Kichwa Tembo

Kichwa Tembo, means ‘Head of the Elephant’ in Kiswahili. This is an enchanting, luxurious tented camp in the north-western corner of the richest game reserve in Kenya. Renowned as Kenya’s best-loved safari lodge, Kichwa Tembo Tented Safari Camp nestles below the Oloololo Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, affording spectacular views of the Maasai Mara’s game-filled plains. Each tent stands at least eight meters away from the next, ensuring absolute seclusion.

The airy main restaurant is covered with Maasai thatch grass and overlooks the Mara plains. During the night, Askaris (Maasai warrior security guards) accompany you to and from your tent.

Accommodation

Kichwa Tembo offers 12 “Classic Tents”, 20 “Superior Tents” and  8 “Superior View Tents” all with en-suite bathrooms and private verandas. Classic Tents are set into the dense vegetation surrounding the Sabaringo River. The larger and more spacious Superior Tents feature beautiful Maasai-inspired interiors that showcase a simple and contemporary use of local materials. Of these, the Superior View Tents offer particularly breathtaking views across the Mara plains from the private verandahs.

The main thatched guest areas include a welcoming bar/sitting area, indoor and outdoor dining areas.

You can relax in the candlelit bar in the evening before enjoying delicious Pan-African cuisine served alfresco style, outdoors or in the main dining area. Private dining and exciting bush banquets may be arranged on request.

Activities

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the open 4×4 safari vehicles. During the day when animals take cover of the shades, you can choose to relax in the palm-fringed swimming pool which overlooks the plains of the Mara or go on a bird watching excursion. There are also daily cultural lectures given by a Maasai naturalist at the camp.

Other activities include optional excursions at an additional cost for spectacular night game-drives on the lodge’s private concession, guided walking trails up and along the Oloololo Escarpment, a Maasai community visit, sundowners at a choice location with spectacular views across the Mara and hot air ballooning flights across the Mara.

Kichwa Tembo which is located 250 km west of Nairobi is easily accessible by air. Daily scheduled flights depart the Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Kichwa Tembo’s private airstrip on an approximately one hour flight. Guests are collected from the airstrip by lodge vehicles for a short drive to the camp with game viewing en-route.