Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp | The Masai Mara One Of Kenya’s Best Safari Lodges

I doze in a state of utter contentment, soaking up the rays of the sun which bathe me in their warm caress. Never mind witnessing a river crossing, being practically in the path of the Great Wildebeest Migration I’m half expecting a pool crossing! This prime location, in the remote western Masai Mara on the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment, is one of the key reasons I chose to stay at Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp. Earlier, when I asked my guide about the name, he told me Kichwa Tembo means ‘head of the elephant’ in Swahili, and that the camp is located in a private concession of the same name, leased from the Maasai. It had a been a wonderful morning: a prompt wake-up call with the local Kericho Gold tea I’d asked for last night followed by a long game drive through the open grasslands of the abundant Masai Mara. As it’s migration season, we’d opted for a packed breakfast, which we tucked into parked among a sea of wildebeest. After our successful morning drive we decided to spend the afternoon relaxing, and what better place to do so than at the infinity pool, which comes with uninterrupted views of the Masai Mara and its very own wildlife sightings of passing zebra and eland. I’m not sure how much time has passed when my spouse taps me on the shoulder; it’s time to go back to our tent to dress for dinner. Already the afternoon sun is waning, lighting up the sky with a weak orange colour, prescient to the burnt African sunset I’ve come to expect.

We’re in one of 40 stylish tents, each stationed apart for complete privacy where forest and savannah meet. Some are set on stilts among the trees – perfect for bird lovers such as myself – but as it’s our first time in the Masai Mara we opted for a tent overlooking the plains. We’re not disappointed, as even the shower and loo have views! It’s also very elegantly decorated, with local materials and Maasai touches. Once we’re both ready, we return to the restaurant for sundowners on the deck, sharing stories of our game drive with the other guests. The split-level dining area has been designed around the lodge’s own organic vegetable garden, mirroring the food on our plates, and the oversized windows make dinner itself a safari experience. After being escorted back to our tent under the starry night, we find a personalised note on our pillow and hot water bottles warming our bed. It’s these kinds of thoughtful touches that make Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp unique.

One of the larger and more established tented camps in the Masai Mara, Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp has all the modern conveniences of a larger hotel – namely the interactive kitchen, sociable bar, in-room wifi and large gift store – but the guest areas have been cleverly split in order to create a very intimate environment. I loved the resident warthogs, who happily romp around the lawns, and that bushbuck joined me at the infinity pool. I also liked that Kichwa Tembo has close ties with the local community, evident in frequent visits by local Maasai dance troupes, and that our stay helped support initiatives such as beekeeping projects, school building, conservation lessons and an HIV/AIDS awareness programme.

• Large, fully serviced camp in the game-rich Masai Mara – near the Great Wildebeest Migration – with 40 classic, superior and superior-view tents, infinity pool and shop.
• Private concession, private vehicles available (additional cost) and opportunities to see the Great Wildebeest Migration.
• Game drives, night drives, walking safaris (additional cost), hot-air ballooning (additional cost) and cultural visits (additional cost).
• Family-friendly camp with three family suites, WILDchild programme (additional cost) and babysitting available (additional cost). Children from six can join game drives.

• Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
• It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
• Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you.  Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
• However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.