(Posted 28th June 2022)
| Greetings from Kenya where visitors from across the globe are currently enjoying the natural world in all its glory here in our wildlife conservancies, parks and reserves. June is always a special month as there is a sense of new life and rebirth as the rainy season ends and the animals return to the plains, often with young calves and cubs, to enjoy the fresh grasses and vegetation. All of our Porini Camps are now open after some had a short, planned closure for the rains. During this time our teams have been busy upgrading some of the guest tents and customised game-drive vehicles, improving tracks and infrastructure within the conservancies and making all the preparations to ensure our future Porini guests have the very best possible safari experience. |
| * * * Not yet booked your next safari? Skip to Special Offer Safaris from US$ 3245 * * * |
| Recent visitors to our Porini Camps have been enjoying daily sightings of the big cats, elephants and much more on their morning and evening game drives. Guest Reneé Ongaro kindly shared her thoughts and images following her trip to Porini Mara Camp and Porini Rhino Camp earlier this month. |
| “We just returned from our Safari in Kenya. It was an experience of a lifetime!Gamewatchers did a fantastic job from beginning to end, the staff was awesome, guides were fabulous and food great.The animal sightings were unbelievable! We couldn’t believe how close we could get to the animals – amazing.The eco concept of the conservancies and the Porini Camps are wonderful and gave us such an authentic experience. We can’t wait to come back.” |  |
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| Porini Bush Camp now open for the Great Migration |
| It has been particularly exciting to recently re-open Porini Bush Camp (our seasonal camp for the Great Migration) after a two year absence due to the downturn in tourism during the Covid-19 pandemic.This 8-tent eco-camp is set in the heart of Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Masai Mara, when the annual Wildebeest Migration is in the Mara eco-system (generally July to October). |
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| The camp is designed in the style of the traditional mobile safari camps that have been accommodating visitors on safari in Kenya since the early years. Each guest tent has a private shower room (with shower, basin and flush w.c.) and is comfortably furnished with proper beds, linen and duvets. |  |
| There is a separate dining tent where guests enjoy high-quality meals prepared by the experienced camp chef. In the evenings the campfire provides a meeting point for guests to get together, relax with a drink and share the day’s sightings.Find out more here on our web site: Porini Bush Camp … |
| Porini Camp Guest Experiences |
| Here at Gamewatchers we are forever striving to provide the very best safari experiences for our clients. We take our guests’ thoughts and suggestions very seriously – and one way that we harness their opinions is via our Guest Comments Books which are placed in the mess tent at each Porini Camp. |
 | All the comments are personally read by our managers and directors to ensure we have a very good awareness of our guests’ safari experiences.Here are just a few of the comments that have been left in the past few weeks. |
| “What a magical experience! Beautiful camp and wonderful game drive. Thank you so much for your fabulous hospitality, expert knowledge and very friendly service.” (Porini Mara Camp guest, June 2022)”What a wonderful place – it surpassed our expectations. Our guides were knowledgeable and taught us so much about Masai Mara and we saw a great number of animals. All staff took such great care of us. Loved it all.” (Porini Lion Camp guest, June 2022) |
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| “***** 5 stars. This is my third safari with Porini and second visit to Porini Amboseli Camp. I truly appreciate the eco conciousness of Porini.” (Porini Amboseli Camp guest, June 2022)”Unbelievable! Everyone, drivers, staff and David [manager] has been so hospitable and kind. The food has been amazing, the drives have been something you dream about. The attention to detail is fantastic.” (Porini Rhino Camp guest, June 2022) |
| Improving lives in the Ol Kinyei community |
| Earlier this month, children from Ilmochin Primary School within Ol Kinyei Community, near our Porini Mara Camp, received 10 solar powered tablets for the WiLearn digital learning project courtesy of WiLearn 4 Life, funded by the PD Foundation in collaboration with Gamewatchers Safaris. |
| The equipment has a portable solar pack that will provide energy to ensure easy access to the education material. The handover was preceded by a 3 day workshop where teachers at the school were trained on the use and maintenance of the equipment. ?The WiLearn project seeks to empower the community and provide equal learning opportunity for children in remote schools. We launched the project last year in Selenkay Community (near Porini Amboseli Camp) – find out more here: Selenkay Smart Learning Project … |
| Ol Kinyei Conservancy Walking Safari |
| Also known as bush walks, walking safaris are taken by our guests at each of the Porini Safari Camps. They offer a completely different experience from game drives as you can get closer to flora and fauna, allowing you to notice the small details, sounds and scents of the wilderness. |
| In this video you can join Porini guide Jimmy Lemara as he leads an exciting walking safari from Porini Mara Camp in Ol Kinyei Conservancy.Click here (or on the image above) to view the video on our YouTube channel. |
| World Travel Awards – we’re nominated! |
| We are honoured to have been nominated yet again for the World Travel Awards – the “Oscars of the Travel Industry”. |
| Now in its 29th year, World Travel Awards acknowledges and rewards excellence in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry worldwide.?It is recognised globally as the hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. |  |
| Our 30 year commitment to protecting habitat for wildlife and supporting the local communities while providing an authentic high quality safari experience has resulted in significant improvement to livelihoods and to the wildlife, and our conservancies now have one of the highest densities of free roaming lions in Kenya. |
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| Image by Porini Camps guest Sara Jenner We pay the communities over $1.5 million each year with all of this coming from the income that we receive from our guests…..so thank you for making a difference!This year we are very excited to have been nominated within five categories: |
| Africa’s Leading Tented Safari Camp 2022: Porini Amboseli Camp, Selenkay Conservancy, Kenya Africa’s Responsible Tourism Award 2022: Gamewatchers Safaris Kenya’s Leading Safari Camp Brand 2022: Porini Safari Camps Kenya’s Leading Tented Safari Camp 2022: Porini Mara Camp Kenya’s Leading Tour Operator 2022: Gamewatchers Safaris |
| Cast Your Vote! Please would you take just a few minutes to show your support for our Porini camps, our successful wildlife conservancies, and our dedicated staff by voting for us? It is very easy to cast your vote: Log on at www.worldtravelawards.com/vote Select “Vote” then select region “Africa” and scroll down to your list of Outstanding Votes. For “Africa’s Leading Tented Safari Camp” vote for Porini Amboseli Camp For “Africa’s Responsible Tourism Award” vote for Gamewatchers Safaris For “Kenya’s Leading Safari Camp Brand” vote for Porini Safari Camps For “Kenya’s Leading Tented Safari Camp” vote for Porini Mara Camp For “Kenya’s Leading Tour Operator” vote for Gamewatchers Safaris Thank you so much for your support! |
| Take a tour of Porini Rhino Camp |
| If you have not yet visited Porini Rhino Camp then do take a look at this wonderful video in which you can meet our camp manager, David Githaiga, as he gives you a great insight into what it is like to experience a stay here. Click here or on the image below to see the video on our YouTube channel. Porini Rhino Camp is set on the Western side of the 90,000-acre Ol Pejeta Conservancy near Mt. Kenya. It has just 8 spacious and comfortable guest tents each carefully sited to take advantage of the beautiful surrounding views. The camp overlooks an active waterhole and also has the benefit of a photographic hide from which to observe wildlife close-up. |
| Ol Pejeta is famous as East Africa’s largest rhino sanctuary and is home to black rhinos, Southern white rhinos and the World’s last two remaining Northern white rhinos. Rhinos are not found in every park and reserve, so this makes Ol Pejeta one of the few places where all of Africa’s “Big Five” animals can be seen. Our popular “Ol Pejeta & Masai Mara Safari” is a 9 day tour combining stays at Porini Rhino Camp and Porini Mara Camp (with all transport from / back to Nairobi). For more details see: Ol Pejeta & Mara Safari … |
| Special Offer Safaris Anyone who has not yet arranged their next safari adventure can take advantage of our latest special offers which bring excellent value for money on various tours. |
| 7 day safaris are from just US$ 3245* (GBP £ 2625) per person including travel from / back to Nairobi airport, fully-inclusive accommodation, meals, selected drinks, day & night game drives, guided walks and sundowners. See full details of our recommended tours here: Our Special Offer Safaris … |
| We still have limited availability during the Great Migration this year (July to September) – do book soon to secure your place for this sensational natural event! See 8 day Amboseli & Migration Safari for full details. |
| Live Flight Search compares fares to Africa with the leading international airlines | Read recent traveller reviews on TripAdvisor | See the latest Covid-19 Update and Entry Requirements |
| * * Our No Amendment Fee Guarantee ensures that your travel dates can be changed with no fees should Covid-19 later affect your plans * *To start planning your next African adventure contact us now (or just reply to this email to let us know your preferred date of travel and which camps you would like to visit) and one of our safari experts will email you with recommendations and will be happy to assist you. |
| Not yet ready to book? Adopt An Acre for Wildlife in the Conservancies |
| Thank you to our many friends and valued clients who have supported our “Adopt-an-Acre for Wildlife” campaign. This continues to provide some of the funding needed to keep the wildlife conservancies going whilst tourism recovers from the global pandemic. |  |
| If you are keen to come on safari with us but cannot yet commit to an exact travel date, then please consider adopting 30 acres (US$ 1050) or more as for all donations for 30 acres, you will receive a travel credit – equal to the amount donated – to be used towards the cost of a stay at one of the Porini Camps in 2022 or 2023. Find out more here on our web site: Adopt An Acre for Wildlife … |
| For all our customers booked to come out on safari with us, we look forward to welcoming you and to sharing with you all the wonderful sights and experiences that Africa has to offer! With best wishes, Mohanjeet |
 Dr Mohanjeet Brar (PhD) Managing Director Gamewatchers Safaris | Porini Safari Camps | Gamewatchers Adventure Camps |Nairobi Tented Camp | Rhino River Camp – Meru | |
