KICHECHE LAIKIPIA CAMP – OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY

Kicheche Laikipia Camp is 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 green safari chic combines beautifully and sensitively with the natural beauty of the surrounds in the wilderness zone of Ol Pejeta. The Conservancy lies on the Equator 30 minutes’ drive from Nanyuki airstrip and affords wonderful views of Mt Kenya

LOCATION

Kicheche Laikipia Camp is located in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia in northern Kenya

CAMP

There are only six luxurious tents with ensuite bathrooms and bucket showers and there are charging facilities in your tent and lighting is supplied 24 hours a day. Game viewing is possible from the comfort of your veranda overlooking the dam which is a magnet for wildlife during the dry season.

The spacious well-furnished lounge and dining tent have two roaring fires for the cooler evenings and breakfast, lunch and dinner are often taken al-fresco and pre-dinner drinks and star gazing enjoyed before dinner.

The camp is family friendly and has a family tent with two separate bedrooms (double & twin/triple) each with ensuite bathrooms. The bedrooms are connected by a lounge furnished with a sofa and small table enabling private dining.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

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.

Morning or Afternoon Game Drives – enjoy watching wildlife at close range but without encroaching on their space in safari customized 4WD vehicles.

Canoeing – the little lake in front of Kicheche Laikipia Camp offers the unique opportunity of canoeing just in front of the camp with a chance of viewing the animals coming to drink.

Endangered Species Enclosure – the last remaining animals of this species were translocated to Ol Pejeta and it is hoped will create the nucleus of a successful breeding programme. In addition to the Northern White Rhino with the last 3 remaining in the world it is home to a number of endangered species including the locally threatened Jackson’s hartebeest and Grevy’s zebra. Entrance is extra.

Night game drives – night game drives are offer the chance to observe lesser seen nocturnal species – vehicles are fitted with a hand held filtered spotlight and resident species include aardvark, genet, bat-eared fox, striped hyena, serval, honey badger, civet and zorilla.

Game walk – a different perspective is gained through escorted walks. The camp’s interpretive guides will point out the spoor of a leopard, the nest of a rare bird or signs of recent migration activity which you might have missed from the vehicle.

Mountain Biking – includes a short game drive enroute to the designated riding area and the ride is adapted to your fitness.

Horse Riding – take a morning or an evening ride within the Endangered Species Enclosure accompanied by knowledgeable staff on Ol Pejeta’s safari horses. These rides will take you on a journey through a predator-free area set aside by Ol Pejeta for the recovery of the northern white rhinoceros. There is an extra charge for this activity.

Chimpanzee visit – enjoy a unique opportunity of viewing chimpanzees and learn more about the day to day care of the chimpanzees in our care. Chimpanzees are not indigenous to Kenya and Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is the only place to see them in Kenya.

Baraka (The blind Rhino) Visit – black rhino Baraka was born in the wild in Ol Pejeta but lost sight in both eyes due to a fight and then a cataract. Baraka now lives in the enclosure, located next to the Morani Information Centre for his own safety and has taken to his new role as rhino ambassador.

Research & Education centre – Wildlife Educational Centre contains a range of wildlife exhibits and background on the Conservancy and its operations, an interesting stop for children and adults alike.

Ngare Ndare Forest visit – a full day trip to the beautiful Ngare Ndare Forest located outside Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Enjoy a guided walk in the forest, bird watching, canopy walk, picnic lunch and back to camp by sunset. Complimentary and must be prebooked.

Wild Camping – Lolldaiga Ranch – travel outside Ol Pejeta Conservancy into the stunning Lolldaiga Hills offering excellent walking terrain. You will be escorted by a Kicheche guide and overnight in a mobile campsite.

Lion Tracking – the Lion Tracking programme monitors the Conservancy lions and some have been collared with receivers. Ol Pejeta tracks the lions with a portable tracking unit and sends the data to the Ecological Monitoring Department.

KICHECHE LAIKIPIA CAMP IS CLOSED DURING APRIL AND MAY EVERY YEAR

THE CAMP IS FAMILY FRIENDLY AND WELCOMES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. PLEASE NOTE THAT CANOEING AND THE ANTI POACHING DOG DISPLAY HAS AN AGE LIMIT OF 12 YEARS AND OLDER