Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya
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KICHWA TEMBO TENTED CAMP -
MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE, KENYA
Situated below the scenic location the movie Out of Africa was filmed, this romantic and totally private cap reflects the ambiance of Kenyan safaris of the ‘20s and ‘30s. The epitome of tented luxury, &Beyond Bateleur Camp comprises just two intimate camps of nine tented suites each, set among the forests on the edge of the Masai Mara. The tented suites boast an easy, classical elegance, with polished wooden floors and ensuite bathrooms with stone-walled showers. Each tent has its own deck overlooking the vast game-filled plains of the Masai Mara and a personal butler ensures that every need is catered for. Beautifully handcrafted artefacts, fine antiques, leather buttoned Chesterfield sofas, books, crystal and candlelight adorn the comfortable sitting and dining areas, transporting guests back to the heyday of classical safari. A deep, refreshing lap pool provides cool comfort. Delicious meals are served in memorable setting beneath the stars, followed by fireside port and cigars. Bush breakfasts and romantic sundowners on the edge of the Rift Valley offer an unforgettable African experience.
With abundant elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and cheetah alongside the migratory wildebeest and zebra, the reserve is a photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise. Leopard are frequently encountered, endangered black rhino find shelter in dense thickets and rafts of hippo and enormous crocodiles are found in the Mara River. The reserve is also home to over 450 bird species.
&Beyond Bateleur Camp and Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp are situated in the Kichwa Tembo private concession, which neighbours the Masai Mara. Meaning ‘head of the elephant’ in KiSwahili, Kichwa Tembo consists of private land leased from Maasai landlords and situated in the remote western Mara, almost exclusively explored by fly-in guests. In addition to its the excellent year-round concentration of wildlife, Kichwa Tembo lies directly in the path of Africa’s spectacular Great Migration.
Why to stay at Bateleur Camp
• Set on a private concession leased from Maasai landlords in the legendary Masai Mara
• In the path of the annual Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra
• A swimming pool with some of the best views in the Mara
• Bush walks along the Mara River or Oloololo Escarpment
Accommodation  For
images of Kichwa Tembo Camp, click Kichwa Tembo
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Known as Kenya’s best loved safari camp, Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp offers a quintessential game viewing experience, with sweeping vistas of the Masai Mara or the Sabaringo River. Located where the riverine forest meets the sweeping plains in the path of the awe-inspiring Great Migration, the camp provides an authentic dose of African wilderness, delivered with legendary Kenyan hospitality.
Kichwa Tembo is renowned for its gracious teams of Kenyan staff whose warm welcome, charming service and effortless energy delight guests from all over the world.
Please note that the classic tents at Kichwa Tembo will be closed for renovation from 15 October 2013 to 31 March 2014. However, our luxury tents will be ready and waiting to welcome guests with our famous brand of warm African hospitality.
Activities &
Wildlife
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.
At Kichwa Tembo, it is our passion to share our knowledge and understanding of the Masai Mara and its inhabitants with our guests. Our highly trained guides will do their utmost to delight our guests with a choice of the following adventures:
- Twice daily game drives - explore the Masai Mara in an open 4x4 safari vehicle on early morning and late afternoon / early evening game drives. An expert guide will share his knowledge of the surroundings and the local wildlife
- Full day game drives during the Migration - when the Great Migration moves through the Kichwa Tembo area guests can choose to enjoy full day game drive among the massed herds. A picnic lunch among hundreds of thousands of wildebeest is a never to be forgotten experience.
- Interpretive bush walks - enjoy a leisurely walk within the camp grounds, taking in the sights and sounds of the African bush and not forgetting to watch out for the resident warthog! A longer excursion to admire the panoramic views along the Oloololo escarpment or on the lush banks of the Mara River in the company of an armed guide can be arranged (Bateleur Camp only) .
Lectures on Maasai culture and sundowners offering spectacular views across the Mara can also be arranged (rate included for Bateleur Camp). Maasai community visits and hot air ballooning are available at an additional cost. As Kichwa Tembo is in a private concession, night game drives can be arranged for a minimum of two guests. This thrilling experience allows guests a glimpse of the nocturnal world of the predators and provides sightings of animals that are not normally encountered in daylight. A minimum of six guests can be hosted for a bush breakfast or dinner on the banks of the Mara River or the slopes of the Oloololo escarpment (included at Bateleur Camp only).
Private Safari
For those seeking a truly intimate safari, a private guide and vehicle ensures a personalised game viewing experience. This safari is ideal for keen photographers or birdwatching enthusiasts, who are free to spend as long as they want at each sighting.
Masaai Village Visit
Experience a guided tour by an English - speaking Maasai, who lives in the village, introducing guests to authentic Maasai living. Guests will have the opportunity to browse through the Maasai Craft Centre and purchase artefacts and souvenirs, which are made in the village. All proceeds are given back to the community.
Bush Dinner
A delicious Pan African meal is served in a memorable setting under the stars, followed by fireside entertainment by our very own Sukuti band. Private dinners can be arranged on request for 2 or more guests within the camp grounds.
Bush Breakfast
Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the bush, either on the banks of the Mara River or on the Oloololo Escarpment. Sip champagne (served on request) whilst enjoying the spectacular panoramic views of the plains below.
Sundowner Coctails
Enjoy sundowner cocktails at a breathtaking location on the famous Oloololo Escarpment. Watch as the sun sinks over a spectacular classical safari landscape from a vantage point that commands views over the entire Masai Mara.
Night Game Drive
The &Beyond Kichwa Tembo concession is the only place where guests can experience night game drives in the Masai Mara. As the sun sinks over the vast horizon, the African bush comes to life with predators and other nocturnal creatures. Guests may have the opportunity to observe fascinating species not normally encountered in daylight.
Massages
After a busy morning on game drive or a stimulating walking trail, pamper yourself with a relaxing massage in the privacy of your own room. Strong hands soothe your aching muscles as the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings drains any remaining tension.
Masaai Dance
Tall Maasai warriors in traditional dress form a guard of honour as guests arrive. Deep, haunting voice burst into song and soon the ground reverberates to the rhythm of their athletic traditional dances as the Maasai leap higher and higher, seeking to outperform each other.
Wildlife
The Masai Mara Nature Reserve is home to a vast number of resident wildlife, as well as home to the annual Great Migration. The migratory wildebeest, zebra, kongoni and topi join abundant elephant, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, lion and cheetah. Leopard and serval are frequently encountered, while endangered black rhino can be found in the dense bush thickets. The Mara River is also famed for its enormous crocodiles, which lay in wait for the wildebeest and zebra during the migration, when more than two million wildebeest and zebra move in search of prime grazing land.
The small and compact Thomson’s gazelle follow the herds in their quest for life-giving water and grazing. Lion, and hyena, as well as the more elusive cheetah and leopard, mingle with the migrating masses, while vulture and jackal await the scraps of the more powerful predators. The Mara is famous for its magnificent, black-maned lion and guests stand a good chance of viewing these powerful animals. Up to six species of vulture are found in the Mara and one or more of them may often be seen on the sidelines of a lion kill.
The rare black rhino are most frequently encountered in the Ngama Hills in the eastern Mara. The Mara hosts a large elephant population, which has had a significant impact on the reserve. The Mara River is famous for its enormous crocodiles, with massive hippo frequently spotted in the water during the day or feeding out on the plains at night. The dense riverine forest around the Kichwa Tembo camps is home to two unusual monkey species - the blue monkey and the redtail monkey, with their striking facial patterns.
Sustainability
At &Beyond we seek to maintain a low impact on the land while deriving high yield for our conservation initiatives by creating very small luxury lodges that support enormous tracts of biodiverse land, which remains untouched. At every lodge we seek out small (and sometimes not so small) but meaningful ways of putting our values into action every day. Each &Beyond lodge supports the conservation of wildlife and contributes to its neighbouring communities in one way or another. In addition, we seek to limit our impact in terms of fossil fuels, the use of renewable energy, water and waste management, and recycling.
At Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp water is recycled from the showers and the carwash to irrigate the lawn.
Collaboration with the Mara Conservancy and Anti-poaching teams
Kichwa Tembo management and guides work closely with the Mara Conservancy which is responsible for the sensitive utilisation and habitat management of the region west of the Mara River known as the 'Mara Triangle'. Kichwa Tembo provides logistical support for the valuable anti-poaching and animal rescue team set up by Anne K.Taylor.
Environmental Sensitivity
The Kichwa Tembo Green Team is engaged in the control of invasive alien plants within the camp surrounds and at the Oloololo gate. In an effort to reduce the use of fuel wood, the Green Team makes fuel bricks from waste paper and coal dust. A community-owned vegetable garden (shamba) provides fresh salads and vegetables to the lodge. Maasai women from the nearby Kipas and Ndorobo villages are provided with technical and other support for the establishment of bee hives.
Improving Health and Morale of our Staff and Communities
&Beyond is dedicated to providing its staff with as much information as possible to enable them to achieve freedom from poverty, malnutrition, gender inequity, stigma, HIV/AIDS and TB through its Positive Health programme.
Kichwa Tembo Team Educated street Children on HIV/AIDS
The Kawangware Street Kids and Youth programme supports 60 children from Kawangware's impoverished areas. These children were taken off the streets and taught skills in order to become productive members of society. They are now gainfully employed in making bags of various sizes and creating other crafts. Kichwa Tembo supports the programme through purchasing these bags for use in the lodge. Two members of the Kichwa Tembo team were invited to talk to the children about HIV/AIDS; dispelling myths surrounding the disease as well as educating the youth on ways and means to prevent contracting the virus.
Other Considerations
• Weather: Kichwa Tembo experiences a gentle and warm climate. Daytime temperatures are mild and nights can be fairly cool. Summer extends from October to April, with December to March being the warmest months. All year, minimum temperatures are 11ºC/52ºF and maximum temperatures are 30ºC/86ºF. The cool season is from May to September.
• Rainfall: Rainfall occurs predominantly in summer (October to April) in the late afternoon or at night. The Masai Mara receives the highest rainfall of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem – an average of 1000mm (39 inches) of rain per year, concentrated in two seasons with the so-called ‘long rains’ from March to June, and the ‘short rains’ from October to December.
• Best time to travel: All year round. The Great Migration is a 12-month cycle and depending on when the rains come, the animals normally reach Kenya in July. Hundreds of thousands of herbivores then disperse onto the plains of the Masai Mara for the next couple of month.
• Malaria: The camps are situated in a low risk malaria area.
• Children: Children welcome. Regretfully, children 5 years and younger cannot participate in the regular game drives. Child minders can be booked at an additional cost. Children aged 6 to 11 years are accommodated on game drives at the lodge manager’s discretion. An extra bed can be arranged for a child 16 and younger sharing with their parents. No more than three triples in camp at any one time.
• Ratio of guests to staff: 1 to 2
• Camp closure: Open year round.
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