Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps Reviews 109

The place was amazing, from the Masai warriors greeting us on arrival to the bucket showers. The surrounding peace and beauty is over the top as well as the number of animals we saw. There is nothing we did not see. Our 2 game drivers, Dickson and Stanley could not have been more wonderful. I shout out to Joseph, the manager, who made every excursion so accessible and to Moses, who spent time talking with me. The comfort of the tents (especially the hot water bottle at night) and the monkeys, hyrax and bushbuck in camp all made it a once in a lifetime experience. The lions roaring at night and the hyenas are in my dreams. The food was delicious as well as the company of every person we met. The Masai village, and talking with our game drivers and other drivers,( to and from Porini Mara), changed me. We shared hearts and I have a deep need to share and help where I can in Africa. It is a beautiful, magical country and I left a piece of my heart there.

My wife and I go on an international vacation each year planned by my son and his wife...and 8 year old granddaughter. This was the best trip we have ever had, I believe...the safari. Everything about it was totally amazing...the settings for the camps, the personnel at the camps to help us, especially the Maasai guides who were so pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful, the wonderful food prepared by a chef who came to the "mess tents" to introduce themselves (and to be complimented by us), the ever-so-comfortable sleeping "tents" we stayed in with running water, hot showers, toilets, comfortable beds, and blankets for the chilly nights, and, of course, all of the wild animals we got to see close up. Sure, it cost a lot, but there are a lot of costs associated with each camp, and for me, it was well-worth a trip of my life! We became good friends with out guides in just a couple of days time and hugged each other when we left. And they all had a good sense of humor, too, which made the excursions more enjoyable. I could say much more, but I can't imagine anyone not giving 5 stars to this safari outfit.

Our trip was 10 days start to finish. The entire trip was expertly planned by Rick. We spent 3 nights at Ol Kinyei Conservancy during which we did early morning, afternoon, and one night game drive. The tents were very spacious and well appointed with flush toilet, running water, and power outlets. They also had a bucket shower, which was actually very nice. The coolest part of camping is hearing the animals at night while in bed and knowing your safe as there is 24/7 security. We loved how our guides Wilson and Edward. We also really liked the open jeeps. The great thing about the Conservancy was that when our guide spotted an animal, he could go off-road so we could get a super-close look. This is not allowed at the national parks. We also had bush breakfasts, lunches, and sunset drinks while sitting outside the jeep. We were able to see cheetahs, lions with cubs, a den of hyena pups (yes they were cute), a leopard and of course many elephants, zebras, hippos and giraffes. One day we went to the Maasai Mara and Wilson expertly positioned us to watch the crossing of the wildebeests. This was quite an accomplishment. First he went to a lookout and viewed the paths of migration of thousands of animals in the fields. He then was able to anticipate the area of the river where they would cross (this is very changeable from day to day.) It was incredible how he was able to position our jeep so we could see, since there were probably 50 other jeeps trying to see the same thing. The food at Ol Kinyei was delicious. Their chef Simom cooked both western food and some local African dishes.
The second portion of the trip was 6 days with a private guide in Tanzania. We spent 4 nights in the Serengeti and 2 nights near Ngorongoro. That was also amazing. The vastness of the Serengeti was breathtaking, and of course we saw lots of animals. So many lions! The roads were bad, however. The national park does not take care of them at all, so expect a very bumpy jeep ride everywhere in the Serengeti. They also do lots of controlled burns during the dry season, so our stay at Nimali Central was surrounded by ashy fields. Nimali Mara and Nimali Central were very luxurious and the food was amazing. We had 1st class table service while watching animals roam in the distance. Then our last 2 nights were at Tloma lodge which was nice, but not nearly as nice as the other camps. Ngorongoro was beautiful.
Our trip exceeded all expectations.

Everything about the safari experience was excellent and I wouldn't change a thing. From the expert advise of our Gamewatchers agent, to the incredible level of service throughout, we couldn't have asked for more. From the moment you arrive, they take care of you. The Porini camps are very comfortable, food is excellent, and the staff is so welcoming and helpful. Having tea/coffee and biscuits arrive to your tent at 6am with a wake-up call is such an incredible way to wake up in the bush. The camp itself is small, and you truly feel that you are in the bush, as there are no fences and you can sometimes hear the animals at night. But we always felt safe. The safari guides are very knowledgeable and open to speaking about their culture, background and experiences. They were all such lovely people and we really enjoyed spending the days with them. The managers and staff at each location were also so friendly and welcoming. The conservancies are dense with animals, and we loved the fact that most of our tourism dollars were going back to the community to protect the wildlife. We saw so much...elephants, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, ostriches, zebras, and so many others that I can remember their names! We thought this would be a once in a lifetime event, but we are now thinking of when we can go back!!! We highly recommend Gamewatchers and Porini. Our teenage kids loved this experience as well!!!

We used the Gamewatchers Company for our entire trip in Kenya. They helped us plan our Nairobi excursions and hotel bookings, two of the porini camps - Masai Mara and Amboseli as well as a trip to the coast. We were impressed with the kindness, professionalism and knowledge of every driver, guide and staff member we met. If there were any changes to the original itinerary like our flights, we were immediately contacted by Geoffrey who worked in the office. Our experience in the safari camps was amazing. The drivers and guides - Nicholas and Bensen at Amboseli and Geoffrey and Edward at Mara were great. They located a variety of animals, were fun to be around and very knowledgeable. The food at the camps was delicious and the staff was very courteous and kind. We would highly recommend using this company to plan any and all of your excursions in Kenya.

An excellent start to our Kenyan holiday - an overnight at the tented village at the Nairobi Game Park. All booked easily with a further overnight stay beforehand at the Four Points hotel at the airport with transfer arranged to the tented village. Game drives excellent saw loads of animals food great and even an extra touch of a hot water bottle in the beds

The staff were very friendly and helpful, very knowledgeable. Excellent game viewing , great accommodation, superb flight to and from camps
Highly recommended

Every aspect of our time at the Porini Rhino Camp, the Ol' Pejeta Conservancy, was amazing.

We stayed two nights in the family tent, which was large, spacious, and very luxurious; however, they still managed to hold on to the fact that you are camping in the middle of the game park.

The food was excellent, even the bush breakfast that we had on our first morning was incredibly good. The staff were all friendly and welcoming. Our driver and guide team was great, and they did a great job of finding and getting our family as close to the animals as possible. Their safari vehicles are designed to make you feel as close and connected with the animals as possible, which leaves us with experiences that we will remember for a long time.

Overall, I have no hesitations in booking with them again and hope we have the opportunity to go back. If you are looking for a great experience that is unique and will leave you with lasting memories of African wildlife, look no further than Porini.

Hats off to Rick and the Game Watchers team for planning such an incredible trip to Kenya. It was truly the most amazing experience due to Rick organizing every aspect of the journey.

From the moment we arrived in Kenya, everything ran seamlessly; every person who touched our lives on this journey was beyond professional, experienced and incredible!!

We cannot thank you enough for all the time and effort you put into making this trip a reality; every aspect of the itinerary truly made this a once-in-a-lifetime experience

We didn't want to go on a standard group "tour" of southern Africa so we hooked up with Gamewatchers, who created a bespoke safari for my wife and I, my daughter, and her boyfriend. Our agent, Wayne, who is himself a seasoned African safari photographer, patiently assessed our needs and booked us into four venues__Ilala lodge in Vic Falls to start, then off to the bush and flood plains at Chobe Elephant Camp, Rra Dinare, and Splash camp, the latter two in the Okavanga Delta. Everything was set up perfectly and each camp had its unique charms and terrain. The small aircraft transfers were right on schedule and we were expected, welcomed, and well cared-for in each camp. A lot of trust is required in booking these trips, and Gamewatchers delivered 100 percent. We felt the warm embrace of May in Botswana, an experience we will never forget.

I don't think you need to spend a ton of cash for five-star luxury. We went for mostly the mid-level camps which were comfortable, charming, and intimate, and which placed us very close to the environment we were seeking. The open-air vehicles were awesome and our guides and trackers, mostly local villagers, were incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and showed a genuine love for the world we were exploring. We were blown away by all the game we saw, the amazing stars, the vast terrain of the delta and Chobe national park, and the wonderful people who hosted us. In short, we wouldn't have changed a thing.

You can't go wrong with Porini Camps. This was our second safari with them and both times we were treated like kings and queens. They are very personal with the small camps and bend over backwards to meet all of your needs.

We didn't want to go on a standard group "tour" of southern Africa so we hooked up with Gamewatchers, who created a bespoke safari for my husband and I, my daughter, and her boyfriend. Our agent, Wayne Hammond, who is himself a seasoned African safari photographer, patiently assessed our needs and booked us into four venues__Ilala Lodge in Vic Falls to start, then off to the bush and flood plains at Chobe Elephant Camp, Rra Dinare, and Splash Camp, the latter two in the Okavanga Delta. Everything was set up perfectly and each camp had its unique charms and terrain. The small aircraft transfers were right on schedule and we were expected, welcomed, and well cared-for in each camp. A lot of trust is required in booking these trips, and Gamewatchers delivered 100 percent. We felt the warm embrace of May in Botswana, an experience we will never forget.

I don't think you need to spend a ton of cash for five-star luxury. We went for mostly the mid-level camps which were comfortable, charming, and intimate, and which placed us very close to the environment we were seeking. The open-air vehicles were awesome and our guides and trackers, all local villagers, were incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and showed a genuine love for the world we were exploring. We were blown away by all the game we saw, the amazing stars, the vast terrain of the delta and Chobe National Park, and the wonderful people who hosted us. In short, we wouldn't have changed a thing.

Most importantly, Gamewatchers/Porini delivered exactly as set out in the safari itinerary (agreed before the trip with one of the UK based representatives), to include all internal transfers whether by road or air.

Porini staff were welcoming, courteous and helpful. The safari guides and trackers made every effort to 'deliver' exciting and memorable sightings and as a keen photographer myself, they always positioned the vehicle to gain the best shots possible.

Before the trip, I was somewhat nervous about what the Conservancies might deliver in terms of game viewing but these fears were allayed - the conservancies are teeming with all types of predators and game. Furthermore, the limited number of tourists in these areas means that you're are always in pole position at game sightings.

The eco friendly accommodation, although basic was always clean and comfortable. The camp food prepared on site, exceeded my expectations.

If given the opportunity again, I would definitely travel with Gamewatchers/Porini.

Gamewatchers was excellent in all ways.
They created a great itinerary in alignment with my budget and took care of all the details. Our two-country 10 day safari was fantastic without any glitches or missed details. The service providers on the ground in Tanzania and Uganda were all exceptionally friendly and capable.

Our stay at the cottages was indeed very special and memorable. The staff are very professional and friendly. They went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. George and Evalyn were fantastic guides! Evalyn is the first female guide in Porini and a very knowledgeable one too! There was so much game and the conservancy in all its beauty was incredible! The sun downer, breakfast in the bush, the nature walk...all so special! Chef William was amazing too! He made a gluten free cake for our daughter which really was ...the icing on the cake. Definitely a GREAT place!

The accommodation was beautiful and comfortable, it's a stunning camp. The food was great and there was plenty available and good variety. The wildlife viewing was unbelievable, we couldn't tell if we were just lucky, but there was nothing we didn't see! Our guides Stanley and Dalton were incredible, so friendly and knowledgeable, and funny! Them and the staff at the camp made it such a special experience.

Highlights - Other than all the wildlife we saw (including a rare sighting of a leopard and her cub!), the hospitality and service from all the staff/guides was incredible. Special thanks to Joseph! We felt very spoilt. We especially enjoyed the cake and dance we got to celebrate our honeymoon! The bottle of prosecco was also a lovely gift.

Every person we met who worked for Porini made it a tailored and special experience for us - from being picked up to be taken to the airport and thereafter. Everyone was lovely.

We stayed at several camps in Kenya and Tanzania summer of 2023. All were exceptional staff, camps, animal viewing. Porini was a great value and exceptionally run. Great food great trackers, kind hospitality. Going back in 2025 for Rwanda and Uganda with Porini and Game Watchers

Me and my husband had the loveliest time at Porini Amboseli camp. Our guides Daniel and Amos were great and we enjoyed all game drives with them. Our best spotting was definitely a cheetah feasting in Amboseli and two cheetah brothers in the Selenkay Concervancy. Also seeing so many elephants at Amboseli was amazing! Our stay in the camp was amazing, we loved the friendly staff, good food and the surroundings including our bucket showers in the evenings. Our visit to the Maasai village and learning how Gamewatchers are making a difference in the surrounding communities was great! The only thing we would have changed is staying in the camp for longer!

The staff were very helpful and friendly. The facilities were overall impressive . Including the family tent I stayed in and the dining area too. Credit must also be given to the chef as the food they prepared was immaculate. This was an amazing experience with the animals and the campsite.

Overall, a brilliant time over the 3 days My Family and I spent at the Porini Lion Camp. The Facilities were amazing, the staff were very welcoming and the food was well-cooked. Special thanks to Billy and James for an amazing Safari, you really taught us alot and I'll never forget all the amazing views and the exotic animals we saw and special thanks to Albert who looked after myself and my family