Reviews of Kicheche Valley
Wildlife sightings and reviews
61 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
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"Kicheche Valley review"
We requested Edward, our guide from Kicheche Mara last year, who is now working at Kicheche Valley. This meant that we again had a private vehicle. I think that this would have been the case anyway, given the two sets of photographic guests. It was lovely seeing him again and being able to relax, knowing that he would get us into a good position and not miss anything.
This conservancy feels the least wild of the three which we have now been to, as you can see the lights of nearby settlements. It is less open than Mara North and has more areas of trees and shrubs than Olare Motorogi, but they all have their charms.
There was a cheetah with five cubs very close to camp. This provided great photographic opportunities and was the only time where it felt crowded with vehicles.
Like Kicheche Mara, they offer spa treatments here, but I don't know when you are supposed to fit them in, as there is never any free time!" See all these reviews: 12n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
"Kicheche Valley review"
From our greeting to departure we were treated like royalty. The staff was exceptional, personable and seemed truly happy to have us as their guests.
We loved learning about the culture and a few Swahili phrases. The behind the scenes tour of the camp is a must. We’d love to learn more about the sustainability and inside workings of running such a camp.
The personal touches like morning hot water bottles in the vehicles to everyone welcoming us back from a game drive with beverages and cold wet towels to wash the dust off goes above and beyond. The food was incredible (and plentiful) and the efforts to adapt to food allergies or dislikes was exceptional.
Even the detail of the nightly table settings made everything personal and special. Thank you for offering a gift shop area with the ability to purchase and support local Maasai women.
We can’t wait to come back! Minnie runs a great camp." See all these reviews: 12n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
"Kicheche Valley review"
The quality of the food, accommodation and the care shown by all the staff was fantastic.
Getting to know our guide Johnson was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. We really loved his knowledge, enthusiasm and his friendly approach. The game viewing was outstanding, particularly the lions." See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
The "tents" are beautiful and well-appointed with a modern design that convinces you this is not a tent! (but it is!) The most luxurious of our four camps and, at the end of an 11-day safari, much appreciated.
Minnie is the delightful camp manager who oversees a wonderful staff, always making sure every guest feels welcome and accommodated. And what a staff! We had the most fun here, with everyone joining in the festivities which included singing, dancing, and cake (!) for everyone to celebrate guests' special occasions. Just great!
The camp has a lovely location with beautiful views of the valley. The food was nicely presented and delicious, every meal, including our "picnic" breakfasts and sundowners in the bush.
Our guide Bernard was wonderful! He is a magical spotter and always seemed to know where the next exciting wildlife sighting would be. And there were many! He, too, is an accomplished photographer who helped us take advantage of the best light, and maneuvered us into the best spots for photos. He's passionate about conservation, wildlife, and the wellbeing of his Maasai community, an inspiration. We loved him and could not have asked for a better guide and daily companion.
We highly recommend the Kicheche Valley camp!" See all these reviews: 17n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
I was lucky to get to celebrate my birthday at Valley Camp. The camp staff - Joyce, Jocelyn and others - honored me with a native dance and a birthday cake. Joyce gave such a sweet welcome and celebration speech. Minnie made each guest feel special and shared a little bit about each one of us. The staff is wonderful. Minnie works very hard to make sure that every detail is flawless. Joyce just exudes joy. Her smile is contagious. She and Jocelyn were very attentive and so gracious. One day we returned from the afternoon drive to find that Nelson had carved sticks for us to use to roast marshmallows over the fire (a much-loved camping tradition in the U.S.A.). Elijah always made sure we were comfortable and that services were to our liking. The chefs made masterful meals and take such pride in what they prepare. An absolutely fantastic experience.
Our guide was Mica and he was amazing. He has extensive guiding experience and great instincts. We spent a day in the Reserve to see the crossing. What a different experience than the conservancies! We're really glad that we were able to see the crossing while we were there. The first group of more than 2,000 wildebeests and zebra crossed while about 300 cars jockeyed for position. Mica kept us safe through that wild ride and didn't risk our lives for the best viewing spot. The cars actually ended up separating the herd and a smaller group retreated to wait for another opportunity. We explored a bit more of the river after that large crossing and thought we'd be headed back to camp but Mica knew that it was a matter of time before the rest of the herd made the crossing. Within about 10 minutes of that herd crossing, Mica took us back to the original spot and got us in an amazing front-row spot. It was a really special experience to be there for the crossing.
Mica took great care to get us in great animal viewing positions for photographs, too, even for birds. He really watched and listened to our surroundings to give us unique experiences. On our last morning, we were trying to find a leopard and he noticed a bunch of birds were warning of a predator in a small tree. He maneuvered around and watched and waited until he saw the reason for the ruckus - a pearl-spotted owlet. Mica made sure that our experience wasn't just about the large animals - we saw such a variety of birds, both in the Reserve and Naboisha, as well as mongoose. We learned about the different animals and their behavior.
Kicheche Valley Camp is a must-visit. It was simply perfect." See all these reviews: 12n in Kenya; 4n in Rwanda
"Kicheche Valley - it couldn't be better !!!"
They offer also two games per day: in the morning from 6:00 a.m. to around 11:00 a.m. (longer if required) and in the afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to around 7:00 p.m./7:30 p.m. You can also ask for an additional night drive for spotting nocturnal animals (8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. / 10:00 p.m.). And for keen photographers you can inquire about a special safari vehicle for photographers with fantastic opportunities for different perspectives - if not already used by other guests!
Our guide Johnson was fantastic with an incredible understanding of the animals and their behavior. Thanks to him and his many years of experience in this conservancy, we had incredible sightings and experiences every day. And he was always in a good mood and with a smile on his face - the best guide we could have wished for." See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley with NJ Wight review"
One of the special things about this camp was the chance to go on a night drive. With a spotter armed with a red light, Johnson took us on a drive around the conservancy, pointing out the nocturnal activity of the animals. We were able to watch a bush baby going from tree to tree - it even looked right at us, showing its cute big eyes and round ears. We also saw black backed jackals, spotted hyenas heading out for the night, bat-eared foxes, white tailed mongoose, bush hares, spring hares, and one lonely lion.
I'm going to sound like a broken record here, but our guides Mika and Johnson were key to making this safari the amazing experience that it was. As with our other guides, both men have a depth of knowledge about the conservancy and its place in the ecosystem. They also were able to share information on individual leopards as well as lions - cubs' approximate ages, the relationships between lionesses, the changing hierarchy of the prides were we're watching. They got us into prime photography position (even though NJ was the only pro). They never left until they were sure we were ready. And it seemed that of the three camps, this one had the most challenging terrain or the trucks. Mika and Johnson navigated their way through all kinds of driving conditions without a problem. One memory that stands out for me is the time we spent watching a pride of around 14 lions (3 lionesses and the rest sub-adults) as the walked through the waving golden grass. Johnson kept patiently getting us into position to watch them as they made their way across the hills. Besides the skill and knowledge they showed, Both Johnson and Mika shared a joy in their work and a great sense of humor (a critical skill when part of your job is finding appropriate places for your guests to 'pick the flowers')." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya
"Kicheche Valley review"
My tent was fantastic - the best of the trip - with hard floors, a nice open view, and even a (temperamental but great when it came on) ceiling fan. The shower was also especially hot and nice.
The meal/lounge space at Valley Camp was especially nice, and as a solo woman traveler, it was great to meet several female staff members. Having said that, all of the staff and guides were excellent." See all these reviews: 12n in Kenya
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