Kicheche Laikipia Camp

All the tented rooms at Kicheche Laikipia are named after 19th century Maasai laibon. Decorated with warm orange and red tones, with traditional wall hangings and authentic rugs, the rooms are a rustic-luxury blend. Folding canvas doors can be opened to reveal a stunning view over green grass and dotted trees, which can be viewed from the comfort of your own large bed. Wide netted windows fill the space with bright, natural light.

The en-suite bathroom is spacious and airy, with wooden features, double basins and a walk in shower. Guests can wind down on their own private veranda with a tea or coffee from the tea or coffee making tray included in the room.

The family tent is decorated in the same warm tones and is complete with the same wide windows as the standard tents. The bright, spacious tent comes complete with a double bed and two single beds with overhanging lamps. Authentic rugs and wall hangings complete the feel of the room, creating a comfortable, traditional safari tent.

The main dining tent at Kicheche Laikipia includes large cedar wood dining tables and chairs, with traditionally patterned table runners and a warming fireplace for the colder evenings. The side of the tent can be rolled up, allowing for excellent views over the lake whilst enjoying freshly prepared, delicious food. On warmer nights dinner is served outside, where guests can enjoy a toast to the African bush whilst immersing themselves in the sights, smells and sounds of the surrounding area.

Guests have the opportunity to see the wildlife surrounding the area in a comfortable, open sided game drive vehicle. Guests can choose either morning, afternoon, nighttime or all-day drives, the beauty of the changing surroundings allowing for unique sightings each time. Guests can explore the ol Pejeta Conservancy, which boasts a variety of habitats and African wildlife ready to be seen, including elephant, lion, leopard and African wild dogs.

The small lake infront of Kicheche Laikipia allows guests the unique experience of a gentle canoe on the water whilst keeping an eye out for animals who may cluster at the waters edge for a refreshing drink.

Guests have the opportunity to explore the conservatory on foot with an experienced guide. These excursions offer a more intimate way to explore, and guests can appreciate the smaller things such as animal tracks and prints and micro-ecosystems. The guide will be able to enlighten you on traditional uses of fauna and flora in medicine and will be able to point out signs of recent activity.

Due to the mainly dry terrain this is a perfect spot for mountain biking. It is advised that guests be confident in off-road biking however there are designated riding areas for all abilities. This activity is perfect for the adrenaline seeking guest and is a unique way to explore and see the animals within the conservancy.

Horse riding is available at Kicheche Laikipia so guests can saddle up and explore the Endangered Species Enclosure on horseback. On Ol Pejeta’s safari horse and with a knowledgeable guide this is an amazing and unique way to become part of the wildlife.

Close by to Kicheche Laikipia Camp is the Endangered Species Enclosure which is home to the last 3 remaining Northern White Rhino in the world, the threatened Grevy’s zebra and Jackson’s hartebeest. Visits to this enclosure can be arranged for guests. Enjoy a trip to Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which is the only place to see chimpanzees in Kenya or visit Bakara the blind Rhino.

The Wildlife Educational Centre can be visited by guests which contains wildlife exhibits and background information about the conservancy and it’s operations. Or guests can help track lions with the Ol Pejeta portable tracking unit.

Guests can plan a full day trip to the Ngare Ndare Forest which is 13,000 acres and full of wildlife. From large mammals, such as elephants to small birds, such as the little egret and yellow-billed stork to butterflies. There is a canopy walking hanging 40 feet above the ground which ends in a viewing platform that offers unparalleled views of a natural spring and the dense forest. If you are lucky you may come across a natural pool of clear azure water from the glaciers on Mount Kenya which are the perfect place to swim and cool down in.

Guests can arrange to enjoy a night of wild camping in the magnificent Lolldaiga Hills. A guide from Kicheche will escort you to the wild campsite which is surrounded by excellent walking terrain.

Conservancies are one of the best ways to help conserve and protect the local wildlife and Kicheche understands this. They are founding members of three conservancies within the Maasai Mara which covers 150,000 acres of habitats and ecosystems. The founder of Kicheche, Greg Monson, “serves as Chairman of Olare Motorogi conservancy and Treasurer of Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association” which both support the growth and protection of the wider Mara ecosystems. 25% of the turnover from Kicheche properties goes straight into wildlife conservation and $250 per guest is allocated to community projects and wildlife conservation.

The Kicheche Community Trust has stated their mission is “to encourage the preservation of the environment whilst improving the welfare of the community through improved health and education facilities.” Partnered with the local communities, they support sustainable and traditional ways of life which are harmless to the environment.

The four pillars which the trust revolves around are health and family care, education, community empowerment and conservation. To fund the trust, Kicheche donates $5 per night per bed and all these fees go directly to the trust.

The money donated to the trust has allowed them to build and maintain school classrooms, supply stationary and school books and sponsor primary school teachers too. Currently, over 150 girls have been trained by the Kicheche Community Trust in personal hygiene and menstrual health education which is an important need in the community. And to help prevent monthly school absences reusable sanitary towels and menstrual cups are provided.

Several graduates are now employed as guides at Kicheche Camps, and the trust “sponsors students to the Koiyaki Guiding School on an annual basis.” Guests at Kicheche Camps can help by donating equipment such as pens, pencils, exercise books and paper.

The local CMF clinic in Aitong, Maasai Mara is supported by the Kicheche Community Trust. Medical books and medicines have been donated over the years and a dental ward and maternity ward have been added as well as keeping the solar power system, water tanks and water pumps up to date and working. The local Nanyuki Children’s Home, in Ol Pejeta, is also supported by the trust, helping to give preschool and nursery children the best start to their education.

To help develop an environment where community members can have more say over what is important to them is one of the aims of the trust, they have “a wide range of revenue earning projects and self-help groups” to do just that. They also help to empower women from local communities by training them in clerical and store keeping which helps them to secure long term employment. HR workshops are held for “the youth to better their job searching skills.”

Available to purchase from local self-help group of Maasai women are Christmas crackers made out of reusable materials such as newspapers and magazines, all the proceeds of which go to the women directly.

Mara Predator Project: with the aim to educate people on the importance of predators within the Greater Mara Ecosystem, the Mara Predator Project helps enhance the community members and landowners understanding of the role of these predators so they can fully appreciate how important it is to preserve them and use “sound scientific information to inform wildlife conservation strategies.”

Continuing their aim for conservation, Kicheche have partnered with Mara Elephant Project to help bring light to the work they are doing in reducing levels of poaching. Guests can be involved in this process by helping to track some of the collared elephants. Kicheche Community Trust are wildlife conservation champions and are “at the forefront of working with locals to secure wildlife habitat and manage conservancies better.”