The Samburu people call them the Lenkiyio Hills, and they have been sharing this remote landscape with elephants and other wildlife for centuries — relying on the water from its clear valley streams, and the food and medicine found in its forests.

Also known as the Mathews Range, this 150-kilometre stretch of peaks and knuckle-ridge hills towers above the savannah lowlands below, providing a haven for more than 350 bird species and 150 species of butterfly. And for Kitich Forest Camp. 

The story of Kitich starts in the 1970s —

— when safari guide Miles Burton established it as a place to host clients – some of whom were notable Hollywood stars. In the 1980s, it was used as a rhino monitoring post, before being bought by olive oil magnate Giulio Bertolli in 1996 — one year after the land surrounding it had been established as a community conservancy. Giulio made it his home for over 12 years, eventually selling it to the only people he trusted to stay true to the Camp’s values, and protect everything that made it so special. While there have been some cosmetic and infrastructural adjustments to Kitich, including the installation of solar power, it’s intimate size and wild location remain unchanged. There are even a few members of staff who have worked here for over 20 years.