andBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp

You stay at Kichwa Tembo in one of thirty-four tents along the Saparingo River, where the riverine forest meets the open plains of the Masai Mara. The camp looks up at the Oloololo escarpment, the western wall of the Great Rift Valley, and shares a border with the national reserve — so wildlife moves freely past the tents. The name means 'head of the elephant' in Swahili.

Twenty-six Superior Tents face the grasslands or the forest; eight Superior View Tents have clear sightlines across the Mara. Three family tents connect for parents and children. The beds are positioned to take in the view, and the furniture is cypress wood with Maasai-inspired details. A swimming pool sits in the shade of the trees, with lawns where warthogs sometimes graze.

Game drives go out morning and afternoon in open vehicles, with rangers tracking the Big Five. Night drives are possible here, unlike in the national reserve itself. Guided walks follow the river or climb the escarpment for wider views. Hot-air balloon rides over the plains start at dawn. The camp also arranges visits to a Maasai village, where you can watch dances and buy beadwork made by the community.

The dining area wraps around a kitchen garden, and the bar has two levels for watching the light change on the plains. The camp has been here since the 1980s, leasing the land from Maasai landowners.