Porini Camp is located in the Selenkay Conservation Area, a 15,000-acre private game reserve within a vast tract of land owned by the Kisonko clan of the Maasai people and bordering the northern boundary of Amboseli National Park. The Conservation Area is an important dispersal area for wildlife moving in and out of Amboseli and actually holds a wider diversity of species than is found inside the park.

In addition to the better-known big game like elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe and zebra, there are several less common species such as caracal, African wild cat, civet, gerenuk, lesser kudu and striped hyena. Our private four-wheel-drive track links the Selenkay Conservation Area to the Amboseli National Park so that we have the advantage of game drives in the park as well as in our own exclusive reserve.

The Selenkay Conservation Area is 100 miles from Nairobi and a three-hour drive, mostly on tarmac down the Mombasa road. The camp operates a transfer by minibus from Nairobi every Monday, Thursday and Saturday for a 2 night safari and every Wednesday for a 1 night safari. The Amboseli airstrip can also be used, with daily flights from Nairobi operated by Airkenya.

Ecotourism

The local Maasai community has set aside the Selenkay Conservation Area as a reserve for wildlife and in return is receiving an income from tourism activities. This is used to fund community projects such as schools and water supplies. Employment opportunities have also been provided for the local Maasai people as game rangers, trackers, and camp staff. Apart from the management couple and Head Cook, all other staff in the camp and Conservation Area are members of the local community. The 70 kms of roads in the Conservation Area were constructed using local labour so that members of the community gained employment. As a result of the establishment of the Conservation Area, wildlife numbers have recovered significantly in recent years and elephants are now seen frequently after an absence of nearly 20 years. Selenkay Conservation Area lies in the heart of Maasailand, well off the beaten track, and has not been visited by tourists until very recently. The animals are truly wild and tend to behave more naturally than those in the parks, which are often habituated to the presence of vehicles.

Accommodation

Porini Camp consists of six spacious tents, sited among shady Acacia Tortilis trees, in a spot once favoured by big game hunters. The camp is small and exclusive, accommodating a maximum of 12 guests. It is set up along the lines of the traditional hunting safari bush camp, so there are no permanent structures like bar or restaurant or swimming pool – this is real camping in the bush, but with much more comfortable bathroom arrangements than were available to the hunters of earlier years!

The tents are large and comfortably furnished, each with a double and a single bed, solar-powered electric lights, and en suite bathroom with shower, washbasin and flush toilet. Meals are taken under the shade of an Acacia tree and after dinner we can sit around the campfire and listen to the sounds of the African night. The camp is staffed by members of the local Maasai community and managed by a young couple who are experienced safari guides and act as your hosts throughout your stay.

Facilities and Activities included during your stay

• Spacious insect-proof tents comfortably furnished with proper beds.
• En suite bathrooms with showers, washbasins and flush toilets.
• All meals.
• Free mineral water, soft drinks, beer and house wine.
• Custom-built open-sided four-wheel-drive safari vehicles for all game drives.
• Expert driver-guides.
• Morning and evening game drives in Selenkay.
• Night game drive.
• Escorted walk with Maasai trackers and guide.
• Sundowner on Olosinkiran Hill.
• Picnic lunch in a tree platform.
• Full morning in Amboseli National Park.
• Free transfers from Nairobi or Amboseli airstrip.

Daily Programme
During your stay there will be a two-day programme as follows:

Day 1. Transfer from Nairobi by road arriving for lunch. In the afternoon you will go on a game drive to explore the Conservation Area ending with a sundowner on Olosinkiran Hill. Return to camp for a shower, dinner and overnight.

Day 2. After an early breakfast, we drive through the bush on our private track into Amboseli National Park for a full morning, returning for lunch. In the afternoon you will be escorted on a walk by Maasai trackers and a guide, who will give you an insight into their fascinating culture and way of life. Return to camp for dinner followed by a night game drive to view nocturnal animals such as aardvarks, serval cats, caracals, bat-eared foxes, African wild cats, and maybe even the elusive leopard.

Day 3. Morning game drive in the Conservation Area followed by an early lunch and then depart at midday for the transfer to Nairobi, arriving in mid-afternoon.