Rating: Deluxe
Amboseli Porini Camp is in the Selenkay Conservation Area, a 15,000-acre private game reserve bordering the northern boundary of Amboseli National Park. This is a vast tract of land owned by the Kisonko clan of the Maasai people. 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!
Amboseli Porini is a small and exclusive camp sited among shady acacia trees in a spot once favoured by big game hunters. It is a traditional safari bush camp, with no permanent structures such as bar, 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!
Guests are accommodated in the 10 spacious tents which are large and comfortably furnished. Each has a double and a single bed, solar lights, and en suite bathroom with shower, washbasin and flush toilet.
Meals are taken under the shade of an acacia tree and after dinner you can sit around the campfire and listen to the sounds of the African night. The camp is staffed mainly by members of the local Maasai community.
All transport is in specially designed open-sided 4-wheel drive vehicles. As there are no other vehicles in the conservancy, guests here enjoy an exclusive game-viewing experience. Amboseli Porini offers escorted walks with Maasai trackers and guides. You can also visit a local Maasai village to learn about the traditional way of life.
Open: The camp is closed during the long rains, usually from around mid-April to the end of May.
Location: Selenkay Conservation Area, a 15,000-acre private game reserve bordering the northern boundary of Amboseli National Park. It's 100 miles from Nairobi and can be accessed by road in 3-4 hours. Alternatively, you can fly in.
Rooms: The camp has just 10 en suite tents (shower, sink and flushing loo) and accommodates a maximum of 20 guests. The rooms have solar-powered lighting and each has both a double and a single bed.
Activities: Amboseli Porini is all about experiencing the wildlife, wilderness and local culture of Amboseli. Morning, evening and night game drives in Selenkay Conservancy are taken in open-sided 4x4 vehicles; bush walks with the Maasai are an great way to get to see some of the smaller things of the African wilderness and see the landscape through the eyes of the Maasai; game viewing in Amboseli National Park; and don't miss a Maasai village visit.
Dining: All meals, soft drinks, house wine and local beers and spirits are included here. Meals are eaten communally in the dining tent, often sitting at one big table. Usually this will be outdoors but there is a dining tent for times of inclement weather.
Children: Porini Camps are not suitable for children under 8 years.
Health: This is a malarial area and you will need to check with your GP or travel clinic with regards to advice on other vaccinations.
Communication: There is limited and intermittent mobile signal.
This is a classic combination of three top quality safari locations staying at high quality safari camps throughout.
This is a real community-private success story. The Maasai own and protect the land and wildlife, the private company runs the camp, employs local people, and pays fees to the community which funds water and education projects. And you get a great wildlife and cultural experience.
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0"Basic camp, but service was very good and accommodations were certainly adequate. Food was not terrific, but that too was acceptable. Good staff, excellent guides and game viewing."