Reviews of Kicheche Mara
Wildlife sightings and reviews
98 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Kicheche Mara and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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69% success
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91% success
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92% success
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"Kicheche Mara with NJ Wight review"
Something that made our time at Kicheche Mara extra special was a complete surprise. NJ had let them know that we were celebrating our 39th anniversary, so they arranged a private dinner for us. When we returned from the evening game drive, we were escorted to our tent. There we found the patio to our tent had been transformed. There were luminarias going up the steps and along the edge of the patio, a candlelit table with tablecloth, flowers, and a chilled bottle of sparkling wine. Our waitress served a superb meal (the butternut squash ravioli was amazing!). We sipped our sparkling wine while looking out at the fireflies, hearing the bell frogs and the quiet munching and rustlings of the elephants as they ate their dinner. Magic indeed.
But despite the amazingly high quality of every aspect of the camp, the heart and soul of this experience came from our guides. Saruni and David have a passion for the Mara that comes through in everything they do. Their knowledge of the wildlife, the land, and the people truly enriched our safari experience. Somehow they managed to keep up their energy, enthusiasm, and sense of humor for every ride. I was sorry to say goodbye to these two men." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya
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Buffalo
10 sightings
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Cheetah
2 sightings
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Eland
10 sightings
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Elephant
10 sightings
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Giraffe
10 sightings
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Hippo
10 sightings
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Lion
10 sightings
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Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
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Wildebeest
10 sightings
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Zebra
10 sightings
"Kicheche Mara review"
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Buffalo
10 sightings
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Eland
Multiple sightings
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Elephant
Multiple sightings
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Giraffe
Multiple sightings
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Hippo
Multiple sightings
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Lion
Multiple sightings
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Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
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Wildebeest
10 sightings
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Zebra
10 sightings
"Kicheche Mara review"
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Buffalo
Multiple sightings
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Cheetah
Multiple sightings
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Eland
Multiple sightings
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Elephant
Multiple sightings
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Giraffe
Multiple sightings
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Hippo
Multiple sightings
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Lion
Multiple sightings
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Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
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Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
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Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Kicheche Mara review"
The drive to camp should be around 30 minutes from the airstrip - mine took longer because we stopped, firstly to watch a leopard in a tree, and climbing down it, and then, just outside camp, to watch the Acacia pride of lions dozing in the sun. I also saw buffalo and elephant on that drive, so four of the available big five, if that’s what floats your boat, before I’d even got to camp (there are no rhino in Mara North).
All Kicheche camps have wonderful guides. At Mara, mine was David, a Maasai so in tune with his environment he seems to know every rock, pebble and blade of grass. He also has binoculars for eyes.
The camp is bigger than the other Kicheches and appears to have almost double the guest capacity. The tents are spread out in a really pretty area next to a stream but they (or at least mine - Zebra) are not as secluded as at the other camps, so I could hear conversations from both tents either side of me. There’s plenty of wildlife right on the doorstep. Mating hippos, hyena, leopard and lion were all seen or heard, buffalo walked past my tent every night, and there were bushbuck and vervet monkeys during the day.
There has been a massive makeover of the guest tents and they are very swish. Mine was huge, with a double bed and a day bed, desk and wardrobe area and a curtained bathroom with double basins, separate shower and loo; all singing and dancing. There’s even washing powder, a line and pegs. No full length mirror, strangely, and the wardrobe area is very dark for getting dressed before dawn. This new poshness took me a while to absorb. I love the ‘old’ Kicheche branding with its rather rustic, colonial feel and unlined tents. Maybe colonial’s not the done thing any more, but it was done well. This new look is a bit ‘could be anywhere’ and, whilst I can’t deny the comfort, I worry slightly that the wafty cream curtains and pale rugs will tire very quickly. Still, that’s not my problem, and for the moment the tents look fresh and beautiful.
The mess tent has a couple of seating areas with big sofas and an area for dining. Lunch was taken outside on a deck overlooking the lawn. Some people seem to expect a lot of the food on safari. I don’t. I just want it to be fresh, balanced and well thought out, which this is.
I missed the communal table I’d enjoyed at Kicheche Bush camp the previous year. I don’t mind eating alone - rather that than be ‘paired up’ with other guests not of my choice (and vice-versa), for three meals in a row. As the third one loomed I asked if I could have dinner in my room. True, it was my last night and I needed to pack, but it was a relief to have that excuse and I really enjoyed that time - alone with my pasta and glass of red.
I found Kicheche Mara less cosy and strangely less 'genuine' than the other two Kicheches I’ve stayed at (Laikipia and Bush) but it has great service with fantastic wildlife and the right guides to find it." See all these reviews: 10n in Kenya
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Buffalo
10 sightings
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Cheetah
Multiple sightings
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Eland
10 sightings
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Elephant
10 sightings
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Giraffe
10 sightings
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Hippo
10 sightings
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Leopard
2 sightings
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Lion
6 sightings
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Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
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Wildebeest
10 sightings
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Zebra
10 sightings
"Kicheche Mara review"
A fire pit and drinks every night on the return from our drives. Sammy was always there to meet us with his big smile.
Our guides, Saruni and George were so informative and fun! Breakfast at the hippo pool was a real highlight here.
I wish I could remember the name of our hostess here :-( She was absolutely fabulous in every way." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
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Buffalo
10 sightings
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Cheetah
4 sightings
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Eland
6 sightings
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Elephant
10 sightings
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Giraffe
10 sightings
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Hippo
10 sightings
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Leopard
4 sightings
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Lion
8 sightings
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Striped Hyena
6 sightings
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Wildebeest
10 sightings
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Zebra
10 sightings
"Kicheche Mara review"
I did witness an exchange between the asst manager, Rachel, and one of my traveling companions that was a bit troubling. The companion's passport had gotten wet and Rachel repeatedly requested the passport so she could dry it out. The companion politely refused MULTIPLE (many) times and later said that she was very uncomfortable with the exchange." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
"Kicheche Mara review"
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Buffalo
Multiple sightings
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Cheetah
Multiple sightings
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Eland
Multiple sightings
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Elephant
Multiple sightings
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Giraffe
Multiple sightings
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Hippo
Multiple sightings
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Leopard
Multiple sightings
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Lion
Multiple sightings
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Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
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Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
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Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Kicheche Mara review"
"Kicheche Mara review"
Since I had never been out of the country before except for a drive into Canada, it was brand new and I was worried about it being accepted in the condition it was in and it made me really nervous. She said she would take it back and try and fix it and I said no thank you - I really didn't want to let go of it again. She kept insisting - this is the conversation Jane overheard that really bothered her. It bothered me some, but not as much as the next one.
Finally, Rachel relented and said she'd bring a book to my tent so I could put the passport under it. Later that day when I saw her she had the book. I said "thank you" and reached out to take it and she said that she would come to the cabin with me and help. I said it wasn't necessary but she insisted so I relented. At the cabin, I told her I was perfectly fine doing this myself and thanked her for the book. She said "no, no, I'll come in and help you". I said that that wasn't necessary and the book was help enough. She kept insisting on coming in to the point that I had to be ruder than I was comfortable with and repeat again, more sternly, that I was more comfortable doing it myself. She kind of went off in a huff.
This conversation made me really uncomfortable. It was ridiculous that she couldn't read the social cues better to know when to let go and leave.
Otherwise, honestly, I felt Rachel was fine during the rest of our stay." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
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Buffalo
Multiple sightings
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Cheetah
Multiple sightings
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Eland
Multiple sightings
![](/assets/images/ui/pixel.png)
Elephant
Multiple sightings
![](/assets/images/ui/pixel.png)
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
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Hippo
Multiple sightings
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Leopard
Multiple sightings
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Lion
Multiple sightings
![](/assets/images/ui/pixel.png)
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
![](/assets/images/ui/pixel.png)
Striped Hyena
Multiple sightings
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Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
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Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Kicheche Mara review"
Once again, the radio use in the trucks was a complete distraction. I must have asked to have it turned down at least 10 times. It is by far the worst camp I have been to in this regard. Constant noise. Why not get headsets for the guides who like to be on the radio a lot?
Andrew is doing a great job with the camp. It looks better than it ever has-albeit large. But he is carving out lots of small spaces for folks to hang out. The new tents will be a great addition." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
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Buffalo
Multiple sightings
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Cheetah
1 sighting
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Eland
Multiple sightings
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Elephant
Multiple sightings
![](/assets/images/ui/pixel.png)
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
![](/assets/images/ui/pixel.png)
Hippo
Multiple sightings
![](/assets/images/ui/pixel.png)
Leopard
Multiple sightings
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Lion
Multiple sightings
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Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
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Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
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Zebra
Multiple sightings
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