Kichwa tembo1/30/2024 ![]() ![]() It was a real privilege to have our own land-rover and to be shown the reserve by such knowledgeable and charming individuals. The final word must go to our wonderful guide/driver Ambrose and our Masai spotter Marco. Both Adrian and Veronique made a real effort to get to know us and ensure we were well looked after and it's certainly worth picking Adrian's brains on the history of the region (it's not called Speke's camp for nothing) What really makes the experience however are the wonderful hosts. Whilst you do sleep and eat under canvas, it is an extremely civilised experience: the beds are comfy (with hot water bottles provided to ward off the chill of the evenings) there are bucket showers which sound much more primitive than they really are the communal area is very elegantly laid out tea is brought to the tent before setting out on early morning game drives, and the food was fantastic. If you do want a little more privacy, then it's absolutely fine to eat in your own group. One of the great pleasures was getting to chat to other guests over the evening meal or round the camp fire, swapping stories of the day's sightings. There are only eight or so guest tents, so you get to meet everyone passing through. The camp itself is small and has a very personal feel to it. You get to feel very close to nature when you have a buffalo rooting up grass just outside your tent in the middle of the night! Wildlife roams near (and sometimes through!) the camp. The camp is only a short drive outside the main Mara reserve and is in an amazingly picturesque location, set by a small river in the shade of trees. For us it was the perfect location to experience the Mara. We stayed at Speke's camp for 4 nights in August 2018 - a family of two adults and two children. It's the perfect antidote to anyone wanting to get away from the soulless all inclusive resorts which could be absolutely anywhere in the world (which seem to be a bit of a feature of Zanzibar). It's a proper East African institution, with all the locals dropping into the bar. It's also worth saying that Peponi really is a unique experience. I think the only negative of the trip was getting through Nairobi airport (multiple security checks, and they ask you to "board" two hours in advance, which in fact means going into crowded transit lounge with no facilities), but there's not anything anyone can do about that See below for the review we just posted on rip Advisor. Speke's camp give you your own landrover and driver/guide, which gave us great flexibility (much better I suspect than what is offered by some of the larger camps). The kid's didn't miss having a pool (too interested in Safari). We'd definitely recommend the "tented safari" experience to others. ![]() Speke's camp was absolutely ideal - small and personal, with great hosts. There are three family suites in camp and some of the other tents can be adapted to triples. they need to be reasonably well behaved for safety reasons) and at the discretion of management, families are usually accommodated in their own safari vehicle. Children aged six to twelve are permitted on game drives (at the lodge manager’s discretion, i.e. The atmosphere is welcoming for families, and the location means not too much driving to the main wildlife spots. Kichwa Tembo is a very good option for families who are keen to have the benefit of a swimming pool between game drives. Being in the North of the park, it is conveniently located for access to the key river crossing and migration routes and avoids the excesses of the most touristed areas of the reserve. Kichwa Tembo is located in a small private conservancy to the North of the Masai Mara reserve (just outside the main reserve). Shaded by a dense forest canopy, guest areas include a cosy bar and spacious dining room, as well as a well-stocked Safari Shop, all of which overlook the plains of the Masai Mara, with the Oloololo Escarpment in the background. The decent sized swimming pool is set among the trees and surrounded by lawns and spectacular views. There are 28 classic tents and 12 luxury tents all with ensuite bathrooms and private verandas that with views over the grasslands or the Sabaringo River. Given its comparative size, it can't compare for intimacy with the high end smaller camps in the Mara, the combination of setting, swimming pool and service elevate Kichwa Tembo to a fantastic all round choice. Kichwa Tembo has a very strong reputation in Kenya, and albeit self-penned, its claim to be the best loved safari camp in Kenya is probably not far wrong.
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