Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps Reviews 

Gamewatchers Safaris

We just got back from our trip to Africa arranged by Rick McIntyre at Gamewatchers Safaris.
We had a fabulous time every step of the way. Here are our comments for various aspects of the trip.

PLANNING
From our very first call to Gamewatchers Safaris, we knew we were in good hands. Our contact, Rick McIntyre, was helpful and informative every step of the way. His response time was amazing. Most of the time, he answered our actual calls. I don’t think we ever waited more than an hour for a response when he did not pick up immediately. His email responses were also very quick. He was always patient answering our questions—and we had a LOT of questions.

CAMPS
We stayed at two Porini Camps—Porini Rhino Camp in the Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy and Porini Mara Camp in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy. We cannot recommend these enough. Being in the conservancies rather than in the National Parks made a world of difference when it came to crowds (we had none).
We loved the Rhino Camp. The diversity of animals was amazing. There is a hold there (a blind) by a watering hole. We saw an abundance of animals without even leaving camp.
The Mara Camp had monkeys, deer and mongoose in the camp grounds.
Our accommodations at both camps were very comfortable and spacious. Each had 2 beds, a large bath and a deck.
The bucket showers were no problem at all and they supplied more than enough hot water for 2 showers. There is running water in the sink but only cold. The camps provide warm water (for washing faces) in the morning along with your choice of morning beverages and some cookies or biscuits. A very nice touch.
One of my favorite things was the hot water bottles in our bed each night!
The food was varied and very good. Often an African specialty was included. It was interesting to try so many new foods.
The bush breakfasts and the sundowners were fun as well.
We added a gorilla trek in Uganda to our trip which we highly recommend! Our hotel, The Mahogany Springs Lodge, and grounds were beautiful.

DRIVERS, SPOTTERS and STAFF
We spent a half day in Niarobi with our driver, Sammy. He was friendly, smart and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed his company.
The staff at both camps were polite and friendly.
Between the two camps, we had 3 different sets of spotters and drivers for our safaris. In each case they were so full of incredible knowledge about each animal and their behavior and habitats. All of our spotters and drivers were fun and friendly and so happy to share everything they knew. We learned so much and enjoyed our drives even before we saw any animals! They also knew what animals we were most interested in seeing (for us, Big Cats) and did their best to find them.
Shout outs to (sorry for any misspellings):
Sammy, our driver in Niarobi
DiGi—the camp director at Rhino Camp. He was on top of every detail. Funny and personable as well.
David and Backson—our driver and spotter team in Rhino Camp
Wilson and Dixon—our main team in Mara Camp
Stanley and Winston—we had one drive with this team in Mara Camp
Ivan—our driver in Uganda
They ALL helped make the experience outstanding!!

TRANSPORTATION
The safari transportation was in open sided vehicles that held 8 people (including driver and guide) so everyone had a “window” seat. The rides are bumpy, but the payoff far outweighs any mild discomfort along the way. Our step trackers logged 24000 steps a day when we probably only walked 2400. Our only complaint is that there were few or no working seatbelts in any of our vehicles.
The game drives were quite chilly early in the morning and late in the evening. Heavy ponchos were provided—and were greatly appreciated.
Transportation between camps was easy. The teams at the camp made sure everything went smoothly.
We added a gorilla trek in Uganda to our safari (also amazing!!). The transportation to and from Uganda and Kenya (2 flights and a car ride each way) was a little complicated but there was help when we needed it.

ANIMALS
Well, we wanted to see BIG Cats and our trip did not disappoint! Not only did we see an abundance of lions, but we had 2 sightings of cheetahs and even one siting of a leopard.
There were giraffes and elephants and all types of antelope, (and, yes, we learned the differences!), hyenas (we saw a rare striped hyena) and warthogs, hippos and rhinos (we learned the differences between the black and white rhinos—and how their names came about), wildebeests and jackals. And that is just the highlights!

We highly recommend Gamewatchers for your safari!

Everything went off flawlessly. We were picked up and delivered where we needed to go when we needed to be there. The staff was wonderful, helpful, friendly and so knowledgable. We had excellent meals, comfortable accomodations and the most amazing gamewatching experiences. We are already planning our return trip and it will definitely be with this company.

Visiting the Porini Camps is a way to immerse yourself fully in the animals habitat and behavior as well as immerse yourself in the Masaii culture and relationship with the wildlife. It is the right way to visit Africa for a photo or viewing safari. Hospitality is wonderful, The food is great, and the accomodations are surprisingly comfortable. Planning was easy! You will enjoy your trip.

Gamewatchers did everything possible to make our trip all we had hoped it would be. When our luggage was lost they advised us to continue as planned which they made possible. When the luggage was found Gamewatchers picked it up at the airport and then drove a long distance to get it to us as we were already at the first bush camp. They really did everything to make sure we had a great experience throughout the trip. Time in each camp was great - meals, hot showers, With the lost luggage the manager at Rhino Camp loaned us a warm coat to use until the luggage caught up with us. Drivers and Game Spotters at each camp made sure they knew what we wanted to see. Finding all is, of course, somewhat a matter of luck in some cases but we did see elephants, Rhinos, Cape Buffalo, lions, and, most difficult to find, a leopard. We also were able to see some wildlife we hadn't expected - an eagle-owl, two lions sleeping high up in a tree (not so normal for lions), other birds,and of course gazelles, antelope, hippos - all the things you would hope to see on a trip to Africa and more. We do ont hesitate in recommending Gamewatchers.

The wildlife viewing was extraordinary. I still can't believe the access we had to the animals in their habitat. The guides were so knowledgeable. It was incredible to witness their understanding of the animals and their behavior. The food and service at the camps exceeded any expectations we had and the overall hospitality and expertise of the GameWaters team service blew us away.

My wife and I just returned from 9 days and 8 wonderful nights with Gamewatchers in two of their Porini camps. We had a camera malfunction on day 2 of a 21 day Africa trip, which would have been a disaster not to have good photos. I asked Victor at the Ambosili camp for help. He and the staff in Nairobi purchased a Nikon digital camera at my request, put it on a flight from Wilson airport in Nairobi to an airstrip in the bush where one of their guides picked it up and delivered to us out on a game drive. While their camps, guides, and camp workers are all excellent, pulling off a complex activity to bail us out of a difficult situation was amazing. Their staff saved our trip and will definitely be our choice on next Kenya adventure.

Gamewatchers arranged 2 weeks of safari camps and transits for us covering Kenya and Botswana. We have traveled many places but this trip was the best of our lifetime. Gamewatchers took care of all the logistics. Favorite places were the Ilkeliani Camp which took us into the Masai Mara reserve - incredibly abundant and diverse wildlife just minutes from camp, great Masai guides who answered all our questions. Porini Lion Camp at a nearby Conservancy was also excellent, guides had an intimate knowledge of where individual big cats could be found and their behavior. Okavango Delta very different but beautiful also. Tents and food were great in all places Gamewatchers arranged.

The place was amazing, from the Masai warriors greeting us on arrival to the bucket showers. The surrounding peace and beauty is over the top as well as the number of animals we saw. There is nothing we did not see. Our 2 game drivers, Dickson and Stanley could not have been more wonderful. I shout out to Joseph, the manager, who made every excursion so accessible and to Moses, who spent time talking with me. The comfort of the tents (especially the hot water bottle at night) and the monkeys, hyrax and bushbuck in camp all made it a once in a lifetime experience. The lions roaring at night and the hyenas are in my dreams. The food was delicious as well as the company of every person we met. The Masai village, and talking with our game drivers and other drivers,( to and from Porini Mara), changed me. We shared hearts and I have a deep need to share and help where I can in Africa. It is a beautiful, magical country and I left a piece of my heart there.

My wife and I go on an international vacation each year planned by my son and his wife...and 8 year old granddaughter. This was the best trip we have ever had, I believe...the safari. Everything about it was totally amazing...the settings for the camps, the personnel at the camps to help us, especially the Maasai guides who were so pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful, the wonderful food prepared by a chef who came to the "mess tents" to introduce themselves (and to be complimented by us), the ever-so-comfortable sleeping "tents" we stayed in with running water, hot showers, toilets, comfortable beds, and blankets for the chilly nights, and, of course, all of the wild animals we got to see close up. Sure, it cost a lot, but there are a lot of costs associated with each camp, and for me, it was well-worth a trip of my life! We became good friends with out guides in just a couple of days time and hugged each other when we left. And they all had a good sense of humor, too, which made the excursions more enjoyable. I could say much more, but I can't imagine anyone not giving 5 stars to this safari outfit.

Our trip was 10 days start to finish. The entire trip was expertly planned by Rick. We spent 3 nights at Ol Kinyei Conservancy during which we did early morning, afternoon, and one night game drive. The tents were very spacious and well appointed with flush toilet, running water, and power outlets. They also had a bucket shower, which was actually very nice. The coolest part of camping is hearing the animals at night while in bed and knowing your safe as there is 24/7 security. We loved how our guides Wilson and Edward. We also really liked the open jeeps. The great thing about the Conservancy was that when our guide spotted an animal, he could go off-road so we could get a super-close look. This is not allowed at the national parks. We also had bush breakfasts, lunches, and sunset drinks while sitting outside the jeep. We were able to see cheetahs, lions with cubs, a den of hyena pups (yes they were cute), a leopard and of course many elephants, zebras, hippos and giraffes. One day we went to the Maasai Mara and Wilson expertly positioned us to watch the crossing of the wildebeests. This was quite an accomplishment. First he went to a lookout and viewed the paths of migration of thousands of animals in the fields. He then was able to anticipate the area of the river where they would cross (this is very changeable from day to day.) It was incredible how he was able to position our jeep so we could see, since there were probably 50 other jeeps trying to see the same thing. The food at Ol Kinyei was delicious. Their chef Simom cooked both western food and some local African dishes.
The second portion of the trip was 6 days with a private guide in Tanzania. We spent 4 nights in the Serengeti and 2 nights near Ngorongoro. That was also amazing. The vastness of the Serengeti was breathtaking, and of course we saw lots of animals. So many lions! The roads were bad, however. The national park does not take care of them at all, so expect a very bumpy jeep ride everywhere in the Serengeti. They also do lots of controlled burns during the dry season, so our stay at Nimali Central was surrounded by ashy fields. Nimali Mara and Nimali Central were very luxurious and the food was amazing. We had 1st class table service while watching animals roam in the distance. Then our last 2 nights were at Tloma lodge which was nice, but not nearly as nice as the other camps. Ngorongoro was beautiful.
Our trip exceeded all expectations.

Everything about the safari experience was excellent and I wouldn't change a thing. From the expert advise of our Gamewatchers agent, to the incredible level of service throughout, we couldn't have asked for more. From the moment you arrive, they take care of you. The Porini camps are very comfortable, food is excellent, and the staff is so welcoming and helpful. Having tea/coffee and biscuits arrive to your tent at 6am with a wake-up call is such an incredible way to wake up in the bush. The camp itself is small, and you truly feel that you are in the bush, as there are no fences and you can sometimes hear the animals at night. But we always felt safe. The safari guides are very knowledgeable and open to speaking about their culture, background and experiences. They were all such lovely people and we really enjoyed spending the days with them. The managers and staff at each location were also so friendly and welcoming. The conservancies are dense with animals, and we loved the fact that most of our tourism dollars were going back to the community to protect the wildlife. We saw so much...elephants, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, ostriches, zebras, and so many others that I can remember their names! We thought this would be a once in a lifetime event, but we are now thinking of when we can go back!!! We highly recommend Gamewatchers and Porini. Our teenage kids loved this experience as well!!!

We used the Gamewatchers Company for our entire trip in Kenya. They helped us plan our Nairobi excursions and hotel bookings, two of the porini camps - Masai Mara and Amboseli as well as a trip to the coast. We were impressed with the kindness, professionalism and knowledge of every driver, guide and staff member we met. If there were any changes to the original itinerary like our flights, we were immediately contacted by Geoffrey who worked in the office. Our experience in the safari camps was amazing. The drivers and guides - Nicholas and Bensen at Amboseli and Geoffrey and Edward at Mara were great. They located a variety of animals, were fun to be around and very knowledgeable. The food at the camps was delicious and the staff was very courteous and kind. We would highly recommend using this company to plan any and all of your excursions in Kenya.

An excellent start to our Kenyan holiday - an overnight at the tented village at the Nairobi Game Park. All booked easily with a further overnight stay beforehand at the Four Points hotel at the airport with transfer arranged to the tented village. Game drives excellent saw loads of animals food great and even an extra touch of a hot water bottle in the beds

The staff were very friendly and helpful, very knowledgeable. Excellent game viewing , great accommodation, superb flight to and from camps
Highly recommended

Every aspect of our time at the Porini Rhino Camp, the Ol' Pejeta Conservancy, was amazing.

We stayed two nights in the family tent, which was large, spacious, and very luxurious; however, they still managed to hold on to the fact that you are camping in the middle of the game park.

The food was excellent, even the bush breakfast that we had on our first morning was incredibly good. The staff were all friendly and welcoming. Our driver and guide team was great, and they did a great job of finding and getting our family as close to the animals as possible. Their safari vehicles are designed to make you feel as close and connected with the animals as possible, which leaves us with experiences that we will remember for a long time.

Overall, I have no hesitations in booking with them again and hope we have the opportunity to go back. If you are looking for a great experience that is unique and will leave you with lasting memories of African wildlife, look no further than Porini.

Hats off to Rick and the Game Watchers team for planning such an incredible trip to Kenya. It was truly the most amazing experience due to Rick organizing every aspect of the journey.

From the moment we arrived in Kenya, everything ran seamlessly; every person who touched our lives on this journey was beyond professional, experienced and incredible!!

We cannot thank you enough for all the time and effort you put into making this trip a reality; every aspect of the itinerary truly made this a once-in-a-lifetime experience

We didn't want to go on a standard group "tour" of southern Africa so we hooked up with Gamewatchers, who created a bespoke safari for my wife and I, my daughter, and her boyfriend. Our agent, Wayne, who is himself a seasoned African safari photographer, patiently assessed our needs and booked us into four venues__Ilala lodge in Vic Falls to start, then off to the bush and flood plains at Chobe Elephant Camp, Rra Dinare, and Splash camp, the latter two in the Okavanga Delta. Everything was set up perfectly and each camp had its unique charms and terrain. The small aircraft transfers were right on schedule and we were expected, welcomed, and well cared-for in each camp. A lot of trust is required in booking these trips, and Gamewatchers delivered 100 percent. We felt the warm embrace of May in Botswana, an experience we will never forget.

I don't think you need to spend a ton of cash for five-star luxury. We went for mostly the mid-level camps which were comfortable, charming, and intimate, and which placed us very close to the environment we were seeking. The open-air vehicles were awesome and our guides and trackers, mostly local villagers, were incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and showed a genuine love for the world we were exploring. We were blown away by all the game we saw, the amazing stars, the vast terrain of the delta and Chobe national park, and the wonderful people who hosted us. In short, we wouldn't have changed a thing.

You can't go wrong with Porini Camps. This was our second safari with them and both times we were treated like kings and queens. They are very personal with the small camps and bend over backwards to meet all of your needs.

We didn't want to go on a standard group "tour" of southern Africa so we hooked up with Gamewatchers, who created a bespoke safari for my husband and I, my daughter, and her boyfriend. Our agent, Wayne Hammond, who is himself a seasoned African safari photographer, patiently assessed our needs and booked us into four venues__Ilala Lodge in Vic Falls to start, then off to the bush and flood plains at Chobe Elephant Camp, Rra Dinare, and Splash Camp, the latter two in the Okavanga Delta. Everything was set up perfectly and each camp had its unique charms and terrain. The small aircraft transfers were right on schedule and we were expected, welcomed, and well cared-for in each camp. A lot of trust is required in booking these trips, and Gamewatchers delivered 100 percent. We felt the warm embrace of May in Botswana, an experience we will never forget.

I don't think you need to spend a ton of cash for five-star luxury. We went for mostly the mid-level camps which were comfortable, charming, and intimate, and which placed us very close to the environment we were seeking. The open-air vehicles were awesome and our guides and trackers, all local villagers, were incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and showed a genuine love for the world we were exploring. We were blown away by all the game we saw, the amazing stars, the vast terrain of the delta and Chobe National Park, and the wonderful people who hosted us. In short, we wouldn't have changed a thing.

Most importantly, Gamewatchers/Porini delivered exactly as set out in the safari itinerary (agreed before the trip with one of the UK based representatives), to include all internal transfers whether by road or air.

Porini staff were welcoming, courteous and helpful. The safari guides and trackers made every effort to 'deliver' exciting and memorable sightings and as a keen photographer myself, they always positioned the vehicle to gain the best shots possible.

Before the trip, I was somewhat nervous about what the Conservancies might deliver in terms of game viewing but these fears were allayed - the conservancies are teeming with all types of predators and game. Furthermore, the limited number of tourists in these areas means that you're are always in pole position at game sightings.

The eco friendly accommodation, although basic was always clean and comfortable. The camp food prepared on site, exceeded my expectations.

If given the opportunity again, I would definitely travel with Gamewatchers/Porini.