Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a former cattle ranch turned wildlife sanctuary that benefits the local people, offers an unforgettable safari experience.

You can see the Big Five, multiple endangered species, up to 300 birds, and one of Kenya’s highest populations of predators.

On top of that, the world-class accommodation and controlled visitor numbers ensure a luxurious, immersive, and crowd-free experience.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, an expansive grassland plain, is situated on the foothills of the Aberdare Mountain range and the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya, creating one of the most beautiful backdrops in Kenya.

It’s a great example of Kenyans creating a future for wildlife and humans to coexist harmoniously.

Ol Pejeta is a not-for-profit conservancy that uses the profits from tourism and the world’s largest herd of Boran cattle to fund conservation and community development projects encompassing education, healthcare, and infrastructure. However, this beacon of hope did not start this way.

The history of Ol Pejeta Conservancy

In the 1940s, a cattle farm was established at Ol Pejeta. During the 1960s, regional poaching caused elephant and rhino populations to decline, and by the 1980s, their numbers plummeted drastically.

In 1988, Lonrho Africa, one of Ol Pejeta’s previous owners, foresaw the demise of Kenya’s rhinos. As a result, they turned 24,000 acres of the ranch into a Black Rhino sanctuary named the Sweetwaters Game Reserve, which initially protected four Black Rhinos.

Over time, diminishing habitats outside the ranch forced elephant herds to enter the farm, leaving damaged fences in their wake and making cattle farming increasingly challenging.

However, the owners didn’t just sit back and watch the situation worsen. Instead, they turned a challenge into an opportunity by making the entire ranch a conservancy in 2004.

Which animals can you see at Ol Pejeta Conservancy today?

Today, Ol Pejeta protects some very rare species: more than 100 Black Rhinos, the last two female Northern White rhinos, a blind male Black Rhino named Baraka, endangered Grevy’s Zebras, Jackson’s Hartebeests, two packs of Wild Dogs, and even chimpanzees.

Chimpanzees are not from Kenya. In 1993, the civil war in Burundi caused the closure of a chimpanzee rescue centre, leaving the chimpanzees’ future uncertain.

Fortunately, the Jane Goodall Institute, Kenyan Wildlife Service, and Ol Pejeta Conservancy collaborated to relocate them to Ol Pejeta. Consequently, the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established.

Over the years, additional rescued chimpanzees have brought the total number of abused and orphaned chimpanzees from West and Central Africa in the sanctuary to 36.

Activities and things to do at Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Visiting Ol Pejeta Conservancy is an enriching experience. You get to see a broad range of wildlife in beautiful landscapes.

However, you can also actively participate in various unique experiences to learn about their conservation and community work. And for anyone hoping to burn off some energy, you can indulge in special activities.

The full array of experiences is listed below.

However, highlights include:

• accompanying the lion tracking team,
• meeting the anti-poaching K9 dog unit,
• visiting the chimpanzee sanctuary,
• meeting the Northern Rhinos,
• and spending time with Baraka, the blind Black rhino.

There’s also an exciting option to ‘Run the Wild,’ where up to six people can run through the conservancy while accompanied by rangers.

Whether you choose to game-watch or visit their projects, a visit to the conservancy promises to be an inspiring experience that instills hope for a brighter future for Kenya’s wildlife and its people.