Reviews of Kicheche Bush Camp
(99%) From 26 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Special experience at Kicheche Bush Camp
We found the Kicheche Bush Camp to be a very special place. From the friendly welcome lemonade to our transport back to the airstrip, everyone went out of their way to make our stay a treat. The food and wine were outstanding, with vegetarian options being a highlight of each meal.
Our tent was attractive and comfortable, with plenty of space even though we had a third cot added for our travel companion. The weather was cool during the evenings, so we all loved that hot water bottles were tucked into our beds.
The variety and number of animals that we were able to see at close range was amazing! Our guide, Micah, was very knowledgeable, patient, and good humored. He seemed to find something new and interesting for us to see with each drive.
Kicheche Bush Camp review
This was my favourite camp -- very beautiful surroundings and the tent was really lovely!
The managers, Derren and Emma were wonderful and went out of their way to be helpful and welcoming. Derren was kind enough to arrange for me to have a morning's horseback ride at a nearby facility and took time to drive me there and drive me back to camp at noon. It was a wonderful morning and brought back memories of my many horseback safaris in Botswana.
Again, the guides were superb and knowledgeable.
Great time at Kicheche Bush Camp
Kicheche Bush Camp as exciting as ever.
It was good to meet Darren and Emma this year. Very hospitable and well organised. Wildlife brilliant as before and Fig continues to star.
Well done Patrick for spotting an Aardwolf running at speed in the dusk and getting us in position for a couple of good photos.
Good company, good food, good camp - everything perfect.
Kicheche Bush Camp review
This is the best place we have ever been for the diversity of wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities.
The guides are phenomenal and never disappoint.
Darren and Emma, the camp managers, are fantastic and one of the many pleasures of returning to Kicheche Bush Camp is to meet up with them again.
Kicheche Bush Camp review
We continued to enjoy the Kicheche approach to the safari experience at Bush camp. The tents were spacious and nicely appointed, and although the setting at first glance was not overly inspiring, it brought in grazing zebras quite close to the tents, while bushbabies could be found in some of the larger trees around the property.
The staff here was just as friendly and service-oriented as at the other Kicheche properties, and managers Darren and Emma helped keep the vibe fun and relaxed, while attending to every detail behind the scenes.
Unlike at Laikipia and Mara, Bush was booked solid throughout our stay. The camp's convenient proximity to the main Reserve may be one reason it is so popular. We did drive down to the Reserve on a couple of occasions for specifically-desired sightings, but the difference in vehicle traffic between that in the Reserve and that in the Conservancy was palpable. I was always more than happy to stay in the Conservancy.
We did have to share a vehicle here, but Kicheche places a maximum of only 4 people in a vehicle, and Darren made a concerted effort to pair up guests with similar interests and priorities. The customized vehicles were open air (with a canvas roll top cover in case of inclement weather or impending sunstroke), outfitted with well-placed supports and beanbags to help with photography, which was important to us.
Our guide, Patrick, did an excellent job of positioning the vehicle to make the most of our sightings. I obtained photos that I would not have been able to achieve — and in some cases; that I would not have even thought of — because of his expertise. As with our other Kicheche guides, Patrick was affable and diligent in trying to get us the best sightings possible. Because of his efforts, we were able to witness an extraordinary lionness kill that was probably the pinnacle of an already fantastic safari.
This last safari to Kenya really was a game-changer for us in many ways, and the Kicheche ethos played a big part in that.
Kicheche bush camp
A different feel to Valley camp but really loved it. The hosts were great, being good fun, friendly and informative. Frank, their Jack Russell was the star of the camp.
Our tent was number 1 The monkey. It was close to the hub of the camp and was well appointed, spotlessly clean and with a great bucket shower. All the staff were very friendly and helpful and the evening dance they put on was much appreciated.
Organisation of meals was either out under the trees or inside in one group. Both worked really well and much friendly banter and stimulating conversation took place.
Our driver/guide, James was excellent, a very safe driver and a keen photographer which suited me down to the ground. The jeep was well set up including bean bags for photography.
The wildlife was amazing and we certainly saw more animal behaviour and species ie 9 different antelope than on many safaris we've done. Predators included Fig (leopard) with two very young cubs, many lion cubs and a cheetah. I liked that we could stay as long as we liked at any sighting and that nobody was interested in hunting down the Big Five, but we could spend ages at dwarf mongoose etc. The highlights were time spent with two hunting dog up from the Serengeti and watching a lion pride hunting wildebeest in the pouring rain. Absolute magic.
A wonderful camp
Having travelled extensively in Africa, this was my first time in Kenya - and I was blow away by the Mara. The rains had already begun, meaning everything was a sparkling emerald green - and the wide open vistas, so different to what I was used to from Zambia, were spectacular.
The game - especially cats: a showoff leopard, Fig, and large prides of stunning lions (those manes!) - just leaps off the landscape in front of you. Nelson was an excellent and friendly guide, and Aki was a charming host back at camp. Tents were spacious and well-equipped, including brollies and boots for the downpours (being caught in one of these on our evening drive, just as we were watching a pride of lions, was a highlight), and food was very good. The camp is especially good for photographers, with specially adapted vehicles offering loads of space for kit and well-trained guides.
Highly recommended.
Kicheche Bush Camp review
The camp was very luxurious for a camp with real beds and nice linens, flush toilets, running water and bucket showers. The food was excellent which we didn't expect at a camp. The host, Aki, was very friendly and welcoming, the guides were very friendly and knowledgeable and the entire staff knew us by name as soon as we arrived.
The wildlife viewing is outstanding here. Our guide Johnson was tenacious in trying to find what we wanted to see; and he succeeded wonderfully. So many lions, and the leopard Fig, and cheetahs. We got to see the cheetah hunt and catch an impala which was a highlight of the trip to watch the cheetah hunt.
We would highly recommend taking the hot air balloon ride although it will take a little over an hour to reach the take off site from Bush camp. But well worth it.
Great stay at Kicheche Bush camp
Aki was in charge as relief manager whilst Darron and Emma were in Nairobi. The camp was well run and extremely comfortable. It was busier than the other Kicheche camps I visited but everything was perfect. Patrick was an excellent guide and good companion.
Read more about the whole safariBest camp of my stay
Loved Kicheche's remoteness. Darren and Emma and their great staff made our days there very memorable. They organised a dawn balloon safari for me, and we had a very good early morning walking trip. Charles, our guide, was superb, knowledgeable and keen to help us enjoy our game viewing. As it's in one of the concessions, this was less crowded than the Mara itself.
it was interesting having photographers, professional and keen amateurs, in the camp, and to be allowed to look over their shoulders in the evening to watch them processing the days' shots. Tempts me to do a trip with Paul Goldstein and improve my holiday pics.
