Location:- Kichwa Tembo is situated at the foot of the Oloololo Escarpment on the western border of the Masai Mara Reserve in southwestern Kenya. Meaning ‘Head of the Elephant’ in KiSwahili, Kichwa Tembo is located on a private concession leased from Maasai landlords in the exclusive western Mara – much less crowded than the eastern part of the Reserve.
In addition to an excellent year-round concentration of animals, Kichwa Tembo lies directly in the path of Africa’s spectacular Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti, Tanzania, to the Masai Mara in Kenya. This is indeed nature at her most theatrical, offering you an African wildlife experience unsurpassed in the world.
At a glance:-
- 28 Classic safari tents
- 12 Luxury tents
- All with en suite bathrooms
- Private verandas
- Comfortable guest areas
- Large swimming pool
- African gift shop
Accommodation:- Kichwa Tembo’s spacious canvas safari tents offer magical views over the Masai Mara grasslands or the Sabaringo River. The main thatched guest areas include a welcoming bar/sitting area, indoor and outdoor dining areas and a well-stocked gift shop featuring African art, artefacts and safari-wear. The swimming pool is perfect for laid-back game viewing whilst cooling off.
Relax in the candlelit bar in the evening before enjoying delicious Pan-African cuisine served alfresco style outdoors or in the main dining area. Private dining and exciting bush banquets may be arranged on request.
Activities:- Classic Masai Mara safari adventures: With an incredible year-round concentration of animals and the climax of the phenomenal Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra, Kichwa Tembo’s location on the border of the Masai Mara Reserve offers a range of exciting safari activities.
Twice-daily game-drives
Discover the Masai Mara on interpretive morning and afternoon game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles led by experienced CC Africa guides – all of whom have achieved the highest scores in the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association examination.
(Game-drives included in the rate for both Bateleur Camp and Tented Safari Camp.)
Fascinating night game-drives in Kichwa Tembo’s private concession will reveal a host of interesting nocturnal creatures.
(Night game-drives included in the rate at Bateleur Camp; optional extra at Tented Safari Camp.)
Interpretive bush walks
Led by highly skilled guides and traditionally-attired Maasai naturalists, wilderness walks along the Mara River and up the Oloololo Escarpment – one of the ‘steps’ of the Great Rift Valley – will bring you face-to-face with wild Africa at its best.
(Bush walks included in the rate at Bateleur Camp; optional extra at Tented Safari Camp.)
Masai community visits
Daily lectures by a Maasai naturalist and visits to a Maasai cultural village offer an incredible insight into the fascinating lives of the brilliantly-clad Maasai people.
(optional extra)
Spectacular bush banquets
Early morning bush breakfasts, romantic sundowners featuring spectacular views across the Mara and dramatic candlelit dinners beside the Mara River add an unforgettable dimension to your safari experience.
(Included in the rate at Bateleur Camp; optional extra at Tented Safari Camp.)
Hot-air ballooning
This once-in-a-lifetime experience gives you a unique perspective of the Mara grasslands and its exceptional wildlife.
(Optional extra for both Bateleur Camp and Tented Safari Camp.)
Wildlife:- Kichwa
Tembo is renowned as a vantage point for witnessing the ancient
spectacle of the great migration From June each year, like iron
filings drawn by a magnet, over two million wildebeest, zebra
and other grazing ungulates move through the Serengeti to the
Masai Mara. The hungry herds are drawn north by the sweet grass
resulting from the long rains. In the course of their journey
they brave relentless predators, a shortage of food and water
and the huge crocodiles of the turbulent Mara River.
Late July, August and September (dry season) are
prime game viewing months, but there is an abundance of resident
wildlife all year round and superb viewing is by no means confined
to the migration. The black-maned Mara lions are of special interest.
Cheetah, giraffe, elephant, a host of antelope and fascinating
monkeys can also be seen. There are also thousands of topi, a
conspicuous bronze-and- brown-coated antelope not found in other
Kenyan parks, apart from Tsavo.
Surrounding Kichwa Tembo is a dense forest
filled with smaller mammals as well as entertaining troops of
blue monkey and red-tailed monkey.
Access:- Kichwa Tembo is easily accessible by scheduled flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, followed by a 25-minute road transfer to camp. There are daily international flights from Europe and South Africa to Nairobi. We can pre-book and package all of your regional/internal flights and transfers, and provide a meet and greet service at all airports.
Child Policy:- Children under 11 are warmly welcome at Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp. Regrettably, for safety reasons, children under 11 cannot be accommodated at Bateleur Camp. Recommended age for children on safari in Kenya is eight years and older.
An extra bed can be arranged for one child (11 and under) sharing the parents’ tent.
Activities depend entirely on the age of the children and may include the following:
- Special family game-drives (at the discretion of the lodge manager and subject to availability)
- Special one-hour children's bush walks within the camp perimeter
- Planet Manager activity books
- Special programmes can be compiled such as tracking for children, fishing, frog safaris and birding
- Children’s meals and menus available
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