The Eco Warrior Award for ‘Community Conservancy of the Year 2012’ was awarded to Ol Kinyei Conservancy where Porini Mara Camp is located.
The awards ceremony was held on the 16th November 2012 and was attended by tourist industry stakeholders and conservation organisations as well as keen travellers.
The Eco Warrior awards were set up in 2005 by Ecotourism Kenya to recognise and reward those who have made a significant contribution to sustainable tourism in Kenya.
Our Commercial Director, Dr Mohanjeet Brar, and our Porini Camps Operations Manager, Melanie Woods, collected the award from Michael Gachanja, Director of the East African Wildlife Society.
Ol Kinyei – a 17,500 acre tranche of land, – belongs to a Maasai community who set aside the land for the purposes of wildlife conservation. Ol Kinyei Conservancy is home to Porini Mara Camp which accommodates a maximum of only 12 guests at any given time – making this not only an exclusive experience but one that respects the principles of eco-tourism.
Located within the Serengeti-Mara eco-system, Ol Kinyei is renowned for its unspoilt and breathtaking scenery with diverse terrain offering on one hand open savannah plains and rolling hills on the other. The land, with its abundance of water sources in the form of springs, streams and rivers, coupled with spectacular views across the Mara plains, is home to a wide variety of animal species. There is a resident lion pride of over 20 animals and several leopards also have their territories within the conservancy and are often seen by guests from Porini Mara Camp on evening or early morning drives. Cheetahs are frequently seen and it is not rare to come across large numbers of giraffe as well as Cape buffalo and elephants. The wildebeest migration also passes through Ol Kinyei when herds from the eastern plains of Loita join the migration to the Mara Reserve. The local Maasai make first class guides and are on hand to share their experience on what do see and do.
Ecotourism Kenya manages a certification scheme for tourism accommodation facilities based on environmental and social criteria. Porini Mara Camp and Porini Amboseli Camp are two of just 8 establishments in Kenya that hold a Gold rating. Porini Lion Camp and Porini Rhino Camp have been awarded a Silver rating.
