Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 400-square-kilometre safe home for wildlife, including rhino, in the Laikipia district in central Kenya. The conservancy was established in the year 1988, initially as a cattle farm, Ol Pejeta has advanced into a wildlife sanctuary and is an important conservancy protecting threatened species. It is located along the equator west of Nanyuki, between the foothills of the Aberdare’s and Mount Kenya. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary for the rescued chimpanzees, and generate income through wildlife tourism and corresponding enterprises for re-investment in conservation and community development. The Sweetwater’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary is found here, which provides a harbor for orphaned, abandoned, and rescued chimpanzees, it is the only place in Kenya where chimpanzees can be seen. It is home to the big five animals which are (Lion, Rhino, leopard, cape buffalo and elephant) among a large selection of other African animals.
Ol Pejeta is home to the largest population of black rhino in East Africa, and is home to the last two remaining northern white rhinos, both females, in the world. In 2013, it reached a population breakthrough of one hundred eastern black rhinos. The conservancy has some of the highest predator concentrations yet still manages a successful livestock programme.
Activities To Do at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Game Drives
During this activity you will get a chance to see the big five as well as the rare species like the cheetah, African wild dog, Grevy’s zebra, oryx, beisa oryx, and Jackson’s hartebeest. Experience the Conservancy’s diverse wildlife and myriad bird species through a day game drive and a night drive which offers a huge opportunity to spot the nocturnal creatures that wander the conservancy’s grasslands.
Lion Tracking
A few lions in Ol Pejeta have been fitted with tracking collars to help rangers find the prides’ location. Move along with the researchers as they track the collared lion throughout the Conservancy, learn about various prides, and distinguish individual lions from one another. You can join rangers to look for the lions between the hours of 06:30 – 08:30am and 15:30 – 17:30pm
Wildlife Walking Safari
A wildlife walking safari in Ol Pejeta plains offers unrestricted views of the park you need to be brave and walk alongside conservancy rangers and learn about the daily lives of some wild animals as you explore the park in looking for other wildlife.
Wildlife walking safaris can be arranged in the mornings or afternoons between the hours of 06:30 – 09:30 and 15:30 – 18:30.
Explore The Endangered Species Enclosure
Here you’ll find the white and black rhinos that have to be monitored around the clock to protect them from poaching. The enclosure is home to the last two remaining northern white rhinos in the world which are both females.
Horseback Rides
Guided horseback rides offer an extraordinary alternative for tourists to experience most of Ol Pejeta conservancy. Horseback rides provide an immersive experience of the sanctuary and take about 2 hours to explore the white rhino enclosure and the sanctuary’s plains.
Rhino Monitoring and Identification
Join the rhino monitoring team and set out on foot, learning how you can identify individual rhino by their unique ear marks, and assist the rangers in the collection of valuable data about their body condition, habitat, and activity.
Visit The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary
The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary was founded with an agreement between the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Jane Goodall Institute. The aim of this sanctuary was to provide a lifelong refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees from West and Central Africa. Over the last decade, Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary has been obliged to keep accepting chimpanzees rescued from traumatic situations, bringing the total number of chimpanzees in the Sanctuary to 35.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy?
Ol Pejeta Conservancy offers an all-year-round wildlife safari experience.
The best time to visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy is during the dry seasons from June to September and December to February, which offer optimal game viewing as animals gather around water sources and roads are accessible. These periods provide sunny, pleasant weather, making them perfect for spotting the Big Five and the resident rhino population. June to September is the peak season, animals in this period can be found everywhere since the weather in these months is favourable to all animals.
The low or off-season, also known as the green season, is generally characterised by long rains. This happens from April to June, and due to heavy rains, access to the sanctuary can be a little challenging.
How To Get to Ol Pejeta Conservancy?
Ol Pejeta can be reached by car from Nairobi in approximately four hours, or by local aircraft from Nairobi or the Masai Mara. The most common ways to get to Ol Pejeta Conservancy from Nairobi are either by road (self-drive or safari tour) or by a short domestic flight to Nanyuki. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is 210km northeast of Nairobi, and the drive takes about 3 to 4 hours. The final 13 km stretch to Ol Pejeta are on a dirty road, and 4×4 vehicles are essential in the rainy season. Ol Pejeta can be easily combined with some of the other conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau, or with Meru National Park.
The easiest way to get to Ol Pejeta is to take one of the daily programmed flights from Nairobi to Nanyuki airstrip, which is a 45-minute flyaway. It is also possible to charter a flight from any other park to Ol Pejeta’s airstrip (currently only open to charter flights).
Charter flights between parks are usually booked by tour operators as part of the tour package.
Scheduled flights to Nanyuki is the closest airstrip to Ol Pejeta conservancy, leave from Wilson Airport (WIL), which is 6km south of Nairobi. Flights can be booked with a trusted tour operator or company
Where To Stay at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta House
The property is sited in a private and tranquil area of the conservancy. There are only a few rooms available, along with two private swimming pools.
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
Ol Pejeta bush Camp is one of the best accommodation options in the conservancy. It is located along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River, accommodation is in fully equipped tented camps, complete with en-suites bathrooms.
Porini Rhino Camp
Hidden behind a small forest of acacia trees sits the isolated Porini Rhino Camp. The camp is eco-friendly, nestled into a pretty valley – it is a private and peaceful retreat.
Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Sweetwaters Serena Camp is one of the biggest camps in Ol Pejeta. The site is situated on the eastern side of the conservancy and has 50 beautifully designed tents offering views of the mountains, watering holes and wildlife.
Kicheche Laikipia Camp
This luxurious camp has won various awards for its conservation efforts, donating 25% of their turnover to conservation and community projects.