8 Day Kenya Safari: Kicheche Laikipia and Kicheche Mara North
Countries: Kenya
Destinations: Laikipia , Masai Mara
Group Size: 2
Duration (days): 8
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Children: 0
This 8 day itinerary combines the unique experiences offered by Kicheche Laikipia Camp and Kicheche Mara North Camp. Nestled within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kicheche Laikipia Camp provides an intimate and luxurious gateway to exploring Kenya's diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. From there, journey to the heart of the Mara North Conservancy, where Kicheche Mara North Camp awaits, offering easy access to the iconic Masai Mara ecosystem.
Itinerary Outline
| Day | Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laikipia | Kicheche Laikipia Camp |
| 2 | Laikipia | Kicheche Laikipia Camp |
| 3 | Laikipia | Kicheche Laikipia Camp |
| 4 | Laikipia | Kicheche Laikipia Camp |
| 5 | Masai Mara | Kicheche Mara Camp |
| 6 | Masai Mara | Kicheche Mara Camp |
| 7 | Masai Mara | Kicheche Mara Camp |
| 8 | Day of Departure |
Day 1 : Laikipia
On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by a driver after you’ve collected your bags. You will then be transferred to Wilson Airport from where you will catch your flight to Nanyuki. Here you will be met by a guide from Kicheche Laikipia and transferred to camp - this will take approx. 2 and half hours.
Kenya
Kenya - The grand old dame of African safaris, Kenya has been at the forefront of the industry for decades, and with iconic reserves such as Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and Tsavo, it has earned its place in safari royalty.
Kenya's wildlife is legendary, as is its hospitality, friendliness, and scenic beauty. With the Great Rift Valley running through the country, Kenya is home to some stunning landscapes, with lakes, valleys and mountains adding to the beautiful plains of the Masai Mara.
To add to the spectacular wildlife, Kenya is one of the best countries to experience the local tribes and cultures, in particular the Masai and Samburu.
Kenyan roads are notoriously bad however, so the majority of safaris we recommend are fly-in options to the various parks. The small group scheduled safaris all operate by road, so you would need to be prepared for what is called "the African massage".
The diversity of areas to visit in Kenya is astounding, with each game reserve offering something truly unique. And to top it off, the country has a splendid coastline which invites some pure relaxation after spending time in the bush.
Laikipia
It is always gratifying when conservation efforts truly pay off, and the Laikipia Plateau is a place of much excitement!
Originally extensive farmland, a huge effort has succeeded in reclaiming much of the land between the slopes of the Aberdares and the snowy peaks of the mighty Mount Kenya. The area now boasts the second highest concentration of wildlife in Kenya - the Masai Mara topping the list!
Divided up into private concessions, the Laikipia Plateau consists of accommodation in tented camps, as well as lavish bush homes, allowing for a wonderful personalised experience.
Kicheche Laikipia Camp
An eco-award-winning small luxurious tented camp nestled in the shadows of Mount Kenya at the foot of an indigenous forest overlooking a waterhole. The camp’s squeaky green safari chic marries beautifully and sensitively with the natural highs of her surrounds in the wilderness zone of Ol Pejeta.
Children are welcome, but adults must be aware that as the camp is not fenced, there are no extra facilities provided to occupy them outside normal excursions.
Some additional activities available are visiting a successful breeding programme, lion tracking programme, and visiting an educational wildlife centre containing a range of exhibits and background on the conservancy and its operations - an interesting stop for children and adults alike.
With 90,000 acres of wilderness, the Conservancy is home to Kenya’s largest population of Black Rhino, large numbers of elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard, African wild dog and plentiful plains game. There are also a number of the rarer Northern species such as Grevys Zebra, Jackson’s Hartebeest and Beisa Oryx.
The Conservancy lies on the Equator 30 minutes drive from Nanyuki airstrip and affords wonderful views of Mt Kenya
There is an extensive range of activities available and there is an outstanding guiding team to look after you in the field.
The camp is in the low vehicle density wilderness zone of the conservancy and the wildlife viewing is a very private and rewarding activity. Not only is this East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary there is also a myriad of other wildlife to be seen including elephant, lion, cheetah, wild dog and abundant plains game. Ol Pejeta Conservancy also permits Night Game Drives which focus on species not seen on regular day drives.
While in Ol Pejeta, you can visit the Morani Center and the endangered species enclosure with the last remaining Northern White Rhinos on the planet, the chimpanzees sanctuary, or pay a visit to the anti-poaching dogs. (some activities at a fee). For the more active visitors, canoeing, horse riding, mountain biking and bush walks.
The Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers a home to orphaned chimps from West Africa and is an excellent venue to observe the 2 families and learn about the perils facing chimpanzees in the wild.
Day 2 - 4 : Laikipia
Spend the next three days enjoying the activities offerd by the camp. These include game drives, night drives, bush walks, canoeing and mountain biking.
Day 5 : Masai Mara
Today enjoy a game drive to Nanyuki Airport before your flight to the Maasai Mara, possibly via other airstrips. On arrival, you'll be met by a guide from Kicheche Mara North and taken to camp.
Masai Mara
It is no surprise that the Masai Mara ranks up near the top of most famous game reserves in the world. The land of the Mara is consistently covered with herds of antelope, interspersed with prides of lions, journeys of giraffe, dazzles of zebra, and almost every other collective animal noun you can think of.
The sightings are nothing short of fantastic, and it is definitely the park to visit to tick off your "wildlife of Africa" list. The scenery of the park is similar to the open plains of the Serengeti, although the Mara is dotted with more trees, and the game viewing is equal to, or can be better than, its southerly sister.
Within the boundaries of the reserve, there are certain areas which can seem quite crowded with travellers, although there are places to escape from the crowds, and enjoy the Mara in some exclusivity. Private concessions surround the Masai Mara, allowing more private safari experiences, and additional activities.
The Masai Mara is easily accessed from Nairobi, with a number of scheduled flights operated each morning and afternoon. It can also be reached by road, but be prepared that it can be quite a bumpy 6 hour drive, with sections being particularly broken up.
Kicheche Mara Camp
Kicheche Mara Camp is a classic tented camp hidden in a beautiful valley in a prime wildlife area of the Mara North Conservancy. The luxury tents are laid out alongside a seasonal stream from where you can observe the resident birdlife and plains game beyond.
The location is ideal as game viewing frequently starts in the camp itself and there is prime wildlife habitat on all sides providing an ideal base for your safari in the Masai Mara.
The family suite is a perfect new addition with two separate bedrooms (double & twin/triple) with ensuite bathrooms. The bedrooms are connected by a lounge furnished with a sofa and small table enabling private dining.
Day 6 - 7 : Masai Mara
For the next two days enjoy game drives, night drives, guided bush walks and cultural excursions - all of which are offered by the camp. For an extra charge you can also go on a hot air balloon safari.
Day 8 - Day of Departure
After a final game drive and breakfast you will be taken back to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi.