Game Watchers Reviews

Great experience I enjoyed the experience quite a bit, I saw and heard many animals up close and met a lot of very nice local people. The Porini Mara camp was very comfortable, with lots of wildlife in and around the camp. I actually had an elephant feeding about 5m away while I was stargazing outside my tent. Got to watch 3 lionesses and 10 cubs eat a zebra, including hearing the bones crunched. OTOH, the food was mediocre and the game drives felt a little like being in a zoo. The animals are so used to the Land Rovers that we'd pull up to lions and elephants only a couple of meters away. I felt like the guides were good, not great. We did most of our sightings from behind the animals - not the best angle for photography. And the guides talked to each other in Swahili more than they did to us in English. I went in April, which is the slowest month of the year - expect big crowds on game sightings if you go in a busy season. I saw everything I hoped for in the offseason and still some sightings were still crowded with cars. I haven't been on any other safaris, so I have nothing to compare this trip with. However, i really enjoyed it and I'm very glad I did it. It felt like an 'entry level' safari, so if I do it again I think I'll look for something more adventurous.

Repeat customers We`ve used this company several times over the past five years or so, and we like the way they do things. Everything is very organised, and their staff in the camps we have stayed in all operate to the highest standard in all respects. Well done, all!

Wild life and nature at its best at eco friendly but luxurious camps All the safari was very good and well organized. All the camps were from very good to excellent while the food in all three was very good and good variety. The staff in all camps were very professional, friendly and tried to accommodate all the guests needs. The guides were experienced and knowledgeable. The wildlife viewing was great as in Kenya but the scenery and Okavango delta area was just beautiful The whole safari was well organised with no issues, good and professional staff while the activities organized were very special and you really felt that you are very close to nature and wild life but without disturbing them. Just keep up the good work that you are doing.

An epic vacation! Wow, what a trip! I lived in Africa for 8 years and have gone on many safaris in numerous African countries, but my recent trip with Gamewatchers to their Porini Camp in a conservancy outside the Masai Mara was by far the best. Great service, great animal watching, great facilities, and great staff. My family of four traveled with five other families- 18 of us in total- and had an absolutely incredible experience. I can not recommend Gamewatchers and Porini Camps more highly.

Our experience - start to finish - far exceeded our expectations! We HIGHLY recommend Gamewatchers Safaris and their Porini Bush Camps.Our experience - start to finish - far exceeded our expectations. Our safari planning consultant, Wayne Hammond designed a safari itinerary based on what he heard about our individual desires (husband/wife and female friend). He was very attentive to answering our seemingly never-ending questions.From the moment a Gamewatchers representative met us at the airport at 1:30 am when our flight arrived, to the moment another representative dropped us off at our hotel after the safari, there wasn’t a single hiccup.We chose a fly-in safari staying at three different Gamewatchers’ Porini Bush Camps. Every single staff member was so welcoming and attentive, from the camp managers, guides, chefs and dining staff to everyone else who served us.The three sets of guides were just terrific - so knowledgeable, humorous, and willing to stop for as long as we wanted take pictures or enjoy a scene. The food was good and varied! We particularly enjoyed our bush breakfasts and lunches. The tents were very roomy and nicely appointed. We felt perfectly safe in our tents at night, even though we knew there were animals not too far away. The safari drives themselves were absolutely amazing. Two of us saw the "big five;" and the third saw four of the five. It was really a thrill to see three of the four prides in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, cheetahs on two occasions including right at the airstrip the day we flew out of Lion Camp, and not one but two leopards together (mom and juvenile cub). The guides were as enthusiastic about spotting a big herd of elephants as they were for a small bat-eared fox or dozens of colorful birds.We were drawn to Gamewatchers because of their commitment to conservation and to working with and supporting the Maasai people. Staying in conservancies meant fewer crowds and the flexibility to drive off-road, go on a night-safari and a walking safari if we chose. We very much enjoyed our visit to a local Maasai village and learning about their daily life and culture.We whole-heartedly give Gamewatchers and Porini Camps five stars!Bruce WynnKaren Rotko-WynnWendy Hatch

"Celebrating 60" Wanted to celebrate "60" in a special way and booking a safari in Kenya was absolutely amazing! With the help of Wayne and all the staff at Gamewatchers who helped us along the way Asante sana! Returning home, people have asked what the highlight was, and my response is nature provided us a special day, each and every day. The camps, the food, staff and new friends we met along the way was incredible. We went into this experience thinking it was a "one and done" kind of trip but of course we caught the Safari bug! Highly recommend the Porini Camps and booking with Gamewatchers!

Beyond our wildest dreams! Everything was outstanding! Beyond our expectations! We thought this was once in a lifetime, but now we are hooked, and would not hesitate to do it again with Gamewatchers. From the building of the itinerary with Wayne, to the support in Kenya for transportation to/from the camps, the great food, the comfortable lodgings and the friendly and accommodating staff, the game drives with the incredible guides everything was seamless and . We never once felt nervous or concerned as 3 ladies travelling alone. We saw so much more than anticipated, including all of the Big 5. We stayed in Nairobi and 3 different Porini Camps, as well a trip to the beach in Diani. Each place was unique and all were equally great. The Porini experiences were extra special and we highly recommend Gamewatchers and Porini Camps. You will not be disappointed.

First class care - and a lifetime of memories Huge thanks for the excellent service from the Gamewatchers team during our recent visit to Kenya. The team in Nairobi were fantastic from the airport pick up, through to showing us various sites in the city.We were also extremely impressed with booking our safari through Gamewatchers. The team made excellent (and practical) suggestions for our trip, and were truly spoilt by an incredible time and safari at Ol Seki Hemingways. Asante sana to you all!

Prime Game Sightings! Our trip has been absolutely brilliant. The whole experience was top quality and very enriching. We had prime sightings of all kinds of animal behaviour and scenes. The Masai guides are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and fun. The staff in the camps are amazing, the level of hospitality is very high. And the meals are top cuisine!As you can read above, we have been treated so well and spoiled with a cherry on top :-)If we come back to Africa, we will definitely book with Game Watchers again.Congratulations to the whole team for making this an unforgettable experience for us

Amazing 18 day private Safari in Kenya Rick McIntyre curated a wonderful 18 day Safari in Kenya (Amboseli, Lewa, Meru National Park, Ol Pejeta and Mara North) for my wife and I in January. The properties he selected were wonderful and the game drives were exceptional. Gamewatchers delivered above and beyond our expectations and everything from initial contact to final return went seamlessly. Gamewatchers service and support are simply amazing and we would not hesitate working with them on other African Safari's for us in the future.

Wonderful Safari Experience - Book with Gamewatchers! Just recently returned from a 10 night safari booked with Gamewatchers (our contact Rick McIntyre). This was our 2nd trip to Kenya, but the first with Gamewatchers who were recommended to us by friends who did their first safari a year ago. We were absolutely delighted with this company from start to finish. Rick was easy to reach and always answered our questions in a timely manner. The care and service from the moment we arrived in Nairobi until we were delivered back to the international airport was stellar. Every detail taken care of, caring and helpful staff on the ground, all schedules met, etc. We stayed at 3 different camps (Rhino, Giraffe and Cheetah), and have written individual reviews for each of them. The camps were wonderful as were the staff and guides at each of them. We saw amazing animals - and although we had seen probably most of them 12 years ago, people are right when they say that each time you return you see different things, or behaviours, etc. Would absolutely recommend using Gamewatchers Safaris!

Simply the best. Our fourth safari with Gamewatchers, and hopefully it will not be our last. We love the sheer professionalism of this company. Sooner or later something will go wrong on safari, when it does they sort it out calmly and efficiently. Mostly they operate in the Conservancies adjoining National Parks, which means you see far fewer other vehicles and often have the sights to yourselves.One of our favourite highlights is the bush breakfast, carried with the vehicle and often enjoyed whilst watching game having their own meals. We saw all the big 5, including leopard twice. We also saw hyenas steal a lion's kill, and a myriad of birds. Would we recommend Gamewatchers to others? Wholeheartedly, from the first enquiry to Wayne Hammond to the time they dropped us off at the airport for the journey home we were well looked-after, and could not have asked for better.

An exceptional African safari experience. I highly recommend Gamewathers Safaris for anyone seeking an exceptional African safari experience. Having recently utilized their company for a trip to Kenya, I can confidently say that they exceeded all my expectations. The accommdations and transportation arranged by them were topnotch ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable journey. I cannot wait to plan my next trip with them.

Dream Trip! Incredible!! I traveled with my father (70), brother (38) and uncle (60) - it was 5 out 5 stars every minute of the trip. The accommodations were perfect, the staff incredibly accommodating and the guides second to none. It is clear that Gamewatchers invests in their guides - knowledgeable, professional, service oriented, and conservation experts. We will be calling Rick again soon, we cannot wait to come back again!

Porini Mara Safari with Gamewatchers My fiance and I stayed at the Porini Mara Camp for 3 nights. When we began the process months earlier, Wayne Hammond was our guiding light from day 1. He is very responsive, detailed and knowledgable. Once onsite, Joseph and the staff were attentive and friendly. The food was excellent! Our driver/guides, Wilson and Marima, were fun experts and were so in-tune that we were afforded an excellent leopard sighting! It's important to remember you might not see everything you came for, but I think a 3-night stay for our first safari got us hooked!

A long awaited dream come true. I booked my trip through Gamewatchers in Queensland and Kristy organised everything for me. She was always available to me, even when I was in Kenya a my flight needed readjusting. I have nothing but praise for this group. I ave travelled to Africa on a few occasions and it usually takes quite a bit of research etc. No I have discovered Gamewatchers all I have to do now is work out when to go.

Ruthless, ignorant and arrogant behaviour We didn't go with this company (and never would!) as we unfortunately had several very upsetting encounters with 2 of their jeeps (2 days in a row) while on Safari in Amboseli Nationalpark. The driving was reckless (or is speeding in a Nationalpark and risky overtaking manouveres standard procedere?!).The tourists impressed with arrogant behaviour but the drivers and spotters acted surprisingly similar (snapping at other drivers for example when they wouldn't make room for them although they were there waaaaay longer). The worst thing was them being 'late' to a massive elephant crossing. There were at least 6 or 7 vehicles already waiting on the road (leaving a wide and save corridor to let the herds pass) and you could easily see the most probably path where they'd cross and both vehicles drove off-road, turned, and blocked the road.Not only the view for us, BUT THE CORRIDOR FOR THE WILDLIFE. The elephants stopped, got spooked, and diverted so both vehicles of 'game watcher's safaris' not only ruined this magnifiscent moment for all of us (there would have been easily 80-100 elephants that would have crossed here and we were quietly waiting for over 40 min already..) but they ignorantly and arrogantly disturbed the wildlife and forced them to split up.The company advertises with " (..) Exploring travel wonders while protecting the natural world. (...)" and "(...) We prioritize conservation offers (...)" - both vehicles on dec 3rd and 4th definately did not!!!

Unforgettable safari week in Kenya From the booking process with Safari Consultant Wayne Hammond to the actual experience at Porini Amboseli Camp and Porini Mara Camp, it has been perfect at every step.There is nothing I would change, I cannot think of something to improve! We felt in good hands from A to Z. I'm a super happy customer and will recommend Gamewatchers / Porini camps 100%.Thank you for organizing this unforgettable trip for us. It feels like it was all a dream, we will cherish this memory forever!