Ol Pejeta Conservancy

See the Big Five including black rhino and the last three northern white rhino, and rescued and orphaned chimps at Sweetwaters.

In the foothills of Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta was established by a consortium of philanthropic investors in 2004, and today this not-for-profit conservancy is famous for its pioneering and sophisticated conservation efforts. It was certainly super-impressive to see their methods of high-level security, from armies of rangers in the bush to a central control tower operating drones and helicopters – no wonder Ol Pejeta is home to the largest black rhino population in East Africa. Its home to the other Big Five too, and cheetah, African wild dog and plenty of plains species, and the expertly-guided game drives were very rewarding. It was also fun to walk around Sweetwaters and watch the characterful chimpanzees relaxing in their hammocks in their spacious private forest and learn their stories from the guides. I also noted large herds of cows, and like elsewhere in the Laikipia region, Ol Pejeta makes an income from cattle farming. Some safari-goers think this distracts from its ‘wildness’, but by using the land productively and profitably, it secures the protection of wildlife populations too. Ol Pejeta is the only Laikipia conservancy open for day visitors and also has great places to stay – from campsites and simple self-catering cottages to 5-star tented camps and lodges – and plenty of activities and variety of animals complete a fully-rounded safari experience.