Reviews of Kicheche Bush Camp

"This camp, like its sister camp, Mara, gets a large number of returning guests, which speaks volumes for its managers, Darren and Emma and their staff. While we were there, all the guests had been there previously, many on more than one occasion.

As with the Mara camp, the accommodation was excellent, although due to the large insect population we were unable to open up the front of the tent as we had done in the past. That's not the camps fault, just the time of the year. The weather for our stay was lovely, quite hot most of the time, however we did experience a sudden and torrential downpour one evening which made getting from the tent to the dining area interesting. Apparently over 50mm fell in 1 hour according to Darren.

This made for some interesting and challenging driving for our guide Charles the following day, we never got stuck despite the conditions.

The food was excellent, always a number of options at lunch accompanied with different breads baked by Darren.. Dinner was also excellent and watched over with a careful eye by Kennedy.

Game viewing was terrific, with some excellent predator sightings including leopards, Tito and cub plus a pregnant Fig.

It's hard to find fault with any aspect of the camp, even the bucket showers!!.

Can't wait to go back!!" See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya

"the best overall game viewing experience we have ever had by far.

great game, excellent guides - we had two different ones, a wonderful bush cam experience. The hosts were very attentive and professional. Excellent food.

We'd like to go again." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya; 9n in Zanzibar

"As always, the welcome from Darren and Emma was fantastic, and the wildlife viewing was phenomenal." See all these reviews: 15n in Kenya

"This was our second visit to Kicheche Bush, and we enjoyed it every bit as much as our first time two years ago.

This is an intimate camp that emphasizes game thrives and time in the bush. The tents are airy and spacious, with en suite restrooms and bucket showers. Of all the Kicheche camps, this one seems to attract more hardcore safari enthusiasts, many of them repeat visitors staying 8 or more nights (which is fine with us). The guiding here is superlative.

At our request, we had Patrick again, and he did not disappoint. He is a master at positioning the vehicle for the best photographic opportunities. Olare-Motorogi Conservancy continues to be a hotbed of leopard activity. We saw 6 individual leopards in 4 days, some on multiple occasions. Other highlights included a cheetah kill and a large pride of lions with playful cubs." See all these reviews: 14n in Kenya

"My experience at Bush Camp was excellent! This was my second stay at this camp and both times I was very impressed. The facilities are excellent and the variety of the wildlife and scenery is second to none. All of the game drives were very good, including several Leopard sightings.

The roads and paths were muddy in some places due to earlier rains which made driving a bit difficult at times." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya

"Our favorite camp!" See all these reviews: 12n in Kenya

"We had such a great time at Bush Camp!

The tents are fantastic and we all enjoy the rustic showers!

Our guides were Patrick and James and we had such fun with them both! They are very knowledgeable and personable -- and it was fun to be with James so soon after his return from London where he receive international accolades for his skills as a guide! All of the staff were wonderful!" See all these reviews: 12n in Kenya

"This camp could hardly be any better. It is situated in prime animal viewing area and is very well laid out. The staff provides an amazing amount of comfort, delicious food and fantastic guiding.

This camp exceeded my expectations in every way. The animal viewing was beyond my imagination. Not only were there several early morning sightings of hyena's feeding , but also large lion prides feeding. and crossing the plains on their way back home.

Spent most of one day following the famous 5 cheetah boys. Just amazing! Lots of animals to see and not crowded, at all. Be sure to visit the Maa Trust which supports the local community with various projects including beautiful beadwork by local women." See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya; 3n in Tanzania

"Amazing wildlife experiences. Fun following the 5 cheetah boys several times throughout a day. Our guide had good knowledge of where the animals would be - enjoyed the little trip off the conservancy to the river - saw hippos and crocs -

Didn't love the trip to the Massai Village - I think learning about historical and present day Massai people is a good thing, but i didn't think this visit was a good way to do it. Maybe a talk by a Massai cultural professor at our camp might have been a way.

Really enjoyed our camp managers." See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya; 3n in Tanzania

"Kicheche Bush has a reputation in the industry for being the camp of choice for photographers and filmmakers, and attracts a large number of repeat visitors, some visiting up to three or four times a year - we can see why, and we are sure we will visit again. Wildlife viewing is superb - that goes without saying in the Olare Motorogi conservancy - and guiding is industry leading (with guides able to provided valuable photography tips to amateurs like ourselves, as well as being expert spotters and possessing encyclopaedic knowledge of the ecosystem) - but it was the hosts, Darren and Emma, that we really felt set this camp apart. Having managed the camp for nine years, they were much more than managers - they felt more like proprietors, uniquely invested in the success of the camp and utterly committed to ensuring each and every guest felt equally welcome, comfortable, and had the best possible experience. We've stayed at a number of top end safari camps over the years, but the hosting here was by far the most warm and genuine of all.

The guests come from a wide range of backgrounds - some seasoned safari goers, others first timers in Africa, some retirees, others honeymooners, some professional photographers, others armed with nothing more than a cellphone - but all are made to feel equally important and at home in camp. It takes real skill to welcome guests day after day with equal enthusiasm, and to facilitate the interaction of such a diverse group of guests so that strangers at camp feel like members of the same family - but Darren and Emma were masters of this art, and it created a wonderful atmosphere in the camp.

Tents were really spacious, comfortable and beautifully appointed, and the shower was, hands down, the best safari shower we've ever experienced. In fact, I would almost go as far as to say it was the best shower we have ever experienced, safari or not! Do not be put off by bucket showers - the only difference between these and normal showers is that you have to order them rather than water always being there, and the water lasts only six minutes at a time. But on the plus side you always have good water pressure and the water is always piping hot. The shower has to be believed to be seen - a sunken panelled wooden affair that feels more like a spa than a safari tent, and is about ten times the size of any of the other safari showers we have experienced.

Food was also exceptional, the highlight being the selection of cheeses, Kenyan made, but rivaling anything we've had from France.

And if in the oasis we ever needed reminding how close we were to the real bush we only needed to look in the tree outside the tent, where the remains of a gazelle's leg was still hanging, having been stashed there by a leopard resident in the area the previous week!

Vehicles are extremely well equipped, open top and sides, but still with some shade from the strong daytime sun, and complete with multiple power outlets and USB sockets - uniquely designed with the needs of the photographer in mind. Guiding was top notch, and management were briefed in advance of our previous safari experiences and interests and so were able to tailor our experience appropriately. We had reserved a private vehicle, but we noted that among those that did not, every effort was made to pair up groups with similar interests and experience levels, so that everyone was able to get the most out of their stay.

The only minor 'downside' was that the camp do not offer night drives, and we were always back in camp shortly after sunset. The reason given was wanting to limit disruption to wildlife and to their nocturnal hunting activities - this is admirable, but we noted that other camps in the conservancy do still offer limited night drives, and so one would question how much impact this restraint really has. We are not talking about full on night drives here, but wonder whether the camp might consider offering slightly extended evening game drives, perhaps staying out for an hour or so after sundown, enjoying a slow return to camp with a red-lamp to spot nocturnal species without disturbing predators. We were, however, able to take a night drive at their sister camp Kicheche Valley in Naboisho conservancy, and so this was no problem for us in the end." See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya