Updates from the bush – courtesy of #GamewatcherSafaris / #PoriniCamps

Dear ATCNews Readers,
Greetings from Kenya where Gamewatchers Safaris has been open for business once again for several weeks now with all our Porini Camps up and running! It’s great to be welcoming guests back to our camps and more people are now starting to make plans and looking forward to escaping on a safari in Kenya.

Back in March the Kenya government acted promptly to implement measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The action taken has been successful in suppressing the pandemic and, as you may have heard, Kenya has been fortunate in not having been affected anywhere near the same extent as many other countries. As a result, international flights into Nairobi resumed again in August and Porini Safari Camps, Rhino River Camp and Nairobi Tented Camp have been fully operational and welcoming guests ever since.

Although the pandemic continues to disrupt life across much of the world, here in Kenya nature is flourishing in our national parks, game reserves and wildlife conservancies, all of which can now be visited. The guests from overseas who have flown in to join us on a wildlife viewing safari have been enjoying some exceptionally good wildlife-viewing in and around our conservancies.

Over the past few months, guests of Porini Mara Camp, Porini Lion Camp and Porini Cheetah Camp have been treated to incredible scenes of the Big Cats and of vast numbers of wildebeest on their annual Migration through the Maasai Mara. And in the Amboseli region, large herds of elephants have been attracted to the tranquil Selenkay Conservancy where they thrive in a protected, natural habitat.

Among the first to fly into Kenya when safari tourism re-opened in August were our regular Porini Camps guests from the UK, Matt & Alison Caldwell. And after having a great safari experience in August, they quickly returned to Kenya for another safari in October! Their itinerary last month once again included Porini Mara Camp and Porini Lion Camp, and they have kindly shared these images (above and below) from their most recent trip.
Matt said: "We returned to Porini Mara Camp in October for a trip where we were joined by friends we first met on safari with Porini in 2009 – this was our 4th return trip with them. As always the welcome at camp was perfect. Wildlife was there to greet us as was a lovely relaxed lunch under the trees. It was a pleasure to be back "home".

On to Porini Lion Camp and Olare Motorogi Conservancy would not disappoint – it never does. Everything in camp was clean, organised and the place was full of people happy to see us arrive. The staff, or as we call them, our family were all there and all willing to do anything to make us happy. They really are the best. Asante Sana." (Matt Caldwell, October 2020)

Recent Feedback from our "Guest Comments" Books

Each of our camps has a "Guest Comments" book that visitors fill out at the end of their stay. Here are just a few examples of comments that have been left in the past few weeks by guests who came on safari following the re-opening of tourism in Kenya:

  • "Everything totally exceeded our expectations. Magnificent surroundings, amazing food, and wonderful friendly staff. Thank you for everything". (Robert Di Pietro at Porini Amboseli Camp in October).
  • "Such a wonderful place to experience all types of rhinos – Black, Southern White and the last two Northern Whites. The wildlife viewing was more than we could have asked for. As in other Porini Camps, the service was A1. Thank you to the staff for making Porini Rhino Camp feel like home. Asante Sana". (Louis Malouin at Porini Rhino Camp in October).
  • "We had an amazing safari experience here. Everyone was very accommodating and helpful. Tents were maintained well, clean and safe. We would like to visit again. Thank you for hosting us" (Madhu & Swarupa Sawant at Porini Mara Camp in October).
  • "Porini Lion Camp has always been my favourite place in the world.This year has topped even my expectations. I was treated as such a special guest and the guides showed me amazing and unique experiences everyday. They are magic! I could write a book about my visit." (Kathi Hammer from Florida, USA, at Porini Lion Camp in November).
  • "A very beautiful place for a calming rest. Highly recommended. Thanks for your hospitality." (Willis Otieno at Nairobi Tented Camp in November).
  • "Loved everything about the camp – service, pool, food and rooms." (Emmanuel Lewis at Rhino River Camp last week).
  • "What great hospitality. The tranquility is breath taking. Will definitely come back" (Eric Ole Reson at Porini Cheetah Camp last week).
Come and join us as soon as you can for your own incredible wilderness experience!
Porini Camps Covid-19 Safety Standards

Our Porini Safari Camps were among the first in Kenya to be checked and certified to re-open with new Covid-19 safety standards in line with the World Health Organization and Kenya Ministry of Health requirements.

Various measures are in place to protect our guests and staff including regular health checks of staff, temperature screening of guests on arrival, deep-cleaning procedures, hand sanitizer stations and adherence to social distancing requirements.

To view the full details of the Porini Camps Covid-19 protocols please click here.

New Special Offer Safaris

Take advantage of our latest special offers on a selection of great safaris providing excellent value for money on various combinations of Porini Camps for travel up to December 2021.

Follow this link to see all the details: https://porini.lpages.co/offers/

Tours are fully-inclusive of accommodation, meals, domestic flights and/or road transfers, day & night game drives, guided walks, sundowners and park fees.
If you are concerned that Covid-19 could later impact your plans, then take a look at our Flexi-Booking Policy & No Amendment Guarantee which are designed to bring peace of mind to your arrangements:Flexi-Booking Policy
Our helpful Safari Consultants are on hand to assist you:

?If you have not yet planned your next safari adventure then our expert Safari Consultants are ready and waiting to help you. To check availability for your choice of travel dates – or to ask for safari advice – please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We have an experienced team of Safari Consultants based in the USA, Canada, UK, India & Australia to look after safari arrangements for our overseas customers, in liaison with our team at our head office in Nairobi.

Full details of all our overseas-based team members
can be seen here on our web site: Contact Us

Not yet ready to book? Adopt An Acre for Wildlife in the Conservancies

We are most grateful to our many friends and valued clients for responding so positively to support our Adopt-an-Acre campaign.This is one solution to provide the funding needed for conservation while that has dried up owing to the collapse of global tourism during the present pandemic crisis.

By adopting an acre for a year, at a cost of US$35, you can help to ensure that animals and wildlife habitats are protected and that rural communities are supported until things return to normal.

Anyone adopting 30 acres or more receives a travel 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.

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 …
If you would like help in planning your next safari we will be delighted to be of service. Returning guests can get in touch with our Safari Consultant who arranged their last trip with us, while first-time visitors can contact us to make an enquiry here.

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!

Best wishes,

Mohanjeet

Dr Mohanjeet Brar (PhD)

?Managing Director
Gamewatchers Safaris | Porini Safari Camps | Gamewatchers Adventure Camps |
Nairobi Tented Camp | Rhino River Camp – Meru |