KENYA TOURISM AWARDS HONOUR PORINI / GAMEWATCHERS
The first ever Kenya Tourism Awards, held yesterday at the Simba Saloon, Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi in the presence of the UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai and Kenya’s Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Najib Balala, saw the former Kenya Tourism Federation Chairman and Immediate Past Chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board Jake Grieves-Cook honoured as ‘Best Safari Operator’ in Kenya, yet another award and glowing accolade for Porini and Gamewatchers and very well deserved indeed.
Porini operate four award winning tented safari camps on their own or other conservancies, one just outside Amboseli National Park, one on Ol Pejeta and two camps just outside the Masai Mara Game Reserve, all in the past visited by this correspondent and indeed as highly recommended as they come. Gamewatchers operate the actual safari tours, all by 4×4 custom-build vehicles and the two companies together make a formidable force on the Kenyan tourism scene.
Other award winner in this inaugural event, now due to be held annually, were such illustrious names as Elsa’ Kopje operated by Cheli and Peacock as ‘Best Safari Lodge’ or the Express Travel Group as ‘Best Travel Agency and Travel Management Company’.
In an added category Cheli and Peacock also scooped the ‘Community Integration Award’ received by a beaming Liz Cheli on behalf of the company while a Nation Media Group writer was recognized as ‘Best Tourism Writer / Print Media’ – well done all round, especially to my friends at Porini / Gamewatchers and Cheli & Peacock.
