News from Gamewatchers Safaris

Seasons Greetings

We are approaching the end of the year. December is always a great month as the mood is always fun and festive! It is also a month of reflection and coming up with new resolutions ( that we shall hopefully keep!). Looking back at 2013, I can easily say that it has been a year full of excitement, changes and challenges – a great high in tourism, a series of unfortunate events, a U-turn in the migration and a fantastic celebration of Kenya’s 50th Birthday!

We have come a long way since Kenya gained its independence in 1963, and we can confidently say that we are an integral part of the world’s greatest places on earth! Kenya grabbed the award for the World’s Leading Safari Destination at The World Travel Awards final ceremony.

All I want to say is, as you make your vacation plans for 2014, following your celebration of the festive season, say to you and your family, "it is time to visit Porini Camps again!" and just do it. In the meantime, over here, we wait for you…with open arms.

Karibu Kenya
With best wishes,

Aleema

Aleema Noormohamed
Marketing Executive

Gamewatchers Safaris

We are proud to announce that our Managing Director, Jake Grieves-Cook has been featured in the special Kenya Yearbook that was released by the Kenya government for Kenya’s 50th Anniversary, as one of 20 people who have played a major role during the last 50 years in shaping Kenya’s tourism industry and conservation of the country’s wildlife!

Jake firmly believes that the conservancies will safeguard the future and biodiversity of the major reserves across Kenya.

Take advantage of our special offers to book a high quality safari to our Porini Camps, Gamewatchers Adventure Camps and Nairobi Tented Camp.

Check out some of our FANTASTIC OFFERS that are available:

LAIKIPIA AND MIGRATION – 7 day flying safari during the migration from $3295
ADVENTURE CAMPING (Ambo/Mara) – 7 day Adventure Camping flying safari $1995

MAASAI MARA BIG CAT – 5 day Mara safari in 2 camps in prime big cat habitat from $1985

For more details and to book please contact your agent.

Peter Mukusyo has been working in the kitchen for more than 20 years. He first trained and worked as a cook, got his certificate in food production and finally climbed up the culinary ladder to now lead a team of 18 cooks and chefs at our various Porini Camps. Peter’s food across our Porini properties receives "A" class comments every time! He would also like you to enjoy some of his cuisine! Try this special salad your holiday…

Tomato, Caramelized baby onions and feta tart with fresh baby herbs salad

Ingredients:
Serves 4

200g ready rolled puff-pastry(thawed) . 4pcs firm ripe tomatoes ( cut thick slices) . 12pcs baby onions peeled . 100gr Feta cheese . 4 small baby lettuce leaves . 1 Small bunch of rucola . 1 handful mixed baby herb . 200ml red wine . 60gr granulated sugar . 1tsp crushed black peppercorns . 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil . Salt to taste . 1 egg . 1 pinch of oregano . 2tbsp all purpose flour

Procedure: Roll out the pastry and cut into 4 equal pieces. Grease the 4 tartlet tins with butter and dust lightly with flour. Put the rolled pastry in the tins and press into the tart tins to give a nice shape and trim the excess overlapping pastry. Fork the bottom and let it set in the fridge for about 10min. Line with cling film and fill with raw rice and bake in the oven at 150 °C degrees for 8mins. Take out of the oven and remove the rice and egg wash the inside and return to the oven for another 4 min at 180 °C degrees. After turning evenly golden brown, remove and turn out of the tins and let it cool over wire rack. In a small sauce pot, put the peeled baby onions with the red wine and sugar and bring to the boil and simmer for 45min. When cooked and caramelized, set aside and let it cool. Meanwhile, prepare the salad with the baby lettuce leaves, rucola and the baby herbs and keep in the fridge. Marinate the sliced tomatoes with the crushed pepper, olive oil and salt and grill slightly on both side then set aside. Cut the feta cheese into cubes and set aside as well.

Serving:
Set the grilled tomato in the tart and few cubes of feta and warm a bit in the oven or microwave, then top with the baby herb salad. Put 3pcs of caramelized onions around each tart and drizzled some of the reduction on the top of the salad and around the onions and serve immediately. You can serve with bread of choice.

Since 2005, Porini Camps and Gamewatchers Safaris have successfully partnered with the local communities through a positive and effective leasing programme in which community land has been exclusively set aside for wildlife conservation. As part of our promise to continue promoting improved livelihoods and income generating opportunities for the Ol Kinyei landowners, the Ol Kinyei Bursary Fund was started by the company to help deserving and promising students complete and/or further their education.

Although primary education is subsided by the Kenyan government, both Secondary and University education are often out of financial reach for most children in our partner communities. As well as paying termly fees, parents incur the additional costs for uniforms, books, school activities and in many cases, school rehabilitation projects. These hardships often result in an undereducated youth with little hope for healthy careers.

The Bursary Fund assists students in covering essential education-related costs and ensures that they are able to complete important stages in their education, which is a crucial step in guaranteeing a solid career path.

The Ol Kinyei Bursary Fund aims to:

• Increase and improve access to educational institutions;
• Improve gender equality and disparities by promoting both boys and girls in the community;
• Assist students in their transition between primary, secondary, college and university;
• Improve retention and completion rates of both secondary and tertiary education; and
• Reduce the impacts of poverty.

Our continued support of the Ol Kinyei Conservancy community assists in maintaining the important balance between ensuring the preservation of wildlife lands and sustaining improved livelihoods of the landowners.

Should you wish to get more information about the Bursary Fund or make a contribution toward this programme, please contact our Conservation and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Chantal and she will be happy to assist you.