The hardest part about planning a trip to Kenya, Africa, is narrowing down the places to visit. Kenya is a diverse tourist destination, with beautiful white-sand beaches in the south and bush destinations scattered across the country.
Many people who are looking for a safari experience rush to book their stay in one of the hotels in the Mara. While Mara’s destinations are great, we’re here to present you with another equally enjoyable and exciting experience at possibly a lower cost.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is often overlooked despite boasting of numerous activities that are unique to it. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from your trip to the Conservancy.
What to do in Ol Pejeta
Visit Northern White Rhinos
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is located at the equator with scenic views of Kenya’s highest mountain – Mt. Kenya in the distance. It’s currently the largest black rhino conservancy in East Africa, with a whopping 165 black rhinos living within its borders.
While this is a great achievement, what makes it even more special are Fatu and Najin – the last female Northern White Rhinos in the world. Unfortunately, Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, passed on in 2023.
Although the Conservancy is strict about the safety and health of these two rhinos, you’ll still have sufficient interaction with them. You’ll even get an opportunity to get close enough to touch and feed them from the comfort of the vehicle. The guides assigned to you will give you a detailed back story of the two rhinos – how they were brought to the Conservancy and the scientific efforts Ol Pejeta is making to save the species.
If you’d like a more thrilling and unique experience, you can opt for a ‘Ride with the Rhinos.’ In this activity, you’ll ride a horse in the enclosure, where you’ll interact with the two northern rhinos and other rhino species.
Regardless of how you choose to interact with them, you’ll have a magical and emotional experience at the Conservancy.
Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Another must-have experience at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy is engaging Chimpanzees at the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Although the Chimps aren’t native to Kenya, Sweetwaters provides rehabilitation and refuge to Chimps saved from the black market.
The Sanctuary is home to 35 chimpanzees, and during your one-hour visit, you’ll get to interact with them during their feeding time and learn their individual stories.
Go Lion Tracking
Ol Pejeta Conservancy has fitted several lions with tracking collars, which help the rangers to determine the pride’s location and keep them safe from poachers. The lions are free to wander within the 360 km2 range. You can accompany the rangers when they’re out finding the lions between 6:30 and 8:30 and again between 15:30 and 17:30.
Guided Bush Walks
Touring the Conservancy in a safari truck is different from taking a walk. While walking, the rangers will point out some bush subtleties, including birds, animal tracks, droppings, and plants – things you may miss while in the car.
Visit the Equator
On your way out or into the Conservancy, you can make a stop at the equator sign for photos. You’ll also perform a small, exciting experiment with water spinning either clockwise or anticlockwise.
The Best time to visit Ol Pejeta
Although climate change is making it a little difficult to predict the weather by season, the period between January and February and June to September are the best times to visit Ol Pejeta. But if you don’t mind a little rain, you can visit in October. The beauty of visiting in this season is that the prices are usually a little lower.
Speaking of affordability, the cheapest time to visit is April and May, when many luxury camps have lowered their rates. But be sure to book a 4X4 truck if you plan your safari.
Where to stay in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy
There are several accommodations to choose from. Some are managed by the park, while some are privately owned.
- Camping – there are five camps, including Ol Lerai, Ewaso, Murera Ndonga, Hippo Hide, and Mbogo.
- The stables
- The Pelican House
- Rift Valley Adventures
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
- Porini Rhino Camp
- Kicheche Laikipia Camp
- Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
- Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages
Booking a trip to Ol Pejeta
While you can plan a trip yourself, we should mention it can become complex and confusing. For a smooth booking experience, we suggest working with a local safari company in Kenya. For this, Capture Kenya will take care of your needs.
We’ll plan your itinerary for days and include a trip to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. We’ll take care of the flights and accommodation and make suggestions of the best places to tour based on the experience you need.
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