Porini Camps
Porini Camps place thier emphasis on the more personal and exclusive smaller safari camps, use of 4x4 safari vehicles for game drives in preference to vans, and the option of air transfers as an alternative to driving by road between the parks. There is a choice of four exclusive safari camps in private wilderness reserves. Amboseli Porini Camp in the Selenkay Conservancy (Amboseli), Mara Porini Camp in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy (Masai Mara) and Porini Lion Camp in the Olare Orok Conservancy (Masai Mara). As the camps are located in private game reserves you will escape from the crowds and experience the African wilderness without the presence of other tourist vehicles. You can also do night game drives as well as guided bush-walks which are not permitted within the main parks. Safaris at Porini Camps always include game drives with the game park, be it the Masai Mara, Amboseli or Nakuru National Park. Our Porini Camp game drives are in open-sided 4x4 safari vehicles, with expert safari guides, for the best wildlife safari viewing.
Why stay at a Porini Camp?
Small, intimate tented camps; friendly camp atmosphere; great value for money; located in private game concessions off traditional tourist route; park fees, bush walks and night game drives included in rates; eco-friendly approach; supports local Masai community.
See below for more details on why we recommend Porini Camps.
Mara Porini Camp, Ol Kinyei Conservancy
Mara Porini Camp has recently been set up in the exclusive wildlife conservancy of Ol Kinyei, one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the Serengeti-Mara eco-system. This is pristine wilderness with open savannah plains, riverine forest, springs, streams and rivers, rolling hills and spectacular views across the Mara. Ol Kinyei belongs to a Maasai community who have recently set aside the conservancy as a sanctuary for wildlife. The conservancy holds a wide variety of the animal species for which the Mara is famous including a large resident pride of lions.
The Porini camp has 6 guest tents sited in the shade of Yellow-barked Acacia trees along the banks of the Laetoli, a permanently flowing watercourse within Ol Kinyei . The tents are spacious and each has an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and safari shower. The camp accommodates a maximum of 12 guests, giving the experience of real camping in the bush in an exclusive private wilderness but with all the comforts required by discerning travellers. Food is excellent with home baked bread, fresh salads and high quality meals prepared by the camp Chef.
Within the Ol Kinyei conservancy guests enjoy morning , evening and night game drives, sundowners at scenic viewing points and escorted walks with Maasai guides. The camp is located less than 18 kms from the Masai Mara park boundary. Ol Kinyei Conservancy is 250 kms from Nairobi by road - a 4 hour journey. It has its own airstrip for private charter flights and is 16 kms from the Siana airstrip used by the daily scheduled flights to Mara from Nairobi.
Porini Lion Camp, Ole Arok Conservancy, Masai Mara
Porini Lion Camp is located in the exclusive 20,000 acre Olare Orok Conservancy. This expansive conservancy, which borders the Masai Mara Game Reserve, is home to an abundance of animals including the Big Cats for which the Mara is famous.
The Camp is situated along the banks of the
At camp guests enjoy morning, evening and night game drives in custom built 4x4's. Sundowners at scenic viewing points, from where you can enjoy a drink watching the sun set over the Mara. And escorted bush walks with Maasai warriors and safari guide, where you can get an insight into the Maasai people, their way of life and also learn more about the animals, birds and plants of the Mara.
Amboseli Porini, Selenkay Conservation Area
Selenkay Conservation Area is well off the beaten track and has not been visited by tourists until now. It lies in the heart of Maasailand and the animals are truly wild and not yet used to the presence of vehicles. The numbers of tourist visitors are being limited to a maximum of eight per day to retain the wild and unspoilt nature of the area and to minimise the impact on the environment. Within the conservation area the following animals have been seen recently: elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, Thompson's and Grant's gazelles, gerenuk, impala, oryx, lesser kudu, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, warthog, striped hyena, jackal, bat-eared fox, Caracal, African wild cat, serval cat, genet cat, honey badger, mongoose and ostrich. Birdlife is prolific, especially birds of prey.
Accommodation while on safari is at Porini Camp, within the conservation area. The facilities include 6 spacious guest tents, comfortably furnished and with en suite bathrooms including shower, wash basin and flush toilet. Tents have solar-powered electric lighting. The camp is small and is on the lines of the traditional luxury safari camp but with more comfortable bathroom arrangements than were available to the big game hunters of earlier years! The camp is private and only available to clients on the escorted safari itinerary with a maximum of 12 guests. All transport on this safari is in specially designed open Landrover 4 wheel drive safari vehicle. Going on safari in a "proper" safari vehicle gives a far better safari experience than travelling in the vans with window seats used by other tour operators! And as Selenkay Conservation Area is a private game reserve you will not see any other vehicles or minibuses.
The Selenkay Conservation Area lies a few miles north of Amboseli National Park and is an important dispersal area and rangeland for wildlife migrating out of Amboseli. In May 1997, a Kenyan organisation called Porini Ecotourism agreed with the local Maasai community to set aside the area for a reserve for wildlife so that the habitat could be protected and wildlife conserved. The community are receiving a rent for the lease of the area by Porini Ecotourism plus an entry fee for each tourist visitor. All roads have been constructed using local labour so that the members of the community gain employment from the Conservation area. In addition to the road maintenance team, Game Scouts have been employed to carry out patrols to see that the wildlife is protected.
Porini Rhino Camp, Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Porini Rhino Camp is located in Ol Pejeta Conservancy a 90,000 acre wildlife conservancy situated between the foot hills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snowcapped Mount Kenya.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy boasts an astounding variety of animals including all the “Big Five” (the endangered black rhino, leopard, elephant, buffalo and lion) as well a sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees and also incorporates the smaller Sweetwaters Game Reserve.
The combination of amazing wildlife and stunning views across the open plains of Ol Pejeta guarantees an unforgettable safari experience. The Conservancy is reserved exclusively for 4x4 safari vehicles and small exclusive eco-camps.
Porini Rhino Camp is hidden in a secluded valley and set amongst shady acacia trees on the banks of a seasonal river. The camp consists of six spacious guest tents, each comfortably furnished with en suite bathrooms. The camp is very environmentally-friendly with solar powered lighting and no generator. Game drives are taken in the camp’s 4x4 safari vehicles with qualified safari guides. Guided walks are taken on the open plains escorted by Maasai warriors. Night drives are also taken to see the nocturnal animals. All the Big Five have been seen on game drives from the camp.
Why stay at a Porini Camp?
The Porini Camps have established themselves as firm favourites in our portfolio - all of our clients come home raving about the Porini Camps. Of course Kenya has no shortage of quality safari camps in all manner of different sizes and styles, from the old fashioned luxury of camps like Cottars 1920s (complete with chandeliers and crystal glasses), to the more main-stream: large camps like Kichwa Tembo or Mara Intrepids (with 40+ tents). However the Porini Camps sit somewhere in between. Price-wise they are great value for money but with a maximum of 6 tents (max. capacity 12-13 guests) they offer an intimate and exclusive feel, akin to camps at the top end. Also they are built with a firmly "eco-friendly" ethic - in fact they are not "built" at all; the tents don't have concrete plinths like permanent tented camps. Porini Camps are true "bush camps" and can be completely dismantled in a matter of days, leaving little trace of their existence. This does not detract from the "comfort factor" - large, spacious tents with ensuite bathrooms, comfortable dining and living areas with excellent food and attentive staff, backed by an excellent ground crew in Nairobi.
Being located in private game reserves has a number of benefits - 1) only clients staying in the camps can go on game drives within the reserve - in fact you are unlikely to encounter any other vehicles on your game drives; 2) you can go on guided-bush walks with our local Masai guides as well as night-game drives, both of which are prohibited in the main reserves; 3) the reserves have a strong concentration of resident animals (from lion to leopard and elephant) and are "open" so the animals are free to pass between the reserves and the Masai Mara or Amboseli which they border; 4) the reserves are leased from the Masai so by staying at the camp, our guests contribute directly to the well-being of the local tribe.
Included vs Excluded. What many people don't understand when booking a safari is the hidden extras. What seems like a good deal might turn out to be more expensive when you factor-in game park fees, drinks and activities such as guided walks. At Porini Camps the rates include park fees, drinks (house wines, local spirits, beer and soft drinks) as well as guided bush-walks, night game drives and sundowners - ensuring you can relax and don't have to keep putting your hand in your pocket!
Finally, for clients who want to go on safari in a number of different reserves, we can build an itinerary that includes Porini Camps in the Masai Mara, Amboseli and Nakuru ensuring seamless hand-over between the camps and a consistently high quality of service and catering.
Rates 2010
Mara Porini Camp - 2 night flying packages from 1195 USD pp
Porini Lion Camp - 2 night flying packages from 1320 USD pp
Amboseli Porini Camp - 2 night road packages from 850 USD pp
Porini Rhino Camp - 2 night flying packages from 900 USD pp
(rates above are low-season rates and are subject to change)
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Guide to Rates
Rates vary depending upon season. Rates quoted above are low-season rates. As a guide mid-season rates can be up to 10% higher; peak-season rates can be up to 20% higher.
Rates include return flights from Nairobi (in the case of Mara Porini, Porini Lion Camp or Porini Rhino Camp) or road transfers from Nairobi (in the case of Amboseli), full board accommodation, all meals, drinks (wine, beer, gin), game drives in specially converted 4x4 safari vehicles, guided bush walks, sundowners from scenic viewing points, night game drives, tea + coffee, transfers from local airstrip to camp and park fees.
Additional nights and child rates available on request.
Rates do not include: premium wines, spirits, champagne, tips/gratuities, insurance, items of a personal nature, anything not expressly stated to be included.
Single supplements apply.
Rates subject to change without notice.
| FROM | TO | SEASON |
| 16-Dec-06 | 02-Jan-07 | Peak |
| 03-Jan-07 | 15-Apr-07 | Mid |
| 16-Apr-07 | 30-Jun-07 | Low |
| 01-Jul-07 | 31-Oct-07 | Mid |
| 01-Nov-07 | 15-Dec-07 | Low |
| 16-Dec-07 | 02-Jan-08 | Peak |
Feedback - Why not see what our past clients think about Poirini Camps
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