Porini Mara Camp: Our full report
The first tented camp in the Mara region to be run with support from the local community, Porini Mara Camp ...
... is a genuine eco-camp nestled around the banks of the Ole Sabukiye River in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy (18,000 acreas of private land, founded by Porini Mara's owner), in the northern part of the Mara eco-system.Porini Mara Camp's central area consists of the dining and lounge tent, which is on a low rise, with views down to the guest tents and the river. There's a friendly, informal mood in camp, with guests encouraged to chat to staff and learn about the local economy and eco-system. Tea and herbal teas, coffee and cold drinks are available throughout the day and there are rustic sofas to slouch on, with cow hides on the floor.
The seven twin or double tents at Porini Mara are smaller and the furnishings more rustic than those at Porini Lion Camp, but they are still a good size. The camp has recently undergone a soft refurbishment and so we though the tents were looking nice and fresh when we visited. The tents are mounted on wooden platforms raised on posts, thus dealing with the rare occasions on which the river floods, and are made of buff canvas, with built-in dark green vinyl ground sheets laid with bright rugs. There is a single and double bed in each tent, constructed rustic timber. There's a writing table and folding stool, and clothes storage and hanging rail. On the veranda area at the front of the tent, are two canvas directors' chairs and a small table.
At the back of each tent, the bathroom area has a plumbed-in flush toilet on a wooden platform, a pedestal washstand with a single basin, and a corner shower with a wooden floor and shower curtains. Toiletries are simple and filtered drinking water is supplied.
Both open and closed vehicles are available for the twice-daily game drives which form the main activity for guests based here. Porini Mara is the only camp that conducts game drives in Ol Kinyei, but they also do game drives in the Naboisho Conservancy and if you'd like to do a full day in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, that is a third option. The highly committed and well-trained driver-guides are adept at locating wildlife and positioning the vehicle for good photographic opportunities. However, they avoid any stress-causing situations with the wildlife during game drives and are respectful of the environment – of which they are the guardians on behalf of their community.
The popular bush walks from Porini Mara are conducted out on the open plain with traditionally armed Maasai guides and rangers carrying only light arms as an escort. These walks deliberately avoid wooded areas where dangerous animals might unexpectedly be encountered, and the camp considers these walking activities to be safe. We're not aware of any incidents which would call this into question. However, we are not confident that, in the highly unlikely event of a dangerous encounter while walking at Ol Kinyei which required an armed response, the guides and rangers would have the necessary experience or weapons to deal with the problem animal. In consequence, and out of an abundance of caution, unfortunately we can't recommend these walks to our travellers.
Ol Kinyei Conservancy's wildlife is exciting and diverse, with all the usual suspects from the Mara plains present here. There is one very large pride of lions in the conservancy as well as other, smaller groups of lions ousted from this and other prides. Cheetahs, leopards are often seen on game drives as occasionally are aardwolves and wild dogs. According to Porini's owners, Ol Kinyei is becoming a popular area for females to have their cubs away from the busy areas of the reserve itself. Big herds of elephants, sometimes numbering more than 100, are also a common sight. For birdwatchers, Ol Kinyei's diverse habitats, with open grasslands, rocky outcrops and hills, extensive acacia woodlands, and numerous springs and watercourses, offer a multitude of sightings. You should look out for Usambara barbet and Karamoja Apalis.
In common with all properties in the Mara, early-morning balloon safaris (approximately US$500 per person) can be booked. These last approximately one hour, followed by a bush breakfast with sparkling wine and then a game drive, arriving back at camp around mid-morning. There are several launch areas and you can expect to be woken as early as 4.00am.
Porini Mara takes its light environmental footprint very seriously (the camp is one of only eight in Kenya with an Eco-Tourism Kenya Gold Award). There are no genuinely permanent structures and everything in camp is removable or biodegradable, meaning that it could be dismantled and within a season the bush would take over and no sign would be left of the camp. None of the wood used is from endangered or unsustainable sources. Mahogany is often seen in safari camps: not here. And you won't see any non-indigenous plants or trees around camp, either: all the camp flora is local.
Waste disposal is handled very responsibly, with all the trash from the camp being sorted and most of it transported back to Nairobi Limited quantities of paper and cardboard are burnt on site and biodegradable waste from the kitchen is composted in a covered pit. Pre-fabricated, underground septic tanks deal with guest toilets, so precious local groundwater and surface water are never polluted.
The camp is cautious with its use of water: there is no laundry service, no pool and the tents don't have bathtubs. The safari shower system delivers a 20-litre hot shower to each guest (in practice this is plenty, but you can have more if you want), and guests are advised on the soap-up/rinse-off shower method – which, in the Mara's mild climate, is not a hardship.
Guests have access in the camp office to power sockets to charge their camera batteries, but there is no generator in camp. All electricity is generated by solar panels which, in the months the camp is open, always provide enough power for guest lighting and batteries.
All the camp staff are Kenyan, with 90 per cent of them coming from the Ol Kinyei community. Only the manager, chef and mechanic come from outside the local area. The other Porini camps, all bookable through Expert Africa, are Porini Lion, Porini Amboseli and Porini Rhino camps.
Our view
The pioneering Porini camps appeal to keen wildlife enthusiasts who are environmentally aware and enjoy close cultural contacts with the local community. Porini Mara isn’t fancy, but it’s now very nicely established in a beautiful, quiet corner of a conservancy that is exclusive to its guests. The tents are not huge and the furnishings are relatively rustic, but if you want to experience the bush and the animals without the likelihood of seeing other vehicles, and if you care particularly about good contacts with the local community, then we think you will love Porini Mara.
Kenya expert
Geographics
- Location
- Maasai Mara Conservancies, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 3 to 4 nights
- Directions
- The camp is a 20-minute drive from Naboisho (Ol Seki) airstrip
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- The food at Porini Mara is hearty and well prepared but not fancy or overly creative.
Early-morning tea and coffee are followed by a morning game drive, then a full breakfast is served at around 8.30am. There are three-course set menus for lunch and dinner.
When we visited in February 2019, the following was typical of what was on offer:
At breakfast, frittata chocolate bread and tomato and bacon bread as well as standard cooked options, fruit and cereals.
Lunch is often served down by the river. In the past we have had chilled avocado soup, caramelised onion and potato salad, spinach and feta tart and a cold meat platter. Dinner will also often start with a soup, followed by meat or fish served with frsh vegetables, and finishing with a light desert such as brandy snaps and cream. - Dining style
- Group Meals
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Can be done
- Drinks included
- Included (premium wines and spirits excluded and in practice not available).
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Although Porini Mara accepts children, it’s rare that they have little ones in camp.
- Property’s age restrictions
- No official restrictions but best for 12+
- Special activities & services
- None
- Equipment
- None
- Generally recommended for children
- Best for children 12+
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Porini Mara Camp
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Porini Mara Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
50% success
50% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- The camp is run entirely on solar power. There is no generator.
- Communications
- There's patchy Safaricom and Orange network coverage around camp, but these cannot be relied upon. There is no WiFi. If a guest needs to urgently get online, speak to the manager who may be able to assist.
- TV & radio
- None
- Water supply
- Borehole
Sustainability
Supporting locals through employment and donations
Located within Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Porini Mara strives to encompass practices that benefit and educate the local community, whilst preserving their culture and protecting their natural surroundings. This is mainly achieved through local employment and donations.
Even from arrival guests get the chance to delve into the local culture as the staff at the camp is sourced from the local communities. Additionally, access to the exclusive 18,700 acres of pristine wilderness is now possible on roads which have been constructed using local laborers. In addition to the local road maintenance team, Game Scouts have been employed to carry out patrols and make sure all the animals are well looked after and their numbers continue to increase.
Guests can relax in one of the six traditional tents, knowing that simply by choosing to stay at Porini Mara they contribute to the locals’ wellbeing, as the entire conservation fee goes back to sustaining the community. Additionally, as locals own the land that forms the conservancy, the camp pays them a monthly rent, helping locals generate income out of the lease of their land. Moreover, the bush camp has established a bursary fund to support access to education for children in disadvantaged families in Ol Kinyei village. Tourists are encouraged to sponsor one child with donations that would cover uniform and books costs, as well as other school fees. This way, guests contribute to the efforts of the lodge of improving gender equality in schools and reduce the impacts of poverty on education.
All these efforts have been essential in maintaining a balance between preserving the environment and contributing towards improving the livelihoods of the landowners. The responsible ethos of Porini Mara therefore ensures that the environment is responsibly managed and this, in return, leads to a superior safari experience for guests.
See more great sustainability projects in Kenya
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Guides are all trained in first aid; the head guide was about to have a refresher course when we visited. There’s a first-aid kit in every vehicle. The nearest doctor is at Mara Sarova, 40 minutes’ drive away.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- In addition to askaris on duty at the camp, armed security guards participate in conservancy patrols – although there have been no incidents to date.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in every tent, and regular fire drills are carried out.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- No laundry service provided. Washing powder is provided in the guest rooms.
- Money
- There’s a safe in the office. Currency exchange is not possible.
- Accepted payment on location
- No formal financial transactions are carried out at camp.
Other lodges in Maasai Mara Conservancies
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Kicheche Bush Camp
Kicheche Bush Camp is a smart and intimate tented camp with a relaxed atmosphere and the perfect base in the Mara for keen photographers.
Kicheche Mara
Kicheche Mara Camp has just ten tents and a rustic and comfortable feel. It is set by a stream in a pretty area of the Mara ecosystem's Mara North Conservancy.
Kicheche Valley
Kicheche Valley is a boutique tented camp in a wooded district of the Mara ecosystem's Naboisho Conservancy, with plenty of wildlife in the area.
Naboisho Camp
Naboisho Camp is one of the most luxurious of the handful of camps in the Naboisho Conservancy. It offers day and night game drives, game walks and full creature comforts in the bush.
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara is a small traditional camp that appeals to safari traditionalists, located in one of the Maasai Mara’s quiet conservancies.
Encounter Mara
Encounter Mara is located in the private Naboisho Conservancy – a game-rich area of the Mara ecosystem – and offers a contemporary take on the traditional, low-impact luxury safari camp.
Elephant Pepper Camp
Elephant Pepper Camp is a small 10-tent bush camp, put together in the traditional "campaign" style, and including a large honeymoon/family tent.
Serian
Serian is a luxury tented camp on the east bank of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy. It is the sister camp of Ngare Serian, on the west bank.
Mara Plains Camp
Mara Plains is one of the very best camps in the Mara ecosystem. Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just outside the Mara reserve, it has access to three wildlife-viewing areas.
Kicheche Fly Camp
Kicheche Walking Wilderness Fly Camp is a temporaray dome tent camp set up for participants in Kicheche's two-day walking safari between Kicheche Valley and Kicheche Bush Camp.
Basecamp Eagle View
Basecamp Eagle View is a community-focused safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy, with a strong emphasis on responsible tourism and a spectacular location.
Porini Lion Camp
Porini Lion Camp is a pioneering, community focused eco-camp, with excellent guides and game viewing, in the predator-rich, Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Hemingways Ol Seki
Magnificently located tented lodge on a bluff looking south across the Naboisho Conservancy toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild is a rustic and traditional safari camp in the Lemek Conservancy, with just three tents and limited electricity.
Offbeat Ndoto
Small and intimate, Offbeat Mara is set in a valley above the (often dry) Olare Orok River within the Mara North Conservancy.
Ngare Serian
The luxurious Ngare Serian and its sister camp Serian face each other across the Mara River on the western side of the Mara North Conservancy
Basecamp Leopard Hill
With six beautiful tents, Basecamp Leopard Hill is a smart safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Karen Blixen Camp
Karen Blixen Camp sits on a meander of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy, just beyond the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Cottars 1920s Camp
Cottar's 1920s Camp is a classic, luxury tented camp with a 1920s safari theme, located in its own conservancy on the southeast border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Leleshwa
Leleshwa was a delightful, boutique safari camp on the picturesque banks of a tributary of the Talek, with an extensive, little visited game area on its doorstep.
Mahali Mzuri
Mahali Mzuri is a strikingly modern tented camp in the Virgin Limited Edition group, in a remote part of the Mara ecosytem's Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It has lovely views and all the luxuries of a five-star hotel.
Saruni Mara
Saruni Mara is a luxurious permanent lodge, on the remote northern edge of the Mara North Conservancy, with stunning views, good guiding and very private and comfortable rooms.
Mara Nyika
Mara Nyika is one of the newer additions to the Naboisho Conservancy and offers a luxurious and exclusive safari.
Basecamp Wilderness
Basecamp Wilderness Camp is a simple, traditional tented camp, set in a remote valley in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Mara ecoystem.
Mara Bushtops
Mara Bushtops is a luxury safari hotel on a private concession, outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the emphasis on comfort, relaxation and good food and wine.
Mara Toto Tree Camp
Mara Toto Tree Camp is located on a wooded bend of the Ntiakatek River, 1km south (as the pied crow flies) from its sister camp, Mara Plains. It's the offspring of the original "Mara Toto" which was swept away in floods.
Cottars Private House
Cottar's Private House is one of the few truly luxurious, modern private houses in the Mara ecosystem, spoiling its guests with first-rate staff, a swimming pool and wonderful views.
Basecamp Mara Houses
Basecamp Mara Houses consists of three private houses located in the northernmost part of the Mara North Conservancy.
Entumoto
Entumoto is a high-end tented camp, with a swimming pool, situated in a very pretty location on the east side of the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
