Return to Kenya

March 2020 | Helen & Peter Stokes, Isi & Charles Summers

I fell in love with Africa in my teens and have been lucky enough to return to the continent many times since, however, this was my first trip back to Kenya where it all began over four decades ago. Put off by photos of numerous vehicles crowding round every wildlife spectacle, my husband and I previously chose other, quieter, destinations. Then we discovered Porini and Gamewatchers and their whole ethos of employing and giving back to the local Maasai, and the fact that their camps are in conservancies, out of the busy popular reserves, won us over and prompted us, and other members of the family, to book a safari holiday with them. It turned out to be an excellent decision and an unforgettable holiday.

We spent time at 5 of their camps, Nairobi Tented Camp, Porini Amboseli, Porini Rhino, Porini Mara and Porini Lion camps. They were all very different and all excellent with wonderful wildlife encounters, superb guides, comfortable tents and facilities, good food (including gluten free for my husband, and an anniversary cake) and great staff. We saw nearly 50 species of animals and identified over 150 species of birds (there were many more we could not positively identify), as well as looking at the insect life and flora of the various regions and learning so much more about the Maasai way of life. We visited the last two remaining Northern White Rhino and rode horses amongst the wildlife on the plains of Ol Pejeta. We enjoyed our early morning wake up call with a hot drink and biscuits, and various picnics and sundowners in the bush, watching the wildlife and taking in the stunning Kenyan scenery.

It is hard to single out individuals, as all the staff were very good, however, a special mention must go to George, our driver/guide from Ol Kinyei conservancy who put us in the right place at the right time to see and photograph a cheetah hunt and kill, and who tried so hard to find us a leopard. Also thanks to Amanda our Rep in the UK who organised the trip for us and was on top of, and monitoring, the situation with regards to Coronavirus, which could have, but thankfully did not, necessitate an early exit from Kenya. Many thanks to everyone who looked after us so well. We look forward to a return visit and would recommend Porini and Gamewatchers to all.