Useful Information
With regards to the camp itself, we would like you to know the following:
Security: The camp is not fenced in any way, and wildlife can walk through during the day or night. During the day you are more then welcome to walk around the camp, but at night we kindly ask that you are accompanied by one of our Maasai guards.
Phone & Internet: We do have phone reception here, however it is patchy. When the signal is strong we can give you a hot spot to collect emails, but not strong enough for much more. So, we suggest you take full advantage of this and enjoy turning off your connections to the outside world and enjoy the peace!
We are in the wilderness and we like it that way, 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: 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!
Drinks: These are included in your stay (except Champagne and top shelf spirits) please ask for help in the main dining/mess area. This is not included for residents of Kenya.
Electricity: 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.
First Aid: We have a good first aid kit here in camp, so please let Johann know if you need anything.
Gratuities: All tips are to be passed on to Johann. He will make sure that the tips are divided equally amongst the staff. If you wish to tip anyone extra, please do so privately. Our recommendation is $10 per client per night for the main camp staff.
Showers: The six tents are all en-suite and have plenty of running water, both hot and cold.
Laundry: Laundry service is done daily and normally returned the same evening at no extra cost.
Safe: We do not have a safe, so please keep all valuables locked in your car.
Smoking: Please refrain from smoking in your tents and in any confined communal spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities can you do?
Please have a look at the activities page for information on this.
What is your recommended length of stay?
Given the location and the range of activities, we recommend at least 3 nights in order to get the most out of the experience. For extreme photographers, we would however recommend a day or two longer as light and wildlife in the area is not a ‘dependable’ for photos as other places.
Malaria & Mosquitoes:
We recommend that you take the advice of your doctor when considering anti-malarial medication. Although the Shompole ecosystem does not have a high prevalence of malaria, it is classed by the World Health Organization as an area of potential risk.
The tents are designed with netted windows and doors, and the staff will take precautions against mosquitoes during ‘turn-down’ service in the evenings.
We would also encourage you to wear long sleeves and trousers in the evenings, with socks and closed shoes and also recommended the use of insect repellent.
Just to let you know, Johann, Sam and their two children have never had malaria from the area since they started working here.
Drinking Water:
We do provide clean bottled drinking water from sustainable sources on all activities as well as throughout the camp. There are be sealed water bottles in your tents and on all of your activities. You will need to drink a lot here.
Food and Dining Experience:
Our chefs have been trained in international cuisine and produce a fantastic variety of food for you throughout your time with us. The main style of food would be best described as Western and homely and meat is served at each meal. Special diets and requests can be catered for but we do ask you for advanced warning in these cases, including vegans and vegetarians.
Tipping and Payments:
Many of our guests do feel that they would like to leave something as a token of their appreciation for the staff when they leave. Please note that we can only accept cash for the staff tips, this can be accepted in Kenya Shillings, US Dollars, GB Pounds or Euros.
As a guideline we would suggest $15-20 per guest per night ($10 per guest, per night to the general staff tip pool and $5 – $10 per person per day for your guide). Please remember that these are guidelines only and tipping is completely at your discretion.
What are the communication facilities like?
There is no mobile phone service at the camp, but you can sometimes get a weak signal on a drive.
We do have emergency Wifi if needed. Please note, that we like to be social and if you are seen using your phone or any device in camp there is a $10 fine for every time you are seen using your device! This goes towards the staff.