Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya, Africa

Basic Facts - Ol Pejeta Conservancy

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 360 km2 non-profit wildlife conservancy in Central Kenya's Laikipia County. Situated on the equator near Nanyuki, between the foothills of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary for great apes and to generate income through wildlife tourism and complementary enterprises for re-investment in conservation and community development. The Conservancy boasts the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and in 2013 reached a population milestone of 100 black rhino. It also houses the two remaining northern white rhino in the world, who were moved here from Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is situated within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and provides a haven for orphaned, abandoned and rescued chimpanzees. It is the only place in Kenya where these great apes can be seen. The Conservancy is host to the "Big five game" among a large selection of other African animals, which makes it a popular safari destination.

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More About Ol Pejeta Conservancy

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy boasts the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and in 2013 reached a population milestone of 100 black rhino. It also houses the two remaining northern white rhino in the world, who were moved here from Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is situated within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and provides a haven for orphaned, abandoned and rescued chimpanzees. It is the only place in Kenya where these great apes can be seen. The Conservancy is host to the "Big five game" among a large selection of other African animals, which makes it a popular safari destination. It also operates a successful livestock program, which serves to benefit local pastoralists and wildlife. Through the conservancy's community development programme, Ol Pejeta provides funding to surrounding communities to aid health, education, water and infrastructure projects. They also support the provision of agriculture and livestock extension services and the development of community-based conservation tourism ventures. .

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is situated between the foothills of Mount Kenya and Aberdares and remains Kenya’s best kept conservation havens. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is one of the only wildlife protection areas that’s home to very high numbers of endangered species. Aside from the big 5, more than a thousand different mammals and bird species roam the wild. A safari into the Ol Pejeta Conservancy will let you enjoy the company of rescued chimpanzees as you learn about the stories of torture they went through in captivity in West and Central Africa. This is actually the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees and you can have a chance to adopt one of them! On a game drive, you can visit the largest black rhino sanctuary and learn about the conservation efforts that are conducted to protect these endangered species. After the single largest translocation process, with the Kenya Wildlife Services and neighboring Lewa Conservancy, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to 88 black rhinos. You could also make a donation to help more conservation activities for these endangered species. Aside from black rhinos, Ol Pejeta Conservancy is also home to a founder population of 11 southern white rhinos and 4 northern white rhinos in a separate sanctuary.

The oldest lodgings in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Sweetwaters Serena Camp is a large tented camp in the eastern sector of the conservancy, catering predominantly to a mid-range, drive-in group safari market. Part of the international Serena Hotels group whose largest shareholder is the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, the camp has full hotel facilities. Sweetwaters' waterhole is protected by a discreet electric fence and ditch from the camp, effectively bringing the wilds of the conservancy into the heart of the camp, with the tents spread around it in a rough semi-circle. The waterhole attracts plenty of wildlife, including impala, waterbuck, plains zebra and some of the wildlife for which Ol Pejeta is famous – rare Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and occasionally white rhino. While you don't have any elevation from which to watch down on the waterhole, the wildlife that is attracted to it is often quite close to visitors, and the fence means you can approach on foot. At night, floodlights pick out nocturnal creatures, and also attract vast clouds of insects, including some spectacular moths and beetles (fortunately, mosquito controls in this area have largely removed that menace). It's worth bearing in mind that, while the waterhole and wildlife numbers are a big plus, the proximity of Nanyuki town on this eastern side of the conservancy means you can never quite escape the sense of being near an urban area: at night the town lights, and those of the vegetable polytunnel farms on the lower slopes of the mountain, are hard to miss.

Tucked within the expansive Ol Pejeta Conservancy, host to all of the ‘Big Five' (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard), Ol Pejeta House safari lodge is a hidden gem amidst the unspoilt majesty of the Kenyan wilderness. Here, contemporary comfort combines effortlessly with the bygone traditions of Kenya’s farmhouse hospitality, creating an atmosphere that is as enriching as it is relaxing. The lodge was originally built as the private ranch house of businessman Adnan Khashoggi, and includes two deluxe rooms, two extravagant suites, a grand drawing room, several picturesque verandas and a dining room. The hotel is also a short distance from Sweetwaters Serena Camp and its many onsite facilities. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is at the forefront of the Kenyan conservancy programme, and is one of only four private game conservancies founded in the country. The conservancy is dedicated to nurturing and supporting both the natural environment and the local communities that surround it. Guests at our hotel can discover the unparalleled grandeur of the area with guided game drives or meals in the bush; begin your morning with a full English breakfast as you watch the hippos bathe in the nearby river, or treat yourself to a safari supper, accompanied by traditional Samburu/Maasai dance. Family-friendly activities include guided nature walks, visits to the Ol Pejeta Educational Centre and relaxing afternoons by one of the hotel’s two private swimming pools.

In 2003 Ol Pejeta was purchased by Fauna and Flora International, together with a generous benefactor. The day to day operations are undertaken by Ol Pejeta Ranching Ltd, a commercial business that utilises agriculture and tourism to create surpluses wholly for reinvestment in conservation and community development. Ol Pejeta Ranching Ltd. is 100% owned by Ol Pejeta Conservancy Ltd, which in turn is a 'Not-for-profit' as enshrined in its memorandum and articles of association. The company is governed by a voluntary board who draw no remuneration. 100% of funds generated must be used for Ol Pejeta conservation and community development - there is no other person or institution that benefits from any surpluses made. The ownership of the land is also safeguarded within this.

AfriChoice operates a wide range of carefully designed tours and safaris to Ol Pejeta Conservancy by providing transport and booking a hotel for you. Our safari consultants will always be at your assistance should you need a tailor-made holiday to this unique destination. NB: For more information regarding Ol Pejeta Conservancy, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.