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| Dear ATCNews Readers, |
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| We sincerely hope that all our friends and our many loyal clients are safe and well as Covid-19 continues to cause disruption in some parts of the world.
Here in Kenya the virus has had far less impact than most other countries as the government acted immediately after the first case was identified and took effective measures early on to avert the spread by restricting international arrivals, early testing of anyone with a temperature or flu symptoms and promoting hygiene, hand-washing and social distancing. With the easing of the restrictions that were initially placed on the leisure and hospitality sector here, we are pleased to announce that our Nairobi Tented Camp and Porini Mara Camp have now re-opened to guests and the teams at the other Porini Safari Camps are busy with preparations to welcome back visitors as soon as possible. The camps are certified to re-open with new Covid-19 safety standards which are in line with the World Health Organization and Kenya Ministry of Health requirements. To view the Porini Covid-19 protocols please click here. |
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Last week our team at Porini Mara Camp were excited to host guests to the first bush breakfast in many weeks! |
| International Flights to Resume from 1 August
Kenya has been awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) "Safe Travel Stamp" after adopting its global health and hygiene protocols, and President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that international flights can resume from 1 August. Our airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), are ready and complying to international Covid-19 health and safety standards. You can watch a short video on JKIA by clicking here. Our cabinet secretary for transport has confirmed that travellers arriving into Kenya will not need to self-quarantine as long as they don’t have symptoms but they will be required to have a valid WHO Covid-19 Test Certificate for International Travel. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "People are getting ready to travel, and there is no better place to travel other than to Kenya", Kyle McCarter, US Ambassador to Kenya. Click here to watch the video. The British High Commission to Kenya representative, John Hamilton, also shares his views on the Magical Kenya Health & Safety Protocols. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
| If you haven’t yet made arrangements for your next safari, our team of Sales Consultants are ready to help you. You can take advantage of our special Reduced Rates as well as our Flexi-Booking Policy & No Amendment Guarantee which bring very flexible booking terms and conditions.
Find out more: Reduced Rates for 6 Nights and Flexi-Booking Policy |
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News from the Conservancies
We hope you have been enjoying the daily updates of images and videos shared by our Porini Safari Camps teams who have been busy maintaining the camps and patrolling the conservancies to keep an eye on the wildlife during the absence of visitors. Our expert safari guides Wilson Kasaine and Daniel Mamai from Porini Amboseli Camp (Selenkay Conservancy) and Porini Mara Camp Manager Jimmy Lemara together with Ol Kinyei Conservancy Warden Simon Nkoitoi are keeping us updated on the wildlife viewing. Here are a few images from the past few weeks … |
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| See more images and videos on our web site: Views from the Bush … |
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Saving a Lion from a Snare
Although our staff and vehicles were not able to take visitors around the conservancies for a number of months, it was vital that they – along with the conservancy Warden and rangers – continued to carry out patrols to ensure the wildlife was protected. Last month while patrolling the eastern side of Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Jimmy and Simon found "Green Eyes" – one of the 3 dominant pride males known as "The Rekero Boys" – with a wire snare around his neck. This must have happened when he strayed out beyond the conservancy boundary. They followed Green Eyes, but he slipped into thick bush where the vehicle could not go.
After a two day search, Green Eyes was finally found. The wildlife vet was called and quickly attended to remove the snare with no harm to the lion, who woke up and took himself off as if nothing had happened! See the full story and video in our blog: Saving a Lion from a Snare … |
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Live Video Safaris
Whilst Covid-19 kept our visitors away, we teamed up with Magical Kenya (the Kenya tourist board) to bring the sights and sounds of the Masai Mara to you in the comfort of your own home. Our Porini Mara Camp manager, Jimmy Lemara, is our expert safari guide in this series of videos filmed in our Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
(Click the image to view the videos on our web site). View the videos: Live Video Safaris … |
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| Gamewatchers Safaris features on Channel Africa
Channel Africa has recently aired their Africa of the Future radio show with a focus on how Covid 19 has impacted wildlife in Kenya. We explain how animals and wildlife habitats can continue to be protected and how rural communities can continue to earn an income while global tourism has ground to a halt as a result of the global pandemic. Listen now at https://iono.fm/e/863838 (feature starts from 2:14 minutes into the program). |
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| Adopt An Acre for Wildlife
We are most grateful to our many friends and valued clients for responding so positively to our request for support for our Adopt-an-Acre plan. Anyone adopting 30 acres or more receives a credit equal to the amount donated, to be used towards the cost of a stay at one of the Porini Camps in 2021 or 2022. Many from the local Maasai communities have told us that it is very encouraging and reassuring for them to learn that there are so many well-wishers helping to see that the payments continue being made to them for the leasing of the conservancy land and for the wages for those members of the community who work in the conservancies and in the camps. It will be such a great relief for them if the closure of tourism does not cause their incomes to dry up. It is important for the Adopt-an-Acre campaign to continue receiving support and if you can share the details of this to any of your friends via social media or email then that will help to keep the momentum going:
If you have not yet taken the opportunity to adopt an acre then do find out more on our web site: Adopt An Acre for Wildlife … |
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Gamewatchers Safaris Certified by Travelife The Travelife for Tour Operators certification committee recently acknowledged our efforts in sustainability in our business and operations, and awarded us their "Excellence in Sustainability" accreditation. The Travelife Certified standard is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council as fully reflecting the GSTC criteria. |
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| We hope that you and your family stay safe and well over the coming weeks, and we look forward to welcoming you on an East African safari as soon as you can join us.
If you would like help planning your next safari then do get in touch using our online contact form or simply hit reply to this email and let us know how we can assist. Best wishes, Mohanjeet Brar |
Dr Mohanjeet Brar (PhD) |
| P.S. The huge variety of different wildlife species that can be seen in East Africa is quite amazing, and you can follow this link to access our Guide to Mammals which lists all those that I have seen personally on wildlife viewing drives from our own Porini Camps. I hope that you will find it interesting! |
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