Location: Shompole Conservancy, Rift Valley Province, Kenya.
Overview
Shompole Wilderness is a small private tented camp set in Shompole, deep in Kenya’s Southern part of the Great Rift Valley, between Amboseli National Park and the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve is the Shompole Conservancy. Here both privacy and comfort are offered.
Johann is a third generation Kenyan, brought up on a farm in Western Kenya, did most of his schooling in Kenya, a little in Australia and then trained in hotel management in Switzerland, before returning to Africa to manage camps in remote places. He is the co-owner and camp manager of Shompole Wilderness, as well as your host and safari guide.
The Ewaso Ng’iro River brings water from the Mau highlands to feed the wildlife, people and their livestock who coexist here. The Shompole ecosystem is unique in that it is owned and managed by the Maasai. With six tents all set within the thick cordia bushes hidden from each other with total privacy and large verandas; two with river view, two looking out over the plains, two with a treehouse feel, large netted windows all the way round to allow a good air flow through the tent.
The bathrooms are all en-suite with flush loos, hot and cold running water for showers. The tents are on raised platforms, surrounded by vegetation which gives you the feeling of being in a tree house and providing shade, keeping the tents cool. Tents are in doubles or singles with room for a baby cot. The coolness of the river brings lots of birds, monkeys and other animals to the river to drink while you watch from your veranda. June – October / Mid December – February are the best months to visit, but we are open throughout the year.
Uniqueness of this Camp
This Lodge takes only one booking at a time, giving you exclusive and private use of the whole camp to enjoy on your own schedule, with recommended stay of 3 nights minimum, It is not a National Park and therefore you are unlikely to see other visitors and have the freedom to be outside the vehicles rather than in them.
Accommodation
Six large, private tents, private wooden deck verandas, 2m x 2m beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, en-suite bathrooms, with hot and cold running water, shower, flush loo and double sinks, children of all ages welcome, complimentary laundry service, solar and generator power, Fan.
Amenities
Room Amenities: Hot and cold running water, shower, flush loo and double sinks, children of all ages welcome, complimentary laundry service, solar and generator power, Fan.
Camp Amenities:
24 hrs. Security services as the camp is not fenced in any way, and wildlife can walk through during the day or night as such at night we kindly ask that you are accompanied by one of the Maasai guards. No strong phone or internet reception, however it is patchy. When the signal is strong we can give you a hot spot to collect emails if needed, enjoy turning off your connections to the outside world and enjoy the peace.
To enjoy the wilderness you are encouraged to switch off your devices, if you would like to play on your mobile devices please do this in your tents away from others. There is a fine of $10 every time you are caught on your mobile device in the public area, we like to be social!
Drinking water is not in short supply so please drink as much as you can. Dehydration is common here, so make sure you drink more than you think you should. Please bring your own ELECTROLYTES (e.g. Gatorade) as the rehydration salts we get here are not very tasty to most travellers! Included in your stay are local drinks (except Champagne and top shelf spirits) please ask for help in the main dining/mess area.
This is not included for residents of Kenya, all rooms run on a small generator. There is a universal charging bar in the tents. Please DO NOT use any hair dryers otherwise the electricity will trip. There is a good first aid kit here in camp, so please let Management know if you need anything.
All tips are to be passed on to Johann for equal distribution amongst the staff. If you wish to tip anyone extra, please do so privately. The recommendation is $10 per client per night for the main camp staff. The six tents are all en-suite and have plenty of running water, both hot and cold, laundry service is done daily and normally returned the same evening at no extra cost, there are no safe’s, before booking confirm with us where you may keep your valuables. Please refrain from smoking in your tents and in any confined communal spaces – Non-smoking facility.
Activities
All activities are included for Non Residents – Tubing, Kayaking & Canoeing, day & night game, walking with Baboons, walking with cattle and the Maasai, fishing – cat fish in the river, walking / running wild, bird watching, except Helicopter flights, Low level, door off flying (without frightening the animals) over Lake Magadi and Lake Natron and the pool location is set in a totally private and secluded spot surrounded by Cordia bushes and Acacias.