Dear Nirmalya & Jui
Our heartfelt thanks for giving all of us a lifetime experience at Porini Cheetah Camp (PCC).
It was an experience beyond imagination for us where we stayed in a very small colony of unfenced tents, frequented by wild animals (yet finding it much safer than our cities). It was an on-ground feeling of staying at a land that belongs to the Masai & without any walls or wires separating us from the real wild. To witness such a peaceful coexistence of humans with wild animals has transformed the perception of wild life, which most of the people in our group carried till our Masai experience through PCC. & to learn how you all are truly trying to minimise the human- wildlife conflict.
If we have to sum up the experience, it cannot be done without counting each & every special thing your team did for us. Timely transfers, excellently
You two left no stones unturned in making us feel at home. In fact it was not just about making us just comfortable, you & your team actually WOWed us, making us experience ‘luxury’ of a very different kind.
We now realise that luxury isn’t just a lavish breakfast buffet in a decorated brick mortar building. It is, to get down from the vehicle in between the safari & enjoy a basic but sumptuous breakfast laid out on the picturesque savannah. Luxury isn’t just sipping an expensive wine at a five-star hotel rooftop restaurant, but putting down your feet on that wild land and experiencing a sundowner at a point on that unending landscape. An inexpressible expanse which allows one to see some of the most memorable sunsets extending the hues hundreds of kilometres into the big, open sky. Sipping any wine or any beer in front of that scene, is a luxury! Personally speaking, I have no words to describe what I saw & felt there. It seems that I could absorb just a fraction of the beauty spraying out in all directions, in that moment of time, from that one point in the west.
And all these breakfasts & sundowners were organised by the PCC team, amidst the grazing population there in hundreds & thousands. And the grand finale was a barbeque treat followed by a special candle lit dinner under the star filled sky. You could just lift your head while having a super delicious meal & see the milky way with naked eyes. Now, what kind of luxury can beat this! The entire team running about to make our every single moment spent there, memorable. And all this in genuinely most environmentally friendly ways (no symbolism)!
It’s such an enriching & a learning experience to have spent time with the Masai people (our safari guides) who have so much to share about the wild, their land, their culture & the balance of nature.
- Rahul Jain , Visited Kenya in July 2024, 9 Adults
Thank you is perhaps a limited phrase to express our gratitude to Bucket list. While our association started apprehensively our experience ended comprehensively. Parag Gupta came across as a genuine friend and travel advisor, not as a sales person or business owner. He explained patiently and in detail all that we needed to know to make an informed decision. Given that we were a group of 15, I hope and believe that he offered reasonable and fair pricing. Their pitchbook was informative and useful. All in all, what I liked about their pre-sales process was that it was neutral and not aggressive in any way.
Then came Nikita, the hard-working go-to person for all things planning - payments - process. Not once did she not respond when I sought her help. Her communication was spot-on. Her commitment was exemplary even at non-work hours. She made things simple for us all through leading up to our departure.
On landing, we met 3 delightful saarthi's. Dan, Oliver and Alex. Our own three musketeers. They were our drivers last but guides, entertainers, well-wishers first. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I say that our Kenya experience went up 2 notches due to these 3 gentlemen. Their sense of humour is next level which we enjoyed to the hilt.
We encountered an awesome optional guide at Naivasha who deserves special mention. Young Walter at crescent island. Highly recommend him to your future guests. Our crescent island walk became fun and informative because of him.
Coming to the finale. PCC. A surreal serene and satisfying experience. John is an able respected manager who commands his forces like a general. He runs a well-oiled machinery which is geared up to take care of the guests. The training of the entire team was manifesting in every small matter. The tents were comfy, showers brilliant and food appropriate.
Our safari experience was of course the highlight here. And again, it was our guides and drivers who were the heroes. Phillip and Edward, Joe and Jacob were two teams. Unfortunately, do not remember the third team names. These guys are simply marvellous in their craft. Once again, it is their sense of humour which won us over. Driving was excellent, knowledge vast and they patiently waited for us to take in the sights and photos. Safari was a joy with these guys.
Three cheers to Nirmalya and Juhi for just being who they are. They were meticulous and magnanimous. They clearly have toiled their fair share and now have a good thing set up and running. Wish them the very best.
Scope for improvement: -
Quality of vans from Nairobi to Naivasha to Lake Nakuru to PCC was disappointing. Rattling and poor interiors with uncomfortable seats. Vans which brought us back from PCC to Nairobi were better.
Vegetarian food at Naivasha was found lacking in taste.
The boatmen who brought us back from Crescent Island to the lake Naivasha jetty were not the same as the ones that took us there. Our original boatmen had informed us that they would be waiting for us at Exit 1. However, they were not there and some other guys after asking where we wanted to go, dropped us. These guys were rough, and crude especially in the parking of the boats.
Lastly, our check in at Four points Sheraton Nairobi was horrible. Even though we reached in the evening, well beyond the check-in time, our rooms were not ready. They had allowed other guests, perhaps airline staff, to overstay in our rooms. We were made to wait for long after a long journey from PCC with no time left for dinner which we were forced to order in our rooms to save sleep time needed before our early morning flight. The front desk responded in a lame fashion repeating the same instructions to wait till your room gets ready.
- Milan Zaveri , Visited Kenya in July 2024, 15 Adults
The trip was well planned and everything was almost perfect except minor delay while check in and room allotment at Hotel Four Points Nairobi. The safari experience was really a memorable one and the service staff at Porini Cheetah Camp was 5 stars. Also, the guides, Phillip, Edward, John, Jacob were great with their communication and showing us the wildlife.
- Vishal Thakkar , Visited Kenya in July 2024, 15 Adults
The Planning and service was excellent, the safari guides and the resorts chosen were wonderful. The trip was overall wonderful. Having been to Kenya now, we would like to indicate if the planners can help us with budgets a little bit more. We were totally happy with the trip, but if there is scope and potential to save a bit more money, will be nice.
- Sriram Madhavan , Visited Kenya in July 2024, 2 Adults
Personally, it was an outstanding experience. TBLTC did a great job of keeping us informed and ensuring that we were adequately prepared for our safari. Once in Kenya, everything worked as planned. Ol Tukai in Amboseli and Sarova Lion Hill Lodge in Nakuru are both great locations for stay. Our original choice had been to stay in Nakuru for two nights but this was not possible due to unavailability of the Lodge. So, we booked one night in Naivasha instead. However, before we arrived there, a change was suggested to a different hotel in Naivasha. We went along with it, not knowing any better. The hotel was not up to standard in accommodation, food, service etc. Lake Naivasha too, was disappointing. Two nights in Nakuru would have been a much better option. With the exception of this one particular day, everything else was perfect in my entire 10-day trip. Porini Cheetah Camp was a special experience in Ol Kinyei. Nirmalya and Jui along with Saleh and the whole team ensure that the most minute detail of hospitality is taken care of. The food, tent, shower water, bonfire, the dinner table conversations, the security and so much more! The spotter Saroni and the driver Limaye who were our constant companions on the Safari Drives were knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and as enthusiastic about the sightings as we were! We were fortunate to have been able to see great wildlife sights in their natural surroundings, especially in Nakuru, Ol Kinyei and Ol Naibosho. Finally, Lenny of Game Watchers who drove us for 4-5 days was not only a good driver but also a great spotter and well informed on his country. Thank you TBLTC, the Porini Cheetah Camp team, and Lenny!
- Nilofer Kalra , Visited Kenya in June 2024, 6 Adults
From the planning till the execution all was extremely well arranged and managed. The food was absolutely to our individual taste and there is nothing at all we did not like. Can’t find anything unpleasant or unacceptable to complain about. Full marks to our host for so caringly taking interest to our needs.
- Razia Abbas , Visited Kenya in June 2024, 6 Adults & 2 Children
We loved the overall experience. We especially appreciated that you shared the detailed costing of the trip, which made it easy for us to plan within our budget. Akshay was very patient and attended to all our changes and preferences. All the accommodations, pick-ups, drop-offs, and safaris were wonderful. While all the accommodations were good, the highlight of our trip was our stay at Porini Cheetah Camp, where we enjoyed tasty Indian food, bush breakfasts, evening snacks, and the lovely company of Nirmalya and Jui at lunch and dinner. Our guides, Stanley and Jackson, were the best we could have asked for. Areas of improvement: It would be better if you could also handle ETA and insurance so we wouldn’t have to go to another agent for these. We would prefer to get end-to-end support from you, just like other travel agents offer.
- Aparna Chaudhary , Visited Kenya in May 2024, 2 Adults & 1 Child
The itinerary we received had been tailored to meet the needs of our family group of 7 people. The camps and lodges chosen for our trip were of high quality and had very good access to wildlife. We stayed at the Porini Amboseli Camp, Elephant Bedroom Camp, Sarova Hill Lion Lodge and Porini Cheetah Camp. The suggestions for flights saved us valuable vacation time. The execution of all parts of the trip was flawless and at every transition point there was someone to make sure that the connections worked. Each of the four places we stayed had very comfortable accommodation and the food was varied as well as good at each place. But what stood out for us were the guides who were with us at each place. They were all silver level guides and hugely knowledgeable about terrain, logistics, tracking and spotting the different animals. Some of the people in our group were birders and the familiarity with the birds as well as the skill in spotting them that each of our guides showed made the trip rich in species we observed. The itinerary gave us access to different terrain and different wildlife at each stay. We learned so much from our guides. Jonathan and Andrew stand out as they were with us for the longest period and taught us so much not only about the creatures, we saw but also about Kenyan history and culture. All our guides were also cheerful, joked with us and made sure we saw as many animals as possible on each game drive. While the big National Parks had the advantage of large swathes of land, it was the smaller conservancies that we enjoyed most because they felt private and unhurried and closest to a natural environment for animals. The hospitality we experienced at all the places we stayed at was excellent. Nirmalya and Jui stand out as being outstanding hosts with their kindness, attention to detail, and their willing to share their own passion for wildlife with their guests. This was definitely the trip of a lifetime!
- Kalpana G , Visited Kenya in Feb 2024, 7 Adults
Our overall experience was awesome. Philip and Jonathan were really great with their knowledge sharing, driving skills and spotting animals. Manager John was kind and approachable in all the ways to ask him anything if needed and he arranged them as well with a wide smile and that made us to approach him for any kind of discomfort. Our Indian chef Vincent was extremely fabulous in preparing Indian food and taste was just like our parents does in home. The camp was well maintained and very hygienic and I do recommend to my surroundings.
- Arvind and Nivedha , Visited Kenya in Feb 2024, 2 Adults
I love to travel alone and booked a trip with TBLTC in early Feb 2024 to Kenya. 3 adjectives sum up my experience of booking the Wildlife safari experience through them Mesmerizing, Magical, Heavenly. Being a solo traveller planning my escapade required finding the right travel partner and demanded extensive preparation but finally it rewarded me with unforgettable experiences. TBLTC designed each day meticulously, yet with enough flexibility to seize unexpected opportunities. From sharing stories with fellow travellers Arvind & Nivedha who were passionate photographers & I met many interesting people during the stay at the Porini Cheetah camp and Safari game drives. My particular thanks to Parag & Jui. I would sum up the whole wildlife experience as one of the Seamless & Hassle-Free trip.
- Gitanjali Sen , Visited Kenya in Feb 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Nirmalya, you and your team took care of us very well. We did not face any glitch throughout the trip. I could not have asked anything better than this for my dream to come true. Watching all the Big 5 in its natural habitat was the icing on the cake. We came back with lot of fond memories and joy. Yet to come out of those magical moments. Transparent dealing, friendly approach, customer centric are the hallmark.
- S. Ramakrishnan , Visited Kenya in Jan 2024, 2 Adults
It was one of the best trips ever . We could see the big five of Kenya. It was very well organised. Porini cheetah camp was just awesome. As it was in the middle of the deep forest it was one of the best stay. We could see animals roaming around the tents, the off-road game drives, and the overall experience was awesome. We loved it . We give 5 stars. We surely recommend our friends and family ❤️
- Sanjana Shrihari , Visited Kenya in Oct 2023, 2 Adults
We visited Kenya for a wildlife safari experience last month (July 2023). Our planning started almost one year back. We spoke to several Tour organisers based in East Africa and in India and finally decided to go ahead with The Bucket List Travel Company, primarily for their understanding of our needs. We had a number of meetings with them to discuss various aspects and options within Kenya and finally arrived at a good mix of different parks, accommodations, flora and fauna. Once we finalised the itinerary, TBLTC back office took over and meticulously made all arrangements including guiding us to get the Kenyan visa online. The actual trip was beyond our expectations. We visited Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Naivasha and Nakuru in the Rift valley, Masai Mara and Poriini Cheetah Camp in Ol Kenyi. This took us through different topography and a wide range of animals. Porini Cheetah Camp merits a special mention. The camp-stay at Porini, warm hospitality and the abundance of wild animals around the camp was the high point of our trip. I have been to Serengeti in Tanzania and Kruger National Park in South Africa in the past. But our Kenyan wildlife experience was indeed unique. Thank you TBLTC for planning such a lovely trip.
- Kalyanmoy (Billy) Chatterjee, India , Visited Kenya in Jul 2023, 6 Adults
At a very high level the whole summary was absolutely amazing with The Bucket List Travel Company. We had really really fun, we have been to a lot of trips, but the kind of experience which we have gone through here is just phenomenal, something which we have experienced for the first time and obviously we will remember for the rest of our lives.
- Zubin and Minita, India , Visited kenya in July 2023, 2 Adults
We all had a really good time. The Safari drives were just amazing with lots of wildlife sightings. The guide, Lenny, and another guy in training - Boyd - were awesome. They put in lots of effort to make sure we had the best time and gave us great info on the animals and Kenyan culture. Thanks to Parag and Rishika for planning this amazing trip for us.
- Nirav Panchal, India , Visited Kenya in Jun 2023, 2 Adults & 1 Child
Our trip was amazing. We had a great experience of wildlife & game drive. Well informative driver and made our trip more memorable. Was happy to find Indian food everywhere and nice lodges too. Thanks for all your efforts to make this trip happen & memorable.
- Nisha Panchal, India , Visited Kenya in Jun 2023, 2 Adults & 1 Child
I came back from the trip a few days ago and I must say it was an amazing experience for us. I really appreciate Nirmalya and Parag for organizing the trip, it was on our bucket list for a long time and fully satisfied with the experience. Nirmalya did meticulous planning for what we wanted to do including Gorilla tracking, right from day one. Your knowledge and experience made our trip pleasant. I also now know the difference of staying in a lodge or in a conservancy, this is exactly what we wanted to experience. My friends are thrilled with our experience and hospitality at the conservancies, Gorilla tracking, and meeting Masai people. Thank you both very much, I wish to visit Porini Cheetah Camp again and other unseen areas soon, shall get in touch when time comes.
- Nachiketa Nandy, USA , Visited Kenya in Jun 2023, 2 Adults
Right from the very beginning we were guided very well in terms of the Itinerary, in terms of the documentation etc. and everything went very very smoothly and it's an experience which even a year later cherish, talk about so often and obviously we are looking forward to the next trip that we do with The Bucket List Travel Company.