| For visitors coming to Kenya for the first time, there are
many unanswered questions — what do we pack, what facilities
are available and so on. To make your visit a truly relaxing and
well-prepared one, here are the answers to all those questions.
All the information contained herein is given in good faith and
has been carefully compiled. It must be accepted that details
will change from time to time! And of course, please feel free
to contact us with any questions you may still have.
Location
Kicheche is located on the Aitong Plains in the northern Koiyaki
Lemek region of the famous Masai Mara. The camp is hidden in a
grove of wild olive and croton trees in a prime wildlife area.
Game viewing starts right from the camp itself.
Access
By air : A scheduled one hour flight from Nairobi’s Wilson
Airport to the Mara NGERENDE airstrip. Flights depart twice a
day; morning flights departing at 10h00, afternoon at 15h00.
Ex-Mombasa: A daily service departs at 07h30 and departs the Mara
at 13h30.
Ex Naivasha: A daily service departs at 15h00
Ex Samburu: A daily service departs at 0915
Ex Nanyuki: A daily service departs at 1000
The camp is a 30-minute game drive from the airstrip.
Note : Luggage allowance 15kg per person only, in soft luggage
bags. Excess luggage is charged at approx $5 per kilo.
By road: 5½ hours drive from Nairobi.
Description
The camp is a classic, intimate, luxury bush camp completely
unfenced, accommodating a maximum of 22 guests, under canvas.
Accommodation
Spacious, fully insect-proof Selous style tents (eleven twins/doubles),
equipped with cedar beds, linen, bedside tables, luggage racks
and rugs. Bathrooms are en-suite and are equipped with a dresser,
shower and flushing toilet and running water. There are canvas
directors and deck chairs on the veranda and hammocks slung between
nearby trees.
Triple tents and family tents (1 double & 2 single beds) are
available on request.
Lounge
Tent Our large and spacious Nyati tent, with its comfortable
local furnishings and informative collection of reference books,
is a delightful place to relax between game drives or other activities.
Meals and Drinks
All meals and drinks are inclusive in your stay and taken al-fresco
in a clearing overlooking the plains or, in the event of bad weather,
in the spacious dining tent. The cuisine is Western/European with
occasional African dishes and hygiene standards are high. We can
cater for special dietary requirements however please notify us
in advance. Mineral water is provided in each tent every day.
Laundry
Included in the rate is a daily laundry service. Please note
this is a bush laundry that cannot cope with delicate items of
clothing.
Power & Lighting
There is no mains power however we do supply 24-hour low wattage
power for lighting through an inverter system. Camera and Video
batteries can also be charged on this system. The inverter system
is backed up with a generator.
Climate
The long rains are from early April through to May, and the short
rains in November. The coolest time of year is from Jun-Aug when
temperatures are low in the morning hours.
Dry seasons offer more reliable road conditions though game viewing
is excellent year round. Please bear in mind over the past few
years the weather patterns in the Masai Mara, and Kenya in general,
have changed and are somewhat unpredictable.
Kicheche Camp is closed in April & May.
Clothing
Generally speaking Kenya is cooler than most people expect for
a region on the equator, this is due to the altitude (1500-2000
metres) over much of the area. Therefore it is advisable to have
a warm jacket or jumper for cool mornings. During the day however
it is usually quite warm.
Natural safari colours are recommended especially if you are
game walking, they are also ideal to conceal the African dust!
Good walking shoes/ boots will be useful if you intend to walk.
A sun hat, sunglasses, lotion, lip balm and skin moisturiser are
important to counteract the sun, wind and dry conditions.
Safety
Safety is of paramount importance and therefore askaris (night-watchmen)
patrol the camp at regular intervals after dark. Guests are advised
to remain in their tent after dark, and will be escorted between
their tent and the lounge/dining areas by a staff member. Each
tent is equipped with a whistle to call for assistance in case
of emergency.
Each vehicle is equipped with a radio for communications with
camp and the camp is in contact with the Nairobi office on a daily
basis. Flying Doctors’ medical evacuation planes can be
called in the event of an emergency.
Children
We accept children but adults must be aware that our camp is
not fenced and no additional facilities are available to occupy
them outside our normal excursions. No baby equipment is provided.
Souvenirs
There is a camp souvenir shop where all handicrafts are made
by the families of camp staff and all profits go directly to them.
There is also a selection of clothing, maps and miscellaneous
items.
Health
Kenya is a malaria zone therefore guests should consult their
doctor about prophylactic measures before travelling. Guests should
also be covered by comprehensive travel insurance.
Vehicles
Game-viewing drives are conducted by open-sided and open roofed
customised 4WD Land Cruiser vehicles. Game drives are shared with
other guests though exclusive use of a vehicle is available at
an extra charge.
Daily Routine
Guests are woken with tea, coffee or hot chocolate & biscuits
brought to their tent. An early morning game drive sets off at
sunrise and returns to the camp late morning. Breakfast is a leisurely
affair taken outside in the morning sunlight. Lunch is also served
al-fresco in the shade of an olive tree. During the heat of the
day, relax in a hammock and appreciate the silence, punctuated
only by birdcalls. Alternatively, utilise our reference library
in the Nyati tent, which has an excellent selection of books.
An afternoon game drive departs around 16h00 after tea and returns
after sundowners. Freshen up before joining other guests around
the campfire for a pre-dinner drink. Dinner is served by candlelight
al-fresco or in the dining tent. Take a nightcap by the fire before
retiring. Escorted walks are available from the camp and are a
very popular excursion, see below.
Activities
Game driving is available throughout the area and your program
is arranged daily with your guide. Trips to the local Maasai villages
are on offer for those interested in Kenya’s unique culture.
It is possible to visit Aitong town (market day Friday) or the
local nursery school supported by our Community Project.
There are a number of escorted nature walks available from the
camp. All walks are escorted by a Kicheche guide with a radio,
and an armed ranger. Walks are included in our package tariff
Photography
It is highly recommended to bring a camera with a zoom lens
of at least 200mm for wildlife shots. A bean bag or jumper is
useful to rest your camera on for shooting in low light (tripods
are too cumbersome for use in a vehicle). We have several locally
made bean bags at the camp however, if you wish to come bring
your own it can be filled at camp. Although there is a small supply
of film available at camp it is recommended to bring your own.
Don’t forget to bring a spare camera battery. Recharging
facilities are available for digital cameras and videos (230V
5oHz). Another important item to bring is a pair of binoculars.
It is worth buying a pair if you unable to borrow. Small compact
binoculars are fine and handy to carry around however a larger
(e.g. 7x50) pair will be superior in the low light conditions
in the morning and evening when most game drives take place. Always
ask permission before taking photographs of people.
Environmental Policy
We have minimised our impact on the environment through the following
measures: all non-biodegradable waste is removed from the region
to a suitable collection point in Nairobi, recycled charcoal dust
pellets are brought in from Nairobi for water heating. Kicheche
Camp has a Bronze rating from the Eco-Tourism Society of Kenya.
Tipping
It is customary to tip your guide and camp staff however it is
not compulsory and tips should only be given if you are satisfied
with the service provided.
Payments at camp
We accept credit card payments (AMEX, VISA and MASTER CARD) or
cash (EURO, USD, GBP and Kenya Shilling). There is a safety deposit
box at camp where all valuables can be kept.
Communications
There is a mobile signal from the Celtel network at camp however
mobile phone usage is restricted in the camp public areas and
on game drives. There is an unreliable e-mail connection at camp
therefore all communications should be routed via the Nairobi
office (as per our normal contact details). In the event of an
emergency again contact the Nairobi office, outside office hours
the camp may sometimes be available on +254734699952. Kenya is
GMT +3 hours and does not have summertime/daylight savings.
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