News from Gamewatchers Safaris

On July 19th, Gamewatchers Safaris Ltd attended the Transform Kenya Awards Ceremony held at the Windsor Golf and Country Club in Nairobi.

This initiative aims at recognizing and celebrating persons, organizations or institutions that are doing something remarkable to contribute to the positive transformation of the lives of the community at either grassroots or national level.

These awards will be an annual event which bring together a diverse group of individuals who are responsible for positive initiatives around the country. The short term objective of this aim is to identify the people and businesses that are transforming lives, and the long term aim is to create sustainable business that will bring about employment and transform Kenya’s economy.

There were 11 "pillars of transformation" (categories) including tourism. Nominations for various categories reached a total of over 22,000, out of which there were 400 in the tourism category! Only three nominees were selected in each of the 11 categories (There were 4 nominees in the Media category bringing the total number of nominations to 34). Gamewatchers Safaris is proud to announce that it was one of the 3 finalist nominees in the Tourism category out of over 400 organisations and individuals considered!

From left to right: Edwin Mirara (Operations Manager), Lyndah O. Kibara (HR Manager), Dr Mohanjeet Brar (Commercial Director)

Although we did not go home with a trophy this time, we were delighted to be chosen as one of the 3 finalists in the tourism sector and one of the 34 finalists out of over 20,000 nationally! We congratulate the winner – Mr. Paul Kaiyai Leringato, Project Manager for the Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust, north of Laikipia.

With the above noted, Kenya is continuously growing and developing, and we need your support in the tourism industry. With all the current events, it is revenue in tourism that keeps these conservancies running, that protects wildlife, that feeds many families and that allows individuals and organisations such as ours to continue working to transform lives across the country by generating incomes for communities, creating jobs for thousands of Kenyans as well as supporting community projects. Without your travels and your support, the magic of Kenya will start dwindling, and the terror forces behind this menace will win.

So I want to say "Come to Kenya where an incredible spectacle is unfolding in the Masai Mara, where the people will welcome you with big smiles and the swahili welcome – ‘Karibuni Kenya’, and where our stunning beaches await your footprints in the sand."

With best wishes,

Aleema

Aleema Noormohamed
Marketing Executive

Gamewatchers Safaris

Our guests soon appreciate the difference between the Conservancies, where we have strict limits on vehicle numbers and low-impact tourism, and the National Parks or National Reserves which may get crowded with vehicles in the busy months…

QUOTE: "CONSERVANCY DIFFERENCE SHOWN IMMEDIATELY!"

"This was our second stay via Gamewatchers and well worthwhile because we immediately understood the difference between a conservancy and the park when we came across a cheetah mother with five cubs. If this had been in the park within 5 minutes 20 or so trucks would have descended on the team and totally interrupted her hunt which resulted with a kill to feed her offspring. This was confirmed the next day on a trip into the park in Masai Mara where in the afternoon a leopard was spotted and immediately there were 25 vehicles straining to get close. The personal service and keen interest in our well being was always evident along with great food and superior location." – reviewed on 17th July 2014 on Trip Advisor – Porini Mara Camp

It is now your turn to see what this is all about!

The Migrating Wildebeests…Porini Lion Camp

The warden at Olare Motorogi Conservancy reports that the great migration is now really pouring into the Conservancy in huge numbers. The good news is that there has been some heavy rainfall which was badly needed as the rains we got earlier in the year did little to get the grass growing. Now we have tens of thousands of new mouths to feed with the arrival of even more wildebeest in the conservancy. For sheer numbers of wildlife this is still one of the best areas in the world to take a safari. The Mara Reserve is very busy with the many tourist vehicles expected in the high season but in the conservancy there are no crowds and all the wildlife you can imagine!

Pick from two of our trending Porini Safaris and go through a journey of fantastic wildlife viewing, tantalizing bush meals, and utter savannah comfort!

1) The 10 nights African Savannah Safari: This fly-in safari visits some of Kenya’s finest parks and reserves. You start your journey at the Nairobi National Park, go north to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and end your journey with 6 nights in the Maasai Mara in two of our award winning conservancies! Starting at $4,685 per person.

2) The 12 nights African Splendours Safari: This safari combines a stay in Kenya’s key wildlife areas in small safari camps for an exclusive and personal wilderness experience away from the crowds! You will visit the Nairobi National Park, the Selenkay Conservancy, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Ol Kinyei Conservancy and the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. This safari will take you through a journey of immense joy, peace and being one on one with nature, at the same time enjoying the comforts of great service, fantastic food and ultimate relaxation! Starting at $5,510 per person.

With the temperature drop in our country, we are looking into all avenues that keep us warm and cozy. Chef Peter is at it again with this homemade, roasted tomato, garlic and basil soup!

Try this delicious concoction at home and let us know how you fared with one of Chef Peter’s favourite soup recipes!

Ingredients: .1 Kg Roma tomato (cut into wedges) .75 gms tomato paste .1 medium brown onion finely chopped .6 cloves of peeled garlic .1 bunch of fresh basil (half bunch finely chopped) .2 tbsp olive oil .1/2 tsp crushed peppercorn .salt to taste .500 ml vegetable stock

Porini Procedure:
1. Place the tomato in a braising pan, with garlic, olive oil, crushed peppercorns, half the chopped basil, salt, tomato paste, and onion. Mix together.
2. Put the mixture in the oven at 180 degrees centigrade (355 Fahrenheit) and roast for 45 minutes or until light gold in color and tender.
3. Remove from oven and let it cool slightly.
4. Blade in a blender for 1 minute and pass through a conical strainer
5. Bring to boil
6. Taste to test the seasoning
7. Serve immediately in a soup bowl drizzled with a little olive oil and shredded basil
8. Utmost delicious when accompanied with toasted garlic baguette.

In the beginning of July, a team from Porini Amboseli Camp visited the Iloirero Primary School near Selenkay Conservancy to hand over a donation of 230 school uniforms to the school pupils. The uniforms were bought by Gamewatchers Safaris with a donation kindly provided by our guest Sabrina Blauvelt who visited our Adventure Camps last year. As part of her Leadership and Social Ethics class, Sabrina chose to support the neighbouring community of Selenkay Conservancy. Thanks to Sabrina for her generous donation!

Tony – Porini Amboseli Camp Manager (top left), David ole Kitasho – Selenkay Conservancy warden with Gamewatchers CSR & Conservation manager, Chantal Migongo – Bake (top right) distribute uniforms at Iloreiro Primary School

Sepere Karungu can never forget the day he was almost killed…by an elephant.

It was January 10th, 2004 and Sepere was celebrating the birth of his first born child the day before. On this morning at 8:00 a.m. he began the search for some of his cows that had strayed and become lost the previous evening. He was told that they may have been spotted just inside the boundary of the Selenkay Conservancy.

He left his village on foot, and arrived at the Conservancy in two hours. He combed the area looking for his livestock. As he kept searching for his missing cattle, he came across a herd of elephants with their young calves. Sepere knew the danger of being confronted by an elephant, especially females with little ones, so he tried to move away swiftly from the area. Unfortunately for Sepere, he had been spotted…

With the natural instinct to protect her young ones, a female elephant charged Sepere, lifted him up and tossed him into a bush, where he lay sprawled with various serious injuries. Fortunately, the bush had provided Sepere with the cushioning he needed to save his life. The elephants moved away from the area leaving Sepere drifting in and out of consciousness, badly hurt.

Sepere hadn’t come alone. Soon enough, the other warriors realised he was missing and started looking for him. They finally found him an hour later, and rushed him to the local Lenkisim Clinic, after which he was taken to the larger Kajiado District Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. He spent two weeks in hospital before he could return to his village to continue receiving medical treatment for a further two months at the local clinic.

Soon afterwards, some of the Masai warriors decided to take revenge for the injuries inflicted on Sepere and went hunting for the elephant that had almost left their age mate dead. Word travelled fast in the community, and Sepere quickly found out what his fellow warriors were doing. He immediately confronted them and told them to stop the hunt. He told them the elephant was just protecting her young one, and did what she thought was best. Any caring parent would do the same.

We were impressed by his readiness to forgive the elephant and offered Sepere the chance to join us as one of the staff at Porini Amboseli Camp initially doing light duties as he went through a fairly long recovery period, physically and emotionally. His fear of elephants eventually faded away, and he came to admire these grand creatures as he got to know and understand them. He now enjoys a full time job as a waiter at the Selenkay Adventure Camp, and is conscious of the necessity for wildlife conservation.