Selenkay Conservancy
Selenkay Conservancy
5
About
Masai-owned conservancy and safari camp near the Amboseli National Park.Selenkay Conservancy shares the same eco-system as Amboseli National Park and is established on land leased from the local Maasai by Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps with the aim of protecting the wildlife habitat and encouraging wildlife conservation as an alternative to farming as a means for the local population to earn a living. Migrating species from Amboseli previously killed or driven off land set aside for farming are now able to make the conservancy their home. Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in wildlife numbers with elephants returning to Selenkay after a 20 year absence.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
80 reviews
Excellent
73
Very good
6
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA17,368 contributions
Aug 2022
We saw lots of elephants, zebras, and giraffes, as well as birds and other smaller animals.
We split our time between the park and the conservancy and much preferred our time here. The rules in the park are more restrictive. Here we were able to drive closer to the wildlife for a better view.
We split our time between the park and the conservancy and much preferred our time here. The rules in the park are more restrictive. Here we were able to drive closer to the wildlife for a better view.
Written August 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alison M
Tanzania14 contributions
Jun 2022
I travelled to Amboseli in June for 3 nights and was not disappointed. I could not believe the amount of elephants around. I chose the camp as they have access to 3 waterholes and viewing platforms, where plenty of wildlife came to drink - zebra, warthogs, elephants, wildebest and birds.
We did a full day in the National Park - this was beautiful. The marsh areas had elephants, wildebeest, the birdlife including flamingoes. Picnic lunch on a lookout point overlooking the National Park. The camp very comfortable.
We did a full day in the National Park - this was beautiful. The marsh areas had elephants, wildebeest, the birdlife including flamingoes. Picnic lunch on a lookout point overlooking the National Park. The camp very comfortable.
Written July 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben W
Langport, UK95 contributions
Sep 2019
We stayed at the Porini camp on the conservancy and I can't recommend this enough. Since the construction of more waterholes and the recovery from the droughts of 10 years ago, the whole place teemed with wildlife and we saw more elephants than we can count, dozens of bird species, lions, cheetahs and a great variety of other animals.
An essential component to a Kenya safari itinerary
An essential component to a Kenya safari itinerary
Written October 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnimalTraveler123
Tampa, FL9 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
Masai giraffe, elephants, and a pride of 12 lions were the animal highlights we saw here. Many other animals as well.
Written December 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jaapv
Hellevoetsluis, The Netherlands51 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
As a private conservancy next to the Amboseli, with only one small bushcamp, it is the perfect place to have the Amboseli game to yourself, without the crowd of Minivans etc.
Written November 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
teresa18
Germantown, TN325 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
Lovely land with wildlife near the Amboseli National Park - stayed with Porini Amboseli. Saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, cheetah, lions, and there are waterholes where the wildlife gather.
Written October 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sierra F
Arlington, VA15 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
It made all the difference to be able to see wildlife while only seeing one other car, rather than the dozens that congregate on the roads when exciting things happen at the national park. Every hour we found something incredible, and were able to be right there - sometimes only 5-10 feet away. The conservancies are eco-friendly and support the local Masai communities, while being very affordable for low-cost travelers.
Written August 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TamaraEthiopia
Nairobi, Kenya5 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
Just outside Amboseli National Park, the private conservancy of Selenkay is more lush than the surrounding area so it attracts game and bird species not found in the park. We saw gerenuk, kudu and a cori bustard within moments of each other. And the icing on the cake is that Porini Amboseli Camp is the only camp in the conservancy - you won't see another vehicle. We spent a very special evening at the waterhole as the sun set over Kilimanjaro, watching a lion lap the water almost as if she were posing for us. True bliss!
Written October 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
627Anne and David
Boston, Lincolnshire15 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Thank goodness we chose Gamewatchers Porini camps for our first safari! Apparently, talking to more experienced safari goers, we saw more wildlife in the first two days than most people see in years. So glad that we chose to stay in the conservancies rather than in the national parks, where there can be 20 or more mini buses crowded around 1 lion or cheetah, all trying to get a good view. Due to the limited camps in the conservancies, there are usually only 1 - 3 open 4WD vehicles and as they can go off road, you can get really close to the animals - we didn't need binoculars at all!
The Gamewatchers staff and the Massai people are amazing - so knowledgeable and helpful - always smiling - and the chefs produce the most amazing food. We never had the same thing twice! It's so good to know that you are helping to preserve habitats and wildlife, whilst also giving back to the Massai people themselves and helping to support their children's schooling and quality of life. Couldn't praise the Porini camps and the Gamewatchers staff are superb - they meet you at each airport/camp and were even happy to take us to some shops in Nairobi on the way back. Would go back tomorrow if we could! I would recommend 3 days at the Amboselli camp.
The Gamewatchers staff and the Massai people are amazing - so knowledgeable and helpful - always smiling - and the chefs produce the most amazing food. We never had the same thing twice! It's so good to know that you are helping to preserve habitats and wildlife, whilst also giving back to the Massai people themselves and helping to support their children's schooling and quality of life. Couldn't praise the Porini camps and the Gamewatchers staff are superb - they meet you at each airport/camp and were even happy to take us to some shops in Nairobi on the way back. Would go back tomorrow if we could! I would recommend 3 days at the Amboselli camp.
Written July 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EDH_Traveler
Tucson, AZ251 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
The Conservancy model is a great way to benefit the local people while saving the land and the wildlife that depends on that land. All the Masai people who worked at Porini Amboseli were great and had nothing but great things to say about the Conservancy and how it benefited them.
The wildlife here was fantastic. There were lots of Elephants and Giraffes not to mention rarer mammals like Gerenuk and Lesser Kudu and lots of birds. We saw 32 mammal species in 3 nights although a few of those were seen in the neighboring Amboseli NP.
The wildlife here was fantastic. There were lots of Elephants and Giraffes not to mention rarer mammals like Gerenuk and Lesser Kudu and lots of birds. We saw 32 mammal species in 3 nights although a few of those were seen in the neighboring Amboseli NP.
Written March 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Jake, have had a look at your on-line itineraries for Porini Camps but they seem very rushed. Do you have any Safari options where we would get to spend 2 whole days so 4 nights in each camp?
Written November 1, 2017
I think maybe you have not seen the full itinerary details as we recommend a minimum of 2 nights and ideally 3 nights at the Porini Camps. In fact we offer reduced rates if people stay a minimum of 6 nights at 2 camps. TA do not allow us to post links but if you go to the TripAdvisor page for one of our camps it gives details for you to email us and then we can give you full details.
Written November 2, 2017
Hi Jake, thank you for your immediate response to my query. Can you advise that if we decided to go ahead with this tour if we would have to book directly through Gamewatchers or if we could book through tour operators here in Australia? Thanks, Carey
Written November 1, 2017
We have a rep in Australia and if you email me I can give you her details.
Written November 2, 2017
Hi David, we're looking at spending some time at the Selenkay Conservancy in maybe August next year. We have been advised
that we would have to pay Conservancy fees on top of the quoted tour cost. Are you able to advise how much these would cost?
Also interested to know if you can suggest how much time we should spend there to get the most of our experience. We are from Perth, Western Australia, have done safaris before but never in a Conservancy. Also can you tell me a bit about the meals. Thanks, Carey
Written October 29, 2017
Thanks for your question and I can confirm that there are no additional conservancy fees on top of the cost of staying at the camp in Selenkay Conservancy. The conservancy fees are included in the daily cost of staying at Porini Amboseli Camp in the conservancy. There are reviews about the camp on TripAdvisor and a link from there to its website or to send an email to receive more information.
Ideally you should stay 3 nights which gives you time to go round the Conservancy to see all the wildlife as well as spending a day in the nearby Amboseli park.
Meals consist of full cooked breakfast, light lunch with main dish and salads and 3 couse dinner with soup, main course and dessert. Menu items are similar to international dishes that you would have in Australia or UK or USA but the Camp Manager is able to assist if you have special dietary preferences.
Enjoy your safari!
Jake Grieves-Cook
Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps
Written October 30, 2017
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