Kenya Safari

Kichwa Tembo - Bateleur Camp & Tented Camp

Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya


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View images of Kichwa Tembo Camps:  Kichwa Tembo Images

KICHWA TEMBO - BATELEUR CAMP & TENTED CAMP - MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE, KENYA
Set on the fringe of a riparian forest and overlooking the vast, game-filled plains of the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Bateleur Camp at Kichwa Tembo and Kichwa Tembo Tented Safari Camp offer world-class accommodation in the African bush.  Meaning "head of the elephant" in the local KiSwahili, Kichwas Tembo is situated at the foot of the Oloololo Escarpment on the northwestern border of the Masai Mara Reserve within a private land land concession leased from the local Maasai people.  This area is almost exclusively explored by our fly-in safari guests and is far less crowded that the more easten ares of the Mara.

In addition to an excellent year-round concentration of animals, Kichwa Tembo lies directly in the path of Africa’s spectacular Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti, Tanzania, to the Masai Mara in Kenya. This is indeed nature at her most theatrical, offering you an African wildlife experience unsurpassed in the world.  Kichwa Tembo Camp is owned and operated by CC Africa.  The camp is open year round.

Unique Selling Points
• Two classic Kenyan tented safari camps
• Exclusive wildlife concession
• Bordering the Masai Mara Reserve
• Interpretive Big Five photographic safaris
• Astounding year-round game viewing
• The Great Migration (July – October)
• Day and night game-drives

Accommodation            For images of Kichwa Tembo Camps, click Kichwa Tembo Images
Bateleur Camp at Kichwa Tembo
This exclusive safari camp is the epitome of private tented luxury. Bateleur Camp is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and comprises just 2 intimate camps of nine tented suites each, with shingle roof, wooden doors and a private deck. Each tent is luxuriously furnished with gleaming wooden floors and
wood-framed beds, overhead fan, twin hand basins, shower, private w.c, cupboards, leather chairs and writing table.  The tents are set among the forests on the edge of the Masai Mara, below the location where Out of Africa’s famous final scene was filmed.  This romantic and totally private camp reflects the ambience of Kenyan safaris of the 1920's and 1930's.

Nestled in a lush riverine forest, the tented suites reflect classic elegance, with polished wooden floors and en suite bathrooms with glass-walled showers, twin hand-basins and a separate flush w.c. Each tent has a private deck overlooking the vast game-filled plains of the Masai Mara.  A personal butler will ensure your every need is catered.

The main guest areas, shaded by a dense forest canopy, consist of a sitting area with fireplaces and verandas with views of the endless game-filled Mara plains. Beautifully hand-crafted artefacts, fine antiques, leather buttoned Chesterfield sofas, books, crystal and candlelight adorn the comfortable sitting area and indoor/outdoor dining area and will transport guests back to the heyday of the romantic classic safari. A unique feature is the treeshaded rim-flow lap pool with a view of the Mara

Your private butler will serve you delicious Pan-African cuisine in the dining area, on the veranda or in a romantic setting under the stars. Bush breakfasts and candlelit dinners offer an unforgettable experience of the African bush.

Included
• Two intimate camps with nine tented suites each
• Expansive en suite bathrooms
• Ceiling fans
• Private butler service
• Elegant guest areas
• Lap pool
• Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
Known as Kenya’s best-loved safari camp, 28 classic safari tents and 12 luxury tents with en suite bathrooms and private verandas afford spectacular views over the magnificent grasslands or Sabaringo River.  The 40 Hemingway-style safari tents are spacious and have a shower, hand basin and w.c. Each tent has two extra-length three-quarter beds

The main thatched guest areas include a welcoming bar, sitting area, indoor and outdoor dining areas and a well-stocked gift shop featuring African art, artefacts and safari-wear. The guest areas all overlook endless, game-filled plains and are shaded by a dense forest canopy, with the Oloololo Escarpment in the background. There is a large sparkling swimming pool set among trees and surrounded by lawn.  The swimming pool is perfect for laid-back game viewing whilst cooling off.

Relax in the candlelit bar in the evening before enjoying delicious Pan-African cuisine served alfresco style outdoors or in the main dining area. Private dining and exciting bush banquets may be arranged on request.

Included
• 8 Classic safari tents
• 12 Luxury tents
• All with en suite bathrooms
• Private verandas
• Comfortable guest areas
• Large swimming pool
• African gift shop

Both Camps
Food
All CC Africa lodges are world-renowned for their delicious Pan-African cuisine – fresh ingredients, simply prepared with an African flavour. All our vegetables are grown in the camp’s shamba (vegetable garden). Visits to the shamba are a highlight for many guests.  All halaal and vegetarian dietary requirements will be catered for. When making your reservation, please advise us of any specific dietary requirements that you may have, and they will be communicated immediately to the camp.. Should specific items need to be flown in, there will be an additional charge, which will be quoted separately. Regrettably, we are unable to cater for strictly kosher guests at Kichwa Tembo

Children’s Policy - Bateleur
Regrettably, for safety reasons, children under 11 cannot be accommodated at Bateleur Camp. Recommended age for children on safari in Kenya is eight years and older.  Triple tents are not possible and the rate for children, irrespective of their age, is the full adult rate.

Children’s Policy - Tented Camp
Children under 11 are warmly welcome at Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp. Recommended age for children on safari in Kenya is eight years and olde.  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 Camp Manager’s discretion. Should parents wish to be close to their children, the rondavels are recommended for family
accommodation. An extra bed can be arranged for a child 11 and younger sharing with their parents.

Children’s Activities
Childrens' activities depend entirely on the age of the children and may include the following:
• Special family game-drives (at the discretion of the lodge manager and subject to availability)
• Special one-hour children's bush walks within the camp perimeter
• Planet Manager activity books
• Special programmes can be compiled such as tracking for children, fishing, frog safaris and birding
• Children’s meals and menus available

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.

Exciting game-drives
Discover the Masai Mara on interpretive morning and afternoon game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles led by experienced CC Africa guides – all of whom have achieved the highest scores in the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association examination. (Game-drives included in the rate for both Bateleur Camp and Tented Safari Camp.) Fascinating night game-drives in Kichwa Tembo’s private concession will reveal a host of interesting nocturnal creatures. (Night game-drives included in the rate at Bateleur Camp; optional extra at Tented Safari Camp).

Exceptional Big Five wilderness
Bordering the spectacular Masai Mara Reserve, which is an integral part of the Serengeti ecosystem, Kichwa Tembo is set within a gallery forest overlooking the scenic plains of the highly productive ‘Mara Triangle’. It comprises six distinct habitats which are home to an astounding year-round concentration of African wildlife.
• Mass wildebeest migration (typically between July and October)
• Spectacular wildebeest river crossings, with waiting predators
• Big Five, including black-maned Mara lion
• Large populations of Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle
• 453 bird species
• Abundance of raptors and grassland birds
• Exciting birdwatching excursions

Kichwa Tembo Habitats
Kichwa Tembo’s grassland savanna is dominated by sweet pasture grasses which feed the multitudes of grazing herbivores. Woodlands of acacia and croton shrubs also suit browsing herbivores. Seasonal marshes and swamps are home to aquatic plants and animals. The perennial Sabaringo River flows through the camp and into the wide Mara River which eventually spills into Lake Victoria. Evergreen forest occurs around the camp, along rivers and in pockets on the Oloololo Escarpment. Rocky hillsides above the camp are scattered with hardy Ficus, Combretum and Cussonia trees.

Mammals at Kichwa Tembo
The Masai Mara is the location of the BBC television documentary – ‘Big Cat Diary’.  Resident lion prides hold and defend territories throughout the Mara. Open grasslands provide ideal hunting terrain for cheetah - the planet’s fastest land mammal. Elephant numbers are increasing rapidly after severe poaching in the 1980's. Over one million wildebeest - along with hundreds of thousands of zebra - occupy the Mara plains when their Serengeti breeding grounds dry out. Large resident populations of antelope (Topi, Thomson’s gazelle and Grant’s gazelle) can be found roaming the savanna. Impressive buffalo bulls accompany breeding herds. Blue monkey and red-tailed monkey live in the evergreen Kichwa forest. Troops of pugnacious banded mongoose patrol the savanna and woodlands and large rafts of hippo are found in the Mara River.

Birds at Kichwa Tembo
There are 453 species (including escarpment forest birds north-west of the Masai Mara). Large numbers of vultures (six species) feed on predator remains and natural mortalities. Impressive martial eagle, long-crested eagle and bateleur dominate the skies. Grasslands are home to stout cisticola, Jackson’s widowbird, white-bellied bustard and many others. Thousands of European migrants, including white stork, northern wheatear, winchat, yellow wagtail, Montagu’s harrier and pallid harrier are present in grasslands between September to April. Colourful bush birds include superb starling, Usambiro barbet, Von der Decken’s hornbill and purple grenadier. Spectacular Ross’s turaco, Schalow’s turaco and African blue flycatcher are resident in the forest surrounding the camp.

Birding Specials at Kichwa Tembo
• Ross's Turaco
• Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
• Moustached Grass-warbler
• African Blue Flycatcher
• Scaly Francolin
• Rufous-bellied Heron
• Jackson's Widowbird
• Red-throated Wryneck
• Double-toothed Barbet
• Grey-throated Barbet

Other African Wildlife
Enormous Nile crocodile reside in the Mara River, preying on wildebeest and other animals which attempt to cross. Brightly-coloured flat-headed mwanza agama live on rocks at the Sabaringo River crossing. There is an abundance of beautiful butterflies in the shady forest around the camp, including mocker swallowtail, noble swallowtail and little commodore. After rain showers, swarms of flying termites attract a host of predators from eagles and rollers to bats and toads.

Interpretive bush walks
Led by highly skilled guides and traditionally-attired Maasai naturalists, wilderness walks along the Mara River and up the Oloololo Escarpment – one of the ‘steps’ of the Great Rift Valley – will bring you face-to-face with wild Africa at its best.
(Bush walks included in the rate at Bateleur Camp; optional extra at Tented Safari Camp).

Maasai community visits
Daily lectures by a Maasai naturalist and visits to a Maasai cultural village offer an incredible insight into the fascinating lives of the brilliantly-clad Maasai people (optional extra).

Spectacular bush banquets
Early morning bush breakfasts, romantic sundowners featuring spectacular views across the Mara and dramatic candlelit dinners beside the Mara River add an unforgettable dimension to your safari experience.
(Included in the rate at Bateleur Camp; optional extra at Tented Safari Camp).

Hot-air ballooning
This once-in-a-lifetime experience gives you a unique perspective of the Mara grasslands and its exceptional wildlife.
(Optional extra for both Bateleur Camp and Tented Safari Camp).

Eco-Tourism
Kichwa Tembo is committed to CC Africa’s core principle: Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the people.

CC Africa’s focus: Community equity, income generation, education and health care are a primary concern. In consultation with community organisations such as the Africa Foundation (originally founded by CC Africa, now a not-for-profit rural development organization), Kichwa Tembo has contributed significantly towards improving the prosperity and living conditions of the Maasai community.

Kichwa Tembo’s landlords are the Ilkarekeshe Maasai tribe who receive economic benefits through the concession fees paid to them by CC Africa, as well as rental fees for traversing rights in the Masai Mara Reserve. Kichwa Tembo offers a glimpse into the Maasai’s unique pastoralist, nomadic lifestyle and blood-and-milk diet, virtually unchanged over centuries. The Maasai proudly maintain their traditional lifestyle as cattle-herders while remaining our partners in the protection of wildlife.

Ecotourism in Africa: Our guests play a critical role in helping CC Africa realise our dream and vision: to create a model in wise land management, integrating international travellers and rural people to their mutual benefit and demonstrating that wildlife can be preserved on a sustainable basis by all.

Positive Health Programme
CC Africa strongly believes in its people and was recently listed as one of three finalists in the Investor in People category of the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The October 2005 edition of Africa Geographic featured an article on AIDS and conversation, and highlighted the activities and programmes that various African companies are implementing in order to increase AIDS awareness and, in doing so, empower the communities taking care of some of the world's richest wilderness regions.

"Probably the most attractive program ... is that of CC Africa... CC Africa launched a Positive Health program in 2003 and in April and May last year ran two seven-day courses.... Their approach focuses on home-based care, gardens, counseling techniques and gender issues.... The health of the habitat is critical to the health of the individuals in it.... The conservation industry is uniquely positioned to take the treatment of HIV/AIDS in radically new directions.... Benefits [of the program] include acquiring 'hard skills' such as maintaining clean water, producing food, and home-based methods of dealing with illnesses that are not life threatening.... It takes only the will of ecologically minded people to make sure that the wild places are not lost."
Africa Geographic, October 2005

Other Considerations - Both Camps
• 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.
• Ratio of guests to staff: 1 to 2
• Camp closure: Open year round.

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