An extensive refurbishment of &Beyond’s Kichwa Tempo Tented Camp in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya, is under way and will be completed by July 2014.
&Beyond says the refurbishment is part of a R230m (€17m) investment it has planned for its safari camps and lodges across Africa, the initial phase of which will “redefine the classic Kenyan safari”.
Twenty-eight of Kichwa Tempo’s tented suites, as well as shared guest areas, will receive a brand-new look. Guest areas will be designed to easily accommodate large numbers of guests in high season without losing the sense of intimacy in quieter periods, said a statement from &Beyond. “The camp will feature creative spaces for interactive food preparation, including its organic vegetable garden, which will become part of the guest experience.”
Some of the suites will be elevated to make the most of the views of the surrounding private wildlife concession. Some 22 suites will overlook the Mara and six will sit in the forest canopy (with three of these forest suites also overlooking the Mara).
The camp’s bar will also get an added level to allow for better views, while a dedicated open-air boma area will be reserved for participative experiences with the local Maasai people. Other additions include a unique interpretive library and a redesigned safari shop showcasing Kenyan crafts.
While 28 of the camp’s tented suites will be closed until June 30, 2014, 12 luxury tents on the Sabaringo River will remain open throughout the refurbishment, as well Kichwa Tembo’s sister lodge, &Beyond Bateleur Camp. Bookings currently held for Kichwa Tembo will be accommodated at one of these camps during the refurbishment.
The newly redesigned camp will open for guests from July 1, 2014, with a soft opening in late June 2014.
“Kichwa Tembo was one of the first and most iconic permanent tented camps in the Maasai Mara, and a favourite of many. We are extremely excited by this innovative design put together by our architectural team, which will literally bring the amazing views to life, creating a visual and emotional connection between the guest and one of the most phenomenal wildlife areas in the world today. The innovation continues inside as well, with unique features such as a butler hatch that will facilitate personalised wake-up calls with tea and coffee with minimum disturbance to the guest. We are confident that these features, alongside &Beyond’s renowned hospitality, will make &Beyond Kichwa the leading camp of its size in the Mara, Kenya and indeed East Africa,” says Mark Wheeler, &Beyond Regional Managing Director for East Africa and South Asia.
