Ecotourism. On your safari our bush hideaways in Kenya welcome you to a different world, a world centred at the heart of the African wilderness in Kenya's premier Conservancies in the Masai Mara and Laikipia. A world of majestic animals, dazzling birds, sweeping grass lands, flat-topped trees and breathtaking sunsets.
To experience a traditional luxury camp is a must on safari. Our camps impinge so little on the natural inhabitants of these prolific Conservancies that your Masai Mara safari is enhanced by the animals that wander through the grounds at any time unperturbed.
Staying in a bush camp doesn't mean compromising on comfort; the food and service are first class, as are the warmth and experience of Kicheche's staff making your Masai Mara safari an unforgettable experience.
The Kicheche Community Project
Established in 2004, the Kicheche Community Project has fast become a reliable source of funding for projects in and around the Aitong area.
Our mission is to encourage the preservation of the environment whilst improving the welfare of the community through improved health and education facilities. We strive to empower the community through revenue earning projects too.
At present we are assisting the following facilities;
Aitong Primary Nursery School
The CMF Aitong Health Clinic
The Mara Discovery and Empowerment Centre
Endonyo Rinka Primary School
Koiyaki Guiding School
Aitong Primary School
The Kicheche Community Project, alongside with the Mara North Conservancy, have taken on the responsibility of upgrading and maintaining the school such to improve the quality of education.
With the introduction of a Head Teacher, Samuel, whose salary is funded by Kicheche donors, the school has been revitalised and has acquired a lot of positive energy. Samuel has been teaching several year groups and he has been very helpful to address the needs of the school. The Kicheche Trust has donated thousands of dollars worth of schoolbooks and recently donated a substantial amount towards the school bus which will enable the kids to do school trips and attend regional exams.
Children attending the school can, and often do, walk up to 7km each day to attend classes, so with your continued support we hope to see this school thrive and so make the journey worth their effort.
Our next project is sending more school books (English and Maths) and library reading books.
The Aitong CMF Medical Clinic
The Kicheche Trust has been supporting the clinic for many years. We strongly believe that healthcare is a basic right which should be available to all. Donations made in the past include medicines, medical books, a maternity ward, a dental ward, a water pump, water tanks, and many more pieces of medical equipment. In 2011 we have made a huge donation towards the old solar system that was malfunctioning. We are delighted to report that it is now fully functional again.
Our next project is to provide a motor bike to assist with transfers of patients who are too sick to walk/travel to the clinic.
Mara Discovery and Empowerment Centre - Aitong
The Discovery centre is a community based initiative, where several self help groups around Aitong have joined up to use the centre for a host of empowering activities. The following activities have/will soon be taking place from the centre : Tree nursery, beading groups, dance groups, eco clubs for youths, paper briquettes projects and soon we plan to set up a job centre too.
Through generous donations from the Yann Foundation, we have been able to build a new centre which we plan to open soon. This will benefit from the addition of a meeting/training room, an office and a library for the youth members.
Our next project is to install full solar power, furnish the library with books about wildlife from all over the world, and a motor bike for their outreach program.
Endonyo Rinka School
Located in the Olare Orok Conservancy, this school complex is unique in the area. Through generous funding via the Olare Orok Trust, the school has been equipped with quality dormitories and kitchen/meal hall.
The Kicheche Community Trust has pledge it's support to the school and is looking to assist in maintenance and small repairs of the old building/water structures.
In addition to the above two schools we also have/are supporting some smaller feeder schools in the area : Olkimitare school, Balanites School, Enkorien School and the Olkuroto school. The main donations consists of schoolbooks, stationary and school furniture.
Koiyaki Guiding School
An educated and informative guide is a necessity on any safari and it is the aim of Koiyaki guiding school to produce top quality Maasai guides each year. It was built in 2005, on the initiative of Ron Beaton, a local tour operator and its construction was funded by the EU. The course runs for one year and the curriculum includes the study of ornithology, mammal behavior, game tracking, guest relations, first aid and driving, amongst others. The school has an intake of 22 students annually, entirely from the local Maasai community. Scholarships of US$2000 are required for each student and this is where further assistance is needed.
Kicheche sponsors one of the students each year and currently employs several graduates as guides and trainee guides. We intend to fully support the development of the Koiyaki Guiding School and its students in the time to come.