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Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps Recognised with Two ATTA® for Action Awards 2026
This year’s recognition is particularly significant as it marks the first time a single organisation has received awards in two separate categories during the same year of the ATTA® for Action Awards. It speaks to the depth and consistency of our conservation model, which is nearly three decades in the making.
At the 2026 awards, announced during Experience Africa in London on 22 June 2026, Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps received:
Winner – ATTA® Earthkeepers Award
Winner – ATTA® Eco-Innovation Award
Our work had previously been acknowledged in the inaugural 2024 awards by winning The Collaborative Champions of Climate and Social Justice Award which recognises the collaboration of organisations with aligned missions that share resources to make a holistic impact. We were also finalists in two other categories in 2024 – Meaningful Engagement Champion & 2025 – Community Upliftment Award.
The ATTA® for Action Awards celebrate organisations across Africa that are creating meaningful positive impact through responsible tourism, conservation, community engagement, and sustainability leadership. The awards recognise businesses that demonstrate measurable action and long-term commitment across areas including wildlife conservation, climate action, ethical tourism, and regenerative travel.
Winning the ATTA® Earthkeepers Award
The ATTA® Earthkeepers Award recognises an organisation that offers ethical wildlife experiences (wild or captive), respects animal welfare, educates tourists, and where applicable, has demonstrated a significant contribution to natural habitat conservation and the reduction of human wildlife conflict.
In announcing the award, ATTA® recognised Gamewatchers Safaris as a pioneer of Kenya’s community conservancy model.
The awards highlighted the establishment of the Selenkay Conservancy in 1997 — the first conservancy of its kind in Kenya — and acknowledged the long-standing partnership model where local Maasai landowners lease land for wildlife conservation while retaining ownership and custodianship.
Today, the conservancy model which was pioneered by Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Camps helps protect more than 138,000 acres of wildlife habitat across multiple conservancies while supporting thousands of Maasai landowners and families through conservation tourism partnerships.
The judges described “Gamewatchers Safaris’ Porini pioneering work has shaped how Kenya thinks about conservation tourism” and described the conservancy approach as: “The community conservancy model is one of the most replicable”.
This recognition reflects over three decades of conservation work built around the belief that tourism can help protect wildlife and create sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
Winner of the ATTA® Eco-Innovation Award
The ATTA® Eco-Innovation Award recognises an organisation committed to protecting the planet and mitigating climate change through integrating eco-friendly practices and technologies, like renewable energy sources, and transparently monitors their efforts.
The award recognises our Porini Camps for their low-impact safari model within our community-owned conservancies.
ATTA® highlighted several sustainability initiatives embedded throughout our Porini Camp operations, including:
- – Low-density safari experiences designed to minimise environmental impact.
- – Zero-waste and circular economy principles.
- – Composting, recycling, and reuse programmes.
- – Local sourcing and kitchen gardens.
- – Long-term community partnerships linked directly to conservation outcomes.
The judges noted “Porini demonstrates how tourism can significantly reduce waste while supporting conservation and community livelihoods”
“From the conservancy model and local partnerships to the guest experience itself, sustainability appears to be part of how the operation functions rather than an additional layer placed on top. The additional context around Jake Grieves-Cook’s contribution to conservation in Kenya added even greater depth. Well done on an impressive application!”
Read the full ATTA® judges’ comments and 2026 winners announcement here >>
A Recognition of Long-Term Conservation Partnerships
These awards are especially meaningful because they recognise long-term collaboration between conservation tourism and local communities.
Since the beginning, Gamewatchers Safaris has worked alongside Maasai landowners and communities to help protect critical wildlife habitats outside Kenya’s national parks. Today, much of Kenya’s wildlife lives on community and private lands, making conservancies an essential part of conservation in East Africa.
The conservancy concept was pioneered by Gamewatchers has helped create protected wildlife areas where tourism revenue directly supports conservation, employment, education initiatives, and sustainable livelihoods.
This model has also allowed our guests to experience wildlife in less crowded areas while supporting conservation in a meaningful and tangible way.
Thank You
We would like to thank the African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA®), the award judges, Helen Simmans & Sally Brunning from Marketing Worldwide who attended the event & collected the awards of our behalf, our conservation partners, our office teams, camp teams, guides, and the local communities who make this work possible every day.
Most importantly, thank you to our guests and supporters whose travels contribute directly to protecting wildlife habitats and supporting communities across Kenya.
These awards are not only recognition of past achievements but also encouragement to continue strengthening conservation-focused tourism for the future.
Learn more about Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Camps here:
