Ol Pejeta Conservancy

What Ol Pejeta is

Ol Pejeta is a non-profit conservancy on the Laikipia plateau, with Mount Kenya rising on its eastern edge. Before it became a wildlife area it was a cattle ranch, and cattle still graze the land as part of a management approach that combines conservation with livestock. The land is fenced on some sides, but wildlife moves freely across large stretches of the wider Laikipia landscape.

What makes it unusual is the rhino work. Ol Pejeta holds the largest population of black rhinos in East Africa, and it also protects southern white rhinos. In the sanctuary, two elderly female northern white rhinos are cared for around the clock.

The northern white rhinos

The last two northern white rhinos, Najin and her daughter Fatu, live under armed guard on the conservancy. There are no males left, so the subspecies can’t breed naturally. The conservancy works with scientists on advanced reproduction techniques, using eggs and stored genetic material, with surrogate southern white females.

Visiting them is a sombre and thought-provoking experience. You can spend time with them alongside a keeper, although you won’t be able to approach freely.

What you can do

The freedom that comes with private land makes Ol Pejeta a good place to try things you can’t do in national parks. Night drives look for aardvarks, bush babies and leopards. Guided walks with an armed ranger and a tracker follow rhinos on foot at a safe distance. You can also cycle in designated areas or ride horses.

Lions and cheetahs are regularly seen, along with elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffalo and a huge range of antelopes. The chimpanzee sanctuary is worth a visit for its own sake, but remember that the chimps are rescued animals, not wild.

When to go

Ol Pejeta works year-round. The drier months of June to October and December to March give the clearest views of Mount Kenya and make game drives easier. The long rains from April to May bring green landscapes and lower prices, while the short rains in November are usually light.

Getting there

From Nairobi it’s about four hours by road via Nyeri or Naro Moru. Nanyuki is roughly 30 minutes from the main gate, and scheduled flights connect Nairobi’s Wilson Airport with airstrips at Nanyuki and on the conservancy. It’s a natural first stop on a northern loop with Samburu, and it also works before or after the Maasai Mara.

Fees and accommodation

Ol Pejeta charges conservancy fees per person per day, and the amount changes by season and by visitor category. Accommodation ranges from public campsites and simple lodges to comfortable tented camps and private cottages. Ask whether your package includes conservancy fees, night drives and the sanctuary visit.