andBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp — Hotel in Narok

Upon arrival from Nairobi we were greeted at the airstrip by Jackson and Fred, who were ready with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to welcome us to the Maasai Mara. Jackson remembered my sister from past visits and treated us like old friends and family. This safari was a bucket list item for me and it did not disappoint! |We were greeted at the camp by staff with a hot face/ hand towel and a welcome song. We were introduced to our room steward and waiter who’d be taking care of us all week. We were in tent #7, I don’t know if it’s considered a superior tent but the view looked over the Mara and was fantastic. It wasn’t a long walk for us, and far enough away from the main area that it felt intimate. My husband heard lions roaring one morning and we saw elephants in the distance. It was magical. We woke up to coffee service in the mornings and turn down service (with hot water bottles in the bed!) each night. The food was excellent and there was something for every palate so everyone was extremely happy with the food. I think it was the off season so the lodge wasn’t crowded and the service we received was personal and top notch. |Our safaris were fantastic! There were 9 in our group so we had two vehicles with Jackson and Fred as our guides, and they made a great team. Jackson was our guide, and we were just amazed how he could catch a glimpse of something and know what it was. I know it’s his job… but the amount of knowledge he has is amazing. He must have eagle eyes because he found stuff we couldn’t even see yet. We saw the big 5 and I made a list of other animals and it’s long! One morning we enjoyed a really nice breakfast on the Mara that they cooked. Our Land Cruisers had three rows, each row slightly elevated from the front. The vehicle came equipped with a stocked cooler, blankets, and binoculars. We were covered by a rooftop but sides were open to the elements and wildlife, and I couldn’t imagine doing a safari any other way. We saw other vehicles that were fully enclosed glass (with a sun roof) and I actually felt sorry for them. We felt very close to the wildlife with the sights, sounds, smells, etc. it was wonderful. |My advice-|Ask for Jackson or Fred! They’ve both won awards for best guide. They’re the real deals. |Bring sunblock and extra clothes. We were out before sunrise one day and it’s very chilly before the sun comes up and after the sun goes down. Once it warmed up we just shed our extra layers and were very comfortable. |Bring a good set of binoculars just in case. With the ones in the vehicle we might have had enough for everyone but I wasn’t counting. |Myself, I’ll bring a decent camera next time and not rely on my phone from good pictures. |All in all, our visit to @Beyonds Kichwa Tembo Camp was a truly unforgettable experience. I highly recommend and will...

Our family (including 11 yo son) agree this might be our single best travel experiences ever, and we've traveled a fair bit. If this place doesn't knock your socks off, I'm not sure what would.||The absolute star of our stay was our guide Peter. Seriously, I cannot overstate how amazing he was. Our total group was 5, ranging from age 11 to 82. Peter had us in the perfect spot all the time. He was friendly, patient, entertaining and genuinely enthusiastic about sharing this amazing place with us. He was so knowledgeable and kept us both safe and in the heart of the action. If you are lucky enough to have him as your guide, I guarantee you will have the trip of a lifetime.||Our tent was spectacular. It was a family tent (number 25/26), which worked out perfectly for us. It was essentially 2 tents connected by a corridor, which gave us just the right amount of privacy. The tents were luxurious while still feeling wild (the monkeys doing cannonballs onto our roof only added to that!)||The common areas were amazing. The pool had a great view (though it was cool and we didn't swim). The bar made killer cocktails and the service was incredible. There was a fire in the common fire pit every night, and 2 nights we were there, Maasai warriors came to entertain us with with song and dance. Audience participation was encouraged, and my son and I competed in the jumping contest (I'd make a very poor warrior....)||The food was great; fresh, plentiful, tasty, and varied. There were always plenty of options for whatever you were in the mood for. We had breakfast and lunch in the park occasionally, and the food was great there too! Our server, Maria, was always kind, warm, and gracious, and was always great with our son.||Speaking of, the camp arranged a Maasai warrior to come and teach our son to make a fire and shoot a bow and arrow in the traditional ways. Peter (different than our guide Peter) was very patient and fun dealing with our son. ||If you are on the fence about booking this place, do it. And hope you get assigned Peter as...

Where to begin? Kichwa tembo is the best place and experience I have ever had in my entire life. We were looking through so many options so I want to leave a detailed review for anyone who’s thinking about where to go…stop searching. This is where you should go. From the moment you arrive, they have staff waiting at your airplane with refreshments and blankets for the ride back. They greet you upon arrival with a song and dance. You’re given details of who your guide will be. We had Akatch, who quite literally gave us the trip of a lifetime. An unbelievable guide, driver and even better person. We would trust our lives with him. You are assigned a dining staff member, ours was Joshua who was one of the kindest souls we’ve ever met. He helped us learn Masai and was always asking about us. Every single staff member here was genuine and the most hospitable of any place we’ve ever stayed. I got a massage from the spa with Grace, and it was one of the best massages Ive ever ever gotten. We booked 5 nights here and were so sad to have to leave that we asked if there was availability to extend our stay one more night- they made it happen! I would recommend at least 5 nights here. The food here was 5 star. It was always something different, creative and with fresh ingredients they grow in the courtyard. The rooms themselves are exquisite. We stayed in the ‘basic’ one which is unbelievable. You don’t need anything more. They have turn down service every night and then ask you what time you want a wake up call, where they bring you whatever you’d like to have- tea, coffee, hot chocolate. I havent even mentioned the game drives. The Masai Mara is a sight to see. We saw everything you could want. The big 5, lions hunting for food, mating and the great migration. This is something everyone must try and see. Watching the animals cross the river is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. As is trying to comprehend seeing over a million wildebeests. We have travelled all over the world and this is by far the greatest experience we’ve ever had. You...