Kicheche Valley Camp

There are 6 tents at Kicheche Valley Camp, any bed arrangements can be made ahead of time as rooms are suitable for 1 single bed up to 1 double and 2 single beds and anything in between. The tents are bright and spacious, polished light wooden floors match the light walls and ceilings which compliment the pure cotton dark bed linens and rugs, creating a safari-chic feel.

Ensuite bathrooms are spacious and bright with double basins and a shower. Wide netted windows and a wide roll-up door flood the room with natural light and fresh breezes and keep the eye focused on the stunning surroundings, as an almost 180 degree view is afforded from the comfort of the bed.

A private veranda with a comfortable cushioned sofa sits at the front of the tent, perfect for guests to relax and keep an eye out for wandering zebras or elephants.

Dinner is served in the main area of camp, round a large, romantically candle lit dining table. The area has open sides, keeping the air fresh and cool and allowing guests to dine on fresh, delicious food with local spices and ingredients, still surrounded by the breathtaking view of the conservancy and any meandering animals.

Meals can be arranged to be enjoyed in the heart of the African bush. Guests can immerse themselves in the sights, smells and sounds of the wild whilst enjoying fresh and local food, cooked by experienced chefs.

Guests of Kicheche Valley Camp can go on day or night game drives in customised, comfortable open sided 4WD vehicles. Seeing the wildlife at close range with minimal disturbance is a truly unique experience, and every drive will offer different sighting. Being located in a private conservancy means drives can go off road, for a chance to see untraversed areas of the bush.

This is an unmissable experience and a traditional part of the African safari experience. Guests can be reassured they will leave with having sighted animals, such as elephants, buffalo, impala, and lion. Guests will be accompanied by a Silver qualifier guide who is knowledgeable of the Mara Conservancy.

What better way to place yourself in the heart of the African bush than to explore on foot. Accompanied by an experienced silver rated KPSGA guide and an armed ranger for your safety, guests can keep an eye out for birds, track animals’ footprints or marvel at the micro-ecosystems of the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. With their trained eye, the guides will be able to point guests to nests and rare birds, which would otherwise go unnoticed.

For an unforgettable and unique experience guests can spend a night or two in the very heart of the African bush wild camping. Guests will be escorted by a professional armed ranger as you walk to your campsite and set up camp. This activity is an excellent way to bond with your guided as you cook under the stars.

With the vast open plains surrounding you guests will feel wonderfully disconnected from the modern world. This is an activity that will leave guests with long-lasting memories and a sense of peacefulness.

Guests can immerse themselves in the local culture and learn their traditional ways of life. Accompanied by a guide who will translate, guests can educate themselves about the rich Maasai culture. Guests can enjoy traditional dancing and purchasing some traditional souvenirs.

Guests have the opportunity to visit some of the schools or conservation projects happening in and around the surrounding areas of Kicheche Valley Camp. Guests will have the opportunity to take supplies such as stationary and school books with them, to help support the schools and children.

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, take to the skies in a hot air balloon and enjoy a birds-eye view of the diverse land. Arranged ahead of time, guests can leave camp in the early morning and glide high over the plains, viewing the land and animals bathed in early morning sunshine. After guests have landed a champagne breakfast is set up in the bush for an unforgettable start to your day.

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.”

For guests wanting a relaxing day on safari, massages are available to be arranged. Enjoy a stress melting massage in the comfort of your own room from a masseuse. Or align your chakras with a yoga session in the fresh African air, focusing on your balance, strength, flexibility and being present in the moment.

Kicheche Valley Camp has been awarded the Gold Eco Rating by Ecotourism Kenya, which means their efforts to be an eco-friendly and sustainable camp have been recognised. The camp makes a conscious effort to continually improve the sustainability and the eco-friendliness of the camp.

To reduce burning fossil fuels and minimise their carbon footprint, the camp produces all its energy renewably using solar panels, and recycled charcoal is used in cooking. There is limited plastic waste from the camp after the initiate to have 20litre water dispensers and reusable bottles for all guests and there is a conscious effort to re-use and recycle old furniture, tents and vehicles.