Lions on a Kill – Ol Kinyei Conservancy – Kenya

January 12th, 2012

I shot this video at dusk on the way back to Mara Porini Camp – November 2011

Gorilla and Chimp Tracking

January 5th, 2012

Undoubtedly primate tracking is the highlight of a safari in Uganda.

Chimpanzees -  Kibale Forest – November 2011

A great place to stay in Kibale region: KYANINGA LODGE, the lodge is gorgeous, the location is stunning and the food is amazing !

Kyaninga Lodge

Kibale Forest

Magezi - Alpha male - Kibale Forest

Gorilla Bwindi forest – November 2011

This was my third gorilla tracking , the first one was 25 years ago,  and walking in the forest close to these gentle gianst is still one of  the most magical, exciting and emotional wildlife encounter. Park regulations allowed only 8 people per gorilla family. Our group was allocated to Habinyanja Group. After a short drive from the headquarter to the start of the trek, we meet our guides,trackers and porters. We were very lucky, the walk in the forest took us only 1 hour before we encounter the first members of the group, and among them a silverback.

I spent the night before the gorilla trekking at MAHOGANY SPRINGS LODGE a new lodge in the Buhoma, Northern side of Bwindi. I had a good surprise on arrival, the manager Jotham Awiti is an old acquaintance from my Kenya days, he was lodge manager in Tsavo and Samburu … small world!

Mahogany Lodge

Kenya – Governor’s Camp Game Report – December 2011

January 5th, 2012

Governors Camp – Game Report December 2011

Uganda Trip

January 4th, 2012

On my recent visit to East Africa, I made a 10 day trip in Uganda, the ” Pearl of Africa”. Uganda is a beautiful, hilly and green country and Ugandans are very friendly and hospitable people.

The highlights of the trip were Murchinson Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elisabeth National Park, Bwindi Forest, Lake Mburo National Park.

Defassa Waterbuck - Murchison Falls Park

Boat rides offer great opportunity to get close to animals.

Here some pictures on the Nile while heading to the Murchison Falls and on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elisabeth Park

Hippo on the Nile

Nile Crocodile - Kazinga Channel QENP

Young elephant playing with grass in Kazinga Channel

Hippo, buffalo, Crocodile, lion, baboon, elephant, black and white colobus, jacana, pluver, Goliath heron, fish eagle, bee eater, gray kingfisher, are some of the species seen on the boat ride.

Murchison Falls

Approaching the Falls

Photos copyright Thierry Cellier

Some Photos Contributed by Our Guests (3)

September 16th, 2011

Photographs of  Naomi Smith  – Safari Uganda – Rwanda | July 2011

Click on the photo to enlarge.

Kibale National Park – Uganda

Ishasha tree climbing lion- Uganda

Gorilla – Bwindi Forest – Uganda

Gorilla – Virunga Mountains – Rwanda

Some Photos Contributed by Our Guests (2)

September 8th, 2011

Some Photographs of Shelley Dickson – Kenya and Tanzania

Click on the pics to enlarge

Some Photos Contributed by Our Guests (1)

July 8th, 2011

Photographs of Gerald Van Stolk – Safari Kenya & Tanzania May 2011

Click on the image to enlarge

Wildebeest herd – Serengeti

Lion on a kopje – Serengeti

Amboseli National Park

Lake Nakuru

Tree climbing lion – Serengeti

Lake Nakuru

Crowned Crane with chick – Ol Pajeta

Kenya – Birds and Big Game 9 Night Flying Safari – From $ 4130

June 17th, 2011

This 9 night, 10 day Safari combines small, environmentally-friendly tented Porini Camps located in private conservancies in the finest wildlife areas of Kenya:

Amboseli Porini Camp in the  exclusive 15,000 acre Selenkay Conservancy located in the Amboseli eco-system
Porini Rhino Camp in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest Black Rhino Sanctuary in East Africa
Mara Porini Camp in the Ol Kinyei conservancy, the first private conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem
Porini Lion Camp in the Olare Orok Conservancy adjacent to the Maasai Mara, the most famous wildlife reserve in Kenya.

Day 1: Met on arrival at the International Airport by our representative and transfer to the luxurious The Tribe (B&B) for overnight. NOTE: 1-night in Nairobi can be taken at the beginning or end of the safari depending on arrival of international flight.

Day 2: 09.00 am – Transfer to Selenkay Conservancy (102 miles, 3 hrs) to arrive for lunch.  Afternoon escorted walk with Maasai warriors and visit a cultural village to get an insight into their fascinating culture.  Overnight Amboseli Porini Camp.

Day 3: Early morning game drive to Amboseli National Park and picnic lunch within the Park. Return to Porini Camp for a sundowner, night game drive and dinner at the camp. Overnight Amboseli Porini Camp.

Day 4: Early breakfast then transfer to Amboseli for your flight to Nanyuki departing at 09.05 hrs connecting in Wilson onto 10.20 flight to Nanyuki.  Arrive Porini Rhino Camp in time for lunch and afternoon game drive in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Sundowner, dinner and overnight at Porini Rhino Camp.

Day 5: Full day in Ol Pejeta with game drives, bush walks and visit to the Chimpanzee sanctuary. Night Game drive, dinner and overnight Porini Rhino Camp.

Day 6: Transfer to Nanyuki airstrip for your flight to Maasai Mara departing at 0945 hrs. Met on arrival at Siana airstrip and transfer to Mara Porini Camp. Lunch at the camp followed by afternoon game drive within Ol Kinyei Conservancy. Enjoy a sundowner followed by a night game drive on the way back to Camp. Dinner and overnight Mara Porini Camp.

Day 7: Mara Porini Camp with all activities. Overnight Mara Porini Camp.

Day 8: After breakfast, game drive in Maasai Mara Game Reserve with picnic lunch. Sundowner, night game drive, dinner and overnight Porini Lion Camp

Day 9: Porini Lion Camp with all activities. Overnight Porini Lion Camp

Day 10: Early morning bush walk, breakfast and then game drive on way to the airstrip for flight back to Nairobi, arriving Wilson at approximately 12.15. Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta Airport for international flight home.

Prices include Road transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli Porini. Flights Amboseli-Wilson-Nanyuki/Ol Pejeta-Mara-Wilson. Amboseli Porini for 2 nights, Amboseli park fees and conservancy fees, Porini Rhino Camp for 2 nights including all park /conservancy fees, 2 nights Mara Porini and 2 nights Porini Lion Camp with park and conservancy fees included. All game drives in 4×4 vehicles, fullboard and free house wines, beer and soft drinks. And all activities at Porini Camps.

Our rates:
1 June – 30 June; 1 Nov – 20 Dec: $4130 per person double
1 July – 31 Oct: $5120 per person double
Single Supplement $100 per day

Download Itinerary as PDF Document

Kenya – 8 day Wilderness Experience Flying Safari – From $ 3099

June 17th, 2011

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South Africa – 7 Day Wildlife and Warriors – $ 1880

June 17th, 2011

A fascinating tour encompassing the best that South Africa has to offer
in the way of scenery, wildlife and culture between Johannesburg and Durban…….. Book for 1 adult, receive 50% off the tour price of the second adult sharing

Promotional Departure: 09 May- 06 June- 25 July -01 August - 12 Sept

Day 1 – Monday
Depart Johannesburg and travel to the ‘Land of the Rising Sun – Mpumalanga – via the magnificent Panorama Route. The most spectacular stretch of the Panorama Route is the Blyde River Canyon. From many well-positioned vantage points one has a view of the 33km long gorge, which starts at “Bourke’s Luck Potholes” and ends at the “Three Rondavels”. Time and weather permitting, stop at God’s Window and the Mac Mac Falls. Late afternoon arrival at your hotel. Check in and freshen up before dinner. Overnight Perry’s Bridge Hollow (standard room) or similar (D)

Day 2 – Tuesday
Early this morning you will depart on an open vehicle safari through the Kruger National Park. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. At nearly 2 million hectares, the reserve is the flagship of South African National Parks and is home to an impressive number of flora and fauna. Return to your hotel in the afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. You will have the option to return to the Kruger National Park to absorb the tranquil beauty of an evening safari (additional charge).
Dinner and overnight Perry’s Bridge Hollow (standard room) or similar (BD)

Day 3 – Wednesday
After breakfast, travel to the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland. This tiny mountainous kingdom is filled with bygone African traditions and culture and offers beautiful scenery and attractions such as game reserves and art & craft outlets to name a few. Enjoy a showcase of the traditional Swazi culture followed by lunch at the Matsamo Cultural Village. Continue to the Ngwenya Glass Works to see master craftsmen create beautiful sculptures and artwork from molten glass. After spending some time at the Mbabane craft markets, arrive at your hotel located in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley. Overnight Royal Swazi Sun (standard room) or similar(BL)

Day 4 – Thursday
Enjoy a morning visit to the Swazi Candle Factory where each candle is made and finished by hand using the age-old technique “millefiore”. No two are the same and the range boasts an astonishing array of patterns, shapes and designs. Continue via Big Bend into KwaZulu-Natal. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon, in time to embark on an afternoon scenic drive up the Ubombo Mountains, offering views over Lake Jozini. At the summit and as the setting sun transforms the sky into a tapestry of colours, stop for sundowners. The drive will be combined with a visit to a local and authentic Zulu homestead for a glimpse into Zulu life in today’s world. Return to the hotel for dinner on the terrace (weather permitting) or in the classically styled restaurant.
Overnight Ghost Mountain Inn (standard room) or similar (BD

Day 5 – Friday
Your morning is at leisure today and you have the option of doing a morning safari if you wish (for your own account). This afternoon you will transfer to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve for an afternoon of game viewing. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve covers a combined area of 90 000ha and it was here that the white rhino was saved from extinction. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. End the day with dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Ghost Mountain Inn (standard room) or similar (BD)

Day 6 – Saturday
Continue the journey along the Elephant Coast of KwaZulu-Natal to St Lucia, located at the southern extremity of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site. Here you embark on an estuarine boat trip which provides an opportunity to view crocodiles, hippo and numerous bird species, including the elusive African Kingfisher Eagle, in their natural habitat. Continue to Durban, where east meets west; a city beneath which beats the pulse of Africa. Arrive during the afternoon at your hotel which is located on the Gold Mile – Durban’s distinctive beach front.
Overnight Southern Sun Elangeni (standard room) or similar (B)

Day 7 – Sunday
This morning you will embark on a brief Durban City Tour where you will discover the cultural and historical contrasts of the city. The tour ends with drop-off at Durban International Airport or your Durban based hotel. (B)

Our Rates – Scheduled Tours
01 Oct 10 – 31 Dec 11
Per person sharing US$ 1880  – single sup US$ 350

Notes: This tour departs weekly on Mondays from Johannesburg or Durban.
A pre-night stay and sightseeing tours in Johannesburg or Durban is recommended.
National Park fees are included.
Transportation: Tour in air-conditioned micro-buses or 18-seater mini-buses.
Professionally Escorted: Discover South Africa with our professional Tour Guides.
This tour departs with min 2, max 12 guests

Download Itineray as PDF Document