Jake Grives-Cook makes a case why one should visit Kenya NOW
and of course stay in the award winning Porini camps … enjoy the
read and the pictures!
View of Porini Lion Camp – image by Philip Edwards
Jambo from all of us at Gamewatchers in Nairobi !
As our rainy season comes to an end and new life abounds in the conservancies and reserves we thought it would be a great time to bring you an update on Kenya and remind you why you should be here enjoying the stunning scenery and incredible game viewing!
PORINI SAFARI CAMPS RE-OPEN FROM 1 JUNE 2015
Porini Camps will shortly re-open after being closed for the rainy season (April-May), allowing time for the conservancies to see a regeneration in vegetation following the good rains this year.
This "green season" is also when many animals give birth, timing this to coincide with the lush grazing which is important for the females to produce milk while their young are suckling.
Our guides are looking forward to welcoming guests back to the conservancies and to showing them the best of Kenya’s wildlife on their game drives and safari walks. Come and join us! See below for some great value deals for 2015.
SPRING SALE – SAVE UP TO 25% BOOK BY 21 JUNE
1. Save up to 25% on extra nights at Porini Safari Camps
After the first night at any of the Porini Camps, all additional nights for stays at any Porini Camp are at a discount (book between now and 21 Jun 2015):
save 25% on 2nd (& 3rd, 4th etc) nights for stays between now and 30 Jun 2015
save 10% on 2nd (& 3rd, 4th etc) nights for stays between 1 Jul and 31 Dec 2015
2. Free Night in Nairobi & Free Transfer
Book a safari of 6 nights or more to any of the camps* and lodges featured on our website and receive a
FREE NIGHT at Nairobi’s Eka Hotel (before or after the safari) plus a
FREE transfer from the airport
Valid for stays between now and 15 Dec 2015, confirmed between now and 21 Jun 2015. Optional upgrade to Nairobi Tented Camp at a supplement.
* excludes Gamewatchers Adventure Camps
3. No Single Supplement at Porini Camps or Nairobi Tented Camp
Special Offer for lone travellers of No Single Supplement for sole-use of a tent at Porini Safari Camps and Nairobi Tented Camp. Valid for stays between now and 30 Jun 2015 or between 1 Nov and 19 Dec 2015.
LATEST IMAGES FROM PORINI CAMPS
Our guests have enjoyed fantastic wildlife viewing in the first few months of the year and the areas in and around our wildlife conservancies are teeming with animals.
Getting close to the wildlife in unspoilt wilderness in our open-sided 4×4 safari vehicles and being looked after by our attentive and enthusiastic Maasai safari guides, well away from all the tourist vehicles of the more crowded parks, is something that our guests really appreciate and it ensures better photographic opportunities.
The image above was taken by our Commercial Director Dr Mohanjeet Brar and is of "Fig" – a resident leopard on one of our conservancies.
Here are some other examples of the wonderful images that are captured by our safari guides, camp staff and guests of Porini Safari Camps and Nairobi Tented Camp.
Left: Grey Crowned Cranes and Right: Impala both by Samson So
Left: Serval Cat and Right: White Rhino both by Iris Yuen
Left: Lion Cubs by Joseph Lam. Right: Aardwolf by Porini Lion Camp Manager Peter Lemara
Left: Banded Mongoose and Right: Lesser Kudu both by Nirmalya Banerjee
Left: Caracal and Right: Common Waterbuck both by Nirmalya Banerjee
TRACKING CHEETAHS, LIONS & ELEPHANTS
On our web site we have recently shared some fascinating data from research projects that have been monitoring wildlife in and around the conservancies.
The results clearly demonstrate that many species depend on these protected areas and that the conservancies play a vital role in the future of Kenya’s wildlife.
Kenya’s incredible wildlife draws thousands of visitors to the country each year, but this isn’t the only reason to visit.
With its spectacular and varied landscapes including mountains, lakeland, ancient forests and woodland, open plains and stunning coastline Kenya has beautiful vistas and a huge variety of habitats to support its flora and fauna.
Left: Mount Longonot by Charlie Grieves-Cook. Right: Mt Kenya National Park
Left: Diani Beach. Right: Lake Magadi by Charlie Grieves-Cook
Left: Mt Kenya. Right: Mt Kilimanjaro from Selenkay Conservancy by Wilson ole Kasaine
Kenya has friendly people and fascinating ancient cultures with opportunities to gain an insight into the way of life of various tribes, including the Masai.
Left: Masai people of Selenkay. Right: Porini Amboseli guests can visit a Masai village
Left & Right: people of Kenya by Charlie Grieves-Cook
And there is a good infrastructure with excellent facilities and a broad range of holiday styles from which to choose.
We own and operate the eco-friendly Porini Safari Camps, but we also offer all the leading properties in Kenya – everything from budget camping, comfortable lodges and international hotels to luxurious tented safari camps and designer / boutique properties with private plunge pools. Travel can be by road, by air or even by camel – Kenya has it all!
Left: Guest Tent at Porini Mara Camp Right: Suite interior at Saruni Samburu Lodge
Click Here to see our choice of camps / lodges in Kenya (NB unlike some other tour operators / travel agents / hotel booking sites, our prices include all accommodation, domestic transport, park fees and taxes).
GAMEWATCHERS
ADVENTURE CAMPS
7 DAY SAFARI BY AIR FROM $1995 !
Our Gamewatchers Adventure Camps are ideal for those who are looking for a cheaper alternative to luxury camps and lodges but don’t want to compromise on high quality of game-viewing.
We have two Gamewatchers Adventure Camps – both are set within game-filled conservancies, one in the Amboseli region and one in the Masai Mara.
This camping safari has been designed to offer the same high quality wildlife safari experience provided by the top-end safari camps, with 4×4 game viewing escorted by top class guides and in exclusive wildlife conservancies away from the tourist minibuses, but at a hugely reduced price by staying in small basic adventure camps, with small dome tents (10 feet square and 6 feet tall), "real camping" where guests sleep in sleeping bags on a mattress on the floor instead of the luxury accommodation of the expensive up-market tented lodges.
For those for whom the wildlife safari experience is more important than the accommodation, and who are prepared for an element of "roughing it", this gives an opportunity for an exceptional and exclusive wildlife experience with high quality guiding but at a fraction of the price.
Take a Virtual Tour !
For a great insight into what you can expect we invite you to take a Virtual Tour of one of the camps with our 360-degree images: Read More: Gamewatchers Adventure Camp Virtual Tour
We offer a safari of 3 nights in Amboseli and 3 nights in the Masai Mara including flights from and back to Nairobi (and between camps) from just $1995 per person! This special price includes:
Flights Nairobi – Selenkay – Nairobi – Mara – Nairobi
Full Board accommodation
Mineral water
Return airstrip transfers
Amboseli National Park entrance fee
Maasai village visit in Selenkay
Masai Mara Game Reserve entrance fee
Daily conservancy fees
Day & night shared game drives in open sided 4×4 safari vehicle with qualified guide
This month has seen some high-profile visits by dignitaries who are clearly keen to strengthen the relationship between the US and Kenya.
On 3 May former US President Bill Clinton and his daughter, Chelsea, visited the Save the Elephant Research Centre in the Samburu National Reserve, Northern Kenya. The Clinton family are well-known campaigners for elephant conservation projects.
Chelsea Clinton takes a tour of Samburu National Reserve – May 2015
Former President Bill Clinton is greeted on arrival in Kenya by Deputy President William Ruto and Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed – May 2015
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry was touring the Nairobi National Park and the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage where he clearly enjoyed feeding some of the baby orphans. Kerry – another advocate for combating poaching – took time to learn about wildlife conservation efforts ahead of his government meetings to discuss further investment in security training, equipment and surveillance.
US Secretary of State John Kerry visits the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage – May 2015
And Kenya is busy preparing for the forthcoming visit by US President Barack Obama. Planned for July, this will be his first presidential visit to Kenya which is the birth-place of his father.
U.S. President Obama will visit Kenya in July to meet again with President Kenyatta
Kenyans are noted for their friendliness and hospitality and all are committed to taking good care of our visitors so that they keep coming on safari to see our wildlife and to enjoy our Indian Ocean beaches. Tourism is very important for Kenya’s economy and by visiting Kenya for a safari with Gamewatchers, our guests can be sure that as well as having a memorable and enjoyable safari, they are making a real contribution to the wildlife, the environment and the people.
PORINI SAFARI CAMPS RE-OPEN FROM 1 JUNE 2015
1. Save up to 25% on extra nights at Porini Safari Camps
ppreciate and it ensures better photographic opportunities.
TRACKING CHEETAHS, LIONS & ELEPHANTS
GAMEWATCHERS
Former President Bill Clinton is greeted on arrival in Kenya by Deputy President William Ruto and Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed – May 2015
