News from Porini Safari Camps

We are pleased to announce that we are now in charge of the reservations, sales and marketing of Malewa Wildlife Lodge and Kigio Wildlife Camp. Both are located in 3,500 acres of pristine wilderness of the Kigio Wildlife Conservancy, between Naivasha and Nakuru which is dedicated to the preservation of over 100 indigenous plant species, 200 birds and 40 mammals including the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Further details of the lodge and camp have been provided below.

Phil Edwards, one of our loyal guests at Porini Lion Camp, came for his 4th visit at the camp this past October and was not disappointed! He had this to say about his stay with us:

"We stayed for 7 nights and were taken to a different area each day – some of which were completely new to us. The game viewing was fantastic ‘wall to wall’ lions (with young also); cheetahs and leopards with cubs; and not forgetting elephants, buffalo, impala, eland, zebra, tommies, hippo, and lots more. The accommodation is superb, the food lovely, and the staff couldn’t be more helpful. Our guides – Jackson and Gerard – were brilliant, their knowledge, eyesight, and skills are unbelievable. Would we return? – already planning the next trip!!"

See below photographs of a series of events of a leopard kill which he experienced in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy whilst on a game drive with Porini Lion Camp, and you can log onto our Facebook page for a full sequence of photographs!

We know that in recent months there have been some concerns about the security situation in Kenya following various media reports, so it is good news that various travel advisories have now been softened so that visitors can once again feel confident about flying into Nairobi. The British Foreign Office also clarified that there are no restrictions or warnings against going on safari to the popular safari destinations in the National Parks, Reserves and Wildlife Conservancies including the Aberdare National Park, Amboseli, Laikipia, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Meru, Mount Kenya, Samburu, Shimba Hills, Tsavo. In these times, we need to work together in taking steps to reduce the boundaries between us and not create a deeper divide. Click here for a full extract by Richard Branson on why travel advisories hurt countries and help terrorists.

With best wishes,

Aleema

Aleema Noormohamed
Marketing Executive

Porini Safari Camps

The striking Malewa Wildlife Lodge is set within a glorious Yellow Acacia woodland along the Malewa River which attracts over 250 species of exotic birds. Once a rudimentary lodge, it has been transformed into a stunning luxury eco-lodge incorporating a dramatic architectural style and traditional African building methods and concepts. Accommodation is in 5 individual and traditional-styled buildings with 6 bedrooms (one is a 2-storey family cottage with 2 rooms) and 4 stunning river suites on stilts (including one honeymoon suite with outdoor bath), all offering spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms within an acacia forest filled with wildlife.

Only 1km from Malewa Wildlife Lodge, Kigio Wildlife Camp is a superb all-suite camp surrounded by a beautiful Yellow-fever tree woodland overlooking the Malewa River. The camp is constructed from sustainable pine-wood, local earth from the conservancy, traditional thatch provided by the surrounding community and canvas panels- there has been minimal usage of cement and steel and the environment has been carefully preserved during its construction. Power is provided by solar panels. Accommodation is in eleven spacious suites and one 2-bedroom family suite, each built on deck and containing a large bedroom and sitting area, a private bathroom with flush toilet, shower and balcony.

Please visit our website for more information on Malewa Wildlife Lodge and Kigio Wildlife Camp.

A bush breakfast, out in the middle of nowhere, with a spectacular sky over head, and the endless backdrop of one of the world’s most natural wonders, I knew I was experiencing something truly out of this world – it felt like magic. I wanted to fly again. Read more.

From 23rd-26th October, Gamewatchers Safaris, Porini Safari Camps and the Mara Conservation Fund in collaboration with Born Free Kenya strengthened a boma (Maasai homestead) belonging to Mama Lenjirr. The boma is located less than a kilometer from Ol Kinyei Conservancy.

Above left: Boma before construction
Above right: Gamewatchers Safaris CSR Manager, Chantal Migongo-Bake with Mama Lenjirr and her two children

Over the last year 9 of Mama Lejirr’s cattle have fallen prey to lions, as a result she was identified by the Conservancy Warden Sammy Ole Mpusia and selected to have her family home reinforced. Mama Lenjirr is a widow, leaving her especially vulnerable in the male dominated Maasai culture, but she is incredibly strong and resilient – she has managed to educate all 5 of her children who range in age from 6-21.

Reinforcing and strengthening a boma is a labour-intensive process. The first one and half days were spent digging 2 feet deep holes 3 metres apart from each other around the perimeter of the boma. Over the next few days treated eucalyptus poles were delivered and placed within the holes. Once the soil had been replaced and the poles were stable, plain wire was placed along the base, middle and top of the posts, after which chain link was placed between the poles and secured along the wire. The door to the boma was constructed using recycled flattened oil drums, which was secured onto the door-frame with old Maasai shoes (made from old vehicle tyres). Mama Lenjirr generously donated one of her goats to the construction team who happily feasted once the construction was complete. Our thanks go out to Born Free Kenya and their boma strengthening team who joined us from Nairobi and Amboseli. Over the years they have perfected the boma strengthening construction technique and they were generous enough to share their acquired knowledge with us. We must also thank Safarilink who provided a flight for the Born Free’s Programme Officer.

Many of our international guests who have come through the Nairobi Tented Camp have said there is no other way to start a safari! And many of our local guests can not believe that such a place exists in Nairobi! Rated number 1 out of 159 B&B Inns on Trip Advisor, Nairobi Tented Camp is the only one of its kind in the world as it is the only camp in a National Park right in the middle of a capital city! If you have not yet passed through, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with your agent.

The annual Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2014 was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre between the 8th and 10th of October 2014. This high profile international tourism exhibition hosted by the Kenya Tourist Board was a great success and attracted a record attendance by over 180 travel agents from all over the world. Porini Safari Camps participated as an exhibitor and we were greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm of our international visitors who assured us that they will be renewing their efforts to promote Kenya’s attractions and to encourage their customers to visit us on safari.

Porini Safari Camps Marketing Executive, Aleema Noormohamed is captured in this shot with agents from Nigeria.