Kicheche Bush Camp is the quintessential bush camp, ideally situated in a game-rich conservancy. It provides numerous opportunities for wildlife viewing, enhanced by the presence of a professional photographer. Located within the exceptional Olare Motorogi Conservancy, a private area in the Mara Olare Orok section of the Maasai Mara in southwestern Kenya, the camp offers an intimate and exclusive safari experience.
A Welcoming and Comfortable Atmosphere
All communal areas are well-maintained and comfortable, appealing to those seeking a touch of luxury during their safari. The soft, cream tones of the communal tent and shade create a cool and refreshing ambiance, while the open front offers views of the surrounding bush. Terracotta pots filled with plants add a homely feel, making it a private retreat away from the crowds.
Communal Spaces
Inside the main communal tent, you'll find everything in one place. A lounge area with cream sofas and cushions invites you to relax with one of the many available books, including photography books by Paul Goldstein, co-owner of the camp. Two large tables are combined for communal dining, which can be enjoyed either inside or outside, depending on the weather.
Luxurious and Adaptable Accommodation
Accommodation is comfortable and very clean, ensuring you can unwind in your own private space at night. The six tents are spread out on a hillside, providing a pleasant, private, and intimate experience due to their limited number.
Tent Features
Inside, the tents are adaptable, featuring a large open-plan space with a lounge area at the front and a bathroom to the side. Canvas walls allow you to open up the entire space during the day or create cozy nooks and a comfortable bedroom at night. The lounge area includes a small table and chairs, perfect for enjoying a morning beverage or an afternoon nap. Bedrooms are furnished with simple wood furniture and cream materials, with Maasai decorations adding a touch of local culture.
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Wildlife and Photography Opportunities
Kicheche Bush Camp's association with Paul Goldstein is evident in the number of wildlife and photography enthusiasts who visit each year. Game drives in open-sided vehicles are ideal for capturing stunning snapshots of leopards or giraffes, with plug socket strips available on trips into the private conservancy. You can also experience the area through hot air ballooning, taking off at sunrise and floating over the Maasai Mara.
What a Hot Air Balloon Safari is REALLY Like | Kenya.
Community and Tradition
With an emphasis on local community and tradition, guests can visit Maasai villages, meet local people, hear their stories, and enjoy traditional dancing and culture. Kicheche Community Project encourages the preservation of the environment while improving the welfare of the community through improved health and education facilities and revenue-earning projects. Kicheche also sponsors students for the Koiyaki guiding school, which trains Maasai to become professional guides and employs several graduates as guides.
Exceptional Dining Experience
The quality and freshness of the cuisine prepared in the bush is always a delightful surprise to guests at this simple camp. The creative cooks produce a variety of African and international dishes, and special dietary requirements can be catered for. Fresh produce is flown in regularly, while bread and pastries are baked daily.
The Great Migration and Wildlife Spectacles
The Maasai Mara ecosystem is home to the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle: the annual wildebeest migration. These grazers, along with zebra and Thomson’s gazelle, traverse the plains throughout the year. While resident animals remain in the Mara year-round, their numbers swell to gigantic proportions during the dry seasons (July/August or October/November). Large concentrations of topi, impala, eland, dik dik, Grant’s gazelle, and waterbuck attract abundant predators, including the big cats - lion, leopard, and cheetah - and hyena. Large mammals such as elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippopotamus, and rhino are also present, along with smaller creatures like fox, jackal, springhare, and civet.
Birdwatching Paradise
Over 550 resident and migrant species of birds have been recorded in the Mara, making it one of the top birding areas in Kenya.
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Activities and Perspectives
Game drives, bush walks, and optional balloon safaris offer varying perspectives on the wildlife show. The great migration of nearly two million wildebeest and zebra is at its peak between late July and early October, while the local Loita wildebeest migration typically arrives in June. Other typical sightings may include a number of antelopes, endemic birds, and reptiles.
Conservation Efforts
2006 was a landmark date for conservation in the Maasai Mara with the formation of Olare Motorogi Conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, when a deal was brokered with the 277 Maasai land-owners that has become the template for the Mara community wildlife conservancies.
Guest Testimonials
- Tadhg Jones - AIG Inc - Croydon, United Kingdom: "We had a fantastic trip to the Masai Mara. Thank you for helping to organise it. We will definitely recommend yourselves to our friends who are planning on travelling to Kenya."
- Ken and Pam Daut - California, United States: "We had a fantastic trip to the Masai Mara. It was well organized by AfricanMecca Safaris and I had no worries. We loved the baby lions and were also able to see the leopard stalking its prey."
- Judi & Chaim Platt - Toronto, Canada: "The safari trip was spectacular! Everything went off without a hitch. We loved the Masai Mara. The migration was awesome. You listened to what I wanted and delivered it perfectly."
- Katie Chakey - New Jersey, United States: "My trip to Kenya was beyond fantastic. I loved every second of it and I must thank you and your staff at AfricanMecca Safaris for making my travels to Masai Mara possible and most enjoyable."
- Rusty Phenix - (Phenix & Crump Attorneys At Law) - Texas, United States: "Thank you for all your diligent assistance in coordinating our photo safari to the Masai Mara. Thanks again for all of your help in making this a truly dream vacation. I will be recommending you."
- Dr Cory M. Bryant - US FDA - Washington D.C, United States: "We had an incredible experience in Masai Mara & on the beach. Everything went very smoothly and the AfricanMecca representatives were fantastic. Thank you for putting together this amazing trip for us."
Kicheche Bush Camp is a small, intimate tented camp located in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, which borders the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a 40-minute drive from the Ol Kiombo airstrip. Offering incomparable animal encounters without crowds, the classic camp is in a prime wildlife area and is an ideal location to experience the seasonal wildebeest migration. The game viewing starts right from the camp itself.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Maasai Mara, Kenya |
| Accommodation | Large, airy custom-designed tents with twin or double beds, en suite bathrooms, and verandas |
| Dining | African and international dishes, fresh produce, daily baked bread and pastries |
| Activities | Game drives, bush walks, optional balloon safaris, Maasai village visits |
| Conservation | Supports the Kicheche Community Project, focusing on education, health, and environmental preservation |
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns.
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