AndBeyond Kichhwa Tembo Tented Camp

Another great stay at Kichwa. This was my 3rd trip there. What makes it special are the people. Fred Kool, our guide for all 3 trips, is why we come back to Kichwa. He is an exceptional guide but more importantly he is a wonderful person. He loves his job and his guests. We saw 38 different lions, a leopard, cheetah several times, rhino, and everything else you would want to see. He is the best. The service staff is great. Our room was spotless. Kevin, our butler for 2 of our trips, takes special care of me. I have type 1 diabetes and need help keeping my insulin cool when out on drives or other activities. He was always prompt in getting me my coolers in the morning from the freezer and putting them away at night. Knowing you have someone caring for your medical needs makes a trip like this less stressful. The lodge is nestled in a forest so there are animals near the tents and as you enter and exit. There is an area just outside the gate that we named "The Garden of Eden." There is always something to see as you drive through it, one time we had a lioness stalking a zebra. The location of the lodge is perfect. It is at the top of the Mara Triangle. You don't waste time driving to the Triangle like other lodges and the Triangle isn't as busy with vehicles as the other side of the Mara River. We went out very early two mornings and I felt we had the Triangle to ourselves. I can't say enough about Kichwa. A perfect stay.

What can I say...the experience you get here is second to none. This place excels in every way. This was our second trip to Kichwa Tembo...and it was even better than the first time. The camp is a prime location for game viewing and our guide, John, did an amazing job leading our family on drives for 4 days. We got a great variety of all of the land in the vicinity. The camp and tents are amazing...it's been there a while now, but is kept up extremely well and tents/rooms felt fresh. The food at Kichwa is just so good and every meal impresses. I also love the picnics they pack and occassional outdoor dinners they serve. To us, it's just "wow" every time. The best part of the food for my family, however, was how Chef George went out of his way to accommodate one of us with celiac disease, a gluten allergy. George made sure from the moment we walked in that that every single thing she was served was gluten-free with no cross-contact. She didn't get sick at all for the 5 days we were there. This meant the world to us and I can't thank George and the entire staff enough. If you're considering a safari...just stop looking at book with andBeyond. They do such a phenomenal job.

Our cabin was lovely and very chic and comfortable. We did not have a "view cabin" but we had trees and butterflies galore, and looked out over a deep creek, with little Sykes blue monkeys playing in the trees. Game drives were well-planned and took advantage of notable sightings ( of which there are many). The bar area was spacious, and Maasai "warriors" came in on certain evenings to entertain with chants. The grounds are beautiful and well-maintained, with a view out over the plains. Meals are served buffet-style, but are not crowded. This camp has, I believe 34 cabins -- spread out and very private from each other.

We have visited Kichwa Tembo on three separate occasions. The tents are beautiful and spotless. Kevin, our butler works hard to accommodate any special requests. All the staff are so kind and welcoming. But, we really keep visiting to spend time with our guide and friend, Fred!

First visit to this tented camp and what an experience. The tents were awesome, very comfortable and the staff was amazing across the board. What really makes an African safari and the bush rides is the guide. We had Fred for all 5 days and everyday was full of great adventure, incredible sightings and a wealth of knowledge from a tremendous guide!