Gamewatchers History
Our Story
At Gamewatchers Safaris, we are deeply committed to our local community. Our Managing Director, Dr Mohanjeet Brar, is a passionate fourth-generation Kenyan with a doctorate from the US.
He’s a certified safari guide and a member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association and enjoys spending time at our camps and on safari with his wife and 2 young children. Dr. Brar commits a lot of time as a board member of key organizations such as the Kenya Association of Tour Operators, Advancing Tourism to Africa (Atta), African Wildlife Foundation Kenya Board, and African Conservation Centre, among others including having served on the Kenya Tourism Board, Kenya Tourism Federation and chairing Ecotourism Kenya, to name a few.
Our journey began in 1989 when our visionary founder, Jake Grieves-Cook, established Gamewatchers Safaris. With almost 50 years of experience in Kenya’s tourism industry, Jake is a leading voice for sustainable and responsible tourism. His influential roles in organizations like the Ecotourism Society of Kenya, the Kenya Tourism Board, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Kenya Tourism Federation have helped shape the industry. His vision of creating an ecotourism business that would generate revenue and profits to protect habitat and biodiversity while also paying 100% of the costs to manage this land in partnership with the Maasai community who own it led to the Porini community conservancy model.
Join us to explore the wonders of Kenya and witness the lasting impact we’ve made in preserving its natural heritage.
Our Journey Towards Conservation Excellence
Selenkay Conservancy
In 1997, we embarked on a transformative journey by partnering with the Maasai community in the Amboseli area to establish the pioneering Selenkay Conservancy. Encompassing 13,000 acres in the Amboseli ecosystem, this historic endeavor marked the birth of our commitment to wildlife conservation.
Ol Kinyei Conservancy
The success story of Selenkay Conservancy inspired us to push the boundaries further. In 2005, we ventured into the Mara eco-system, establishing the groundbreaking Ol Kinyei Conservancy, initially spanning 8,000 acres and later expanding to an impressive 18,700 acres.
It was the first conservancy of its kind in the Mara, embodying our unique concept of leasing tracts of land from local communities to be set aside exclusively for wildlife conservation, devoid of human settlements. We adhere to our formula, reserving a minimum of 700 acres of conservancy for every guest tent, with a maximum of 12 tents per safari camp. This approach ensures a low-impact form of tourism and limits the vehicles to about 1,400 acres per 4x4.
Olare Orok Conservancy
Building on our conservation momentum, 2006 witnessed the creation of the expansive 22,000-acre Olare Orok Conservancy (OOC) in partnership with others, another significant milestone in our commitment to preserving Kenya's remarkable biodiversity.
Olare Motorogi Conservancy and Naboisho Conservancy
The success of Ol Kinyei and OOC led to the establishment of two more visionary conservancies in the Mara: the Motorogi Conservancy, spanning 11,000 acres, and the Naboisho Conservancy, sprawling across a staggering 50,000 acres.
Recognizing the synergy between Olare Orok and Motorogi Conservancies, they were merged into the unified Olare Motorogi Conservancy, encompassing a combined area of 33,000 acres.
Mara Ripoi Conservancy
In 2023, Gamewatchers Safaris has yet again reaffirmed its commitment to conservation by collaborating with the community and their leaders along with fellow founders to create a 19,500-acre wildlife conservancy, Mara Ripoi.
This pristine expanse rests upon land leased for 25 years from a community of approximately 1,600 Maasai individuals, dedicated to safeguarding the region as a vital sanctuary for thriving wildlife populations.Thus, our conservation journey continues, guided by the spirit of collaboration, community engagement, and the enduring commitment to protect Kenya's natural wonders.
Awards & Accolades
Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps has garnered a remarkable array of international accolades in recent years, including prestigious titles like “Africa’s Responsible Tourism Award,” “Kenya’s Leading Safari Camp Brand,” and “Africa’s Leading Tented Safari Camps” at the esteemed World Travel Awards. We were honored with “Kenya’s Tour Operator of the Year” at the Ecotourism Warrior Awards, recognized by Ecotourism Kenya as “Kenya’s Tour Operator of the Year” in 2015 and the “Leading Tour Operator” in 2013.
Our commitment to responsible tourism also earned us the London Responsible Tourism Award for "Best Tour Company in Conservation" and a place in National Geographic's Top Ten Best African Safari Companies in the World.
On the domestic front, our four Porini Safari Camps have proudly achieved Gold ratings from Ecotourism Kenya, positioning us as leaders among safari properties in the country. In 2022, we were honored with awards for the "Best Accommodation in Collaboration with Impact Partners" and "Best Tour Operator in Promoting Community Development." Furthermore, we were recognized as the first runners-up in the field of conservation through our pioneering efforts in establishing conservancies.