Gamewatchers Reviews

Great 2 weeks of safari camps Trip exceeded our expectations by far, been many places in this world but this trip was the best. Gamewatchers did a superb job in arranging 17 days in 5 safari camps and all transfers. Excellent informative guides at each camp, great food and lodging throughout, always someone there to get us to next spot. Especially loved the Ilkeliani Camp which took us into the Masai Mara - surrounded by amazing diversity and density of wildlife on each game drive, just minutes from camp. And most animals not afraid of the vehicles. Also loved the Porini Lion camp in a private conservancy near Masai Mara - fewer vehicles and guides had an in depth knowledge of where the big cats where and their individual behavior. Also enjoyed the Kala Camp in the Okavango Delta - Gamewatchers arranged with another organization to cover that country. Thinking now of our next trip to Africa

Amazing experiences with locals who were so happy to show off their beautiful country and its amazing wildlife We had an amazing trip with Gamewatchers - we were so looked after by wonderful warm and knowledgeable staff who all went above and beyond for us. We loved the 5 camps we visited, all unique but all manned by wonderful enthusiastic locals who made everything so very personal and fulfilling. Not to mention the amazing animal experiences we had, so many pinch me moments we will never forget. Highly recommend Gamewatchers, from our initial enquires to the very personal service, we will definitely travel with them again.

If you want to really see animals up close --- Book with Gamewatchers!!!! Our 3rd trip with Gamewatchers. Once again they did NOT disappoint. We went with 16 friends and ALL of them were amazed at the closeness to animals and the great camps we visited. Went to Amboseli, Rhino, and lion camps. Saw the Big 5 and so much more. The Masaii that staff the camps are superb. Mohanjeet Brar, the managing director does a great job to ensure every guest has a quality experience.

African adventure We spent one night in Nairobi tented camp, three nights in the porini Amboseli camp, 4 nights in the porini camp in the mara. Our 8 nights were outstanding.We were so impressed by the facility, food, and staff. The Masai guides, spotters, chef and support staff were genuinely interested in making our trip both fun and informative. The camps comfortable, yet have a very light footprint. However, what blew is away was how close we were to lions, elephants, giraffes and all the game, in a very natural setting. We will definitely book with gamewatchers again on the next Africa trip.

Subcontracts to unreliable parties Careful booking GameWatchers. They've started subcontracting to offer more tours and the subcontractors they hire are not at all reputable. We were subcontracted to Kenya Treks to hike Mount Kenya and the experience was terrible. The porters were excellent, as was Jackson (combo server, assistant guide, and porter), and the chef David. That's where the good qualities end. The guide, James, was miserable. He would walk so far ahead we would sometimes lose the route and Jackson would have to show us. We slipped and fell a few times and he wouldn't even turn around to see if we were okay. We were checking on each other & route finding for ourselves. To his credit, he is the sole reason I summited as he practically push/pulled me the last 200 meters up, but the rest of the trek it was clear we were a burden and he wanted to go home. Further, be prepared for hidden fees not discussed up front. John, the ground manager, just asked what gear we needed, but there was no discussion of rental prices and we were surprised that there was a rental fee for the gear we used at the end of the trip. Had we known the pricing structure in advance, we would've had exact change prepared (instead, we'd elected to give our extra shillings to the porters since they won't be useful after we go home). Since John wouldn't accept visa, had we not had some extra USD reserved we'd have been stuck. Our itinerary also listed full board for our hotel night and when we arrived at the hotel and checked in we found no meals were included, so that was also an unwelcome surprise expense. 2 stars is because of Jackson, David, and the porters but the Kenya Treks subcontractor is a 1 star managed company so be aware when you hire Game Watchers you're not necessarily getting what you thought.

The Adventure of a Lifetime It was truly one of the most memorable trips of our lives. We worked with Wayne who curated a unique adventure perfectly suited for us. Once we arrived in Africa, everything was handled with great care, precision, and incredibly welcoming hospitality. The campsites, safaris, food, service, people, and frankly, the overall experience, exceeded our expectations. It was an absolute dream. Thank you, Gamewatchers!

A SAFARI WITH AN UNEXPECTED EXTENSION, AND UNEXPECTED LEVEL OF CARE AND CARING We would without a doubt recommend this company to anyone wishing to go to Kenya for Safari. The safari experience was wonderful, more on that later, but the overall organization and caring was most impressive We booked our trip with the help of Wayne Hammond (who's out of the UK although we're in the US) who understood what we were looking for - in terms of game drives, accommodations and overall experience. The itinerary we received before we left was very detailed, telling us when we would be picked up from the airport, the overnight hotel, and gave a detailed schedule for the in-country flights and transfers. Everything went smoothly and was on time - quite a feat as they have guests coming and going on different days and to and from different places. The camps and the game drives were spectacular. The fancy tents we stayed in were nicer than many of the hotels we've been in. Clean, beautifully decorated with a sink, flush toilet and bush shower. Beds were very comfortable and a hot water bottle was placed in our bed, under the cover, in the evening (it was the beginning of winter in Kenya and we were at a high altitude.) Each of the 4 camps we stayed in was a little different, but all offered wonderful food and accommodated folks with dietary restrictions or allergies. They were able to run an extension cord to our tent for my CPAP - the tents (it's hard to call them tents since they seemed more like cabins when you were inside them) otherwise had lamps and lights run on a solar battery. (So devices have to be charged in a media tent or room. Phone and internet connection can be spotty if that's really important to you.) Soap and shampoo were supplied, so don't bother bringing them, unless you're really particular. They will do laundry for you (but not underwear - you have to do that yourself) but there are places outside the tent to hang them. Game drives started at 6 in the morning - so you told the camp director what time you needed a wake-up "call" which meant someone bringing tea or coffee and biscuits to your tent, along with a jug of warm water with which to wash up. During the morning drives we stopped for a "bush breakfast" - basically a picnic breakfast, including hot coffee and tea. The Masai guides were incredibly knowledgeable - about the animals, the flora and birds, and about the jeeps and how to address any funny things that went on during the drives. They were gentle, friendly, patient and seemed just as thrilled by the animals as we were, going out of the way to show us interesting things. The Masai are proud of their culture, and were glad to answer questions we had for them. Since most of Gamewatcher's camps are in Conservancies - Masai owned land, leased by the company - we were able to go off-road, something not permitted in National Parks. After the safari we had booked 3 nights at a hotel south of Diani Beach, in Galu Beach, on the Indian Ocean. Unfortunately I became very ill with vertigo on the 3rd morning and had to be taken to the tiny local hospital by ambulance. Both the staff at Pinewood Beach Resort and the Gamewatchers staff were unbelievably helpful. Since we had no cell service, they helped us arrange the air ambulance from Diani to Nairobi, and helped my wife deal with the travel insurance companies. The Gamewatchers staff checked in with my wife everyday while I was in the hospital, came to the hospital a few times, sent a fruit basket and continued to be in touch after I was released. When we were ready to fly home they arranged our airport transport, and arranged a service which took me in a wheelchair through immigration, etc. We were so impressed with their caring and help, which went way beyond the safari itself. The positive outcome of my hospitalization was that we got to stay in Kenya longer, and after I was discharged, but still not well enough to fly home, we got to see some Nairobi, learn more about Kenya, and meet some wonderful folks. The Kenyans we met were caring, and uniformly optimistic and positive - wishing me a return to full, good health, etc. I would recommend some time in Nairobi, if you want to learn about the culture. One thing we found helpful was going to the "malls" and the supermarket where you get to see another side of Nairobi and its residents. This trip changed some of my beliefs about the world. Seeing how the animals mostly got along, amongst their own species, or with others, hunting and fighting when necessary for food or survival, made me realize that we humans aren't that smart about some things. I can still see them all in my mind, and am glad that we took some photos (with our phones) but spent most of our time watching them with our binocs. The land is beautiful, and more vast than I ever imagined. A couple of pieces of advice - if it's winter, bring long underwear for sleeping, and even for some of the game drives - the jeeps are open, which makes it great for seeing the animals, but a bit cooler. Bring a scarf and/or something to cover your ears and head. If you go to the giraffe center in Nairobi, you can tour their water reclamation system on site, simple, and so efficient. Don't get too crazy about the color of your clothing - you're inside the jeep and you can wear a drab shirt or jacket over whatever you wear. (This doesn't hold for mosquito avoidance, although we saw no mosquitos during the time we went.)

Once in a lifetime experience We booked a 10 day safari with 9 couples. Gamewatchers took care of everything. The advance departure and post safari hotels were perfect. The camps, camp staff and adventurers were once in a lifetime. I cannot say enough except we will return for more adventures.

Ohhh My Gosh! The trip with Gamewatchers was amazing! The Personnel truly became great friends after two days….watched out for everything. I would highly recommend them. The camps were terrific with running water and hot showers..and I think I’ve gained 10# from the great food.

Gamewatchers Safaris were amazing! We traveled to Kenya in June for an 8 night/9 day safari. When planning the safari, I am extremely diligent about researching, triple checking reviews, watching hours of YouTube videos, reading blogs, direct messaging previous clients, whatever information I can get my hands on. When it was time to send out requests for itineraries and quotes, needless to say I sent at least a dozen different operators emails. It was quite shocking the differences in prices, there were even some operators that didn’t bother to email back. Rick from Gamewatchers was the first to respond, whenever I had questions or changes to dates, locations he was always responsive, he gave suggestions & was quick to email back. He was extremely helpful. For the first camp we chose Porini Amboseli camp, which we thoroughly enjoyed. We then wanted to do 2 non-Porini camps which Rick quoted for as well. It was by far the best quote we received & we loved our entire experience. Everything was meticulously thought out & went off without a glitch. We not hesitate to contact Rick & Gamewatchers to plan our next safari experience & have even recommended them to friends who now want to go on a Kenyan safari!

10/10 for this company!!! If you are traveling to Kenya, I would like an authentic Safari experience look no further than GameWatchers. This organization has been outstanding from the beginning of our planning to the very end of our trip. The accommodations at all of the camps were beautiful and comfortable. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. The amount of wildlife you’re able to see and the knowledge of the guides truly Makes this experience one of a lifetime. You’ll walk away having so much more appreciation for the land and the people. Also, to know that your visit is contributing to local Masai income is just another reason to book with GameWatchers.

An amazing travel company. You will not be disappointed If you are thinking of traveling to Africa for safari, please consider using Gamewatchers Safaris as your travel partner. They did an amazing job helping us create our trip as well as giving us suggestions for total enjoyment. Their idea of working with the Conservancies to develop these exceptional experiences will not disappoint any traveler. Up close and personal with the animals and trusting our guides and drivers was the only way to go.

Spectacular personalized safari! Our trip was 10 days start to finish. The entire trip was expertly planned by Rick. We spent 3 nights at Ol Kinyei Conservancy during which we did early morning, afternoon, and one night game drive. The tents were very spacious and well appointed with flush toilet, running water, and power outlets. They also had a bucket shower, which was actually very nice. The coolest part of camping is hearing the animals at night while in bed and knowing your safe as there is 24/7 security. We loved how our guides Wilson and Edward. We also really liked the open jeeps. The great thing about the Conservancy was that when our guide spotted an animal, he could go off-road so we could get a super-close look. This is not allowed at the national parks. We also had bush breakfasts, lunches, and sunset drinks while sitting outside the jeep. We were able to see cheetahs, lions with cubs, a den of hyena pups (yes they were cute), a leopard and of course many elephants, zebras, hippos and giraffes. One day we went to the Maasai Mara and Wilson expertly positioned us to watch the crossing of the wildebeests. This was quite an accomplishment. First he went to a lookout and viewed the paths of migration of thousands of animals in the fields. He then was able to anticipate the area of the river where they would cross (this is very changeable from day to day.) It was incredible how he was able to position our jeep so we could see, since there were probably 50 other jeeps trying to see the same thing. The food at Ol Kinyei was delicious. Their chef Simom cooked both western food and some local African dishes. The second portion of the trip was 6 days with a private guide in Tanzania. We spent 4 nights in the Serengeti and 2 nights near Ngorongoro. That was also amazing. The vastness of the Serengeti was breathtaking, and of course we saw lots of animals. So many lions! The roads were bad, however. The national park does not take care of them at all, so expect a very bumpy jeep ride everywhere in the Serengeti. They also do lots of controlled burns during the dry season, so our stay at Nimali Central was surrounded by ashy fields. Nimali Mara and Nimali Central were very luxurious and the food was amazing. We had 1st class table service while watching animals roam in the distance. Then our last 2 nights were at Tloma lodge which was nice, but not nearly as nice as the other camps. Ngorongoro was beautiful. Our trip exceeded all expectations.

Gamewatchers exceeded all of our expecatons. Their customer service in amazing and every person we interacted with were We used the Gamewatchers Company for our entire trip in Kenya. They helped us plan our Nairobi excursions and hotel bookings, two of the porini camps - Masai Mara and Amboseli as well as a trip to the coast. We were impressed with the kindness, professionalism and knowledge of every driver, guide and staff member we met. If there were any changes to the original itinerary like our flights, we were immediately contacted by Geoffrey who worked in the office. Our experience in the safari camps was amazing. The drivers and guides - Nicholas and Bensen at Amboseli and Geoffrey and Edward at Mara were great. They located a variety of animals, were fun to be around and very knowledgeable. The food at the camps was delicious and the staff was very courteous and kind. We would highly recommend using this company to plan any and all of your excursions in Kenya.

Our entire vacation far exceeded our expectations. My husband and I love to travel. We have traveled all around the world, by ourselves and with tour companies. Gamewatchers is the most responsive company we have ever worked with. Rick from London, Ontario was our contact and from day one he was on it. He answered all of our questions, gave suggestions and worked out a schedule that met all of our needs. All the staff that we interacted with were friendly, extremely knowledgeable and made our experience the very best that it could be. I can tell you about our day to day experience, but I think from other reviews you also get the idea. The difference I have found with Gamewatchers from chatting with other people who have gone on a safari is that you are on your own safari and experience. We went to 6 porini camps, the Nairobi Tented Camp for one night, and then Amboseli, Rhino, Mara, Cheetah, Lion camps, each for 3 nights. Within that itinerary, we meet up with others for maybe one or two nights, they went on their way and then we meet up with them at another camp. It made it very interesting as we would meet new friends at new camps, old friends at new camps and also when out on game drives. Everyone, commented on how great an experience that was and in fact we have plans to meet up with some of our new friends in the future. We meet fellow Canadians, people form India, New Zealand, England, Australia and the US. A terrific group of like-minded travelers. The day to day experience was the similar and yet different at every camp and every game drive. Let me explain and not in any particular order of importance: You will never leave the table hungry at a Porini camp...ever! The food was fresh, home made and the chefs at all the camps are amazing. The soups all the camps were so delicious - PLEASE - we suggested they make a soup recipe book and sell to make extra money for local programs, we all agreed we would buy that, no problem! The bucket showers are sooo good! The water is hot and as long as you get wet, turn off the water, soap up, and then rinse you should have plenty of water. After a couple of days, you tend to see the same cast of players, elephants, giraffes, gazelle, pumbaas (warthogs), etc. but every day is so different. Maybe some fighting going on, a new born or a family feast with a bit of food fight between, lions, hyenas, jackals etc. You will be awed by the fact that a leopard or lion may only be a couple of feet away from you, or a hyena cub is trying to chew the vehicle's tires. The sunsets in Kenya are the very best we have ever witnessed! The days are long...very long. The Masai people are incredible, not just because of their extensive local knowledge, but they all seem to have a very happy disposition and an incredible dry and quick sense of humor. We had very interesting conversations with them and many laughs. Do go to a Masai village. You won't regret the experience. We always felt very safe. Google translate works with Swahili, so learn a few words. (It would be great if Porini camps had list of 10 common words English/Swahili for everyone to use...send out in email before you travel.) Take more cash then you think you will need...you will likely need it. Easy to get Kenyan Shillings at bank machines. There are 2 banks with machines at Wilson airport, if you need to get cash, just ask to be picked up 15 minutes earlier from the hotel. You are given a reusable water bottle when you arrive at camp - so you may or may not want to take one. Every vehicle has hand sanitizer, bug spray wipes, tissues and toilet paper and warm water proof ponchos to wear if needed by anyone. The term off roading has a whole new meaning in Kenya. The drivers are amazing, but if you have a serious back issue I would think again. There is some clothes washing available at some camps, but if you ask for hot water, not a problem so you can wash your underwear and socks etc. Nobody is concerned with what you are wearing...unless you have spilled something dramatic, you can get many days out of the same tops/pants, so pack light, the airlines at Wilson do weight your luggage. Don't leave your items hanging on a line unattended....monkeys are very clever and you may come back with a sock, or top missing. We thought we would be clever and take a solar charging battery...then we meet the monkeys. We put that one away. Some tents have charging stations in them, but there are always charging areas available at every camp. Some tents you can get wifi, some not, but there is an area at each camp, usually the lounge/dinning or the office tent where internet is accessible. If you enjoy walking...this will be a bit tough. There is no out and about walking. You can walk around the camp in the day time. But as walkers who enjoy long walks daily, it was a little tough, but does not in any way stop us from returning, or enjoying our experiences. Every morning you are woken up by a tent attendant. Typically 5:30 am. The attendant has a tray has hot water for making French pressed coffee or tea, milk and sugar if required, some cookies and a medium size jug with hot water to wash your face and get started. The morning game drive starts around 6:00 am and out you go. Breakfast is an amazing bush breakfast, usually around 8:30 or a bit later, but this really depends on what is happening around you. We were quite happy to wait one morning when we were watching a pack of hyenas wait for their turn at the remnants of a zebra. It became quite the hyena game followed by a food fight and hyena chase around our vehicle. These fights to win a portion of the game can be quite intense. When you get back from the morning game drive it is usually 11:30 - 12:30, again depending on what is happening on the drive. It will give you some time to catch up on emails, or download morning photos, etc. Lunch is at 1:00 pm, and usually a buffet. Always had salads, fish, meat and dessert....you will never go away hungry. Now you will get some down time. Time for a siesta, read a book, have a shower, enjoy the camp...but not for long. 3:45 pm you will be back at it with a cold or hot beverage, a cookie or small piece of cake and out on a game drive by 4:00 pm. This afternoon game drive is shorter and by 6:00 pm or 6:30 pm and you will stop and enjoy a sundowner and snack while watching the sun go down. Back to camp by 7:00 - 7:30 pm, depending on where you are and what is happening around you. Back to camp, shower or clean up and then head to dinner at 8:00 pm. Usually home made rolls, soup which is truly amazing, a hot dinner, dessert and time to get back to your tent around 9ish pm to start all over again. Get an e-sim card for your phone. There was great reception with them and at one point on a game drive, my husband was able to do an e-transfer of funds to one of our employees. It is amazing when you are landing in a bush plane and the animals are on either side of the runway as a welcoming committee. When you get home, you will miss the noises at night. Lions, hippos, baboons, etc. The morning noises are just as lovely, birds, monkeys bouncing on your tent as they get down from their trees....that noise isn't rain. Somethings you will never forget. When an elephant is eating about 50 ft away from your tent for an hour, while you are sipping on glass of red wine. Waking up at 1:30 in the morning with two adult zebras eating 10 ft away from the door of your tent and a baby zebra is having a nap. Amazing! Bucket Shower Tip: Have spouse go first...the first few moments of the shower can be cold depending on time of day you are showering, because of the water that has been sitting in the hose. We had showers in the morning, afternoon after lunch and also after the sundowner drive before dinner. Best time in our opinion for the shower, after lunch or before dinner. The mornings are too chilly. Game Drive Tip: Take some adapters or cords with you and you can charge your spare batteries, phones etc., while on a game drive. Travel Tip: If you are thinking of participating in the hot air balloon ride, then do it! It was so unique to have elephants and giraffes looking up at you. It is an early morning start, but well worth the time. If you are going to be at Lion Camp then take the balloon from there as you leave at 5:00 am to get to the balloon, other camps you leave at 4:00 am or earlier. But again, don't let the early morning take away from your experience. This was truly one of the absolute best highlights of our vacation! Phone Camera Tip: Most phones have amazing cameras now, so take advantage of them. This trip was the first time I used an additional camera grip on my iPhone 14 pro, and it was a game changer. Much steadier pictures and easier when in some areas then my larger camera. Packing Tip: We each took a small hanging unit, which has 4 shelves and and a zipped drawer. It was great when moving from camp to camp. We would just open our soft sided suitcases, pull the unit out and hang up...get toiletries out of suitcase and a few other bits and we were unpacked and organized in minutes. Same for packing, done in just a couple of minutes. I have a picture, and you can order on Amazon. Finally, is everything perfect, no. I think that the camps should upgrade and put charging stations in each tent. I understand they are running on solar panels, but could easily turn the power source off to charging stations for periods of time during the day. Also, wifi, should be available in tents, as it is not always convenient with time changes to do everything during Kenyan day light hours to go to the wifi tent. It would really be great if Porini Chefs put together a soup cook book...really they were that good. But those are our only issues....with 3 weeks in Kenya on safari....we have already started to make plans to return in 2026. If we had done this trip years ago, we probably would not have seen other parts of the world, because we are going to need to return a few times...probably more than a few. We have been a lot of places, including expedition cruise in Antarctica, and this trip is top of the list in all respects. Thanks to everyone at the camps and in Nairobi for the best trip ever!

Top Score for Gamewatchers My wife and I just returned from a week long safari in the Amboseli and Porini Cheetah camps. For a senior couple in decent health with an interest in nature and passion for the outdoors, it was an unforgettable experience. While our flight plans were disrupted by bad weather, Gamewatchers provided a completely curated, top end safari once we arrived in Nairobi. Flights to the camps were smooth, accommodations more than comfortable, food delicious, and game drives made incredible with the help of Maasai drivers and spotters. We encountered an abundance of elephants, zebra, giraffes, wildebeest, buffalo, gazelles, hippos, lions, cheetah, leopard, jackal, warthogs, hyenas and bird species: both the Amboseli and the Maasai Mara are veritable Gardens of Eden! I would advise travelers to build in at least 3 days in Nairobi prior to any safari's actual start date; we thought we were being smart in giving ourselves a 2 day cushion but nearly missed the entire trip when a storm in Dallas cancelled our outgoing flight and we then had to re-book. I highly recommend Gamewatchers to any who want an uncrowded, up close look at the wildlife of Africa.

Because we love it!!! This was the 6th !!! time we did this. Gamewatchers met us at Jomo Kenyatta in the morning 1st of June. Took us to Mara Amboseli camp by car,to stay 2 nights,then 2 nights Rhini camp and 3 nights Mara camp.Our first time was 2009,then 2013,15,17 19. In 2027 I became 60years,and we braught our 3 children.After safari 2 of them climbed Mt Kenya.We do this because we love it sooo much,the animals,the staff in camps,the food (special the soup for dinner),the wakeup-coffee and cakes,bushbreakfast,sundowner,nightgamedrives.It was nice to come to the camps and meet many that we have met before.Still like the bush-shower,even we complain about VERY hot water:)) It is also very ok that even camps are fullbooked,there are not crowdy,and not too many safaricars.We feel we are almost alone in the wild. Thank you for being there for us !!