Kicheche Mara North
Kicheche Mara North is a classic tented camp hidden in a secluded valley on the vast Mara North Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Kicheche Mara North is an excellent camp within its price range, offering a warm welcome, friendly management and service, lovely food and super guiding. The setting of the camp is beautiful, nestled into a valley overlooking the Olare Orok River with game often seen from camp. The property has the feel of an authentic tented camp with an informal ‘outdoor’ ambience. The tents are very comfortable and well furnished, however the emphasis is on your safari experience rather than luxury and relaxation. Consequently Kicheche Mara North tends to attract guests who are passionate about wildlife and are looking for an outstanding wildlife experience at a reasonable cost level.
Rooms
There are 10 comfortable safari tents overlooking the meandering course of the Olare Orok River and plains beyond. Each tent is very comfortably furnished with small touches and soft lighting. To the front of each tent is a private verandah with safari chairs, and to the side is an en suite bathroom with a flush toilet, double vanity and plumbed shower. One of the tents is a two bedroomed family unit, which is more suitable for families with older children. This tent is built on the hillside with significant drops from the outside verandah (therefore not suitable for very young children), and includes two en suite bedrooms (one double and one twin) interconnecting via a central lounge area.
Central Areas
There is a centrally located mess tent with a dining tent (although meals are generally served al fresco) and lounge which houses a selection of reference books and easy chairs – the perfect spot to unwind during the heat of the day. The camp fire area is where guests gather for early morning tea and drinks in the evening. There is also a spa tent.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – No
Habitat & Wildlife
The Masai Mara ecosystem is one of the best game viewing areas in Africa and is especially good for viewing the big cats. Elephants, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles, giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyaena, impala, gazelles, eland, waterbuck, topi, jackal and serval are all common and seen regularly. Rhino are found in certain areas, and wild dogs are more transient visitors. The famous wildebeest and zebra migration is usually in residence from mid-July through to mid-October, though the movement of the animals is always somewhat unpredictable. The scenery of the Masai Mara is stunning with open grassland plains intersected by rivers, rocky ridges and pockets of riverine forest. Birdlife is varied and especially good around the riverine woodland areas.
Whilst the official Masai Mara Game Reserve can be busy with tourist vehicles in places, especially at river crossings in migration season, the Mara North Conservancy offers relative exclusivity away from the crowds. You do still see other vehicles, especially at predator sightings, but much of the time you will be able to explore away from other vehicles. The Conservancy is vast, stretching from the Aitong Hills all the way down to the north-western boundary of the Mara Reserve, and offers a good mix of wide open plains, rocky valleys and riverine thickets. The game viewing is superb.
The conservancy is funded by a limited number of ‘tourism partners’ in cooperation with local Maasai land-owners, and this model has been shown to benefit not only the local land-owners who receive greater income and better pasture for their livestock, and the tourism partners, but also the wildlife and in particular, the predators.
Activities
The main activity at Kicheche Mara North is game drives by day across the open plains of the Mara North Conservancy, and to a lesser extent into the official Mara Game Reserve. Guided walks are also offered, giving a very different perspective to the drives and affording you the chance to stretch your legs after many hours spent in vehicles! There is the chance to arrange a Community Discovery trip to gain a brief glimpse into the lives of the local community and the opportunities and challenges they face. It is also possible to visit the Mara Elephant Project (this must be booked in advance and donations are at guests’ discretion). Fly-camping in the bush is an option too as a one night experience, usually combined with a walking safari to and from camp (this is an extra cost). Hot-air ballooning is available as a third party activity (at extra cost). There is also the chance to arrange a Community Discovery trip (no extra cost) to gain a brief glimpse into the lives of the local community and the opportunities and challenges they face. This visit is usually made after lunch allowing guests to continue on their afternoon game drive.
Seasons
Kicheche Mara North is open all year except in April and May (the April closure date varies from year to year) and for a short period in late November / early December (again these dates can vary). Game viewing is excellent all year round, but the migration is usually in residence from mid-July to mid-October.
Kicheche Mara North is very suitable for families who wish to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy an authentic safari experience. The staff are fantastic with children and will keep them entertained in between game drives as required, teaching them about all aspects of life in the bush. However, there is no swimming pool and the camp has no fences, so families with younger children should consider these factors. In terms of accommodation, there is a two bedroomed family tent which is very suitable for families with older kids, whilst extra beds can be added to some of the standard tents to accommodate one or two younger children. The warmth of the Kicheche service and the quality of their guides, combined with the fact that the camp offers good value for money, makes it a very popular choice for families.
The Kicheche Community Trust is involved in education, health, environment and empowerment within the communities in which they operate. The Trust supports the local Masaai families through conservancy land leases. They assist the local health clinic in the Mara through donations of medicines, books, a dental ward, water tanks and they have assisted in the upgrading of a solar plant. The Trust supports six schools having built classrooms and funded the further education of a teacher, supported 18 scholarships, contributed towards a school bus and donated thousands of books and stationary. They sponsor students from the Koiyaki Guiding School and employ some of the Maasai graduates as trainee and qualified guides. There is also a contribution of $5 per bed night which goes to the Trust.
Kicheche supports S.A.F.E’s Female Genital Cutting (FGC) abandonment programme within the Maasai culture which has successfully led to the acceptance of girls transitioning to womanhood without being cut.
They organise environmental projects such as Clean Up campaigns in towns along the edge of the conservancies, raising money for cattle bomas (grazing areas) to reduce deforestation, assisting with tree planting and the running of a bee hive program.
Kicheche Mara are also members of The Long Run organisation who drive eco-tourism through culture, community, conservation and commerce around the world.
Guests at Kicheche Mara have the opportunity to visit the Mara Elephant Project which works to reduce both poaching and the conflict between humans and elephants. Guests will get an understanding of the operation and experience tracking collared elephants (donation at guests’ discretion).
