a prime wildlife area of the Mara North Conservancy. The luxury tents are laid out alongside a seasonal stream from where you can observe the resident birdlife and plains game beyond.
The location is ideal as game viewing frequently starts in the camp itself and there is prime wildlife habitat on all sides providing an ideal base for your safari in the Masai Mara.
The family suite is a perfect new addition with two separate bedrooms (double & twin/triple) with ensuite bathrooms. The bedrooms are connected by a lounge furnished with a sofa and small table enabling private dining.
Mara North Conservancy
Bordering the Mara Reserve, one of the biggest conservancies in the area. Mara North is included on the prestigious IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.- Amazing game viewing all year round
- The camp is located in an Acacia Valley, a prime wildlife area, in this top-quality Conservancy, and game viewing frequently starts in the camp itself. Access is from Mara North airstrip, a 20 minutes’ drive away
Activities
- Game drives in customized 4WD safari vehicles with one of our Silver guides. Watching wildlife at close range, but without encroaching on their space, is endlessly fascinating and our guides’ instincts and safari experience will provide superb wildlife photography opportunities. Extended game drives – we do not impose limits on the length. For no carbon emission, book the Electric Vehicle, the first one whispering across the plains of Mara North Conservancy.
- Guided walks
- Flycamp: one night out in the wilderness to have it 100% authentic under canvas and your guide hosting you
Community
- Get an inspiring presentation from our Trust Ambassador on the work done by the Kicheche Community Trust.
- Add a back of the house tour to understand how the camp operates with wildlife conservation in mind
- Visit a combination of tourism, wildlife conservation, environmental education and community based micro enterprises. This excursion provides a brief glimpse into the lives of our community and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead
- Allow 2 hours; this visit is usually made after lunch allowing guests to continue on their afternoon game drive.
our guides
All guides are well experienced working with wildlife photographers and select optimal positions at sightings taking lighting and animal behavior into account.
Family Privacy
While the whole ethos of Kicheche is based around a small camp sharing safari experiences, we understand that after a whole year of work and often stress back home, it is nice for families to enjoy their African Holiday retreat on their own sometimes.
Family Suite
The family suite, with two separate bedrooms (double & twin/triple) with ensuite bathrooms is ideal for family bonding experiences. The bedrooms are connected by a lounge furnished with a sofa and small table enabling private dining. You can combine Kicheche Laikipia and Kicheche Mara Camp in family suites for an exceptional family safari.
Quad Tents
Quad tents are available at Kicheche Mara camp.
The long run
Kicheche Mara Camp is a proud member of The Long Run, one of the world’s largest sustainable development initiatives led by nature based businesses. The vision of the organization is of a world in which business, nature and people work harmoniously together for a sustainable future.
The members of The Long Run aim at excelling in the highest standards of sustainability via the 4Cs — Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Together, the members conserve 21 million acres of land, touch the lives of 750,000 community members in 120 cultures in all parts of the world.
EV1, one of the first electric vehicles in the Mara
EV1 glides onto the plains of Mara North Conservancy as one of the first electric vehicles in the Mara. No diesel combustion engine, no gearbox, no fuel tank and no more carbon emissions! We are amped up to provide the cleanest solar energy with 6,600 watts of solar panels set up at Kicheche Mara to charge our fleet’s frugal flagship, EV1, the horse-power-whisper. To be booked on an exclusive use.
facilities
- With only ten tents an intimate and relaxed atmosphere is assured. All tents are overlooking the Olare Orok stream and the western escarpment of the valley. Besides the family suite, triple and quad tents (1 double & 2 single beds) are also available.
- Spacious en-suite bathroom with running hot and cold water
- The camp lounge has a stunning view down the valley and offers comfortable seating, a library, board games and local crafts
- The camp prides itself on offering a friendly and intimate stay, with our hosts treating you as welcome guests, not just travel statistics. The camp is hosted and there is a team of attentive staff ensuring personal warmth and attention to any needs during your stay
- Meals are taken in our dining tent or in the shade of a large euclea tree with a beautiful view down the valley
- Water dispenser in the tents to refill your complimentary water bottles.
- Lighting is supplied 24 hours; charging facilities available in the tents, however, the solar system does not allow hair dryers.
- WIFI in the lounge but can be unstable
awards
Winner of the Eco-warrior Award 2019
Certificate of Excellence
Gold Eco Rated Facility
Long Run Accredited
Ecotourism Kenya Eco Warrior Awards runner up 2018
Tourism: Protecting Culture and Heritage
itineraries & special offers
When to go
January
Hot but beautiful, the year’s late rains leave the Mara & Laikipia like a verdant carpet and there is plenty of game with normally excellent predator sightings. After the New Year, Kenya holiday visitors have gone home. The plains are open and the cheetah roam in search of Thomson gazelles enjoying the short grasses. It’s a popular time for wildlife photographers.
See January wildlife sightings
February
Superb weather, normally dry and settled, ideal for Northern Europeans to escape their winter hibernation. The four legged population of our Conservancies has no thought of hibernation. This is the time of the synchronized births of the huge Loita wildebeest herds across the conservancies in the northern Mara. Jackals roam the plains searching for the gazelle fawns which arrive this month and continue into March.
See February wildlife sightings
March
Take advantage of the lower rates on offer. The storms start building up in late March giving incredible skies and amazing light. You will encounter few Kenya holiday makers and many migratory birds as well as plenty of new wildebeest fawns which the predators stlak relentlessly.The Masai Mara is in full bloom.
See March wildlife sightings
April
Camps closed.
May
Camps closed.
August
The plains darken with massive numbers of wildebeest and zebras. The grass is low and the sightings phenomenal. This migration may very well be the finest wildlife spectacle in the world, Kicheche guides have its movements in their DNA. The big migration coincides with school holidays around the globe and triggers the arrival of many makers in the country.
See August wildlife sightings
September
Probably the peak migration month with crossings almost daily. Small antelope calves drop across the plains. Predators from crocs to cheetahs fill their boots as do Kicheche visitors. The reserve is busy with visitors however, you can fully appreciate the quality game viewing in the conservancies due to the strict controls on developments and visitor numbers.
See September wildlife sightings
December
The sightings always superb, made more special by the lack of vehicles earlier in the month. Later on in the month is busier but once again quality is assured with the conservancy low vehicle density restrictions. The lion prides are weaning themselves off wildebeest and turning their attention to zebra, warthog and on occasion buffalo and giraffe.
See December wildlife sightings
Voices
what our clients say
Then there's the food - I don't know how they do it in the middle of nowhere but the food was incredible. I follow a strict vegan diet and I have never eaten so well - every meal was varied, creative, imaginative, and delicious. The kitchen staff went out of their way to ensure I ate as well as everybody else. Something restaurants in big cities around the world could learn from.
Tracy and Paul
UK
It just was all so surreal and brilliant. I think one thing that l won’t forget about here is how lovely everyone is! Just small details really made a difference and everyone had such care and attention to what they were doing!
Ella, Joseph, Karen and Matthew
USA
Staying at Kicheche Mara Camp has been a most incredible experience. The quality of the safari is elevated by amazing guides and the comfort in camp is astonishing. We completely understand why people return time and again – we will!
Lauren & Damian
UK
Jimmy was fantastic! So knowledgeable and patient. His spotting was amazing. We saw everything we hoped for and more, without ever feeling we were ticking off a list. We won’t hesitate to recommend Kicheche Mara.
Judy & Nick
Australia
This was my family’s first safari. I could not be happier with the experience. Great location, great food and great service. I loved seeing the animals right in the field outside our tent.
Matt & Jeanine
Kenya
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