Here are some of the highlights from Porini Camps between April and July 2020.
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30 July 2020
Male lions Ron 2 and Green Eyes at Cheetah Plains in Ol Kinyei Conservancy today.
29 July 2020
Bull elephant “Ummoja” and friends at the water hole in Selenkay Conservancy.
28 July 2020
Giraffes in Selenkay Conservancy.
25 July 2020
The Migration crossing the Sands River in the Masai Mara today.
Cheetahs Leteipa & Lemara successfully caught a young wildebeest in Ol Kinyei Conservancy today, but lions (Oloodoemurt & Olmurrani) stole their prize!
22 July 2020
Male lions “Caesar 2” and “Green Eyes” in Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
20 July 2020
The Great Migration has arrived in the Masai Mara region.
18 July 2020
Hyenas get their chance to feed after a lion has had his fill. Filmed on a game drive from Porini Mara Camp in Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
16 July 2020
Cheetahs in Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
15 July 2020
Hyenas feeding in Ol Kinyei Conservancy today, whilst the vultures wait for their opportunity to join in.
13 July 2020
A tower of giraffes today in Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
11 July 2020
Bull elephants at the waterhole in Selenkay Conservancy, filmed by safari guide Daniel Mamai.
8 July 2020
Twenty years ago there were no elephants in Selenkay (Amboseli region). Through our creation of Selenkay Conservancy by leasing land to be set aside as natural habitat we have created a water source to help sustain wildlife. Normally water is pumped via solar-power, but in times of poor weather a generator is used. The elephants are very intelligent and large numbers will run towards the watering hole when they hear the sound of the generator, even from a great distance!
2 July 2020
Pair of lions seen in Ol Kinyei Conservancy today.
1 July 2020
Elephants observed on a drive from Porini Mara Camp today in Ol Kinyei.
27 June 2020
Lion in Ol Kinyei Conservancy this morning, followed by a pair of jackals.
25 June 2020
One of the bull elephants currently in Selenkay Conservancy seen today by Porini Amboseli Camp safari guide Wilson Kasaine.
24 June 2020
Cheetahs this morning in Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
23 June 2020
Male lions “Green Eyes” and “Caesar 2” in Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
21 June 2020
Sampu Enkare breakaway pride lionesses and the three Ilkisiausiau males at Oloigeruno plains, Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
18 June 2020
Elephants observed at the waterhole near Porini Amboseli Camp (Selenkay Conservancy) by safari guide Wilson Ol Kasaine.
12 June 2020
Elephants today in Ol Kinyei.
9 June 2020
Lions in Ol Kinyei Conservancy today.
8 June 2020
These beautiful elephants were seen today near Gamewatchers Adventure Camp by Simon Nkoitoi, Warden of Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
2 June 2020
A herd of elephants seen in Selenkay Conservancy today.
29 May 2020
Giraffes fighting for dominance over territory in Selenkay Conservancy.
20 May 2020
Finn is among the big bachelor bulls that have found a safe haven in Selenkay Conservancy, away from the busier Amboseli National Park. When they are not in musth they come to Selenkay to fatten themselves from the various species of vegetation ranging from grasses to several trees and shrubs that they can’t get in the park.
Selenkay Conservancy is a very important wildlife dispersal area in the Amboseli ecosystem. Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs and many other animals seek the shelter and protection of the Conservancy, away from crowds of tourists. They are truly wild and are free to come and go as they please.
Porini Amboseli Camp is a small tented eco-camp that has exclusive access to this Conservancy. Guests enjoy a premium safari experience with day and night game drives, guided walks and sundowners. It is income from this low-key tourism that pays for the land to remain undeveloped and kept as natural habitat for wildlife.
15 May 2020
A large matriarchal herd of elephants in Ol Kinyei today.
12 May 2020
Large numbers of animals were seen on this morning’s game drive from Porini Mara Camp by manager Jimmy Lemara. He saw elephants, lions and cheetahs – as well as plenty of plains animals – all within a short space of time!
11 May 2020
Today our guides from Porini Amboseli Camp, Wilson and Daniel, got reports from the Selenkay Conservancy rangers of roaring near the airstrip. On investigation they found these two beautiful subadult males who they identified as being from the Nekompewa pride. They are 3 years old now, and they seem to be making a territorial comeback to the land of their father – Marti.
8 May 2020
A lion stake-out this morning in the Olkirankire area. Dominant males Caesar 2 & Green Eyes met with 3 other lions – some nomadic teenagers. The youngsters took shelter in a thicket, and can be seen towards the end of the footage making good their escape by sneaking out the back of the bush!
6 May 2020
A large male lion in Ol Kinyei Conservancy today.
2 May 2020
These cheetahs – a female and her curious cubs – were seen in Ol Kinyei Conservancy by Porini Camp Manager Jimmy Lemara on his morning game drive.
30 April 2020
Hyenas and jackals feeding, seen on the morning game drive in Ol Kinyei Conservancy.
27 April 2020
Here are cheetahs Nebaati and her sons, filmed in the southern side of Ol Kinyei Conservancy this morning. Turn up your volume to hear their chirping as they are investigating our vehicle!
26 April 2020
Porini Amboseli Camp safari guide Wilson Kasaine shared this video today from Selenkay Conservancy, Kenya. (Tip: turn up your volume to listen!) Wilson explained, “It is very vocal around Selenkay Conservancy because of these nesting Weavers. The males are busy competing to make the best and most attractive nest for their mates. There are Lesser-masked Weavers and Chestnut Weavers and many more”. The Conservancy provides vital natural habitat for a huge variety of birds.
24 April 2020
This interesting elephant behavior was shared today from Selenkay Conservancy by Porini Amboseli Camp safari guide Daniel Mamai. Daniel explained, “Elephants are fun and interesting to watch, we learn a lot about their behaviors by observing them in the field grazing and socializing. As this elephant approached us he lifted up his trunk and placed it on his tusk and stopped to get accustomed to us. This behavior shows peace and love among the elephants, and they do the same to show calm and tolerance towards people!”
17 April 2020
Leopards in Ol Kinyei
Join Porini Mara Camp Manager, Jimmy Lemara, as he observes leopards in Ol Kinyei Conservancy (Masai Mara, Kenya). Ol Kinyei is a vast area of pristine wilderness that has been set aside as natural habitat for Africa’s wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, the Big Cats and much more.
Jimmy said .. “Another amazing day in Olkinyei. At 4.30am, I heard jackals barking and I knew we had a leopard next to the camp. At 6.00am, I left camp in search of the elusive cat. At Enkonyenko area on Olaitole stream some 2 km away from the camp, I heard monkeys making the alarm call, a consistent call typically made when a very dangerous enemy is seen.
Within a short time, I was able to locate the leopard following the direction the monkeys were looking at. Kini was walking downstream towards the direction of the camp. I followed her and after a short while, I noted she was tracking something as she kept sniffing the ground and looking around. I saw that she had picked tracks of where a dead animal had been dragged. I looked at the tracks closely and noted it is tracks of a leopard dragging what looked like a medium sized antelope. I started scanning around and I could not believe my eyes at what I could see, another leopard up in the tree with a gazelle carcass next to it!
This one was looking seriously at the approaching leopard. It quickly climbed down without Kini noticing and slid into the thickets. Kini got to the tree, checked around the area by sniffing, got to where the dead gazelle is, still sniffing and checking very carefully. Obviously she could tell the other leopard had just left. She also climbed down and disappeared into the thickets. Shortly, they both reappeared – Kini chasing the other leopard which looked younger than her, another female leopard. She is a beautiful looking leopardess, with darker rosettes than Kini. Kini chased her for over 2 kilometres. The gazelle is in the tree, I guess Kini will come back for it”.
15 April 2020
Lion in Snare receives help
With tourism suspended at present due to the Coronavirus pandemic, our safari vehicles are no longer driving around the Ol Kinyei conservancy taking visitors to view the wildlife. In their absence it is vital that our conservancy Warden and rangers continue to carry out patrols to ensure the wildlife is protected. Our Porini Mara Camp manager Jimmy Lemara has been out in the conservancy daily and so has our Warden Simon Nkoitoi with his team of rangers.
Last week while patrolling the eastern side of the conservancy they found “Green Eyes”, one of the 3 dominant pride males known as the Rekero Boys, with a wire snare round his neck. This must have happened during the night when he strayed out beyond the conservancy boundary. They reported this to KWS so that their wildlife vet could come to assist and also notified senior researcher Niels Mogenson from the Mara Predator Conservation Programme who monitors the lions in the conservancies. They followed Green Eyes who went into thick bush on a rocky hill where the vehicles could not go.
They spent the next 2 days searching for the lion with no luck but in the early morning of the third day they found he had joined his brothers further inside Ol Kinyei Conservancy so they called the KWS team. The KWS vet Dr Limo quickly attended and was able to dart the lion to tranquillise him and remove the snare with no harm to Green Eyes who woke up none the worse for wear and later went off with his brothers as if nothing had happened!
We must continue funding the Warden and Rangers as well as the Porini Camps staff during the coming weeks so please support our ADOPT-AN-ACRE plan – click here for details.
10 April 2020
Herd of elephants with calves in Ol Kinyei
Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps Managing Director Mohanjeet Brar is in Ol Kinyei Conservancy and views this herd of elephants with many young calves.
The Importance of this one Tree to Wildlife in Selenkay
In addition to daily day and night game drives to view Africa’s iconic animals, guests at Porini Camps can take guided walks with our Maasai guides to learn more about the flora and fauna that is missed when in a vehicle.
Here, Porini Amboseli Camp safari guides explain how various different animal species make use of just one tree, such as this acacia tree. (Filmed in Selenkay Conservancy near Amboseli, Kenya).
6 April 2020
Lion “Ron 2” intruding on Sampu Enkare breakaway pride
The Sampu Enkare breakaway pride is dominated by the renowned Rekero Boys, but they are currently away overseeing their several other prides. In Ol Kinyei Conservancy our camp manager Jimmy has been watching male lion “Ron 2” taking advantage of their absence, chasing the younger males away and mating with one of the females. The rest of the pride members are not happy with his intrusion and have all temporarily separated.
5 April 2020
Pablo the bull elephant
Our safari guides in Selenkay Conservancy (Amboseli region) spent some time this morning (5 April 2020) observing this beautiful bull elephant named Pablo. The Conservancy has a good population of elephants which are attracted to this peaceful wilderness.
2 April 2020
Elephants in Ol Kinyei Conservancy
An increasing number of African Elephants are attracted to the pristine wilderness of Ol Kinyei Conservancy in Kenya’s Masai Mara. The Conservancy is a vast area of protected habitat that provides a safe haven for many species, including elephants and the Big Cats. Very low impact tourism pays for the land to be set aside for the wildlife.
Dawn at Porini Mara Camp
Our camp manager Jimmy Lemara shares the magnificent view as the sun rises over Porini Mara Camp, 2 April 2020. Porini Mara Camp is set in Ol Kinyei Conservancy – an 18700 acre wilderness set aside as a wildlife sanctuary with a wide variety of species including big cats. The area has open plains, forests, rivers and stunning views. This setting provides the ultimate African safari holiday adventure in an unspoilt area, away from the crowds.
31 March 2020
Listening for Birds at Porini Amboseli Camp
Our Maasai safari guide and bird expert Wilson Kasaine identifies some of the birds that can be heard from within Porini Amboseli Camp.
This award-winning camp is set in Kenya’s Amboseli eco-system within the exclusive Selenkay Conservancy– an important wildlife dispersal area for wildlife moving out of Amboseli National Park. The private conservation area ensures the best possible game viewing in proper off-road safari vehicles, off the beaten track and away from other tourist vans and minibuses.
Giraffe in Selenkay Conservancy
This beautiful giraffe was enjoying the tranquility of Selenkay Conservancy (near Porini Amboseli Camp) on 31 March.
