Reviews of Kicheche Mara
(99%) From 15 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Exceptional safari at Kicheche Mara
Kicheche Mara camp was tremendous. Great wildlife, fantastic setting. Camp managers Andrea and Manuela are wonderful hosts and it felt like being with old friends.Joseph is a brilliant guide who understands the requirements of photographers and has his finger on the pulse of the environment. The cuisine was great and plentiful.
I love the spacious feeling of the camp with tents well-spread along the valley among large shady trees. Wildlife visits all the camps but it is more visible here and very relaxed within the camp.
I would happily return to any of the three Kicheche camps in the Mara conservancies but especially Kicheche Mara.
It is difficult to imagine how a safari could be better.
Kicheche Mara - a really beautiful camp
The approach to the camp, and its setting, are really beautiful. Just thinking about it while I'm writing this feedback is so uplifting!
But this camp is not just a 'pretty face', it has real substance in the form of abundant and diverse wildlife shown to you by phenomenal guides.
This was my third visit and we are already planning our next trip.
Kicheche Mara
We stayed at 2 kicheche camps, the Kicheche Bush Camp and the Kicheche Mara. This is what I said about the Kicheche Bush Camp
"Fantastic. The managers, Darren & Emma are very personable and go out of their way to make sure that guests are looked after.
Nothing is too much trouble.The food and wine are first class. The guides all hold silver qualifications under the Kenya Professional Guide scheme. All of them regularly accompany professional photographers and as a result they instinctively put guests in the best position to view animals and to take photographs. They explain what animals have been sighted in the conservancy over the last few days and which are with cubs. They will then plan game drives which suit what the guest wants to view. You have the option to have packed breakfasts or lunches depending on what you want to see."
After staying at Bush Camp we stayed in the Mara Camp. Everything I wrote about the Bush Camp applies to the Mara camp where Andreas and Manuela are the managers. They are Italian and bring a delightful Italian influence to some of the dishes at this camp. They are both charming and knowledgeable about Kenya it's wildlife and people.
The mara camp is in an area which is ideal for sightings of lions, cheetah and leopards.
Brilliant stay at Kicheche Mara
Even if this is quite a big camp with its 8 tents, these are placed unusually far apart which gives each party a lot of privacy. The tents are huge, very cosy and nicely decorated and sleep up to four people. Maybe that´s why this camp was visited by many families during our stay.
Everything at this camp was run smoothly and super efficiently by the Italian managers Manuela and Andrea. They were the most sympathetic and relaxed managers we ever met. We cannot praise them highly enough. As we had problems as to where to hang our washing, they really listened and already the next day, they had introduced a discretely placed new washing line at all tents. A washing line for the laundry that the staff cannot wash, is something that we had missed at all camps we visited so far.
Food is excellent here and no effort was spared as to fulfil my dietary needs. The cook, who even came in person to our table, baked the most delicious special rice bread just for me. All the staff was great.
The highlights of our stay were the game drives with our outstanding guide David, who has a lovely personality. It was a pleasure to spend our days in his company. He was very responsive to our interests and every day made suggestions for us to choose from. Mara North was teeming with wildlife and among many memorable sightings, we witnessed the unfolding drama of two jackals chasing and killing an impala fawn, through outsmarting the impala mother and the whole herd. Next thing, the carcass got stolen by a passing hyena.
We spent the lion's share of an afternoon with the Offbeat lion pride, watching the older cubs stalking each other, jumping high into the air while playing rough, three of them even went up a tree, all of them together. We also had several heartwarming encounters with elephant mothers and their young, who were calmly surrounding us at close range. Their obvious trust was deeply moving.
Most of our time each day we spent watching and photographing a cheetah mother, probably Amani, with her two cubs. Mostly we were the only vehicle there, except for a film team.
As advertised
The star here is the beautiful Mara North Conservancy
anyone who loves the land will appreciate it
excellent guiding
abundant game as the southern herds were mostly here
Lions in huge numbers
Kicheche is very service oriented and responsive
A negative is there are a lot of vehicles from other camps in the general area
the tents and camp itself are quite nice but the camp facilities bar is high in this area
Lovely location and guiding at Kicheche Mara
This is a beautifully sited camp and the tents are well located apart from each other. Really feel you are in the middle of the bush.
After Bush Camp though, Mara really lacked atmosphere. Don't know whether this is due to relief managers rather than permanent fixtures but it was infinitely less friendly and welcoming. David was an excellent guide and very informative and knowledgeable with a lovely gentle manner. He made the stay for us.
Kicheche Mara review
This was my second visit to Kicheche Mara which I had loved the first time I visited. Consequently I was a bit anxious that it would not live up to my expectations. I need not have worried - the whole experience was absolutely wonderful!
The camp is in a beautiful valley next to a stream and the tents have a wonderful outlook across the valley. The staff were very attentive and even remembered me, and the food and drink were excellent.
The wildlife in Mara North is just fantastic. I learnt a great deal about 'spotting' and the animals from our excellent guide David. I have travelled to many countries to see wildlife and the Masai Mara ranks number one as far as I am concerned.
Kicheche Mara review
Again, I throughly enjoyed my stay with the Guys at Kicheche Mara. Both Sean and Tanyth are great hosts at thei camp. They have been in for just one month and by the looks of things (and talking to a few of the staff) they have settled in very well. (they know their job and wildlife knowledge). Francis my guide was brilliant, we got on well and his desire and knowledge of bird life there was excellent. Also willing to learn as they all are, but we had great healthy debates of what we had and (I) tried to identify.
Recommend Francis and keeping in touch too.
The night guards, the 'front of house' staff, the backstage team, all appeared in great spirits indicating there is a good working relationship in the camp.
Food was excellent, nothing there I did not like or enjoy.
Facilities and the tents are very clean and just have lovely touches. I have come away from both camps with great ideas.
That aside, the safaris were great, plenty of lions and their cubs. No sign of the leopards on this occasion, but of course I have herad since that there is one now about after my departure, obviously wanted to wait until I went ... Elephant herds coming through stirred up a lot on interest in Francis. 52 around us at one stage.
I will keep in touch with the camp and funds allowing will return one day for more photography...
The best camp I have ever experienced
Kicheche Mara camp under the direction of Colin and Sam was excellent in every respect. an enthusiastic and warm welcome from all the staff, superb facilities and food coupled with exceptional attention to detail in every aspect of our stay. Sam and Colin were always available and very visible at meal times and departure. They genuinely enjoyed conversing and socialising with their guests which made us all feel very much a home.
All the staff were friendly and were prepared to go over and beyond the call of duty to ensure our stay was enjoyable - even taking the trouble to point out wildlife whilst escorting us back to our rooms at night - we were fortunate to see bats and jennet cats thanks to our Masai escort one night.
Our rooms were well appointed, clean and well maintained - perhaps my only slight criticism would be that although there were two deck chairs and two upright camp chairs on the verandah, there was not a chair inside the tent therefore unless one carried in the c amp chairs from outside, morning tea and coffee had to be consumed sitting on the bed as it was too cold to be outside at 5.45 a.m.! thgis is only a very little niggle and by no means did it spoil our enjoyment - the web site photographs do show a sofa at the end of the bed, so perhaps we were unlucky.
Great experience
Again, wonderful camp - wonderful location and excellent food. the staff were all very friendly I liked the fact that the tents were far apart. Extremely well set out.
Annabelle's birthday celebration dinner was wonderful - thank you to all the staff
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
