TORTILIS ENTERS THE SOLAR SYSTEM: KENYA CAMP IS GOING FULL ON SOLAR POWER

Cheli & Peacock is proud to announce as of June 1, 2014, Tortilis Camp operates on 100% solar power 24 hours a day. The Kenya luxury camp joins other Cheli & Peacock properties, Kitich Camp and Elephant Pepper Camp, as fully powered by solar energy. The C&P Portfolio’s seven high end camps are ecologically and sustainability-minded, partially or fully powered by solar panels. The long-term goal is for all to join the exclusive 100% club.

Until now, the luxury camp generated its own power with a diesel generator, which ran for eight hours. The switch to solar power will help the camp save up to 7,400 gallons of diesel a year, dropping a sizeable amount of CO2 emissions per year. A total of 190 solar panels are installed, enough to power 48 batteries for night usage. The unobtrusive panels are only visible from the air so guests may enjoy silent, green energy.

Tortilis Camp was one of the first “eco-lodges” of its kind in East Africa, and is currently certified with a prestigious Silver Eco-rating. The camp has an exemplary sustainable tourism policy, which includes leasing and managing the 30,000 acre private Kitirua Conservancy, with the local community benefiting directly from tourism, and preserving the Amboseli eco-system.

Tortilis Camp, situated in Amboseli National Park, has 16 standard tents, a family tent and a private house, all with breathtaking views of snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro and numerous elephant families that populate the area.

Rates start at $490 per person sharing per night and include all meals, Kitirua Conservation fees, guided bush walks, bush breakfasts and sundowners, local airstrip transfers and limited laundry. For more information, visit www.tortilis.com or email info@chelipeacock.co.ke.

FRIEND OR FOE: GUESTS PARTICIPATE IN ANTI-POACHING

Meet a rhino’s best friends: the tracker dogs of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kenya. Guests of Lewa Safari Camp have a rare safari option of working with an elite and highly trained force: the anti-poaching unit. Welcome to tracker dog training.

Travelers of all ages may work with the conservancy’s tracker dogs and rangers. Guests receive a briefing and choose someone to play the “bad guy.” A young bloodhound rises to the challenge, taking in the scent of your footprint. Head off with a ranger to a spot you deem sufficient, maybe far and near a group of impala. It won’t be long before the dog leads the others to your exact location.
Tracker dogs don’t need much to follow a scent – whether it rains or a print is six months old. They have been used successfully on several anti-poaching operations. It isn’t a surprise that they’re treated like royalty within the conservancy.

Other safari options for guests include visits to the conservancy’s headquarters – a great follow-up to tracker dog training. See what headquarters do for security, operations, education and healthcare (visits free of charge). Time this visit with Lewa Safari Camp’s two slots a week to visit three orphaned baby black rhinos ($15 per person), who are being hand raised by the conservancy’s rangers. There are strict guidelines concerning this interaction.

Tracker dog training is $10 per person and free for children under 14. Lewa Safari Camp rates start at $380 per person sharing per night and include accommodation, game drives and other safari activities, airstrip transfers and limited laundry. For more information, visit www.lewasafaricamp.com or email info@chelipeacock.co.ke.


Note : Lewa Wildlife Conservancy was created to protect and conserve Black and White Rhinos as well as other rare and endangered species, including the Grevy’s Zebra. It’s one of the most successful examples of sustainable tourism in the world. Lewa Safari Camp is the only camp owned by the conservancy with its profits re-invested into the conservancy’s crucial conservation and community work.

CHELI & PEACOCK SAFARIS INVITES GUESTS TO EXPLORE THE HEIGHTS OF LOVE WITH A MOUNTAIN-TOP PICNIC

Cheli & Peacock Safaris, a collection of award-winning boutique safari camps and lodges in Kenya, is offering a fresh, new take on the traditional bush picnic. Upping the ante a few couple thousand feet, they have arranged for adventurous couples to helicopter to the top of Mount Kenya for a romantic picnic lunch.

The breathtaking ride over Kenya’s sprawling wilderness is topped only by the dramatic location of the picnic – couples will feel like they’re on top of the world. Upon arrival, plush blankets are spread and the picnic basket unpacked. The picnic lunch consists of crisp salads and herbs from the camp’s on-site gardens, freshly baked breads, and for dessert: homemade Danish Layer Cake. Fine South African wines and bubbly accompany the meal, with coffee and tea to finish.  

From Elsa’s Kopje, a spectacular lodge in Meru National Park, the helicopter trip to Mount Kenya is just 45 minutes. Trips may be also arranged from any of the C&P Portfolio’s properties including Joy’s Camp, LewaSafari Camp, Loisaba Lodge and Kitich Camp.  

Mountain-top picnic excursions to Mount Kenya are available starting from $430 per person per hour, depending on helicopter size, number of passengers, distance, etc. If they wish, guests may also indulge in light hiking and/or fishing at Lake Alice, located on the Northern slopes on the Mountain. Helicopters can accommodate up to six guests, and as with all C&P Portfolio properties, children are welcome. Excursions should be booked in advance, preferably at the time of reservation.

For more information visit www.chelipeacock.com

CALLING ALL CAT LOVERS: LOISABA INVITES GUESTS TO JOIN THEM IN THEIR CONSERVATION OF KENYA’S BIG CATS

Loisaba, a member of the esteemed C&P Portfolio of eco-luxe safari camps and lodges, has long been a proponent of responsible tourism. In their continuous effort to support and protect their local community and environment, they now offer guests the chance to get in on the conservation action too – by tracking and monitoring the area’s leopards and lions.  

Loisaba has partnered with the Laikipia Predator Project, a local program that aims to protect the area’s large cats by studying their behaviors, monitoring their response to conservation actions and improving livestock practices (to diffuse human-wildlife conflict). Guests are able to become involved in the Laikipia Predator Project’s conservation efforts by using receivers and antennae to monitor the movements of Loisaba’s leopards and lions.

Marc Napao, the Laikipia Predator Project’s key researcher, is based at Loisaba and has developed an online database which allows guests to report their predator sightings after each game drive. They can upload pictures and even provide their own reports on what they saw. It’s a fun, hands-on activity for families or couples, and it adds a more personal element to the standard game drive.  

The assorted accommodations at Loisaba gives guests the choice to have a private safari experience, at the House or Cottage (their own exclusive home-away-from-home), or to mix with others, at Loisaba Lodge or the Star beds.

Rates at Loisaba Lodge and Star Beds start at $ 520 per person per night during mid-season. Rates at the House begin at $ 3,060 for a family or group of four people per night and at $ 2,200 for a family or group of four people per night at the Cottage. Package includes full board, an assortment of drinks and spirits, day and night game drives, guided bush walks, transfers to cultural visits, bush breakfasts and sundowners, airstrip transfers, river rafting and fishing, horse riding, camel riding, quad biking, limited laundry and of course, lion tracking.

For more information about Loisaba or the Laikipia Predator Project, please contact info@chelipeacock.co.ke.

BATH IN THE BUSH: ROMANTIC RETREAT WITH KENYA CANVAS BATH

An outdoor bath that overlooks the Masai Mara and Serengeti plains while in a canvas bathtub is just one of scintillating activities couples can choose from at Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp. Renowned for reaching back to its American roots (the Cottar Safari business is in its fifth generation), the camp utilizes authentic safari pastimes and decoration with luxurious modern twists.

Honeymooners can request the canvas bathtubs to be set up by the canopied verandah of a private tent, or in the middle of the open savannah – a true safari experience. Hear the sounds of the bush, watch a giraffe or dyk dyk pass by and sip on sparkling wine or champagne. Insider’s tip: a bath at sunset is ideal for anyone wishing for a swoon-worthy mood. The bath is lit by hurricane lamps as the sky changes color over the Mara and a sense of nature and wellbeing becomes the ambiance.

Without question, the honeymoon tent is the most romantic of all accommodations at the camp. An added perk is the fire pit just outside, a nighttime setting for a private dinner for two. With the tent not too far from the new swimming pool (one of the only small luxury properties in the Masai Mara with a pool), everything is at your fingertips. Game viewing is superb at all times of the year, especially during the Great Migration (July through November). A game drive with millions of wildebeest and zebra, as well as dramatic river crossings, is something everyone must have on the bucket list.

There are 10 tents and the option to stay in Cottar’s Private House which can accommodate 10 guests in five large en suite bedrooms. The house is given for exclusive use with its own living areas, staff and vehicles – completely separate from the rest of the camp.

Rates start at $490 per person sharing, depending on the season, and include guided bush walks, candlelit bush dinners, sundowners, day and night game drives, ½ hour complimentary massage per tent, transfers to cultural visits, a range of drinks and laundry. Game drives can be taken in either state of the art Land Cruisers or in an authentic vintage wooden car (for fun and atmosphere).

Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp is one of the prestigious eco-tourism lodges in The C&P Portfolio. For more information, visit www.cottars.com or www.thecpportfolio.com.

A BEACH ESCAPE FOR TWO AT KINONDO KWETU

KENYA – Kinondo Kwetu is nestled on the secluded shores of the Indian Ocean in southern Kenya. The small, all-inclusive luxury resort is the only hotel on all of Galu Beach, located at the end of a dirt road and distanced from neighbors by rocky cliffs and endless beach. For honeymooners looking for some relaxation and romance after the wedding, Kinondo Kwetu is a beach haven of style and serenity. 

The various forms of accommodation at Kinondo Kwetu were all designed with discretion in mind - surrounded by shady, green gardens and with selected parts available for exclusive use.

The Mama Taa Villa is comprised of seven suites, all of which are dramatically decorated with rich African antiques and a subtle Swedish flare (thanks to the Swedish couple who runs the place!). The gorgeous Honeymoon Suite is located within the Mama Taa Villa Suites and features an exquisitely large bed and multiple balconies.

There are five cottages, three of which are doubles featuring king sized beds swathed in filmy nets , one with a double bedroom and one dubbed the Ubani “beachhouse” that features two stories and can be sold together or separately.

There are plenty of quiet and romantic spots outside for couples to retreat to. The water towers offer spectacular views of the mountains and are the ideal place for a romantic sunset.  Private moonlit dinners for two may also be arranged upon request.  

In addition to enjoying the sun and swimming in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, there’s also an impressive selection of activities offered at Kinondo Kwetu.  Couples can get active with water sports like kite surfing and scuba diving or land activities such as game driving through the nearby Shimba Hills, horseback riding, yoga, tennis or golf – to name a few.

Kninondo Kwetu is only a one and a half hour drive from Mombasa and a fifteen-minute drive from the Ukunda airstrip. Mid season rates start at $460 per person sharing, including all drinks, yoga and gym equipment, tennis, excursions to Kinondo Kwetu community projects in Kinondo village, wood fired sauna, canoeing, snorkeling equipment, one PADI diving lesson in the pool, airstrip transfers, WIFI and limited laundry.

For more information visit www.thecpportfolio.com or

 www.kinondo-kwetu.com.

NEW SARUNI MARA VILLA OPTIONS WITH A TWIST

Family Villa Opens Doors and Refurbishment Results in Themed Villas

This July, Saruni Mara, a luxury safari lodge located in Kenya’s Masai Mara, opened the doors of a brand new family villa and completed the refurbishment of its existing villa’s in to six beautifully designed, themed rooms.

The stylish new villa has two en-suite bedrooms and a large lounge complete with dining area and comfortable sofa’s sounding the welcoming fireplace. There is also an impressive large veranda overlooking the magnificent scenery of the Masai Mara.

The remaining villas have been refurbished to incorporate themes that will engage with a guest’s passions whether that is art, astronomy, photography, literature, natural history or simply romance.

All furniture, carpets, lamps and bedding was either sourced locally in Nairobi or designed by Kenyan interior decorator Larissa Hoops and then made by local craftsmen.

The Art room will inspire creative guests with an easel and paint as well as a desk with drawing materials.

For star gazers, the Astronomy room has a vintage brass telescope, moon map and selection of interesting material on all things cosmic.

Book worms and budding writers will enjoy staying in the Literature room with its vintage typewriter, leather reading chairs, desk with brass reading lamp, quill pen and leather blotter. There is also a selection of classic and African literature.

For clients that prefer to view life through the lens, the Photography room has an old box browning camera, antique photographic equipment catalogue and stunning prints adorn the walls.

The Family villa also doubles as the Natural History room and is decorated with a selection of antique and vintage prints. There is also relevant reading material such a books on mammals, reptiles, tree’s and birds.

The Honeymoon room has been simply designed for a relaxing romantic break with comfy furniture and beautiful antiques.

Saruni Mara is owned and run by Italian author Riccardo Orizio. This resort is the Masai Mara’s smallest permanent lodge and guests enjoy an exclusive experience with their own private vehicle and guide. Evenings can be spent relaxing in the common area enjoying fine cuisine influenced by Riccardo’s Italian family heritage. Guests can also enjoy bush breakfasts and dinners in breathtaking settings such as in the middle of an acacia forest.

Saruni Mara is extremely active in local community and conservation projects and works very closely with the local Masai communities. The lodge is the proud recipient on the Silver rating by Ecotourism Kenya.

Rooms at Saruni Mara start from US$390 a night. Prices are based on two people sharing on full board including all house drinks, park fees, game drives and airport transfers.

For more information visit www.thecpportfolio.com.

THE AMERICAN WHO STARTED AFRICA’S FIRST SAFARI OUTFITTERS

Four Generations Have Led to Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp

Cottar’s_1920s_Safari_Camp in the Masai Mara is known for recreating the traditional safari, with a modern luxury twist. After all, the camp is part of a Cottar family legacy that created Africa’s first safari outfitters and has been passed down the Cottar family for four generations – starting with an American from Iowa.

For 93 years, the Cottar name has been in the safari business, from hunting and guiding to running safari camps, always staying true to the era when Charles Cottar started it all.

The general plot: It’s 1909. An American from Iowa reads about Roosevelt’s hunting exploits in East Africa. The man decides to experience the wild himself and arrives in Kenya in 1910. After visiting year after year, Charles Cottar brought his family to Kenya and registered a company in 1919 to guide safaris. Charles recognized that sportsmen from all over the world would come to Africa to hunt for the best trophy they could get, and needed the expertise of people who live in the country and understand the animals.

Charles gained inspiration from Roosevelt’s stories, but quickly began sharing stories of his own – articles and movies that were shared in the states. He had more than his fair share of scuffles with the Big Five, his life ending with a rhino charge. So much was Africa a part of him that when his son tried to give him shade for his last moments, he refused – wanting to see the African sky.

As the first established safari outfitters in Africa, the Cottars seem to have always been ahead of the game. They were among the first to import safari cars to Kenya, and the father of the current owner established the first fixed camps in the country.

Today, Calvin Cottar, Charles’ great grandson, runs Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp, a veteran luxury property in the Masai Mara with some of the best guides in Kenya. (Three of the guides are now Gold Level KPGSA qualified, which is the highest concentrations of Gold level guides out of any property in East Africa – 15 total in Kenya.)

Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp transports a traveler to the original spirit and essence of the safari. Tents are authentic white canvas, spacious and luxuriously furnished. And, perhaps more significantly, the tents incorporate many of the Cottar family pieces from the 1920s. To top it all off, dinner is a candlelight affair with silver service and waiters dressed in cotton kanzus – regalia from Kenya’s colonial era.

There are 10 tents, four of which are family tented suites, and the option to stay in Cottar’s Private House that can accommodate 10 guests in five large en suite bedrooms. The house is given for exclusive use with its own living areas, staff and vehicles – completely separate from the rest of the camp.

Rates start at $490 per person sharing, depending on the season, and include guided bush walks, bush meals, sundowners, day and night drives, ½ hour complimentary massage, transfers to cultural visits a range of drinks and laundry. Game drives can be taken in either state of the art Land Cruisers or authentic vintage wooden cars (for fun and atmosphere). The camp is one of the 14 prestigious eco-tourism lodges in the C&P Portfolio.

For more information, visit www.thecpportfolio.com.

REJUVENATE YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL AT KITICH CAMP IN THE MAGNIFICENT MATHEWS MOUNTAINS OF KENYA

A recent study from Glasgow University looked at natural and non-natural environments for physical activity and found that being around trees and grass lowered brain stress levels. It’s not too surprising that exercise in a green place, like a forest, is better than in a non-green place, like the gym. Adventurers seeking relaxation should head to Kitich Camp in the Mathews Mountains of Kenya for the ultimate refreshment of mind, body and soul.

Kitich Camp is an isolated retreat where guests can explore the beautiful, natural surroundings and attain a new vitality. Located in a remote valley, under a canopy of trees, Kitich is the only camp in all of the Mathews Mountain Range, offering exclusive access into the lush, green forest.

Because of the pristine and unexplored wilderness, Kitich Camp opts out of the conventional safari game drives. Instead, guests leave the vehicle behind and embark into the Mathews forest on foot. All walking safaris are led by professional guides as well as indigenous Samburu and Ndorobo warriors.

For those looking to immerse themselves in the culture of the indigenous people, the Samburu guides will take guests to visit with their families. Depending on the day, guests are invited to witness a local market where the Samburu and Ndorobo people gather to buy and trade vegetables, beads, and other items.

Other activities include spectacular bush breakfasts, sundowners, and picnics. At night, there is a campfire under the stars overlooking the river glade where guests can catch a glimpse of the nocturnal visitors who come to drink and hunt.

The Mathews Forest is a 220,000 acre tropical mountain forest, home to a spectacular array of flora and fauna boasting over 150 different species of butterflies (that’s roughly 15% of all of Kenya’s butterfly population) as well as wild orchids and ancient cycad trees. It also harbors the rare De Brazza Monkey along with forest antelope, wild dogs, leopards, elephants and an astonishing array of bird life.

In 2011, Kitich Camp received a Silver Eco-Rating Certification from Ecotourism Kenya, an award which demonstrates their excellence in responsible resource use, environmental conservation, and socio-economic investment. Kitich operates without a generator, relying solely on solar power and using only LED lighting. As a partner with the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, Kitich Camp directly benefits its surrounding communities by working with them on at a grass roots level; lodge and bed fees as well as conservancy fees are all paid directly to the locals. Other partnerships and projects include the Tusk Trust, an organization dedicated to protecting African wildlife, as well as a rain water harvesting project, and a project for the construction and furnishing of a teachers block at Ngilai Primary School.

Kitich features six traditional safari-style guest tents, all with en suite bathrooms and exceptional views of the lush gorge of the Ngeng River. Its intimate size (only 12 guests at a time) allows for all activities to be tailored to suit individual wants and needs. From a rigorous morning hike to an afternoon dip in the natural rock pools of the crystal mountain streams, experience the perfect balance to boost fitness and mind-body connection.

Rates for the three-day adventure package start at $400 per person sharing per night.  For more information on experiencing the scenic wilderness of the Mathews Mountains, visit http://www.chelipeacock.com/php/camps/kitich-camp.php or www.kitichcamp.com.