Reviews of Kicheche Valley
Wildlife sightings and reviews
62 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Kicheche Valley and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
100% success
75% success
96% success
9% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
98% success
96% success
96% success
94% success
94% success
9% success
6% success
5% success
2% success
"Kicheche Valley review"
The only possible aspect that we were less keen on was communal eating at lunch and dinner throughout.
Bernard, our safari guide, was so knowledgeable and passionate about the animal and bird life in the Masai Mara. As a keen photographer, he managed to enhance our photos by his efforts to find good light and angles. The jeep was well maintained and had all the necessary extras, such as, ponchos for colder times, drinking water, sanitiser." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
"Prepare to be spoiled by Kicheche Valley!"
The tent was very spacious, clean and nicely decorated with all the comforts that you would not expect in the bush. Our tent, laundry and morning wake ups with coffee delivery was serviced by the same person during our stay who looked after us royally and kept our tent spotless. Kicheche Valley is very eco conscious and you won't see plastic. We received personal aluminum water bottles which we could refill during our stay and take home.
There was a large water dispenser of drinkable water in our tent and in the main lodge. At the end of each game drive, our water bottle was collected and refilled for us for our next morning's game drive. Loved having a hot water bottle given to us for the morning game drive and at night we came back to a cozy bed with a hot water bottle under the sheets.
The food was excellent! Buffet lunch with vegetarian and meat or fish choice, several salads. Dinner was full service. Your wine glass is never empty with the attentive staff. The tables are not communal so it's nice to get time alone with your partner during meals.
Lastly, our guide Johnson was kind, knowledgeable and patiently answered our questions. We shared many laughs. Enjoyed the bush breakfast which Johnson expertly set up every morning for us. You are given a breakfast menu with choices the day before. You will also be asked for your sundowner drink of choice with delicious snacks which was always a great way to end the day. Amazing, rich wildlife sightings and very respectful of the number of trucks allowed per sighting.
We were sad to leave and would not hesitate to return to Kicheche Valley. Fantastic team led by the manager Minnie and our guide coupled with great wildlife sightings made this camp our favourite." See all these reviews: 6n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
A very nice camp. with excellent rooms, first class management and staff, excellent food and an excellent guide (Mika). We very much enjoyed this camp, which was a relief.
There was lots of game to see, and to be found." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
"Kicheche Valley review"
"Kicheche Valley review"
The facilities were great, the food amazing, the animal drives were sensational and the early morning sunrises were beautiful. We got lucky with animal sightings another wonderful life experience" See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
Other than that the wait staff was spectacular and the food was the best of the whole trip.
Our guide was SUPER knowledgable and informative.
The accommodations were excellent and the variety of animals we were able to see made it a very special part of the trip." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 7n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
One of our main reasons for choosing this camp was for night drives and this could not be organised for 2 of the 4 nights that weather permitted outings. It also took a discussion with the manager to rearrange meal times as required for these drives.
Food quality was excellent but very much targetted to fixed times rather than totally flexible around wildlife.
The guide was excellent, very knowledgable and very keen to educate us on the detail of all the ecology and animal life." See all these reviews: 16n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
Kicheche’s accommodations are excellent. The tents are large and well-appointed. No bucket showers here. 24x7 in-room charging stations, new ceiling fans, fresh drinking water for your reusable bottle. Absolutely no complaints at all!
Kicheche honored my request for Twala as a guide again and I’m thankful they did! I had amazing sightings with Twala last year and I did again this time. Things were made much more difficult with the heavy rains, flooding, mud and all that that does to wildlife, making sightings that should be easy a bit more difficult. Never mind though, Twala still delivered….mother cheetah with 4 cubs, mother leopard with a little cub, mother lion with 3 cubs, large lion pride of 15+…the list goes on. I was spoiled for choice (it’s a tough call when you have to decide between cheetah cubs and leopard cub on the same drive!).
Twala is very personable and experienced. He knows the wildlife really well and knows how to find them even when rangers can’t! He also has an innate sense of how the cats in particular will move. I was well positioned for photos a couple times as we waited for lions to come out of deep bush or leopard to come down out of a tree. It only makes my photos that much better!
One “above and beyond” story though…on my first night, the camp inadvertently forgot to pack the gin for my sundowner. No worries, I will just drink my water, I said. Twala snuck away for a couple minutes while the rest of us were chatting and watching the sun go down and within 10 minutes another Kicheche vehicle pulled up with my gin. He didn’t have to make that happen, but he did. That’s the kind of thing that makes a difference.
A special note about the chef here…he does a wonderful job with feeding vegetarians! I ate better than I do when I cook for myself and with a lot of very inventive dishes. I hope to be motivated enough to try to replicate them myself.
I’m already planning next time, and Kicheche Valley is already on my itinerary." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
Another amazing camp: small, very personal, great staff again. Food was very good and copious - actually far too much food!
Game drives excellent: no Rhinos here but lots of cats and we were fortunate to see within a few minutes two Cheetah mothers with four cubs each. Great place for bird watching.
We did a bush walk which made a nice change from car safari." See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya
Holiday styles & special interests in Kenya
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Kenya.
Other lodges in Maasai Mara Conservancies
Alternative places to stay in this same area.