Ol Pejeta Conservancy is set between the foothills of the Aberdare’s and Mount Kenya in Laikipia County. The conservancy is on the equator and constitutes an area of 360 square Kilometers. It strives to protect wildlife, create a refuge for great apes, and generate revenue for conservation and community development. Established in 1988, the sanctuary began as a cow ranch for the pastoralist tribes but has gradually evolved into a wildlife sanctuary.
Ol Pejeta conservancy is well-known for its large population of rhinos. With over 100 black rhinos, a population that was attained in 2013, the conservancy boasts the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. Ol Pejeta further hosts the world’s two last northern white rhinos, which were relocated from Dvr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the only safari spot in Kenya where visitors can see the endangered chimpanzees. The sanctuary provides a safe home for orphaned, abandoned, and rescued chimpanzees at the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The Conservancy is home to the Big five as well as a diverse range of other wildlife, such as zebra, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, jackal, serval, hyena, vervet monkey, and many more. Travelers to the conservancy can enjoy horseback riding, game drives, nature walks, and hikes among other safari activities.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy also runs a successful livestock program aimed at benefiting both local pastoralists and wildlife. Ol Pejeta’s community development initiative assists nearby villages with education, health, water, and infrastructural development. They also help to fund agricultural and livestock extension activities, as well as the creation of community-based conservation initiatives.
Attractions and What to do in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Meet Baraka the Black Rhino
Baraka the Black rhino is one of the famous attractions to see in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. He was one of the Conservancy’s first rhinos to be born but later became entirely blind. With a slim chance of surviving in the wild, Baraka was relocated from the wild to a 100-acre enclosure to secure his protection in the conservancy. Baraka is now a species ambassador and a major attraction in Ol Pejeta. Visitors to Ol Pejeta Conservancy may get up close and personal with Baraka on an established viewing platform and enjoy an unforgettable experience with him. Baraka welcomes visitors from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, with three feedings each day.
Horseback Safari at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Enjoy a horseback ride in the Endangered Species Enclosure with the rhinos in the morning or late afternoon. Free of predators, this enclosure provides an excellent opportunity to encounter a wide variety of savannah wildlife. However, the most fascinating moment of this escapade is meeting the last remaining northern white rhinos; Najin and Fatu. These rhinos are the daughters of Sudan, who rose to fame as the only living male northern white rhino in the conservancy before passing away in March 2018. The rhinos had been flown from a zoo in the Czech Republic to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in December 2009, with the hope that the climate and grasslands of Kenya’s Laikipia Region would provide better breeding conditions; thus, saving the species from extinction.
Lion Tracking Experience at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
This is an exciting and one-of-a-kind experience that allows you to track the kings of the jungle and in turn contribute towards lion conservation. Ol Pejeta conservancy has the highest predator densities in Kenya, and lions are the dominant species in the reserve. Lions have been fitted with radio collars for tracking. You will gather information about each pride member, and the data that you collect goes directly to Ol Pejeta’s ecological monitoring unit which will help you to find possible solutions.
Visit the Canine Anti-Poaching Unit
Another unique safari activity is the canine-anti poaching unit. Each of the dogs at Ol Pejeta’s K9 unit has a different specialty, ranging from tracking the scent of a poacher to detecting ammunition and attacking and detaining suspects.
Visitors to the conservancy are welcome to view Ol Pejeta’s anti-poaching dog squad and explore their unique efforts in the anti-poaching unit. While there, you may play a game of human-canine hide & seek within the Morani Information Centre, trying to avoid the dogs and find a spot to hide. Unit visits are limited to 6 persons in each group and the activity is not appropriate for children under the age of 12.
Visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary
The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary was founded in 1993 as a collaboration between The Jane Goodall Institute and Kenyan Wildlife Services. The sanctuary was built as a haven for orphaned and seized chimps and is the only site in Kenya where non-indigenous chimpanzees may be viewed. This makes Ol Pejeta Conservancy the only Kenya safari destination where tourists can see chimpanzees. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary provides a permanent sanctuary in a natural environment as possible. The sanctuary boasts over 40 chimpanzees safeguarded on an island, and viewing them is only feasible by boat.
Explore the Junior Ranger Programme
The junior ranger program in Ol Pejeta conservancy is perfect for children aged 4 to 12. Here the children become ‘rangers for a day’ by purchasing a junior ranger rack. The rack contains a book with engaging activities, coloring crayons, and stickers. The youngsters must complete all of the activities as they go around the conservancy. After their expedition, the tourist staff at Morani Information Center will greet them and ask them to recite the formal ranger oath before certifying them with a diploma, ranger hat, and a pin to affirm their status as honorary rangers.
Running with Rangers
If you enjoy running, there is no better way to start your day than with a run in the wilderness with the conservancy’s rangers. You can join them for a 5 – 7km run over the savannah plains that follows mild terrain. During the run, you are likely to come across animals such as rhinos, buffaloes, and elephants among many others.
When you get tired during the run, you may stop and relax, or you can grab a ride with the car that trails after the group. You may need to carry along drinking water and a cap. After your run, you are welcome to join the rangers for coffee and learn more about the important job they undertake to protect animals. The group size for the run is limited to 6 persons, and physical fitness is required for this exercise.
Game Drives
Home to a diverse range of wild animals including the Big Five, Ol Pejeta Conservancy offers impressive wildlife viewing in classic safari morning, evening, and full-day game drives. Done in 4×4 open roof safari vehicles, game drives in Ol Pejeta will treat you to abundant sightings of animals such as rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, the African wild dog, oryx, Grevy’s zebra, giraffes, hippos, baboons, hyenas, and Jackson’s hartebeest among others.
On the other hand, there are also night game drives in Ol Pejeta where visitors get the chance to view the nocturnal wildlife that frequent these grasslands.
Getting to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is located along the equator in Central Kenya’s Laikipia Country and it is a 3- to 4-hour drive from Nairobi by road.
By Air; fly from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson Airport to Nanyuki airfield, which is a 45-minute drive to conservancy. Moreover, you can also charter a flight from another park to Ol Pejeta’s airstrip (currently only open to charter flights).
Best Time to Visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy
As much as Ol Pejeta Conservancy is open to visitors all year, the ideal months to visit are from June through September which is the long dry season. The dry season is the best time for game viewing and the conservancy is accessible at this time. Another dry season lasts from December to February, and the flowers blossom after the rains – this time of year is ideal for photography.
The lengthy rainy season on the other hand occurs between March and May which may not be a very good time to visit Ol Pejeta given the rough terrain in the conservancy. But this season is followed by the breeding time for birds in June and July which is the best time for the birders to visit. There is a short-wet season from October through November and early December, which is also an attractive time to visit since the flora is in flower, and it is an excellent time to watch migratory birds.
Where to Stay in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
There is a wide range of lodges and camps in and around Ol Pejeta Conservancy offering relaxed safari stays to tourists on Kenya safaris to the conservancy among others including;
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
- Jambo Mutara Camp
- Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
- Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages
- Porini Rhino Camp
- Sanctuary Tambarare
- River Camp
- El Karama Lodge
- Kicheche Laikipia
- Laikipia Wilderness Camp