Kitich Forest Camp is a truly remote and private location in a stunning forest glade on the upper slopes of the Mathews Mountains (also known as the Lenkiyio Hills). The forest of the Mathews Mountains covers about 900 km², or 222,000 acres, and the astounding peaks rise 6000 ft. from the surrounding lowlands. By day, guests can explore forest trails and crystal clear mountain streams by foot. The local Samburu guides share their extensive knowledge of the abundant hardwood trees, cycads, orchids, birds and butterflies. The guides know how to gently follow the trails cut through the bush by elephant, bushbuck and buffalo that call the forest home. Unlike most of Africa, guests can swim and relax in the springs and rivers around Kitich camp making this a truly unique experience.

With crystal clear cool waters, flowing out of a spring in the mountains, enjoy swimming with nature in this magical forest paradise. After a morning’s walk in the forest, take a moment to sit back, enjoy the smells, the colours, and the gentle breeze. Bush picnics are a chance to enjoy lunch, al fresco, in an open forest clearing, or by the river, surrounded by wildlife.

This is a walking only camp - traditional, peaceful and surprising. The forest of the Mathews Mountains, covers approx. 900 km sq, stretched over peaks that rise up to over 6000 ft from the surrounding lowlands of 2500 ft. A vast pristine natural forest, that has been described by the BBC as a “biological bonanza” on a “sky island”. Not your traditional gamedriving country, mass tourism has not visited the Mathews Mountain forest, and Kitich Camp has this huge expanse of wonderland to itself. A refuge for elephant, and of course natural habitat for “melanistic” forest leopard, the forest is not only home to a huge diversity of wildlife, which include rare monkeys, buffalo, lion, bushbuck, forest hog; but is also full of those magical things that are best observed on foot – over 150 species of butterfly, over 350 species of birds, wild forest orchids, and the endemic giant cycad.

The guides at Kitich Forest Camp are Ndorobo / Samburu, a semi-nomadic pastoralist community closely related to the Masai. Originally hunters, and sought after for their tracking and bush skills, some joined the Kenya Wildlife Service as trackers, before returning to Kitich. The guides at Kitich are the masters of the forest, they know the trails intimately, and can almost sense wildlife before any of the most proficient guides are aware of an animal presence. A gentle, happy and colourful people, who love their “work” of sharing the secrets of the forests with guests. Taking advantage of the pristine wilderness, Kitich Forest Camp avoids traditional game drives, instead encouraging guests to explore these wild environs on foot, guided by the “masters of the forest”, the Ndorobo Samburu guides. Dubbed a ‘biological bonanza’ by the BBC, this mountain forest is a stronghold for a wide range of species. Wild animals such as Melanistic leopard, also known as the “black panther”, forest elephant, lion, buffalo, Colobus monkey, greater kudu, waterbuck, giant forest hogs and Africa’s endangered wild dog as well as Grevy’s zebra have found refuge in the lush forests and fertile valleys of the Mathews Range. Mathews’ indigenous forest is one of the very few areas where you can see the rare De Brazza Monkey outside the Ruwenzori Mountains. They are large monkeys, similar to a Sykes in size and build, but more striking with a red forehead, they are shy and hard to find.

Dubbed a 'biological bonanza' by the BBC, this mountain forest is a stronghold for a wide range of species from many different habitats.

Birds and butterflies; over 350 bird species have been counted in the area, including the spectacular Hartlaub’s turaco; together with more than 150 species of butterflies, representing more than twice the amount of butterfly species found in the UK. Cycads and orchids; the forest is a natural home to wild forest orchids, and to a rare and endemic giant cycad, a throwback to the ancient forests of the dinosaurs.

Elephants, lions, melanistic leopards ( also known as the black panther), greater kudu, waterbuck, giant forest hog, buffalo. the rare De Brazza & Colubus monkey and African wild dogs are also among the species found here.