Kenya :: Kichwa Tembo, Masai Mara

Exceptional Big Five wilderness: Bordering the spectacular Masai Mara Reserve, which is an integral part of the Serengeti ecosystem, Kichwa Tembo is set within a gallery forest overlooking the scenic plains of the highly productive ‘Mara Triangle’. It comprises six distinct habitats which are home to an astounding year-round concentration of African wildlife.

Mass wildebeest migration (typically between July and October)
Spectacular wildebeest river crossings, with waiting predators
Big Five, including black-maned Mara lion
Large populations of Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle
453 bird species
Abundance of raptors and grassland birds
Exciting birdwatching excursions

Kichwa Tembo Habitats: Kichwa Tembo’s grassland savanna is dominated by sweet pasture grasses which feed the multitudes of grazing herbivores. Woodlands of acacia and croton shrubs also suit browsing herbivores. Seasonal marshes and swamps are home to aquatic plants and animals. The perennial Sabaringo River flows through the camp and into the wide Mara River which eventually spills into Lake Victoria. Evergreen forest occurs around the camp, along rivers and in pockets on the Oloololo Escarpment. Rocky hillsides above the camp are scattered with hardy Ficus, Combretum and Cussonia trees.
Mammals at Kichwa Tembo: The Masai Mara is the location of the BBC television documentary – ‘Big Cat Diary’. Resident lion prides hold and defend territories throughout the Mara. Open grasslands provide ideal hunting terrain for cheetah - the planet’s fastest land mammal. Elephant numbers are increasing rapidly after severe poaching in the 1980s. Over one million wildebeest - along with hundreds of thousands of zebra - occupy the Mara plains when their Serengeti breeding grounds dry out. Large resident populations of antelope (Topi, Thomson’s gazelle and Grant’s gazelle) can be found roaming the savanna. Impressive buffalo bulls accompany breeding herds. Blue monkey and red-tailed monkey live in the evergreen Kichwa forest. Troops of pugnacious banded mongoose patrol the savanna and woodlands and large rafts of hippo are found in the Mara River.
Birds at Kichwa Tembo: There are 453 species (including escarpment forest birds north-west of the Masai Mara). Large numbers of vultures (six species) feed on predator remains and natural mortalities. Impressive martial eagle, long-crested eagle and bateleur dominate the skies. Grasslands are home to stout cisticola, Jackson’s widowbird, white-bellied bustard and many others. Thousands of European migrants, including white stork, northern wheatear, winchat, yellow wagtail, Montagu’s harrier and pallid harrier are present in grasslands between September to April. Colourful bush birds include superb starling, Usambiro barbet, Von der Decken’s hornbill and purple grenadier. Spectacular Ross’s turaco, Schalow’s turaco and African blue flycatcher are resident in the forest surrounding the camp.
Other African Wildlife: Enormous Nile crocodile reside in the Mara River, preying on wildebeest and other animals which attempt to cross. Brightly-coloured flat-headed mwanza agama live on rocks at the Sabaringo River crossing. There is an abundance of beautiful butterflies in the shady forest around the camp, including mocker swallowtail, noble swallowtail and little commodore. After rain showers, swarms of flying termites attract a host of predators from eagles and rollers to bats and toads.

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