Ol Pejeta Conservancy

A Must On Any Kenya Safari Itinerary

We stayed at Serena Sweetwaters Tented Camp in Ol Pejeta for two nights during an eight night safari to Kenya. We travelled from The Ark Lodge, Aberdare National Park, to Ol Pejeta and, as with every transfer, had a rough ride on the very poor access roads and tracks close to the conservancies. The camp itself was idyllic, standing by its own watering hole. It offered outstanding service, accommodation and access to wildlife.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is vast with open plains and many access tracks, and areas of bush offering perfect cover for the bigger predators and the more timid animals. Except for birds, wildlife was plentiful. We saw numerous Black rhino, White rhino, lion, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, ostrich, warthog, zebra and baboons. Surprisingly, although in peak season, we rarely encountered other vehicles on our game drives which added to the magic when encountering the various species.
We had seen TV programmes and researched Ol Pejeta beforehand, so were very keen to include it on our itinerary. It certainly did not disappoint, and was arguably the highlight of our safari, largely due to the excellent accommodation and lack of crowds when on game drives. Highly recommended.

An amazing safari, a great conservancy programme, a kind staff.

I was in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in Kenya. They have a programme to provide a refuge for chimpanzees rescued from the black market. You will find there a kind staff who will share with you their expert knowledge about the different species. On the other hand, visiting this animal sanctuary you will help them to protect two endangered species: white and black rhino. There are a lot of activities to do and our guided tour was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend it to everybody concerned about the future of the wildlife.

game is superb

If you are lucky you may see some wilddog here.

Amazing abundance of animals, including both black and white rhinos, to see in Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Kenya had had quite a bit of unseasonal rain when I visited Kenya so I was lucky enough to experience Ol Pejeta without a lot of dust flying around. The area was quite green and lush with stunning views of Mt Kenya. Great open vistas with the mountain as a backdrop. I expected/hoped to see a few rhinos but did not imagine to see the vast numbers of both black and white rhinos that we did see. Of course I would love to see that there are far more in numbers surviving... We saw rhinos bathing in mud, plenty of babies. Lots and lots of zebra put on a show and didn't run from the vehicle. A fantastic pride of lions with various aged Cubs, giraffes, Impala, jackals, warthog, etc... I stayed at Rhino Watch and cannot recommend it highly enough - beautiful gardens, views, accommodation, food and people! I travelled with a group of fellow photographers with Chris Bray Safaris. Their knowledge and experience amazed me. I could not have asked for anything more from our brilliant driver guides, Musa and John. Visiting Kenya has been a highlight of my life and I will definitely be going back.

I've never seen so much wildlife in one place. If you're looking for a quick Safari destination, this might be your best bet. And while at it, visit the only place with chimpanzees in Kenya and the rhino sanctuary. You might want to extend your stay like I did.

A fantastic place for a safari in a place where conservation is at the forefront of their work.

A brilliant safari with lots of wildlife present. We were able to see lions, elephants, rhinos and lots of hyenas, as well as numerous different bird species. The option to do a night drive was an added bonus, giving an insight in the animals behaviour after dark. All of this takes place with stunning scenery and fantastic conservation work undertaken by the conservancy. The visit involved learning about how they are engaging the local community into their plans, and it was good to see this in action as you drive through the park. The staff are very knowledgeable and happy to talk about their work too.

Home of The Last

My stay at Ol Pejeta was short but filled with a lot of mixed emotions. The Conservancy itself is excellent. It's a dream for East African wildlife. Despite the short stay, I saw nearly as much quantity and variety of wildlife as I did visiting other destinations in Kenya. While the landscape is not quite as dramatic as other corners of Kenya, it's quintessentially East African and will still delight. Photographic opportunities still abound.

The highlight of Ol Pejeta has to be the ability to visit the only three remaining Northern White Rhinos left in the world. The world. And therein lies the mixed emotions. It was a true privilege to be next to Sudan -- the only remaining male -- and to touch him. Likewise, it was wonderful to see the remaining females in a natural environment. But it's also incredibly sad to see these beautiful animals and to know that they're at the doorstep of extinction because of human activities like poaching and habitat loss. Natural breeding is not an option because of Sudan's age. IVF programs are being investigated, but there still isn't a lot of hope for this species.

Thankfully, Ol Pejeta provides hope for other rhino species. In addition to Sudan, our group was also able to meet baby Southern White Rhino, Ringo. The care and commitment that the rangers and staff of Ol Pejeta is strong. You need only meet these wonderful individuals to see that this is a part of their very being. I left knowing that Sudan and Ringo were in very capable hands.

For those contemplating a trip to Ol Pejeta, I can't recommend it highly enough. It's simply something that you should do if you have the opportunity and the means. Be prepared for some complex emotions during your trip but enjoy the stay in a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere that still offers hope for the magnificent animals East Africa has to offer.

Rhino Sanctuary

Ol Pejeta Conservancy offers a unique experience. It holds the largest protected area for the nearly extinct White and Black Rhinos. It is also possible to spot the Big 5 and visit and feed the resident blind Rhino and the Chimpanzees. I have visited Ol Pejeta 6 times already and would recommend it for those looking to see the exciting wild animals of Kenya without the hoard of tourist cars as you would find in other parks.
It is a very accessible park and tourists can stay in a wonderful lodge within the park that offers delicious food, entertainment and an authentic Kenyan experience.

There was so much wildlife and it was all just there.