DESTINATION GUIDE // KENYA
Ol Pejeta Conservancy Safari: Rhino and Big Five Guide
Open Laikipia plains below Mount Kenya, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa and the last two northern white rhinos on earth.
360 km²
CONSERVANCY AREA
Big Five
ALL PRESENT
2
NORTHERN WHITE RHINOS
All year
GOOD VIEWING
3.5 hrs
FROM NAIROBI
Quick answer: Ol Pejeta Conservancy covers about 360 square kilometres of the Laikipia plateau in central Kenya, roughly 200 km north of Nairobi near Nanyuki. It is 3.5 to 4 hours by road or 45 minutes by air. It holds the Big Five, the largest black rhino population in East Africa, the last two northern white rhinos and Kenya’s only chimpanzee sanctuary.
OVERVIEW AND LOCATION
Ol Pejeta Conservancy At A Glance
Ol Pejeta is a not-for-profit wildlife conservancy on the Laikipia plateau, between the Aberdare range and Mount Kenya. The equator runs across it, the land sits at around 1,800 metres, and the mix of open grassland, whistling-thorn scrub and riverine woodland along the Ewaso Nyiro supports one of the highest wildlife densities in Kenya outside the Mara.
Why it matters. Ol Pejeta is best known for rhino. It protects the largest black rhino population in East Africa, a herd of southern white rhino, and Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos alive, guarded around the clock. It also runs Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a refuge for rescued chimpanzees and the only place in Kenya where you can see them.
How it works. Because it is a conservancy rather than a national park, it allows activities the parks do not, including night drives, lion tracking and walks with rangers. Park fees fund the anti-poaching teams and the neighbouring communities.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Laikipia County, near Nanyuki, central Kenya |
| Size | About 360 km² (90,000 acres) |
| Altitude | Around 1,800 metres, so mild days and cool nights |
| Managed by | Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a not-for-profit trust |
| Known for | Black rhino, northern white rhino, chimpanzees, Big Five |
GETTING THERE
How To Get To Ol Pejeta
Step one: fly into Nairobi. International arrivals land at Jomo Kenyatta International. Light aircraft to Nanyuki leave from Wilson Airport.
Step two: Nairobi to Ol Pejeta.
| Option | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| By road | 3.5 to 4 hours | About 200 km on tarmac via Thika, Karatina and Nanyuki, with Mount Kenya in view for the last hour |
| By air | 45 minutes | Scheduled flights from Wilson to Nanyuki, then about 30 minutes by road to the conservancy |
| From Samburu | 2 hours by road | The classic pairing. Ol Pejeta sits on the road back south |
| From Lake Nakuru | 4 to 4.5 hours | Via Nyahururu and Thomson’s Falls, a scenic highland drive |
| From Mount Kenya | 30 to 60 minutes | The Nanyuki side lodges are next door |
Worth knowing. Nanyuki is a proper town with banks, shops and a hospital, which makes Ol Pejeta one of the easiest conservancies in Kenya to reach and the most practical for families.
ENTRY FEES
Ol Pejeta Conservancy Fees
Ol Pejeta is a private conservancy, so fees are set by the conservancy rather than Kenya Wildlife Service. They pay for the rangers, the rhino protection unit and community projects around the conservancy.
| Category | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident adult | USD 110 | Per 24 hours (2026 rate) |
| Non-resident child | USD 55 | Per 24 hours; under 3s free |
| Vehicle | Charged by seats | Paid in Kenya shillings, per day |
| Activities | About USD 20 to 70 | Conservation talks, lion tracking, night drives and the northern white rhino visit are priced separately |
Paying. Entry is cashless and booked in advance. We buy the permits and activity slots for you so nothing is paid at the gate.
We confirm the current amount in writing with every quote.
SAFARI COSTS
What An Ol Pejeta Safari Costs
Ol Pejeta costs more per day than a national park because the conservancy fee is higher, but you get more for it: fewer vehicles, night drives and activities you cannot do elsewhere.
| Style | Per person per day | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | USD 180 to 250 | Simple camps or cottages, shared vehicle, fees included |
| Mid range | USD 280 to 420 | Tented camp inside the conservancy, private 4×4, full board |
| Luxury | USD 500 to 900 | Small exclusive camps, activities and night drives included |
| Fly-in | USD 650 and above | Flights to Nanyuki, no long road transfers |
What moves the price most. Where you sleep and which activities you add. A night drive and the northern white rhino visit are worth budgeting for; they are the reason to come here rather than a national park.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go To Ol Pejeta
Ol Pejeta sits on the equator at altitude, so it is mild all year and never as hot as Samburu. Wildlife is resident, not migratory, which means game viewing is good in every month.
| Season | Months | What to expect | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | Jun to Oct | Dry, clear and cool at night. Animals gather at the rivers and dams | Medium |
| Dry / High | Dec to Feb | Warm, dry days and superb Mount Kenya views | Medium |
| Shoulder | Nov | Short rains, mostly afternoon showers. Green and quiet | Low |
| Green | Mar to May | Long rains, muddy tracks at times. Lowest rates | Low |
For rhino any month works; the rhino protection unit knows where individuals are. For photography, June to February gives the clearest Mount Kenya backdrops.
WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES
What You Will See and Do at Ol Pejeta
Ol Pejeta combines a Big Five safari with some of the most important conservation work in Africa, and it is one of the few places where you can meet the people doing it.
Rhino.
- Northern white rhino: Najin and Fatu, the last two of their kind, in a protected enclosure you can visit with their keepers
- Black rhino: the largest population in East Africa, seen on normal game drives
- Southern white rhino: grazing in the open grassland, often close to the road
Other wildlife. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and buffalo, plus Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest and wild dog passing through from the wider Laikipia ecosystem.
Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. A refuge for chimpanzees rescued from the bushmeat and pet trades. Viewing is from a walkway along the river, and it is the only place in Kenya to see them.
Conservancy activities. Lion tracking with the research team, night game drives, guided walks with armed rangers, a visit to the anti-poaching dog unit and a photo at the equator marker.
Community projects. Visits to the farms and schools the conservancy supports can be arranged, so the money you spend stays local.
WHERE TO STAY
Lodges and Camps at Ol Pejeta
Ol Pejeta has a small number of camps across a large area, so it never feels busy. The choice is mainly between a lively tented camp and a small, exclusive one.
Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Tented camp beside a floodlit waterhole, a short drive from the chimpanzee sanctuary. The easy, family-friendly choice.
Porini Rhino Camp
A small eco camp in a quiet corner of the conservancy, with walking and night drives included in the rate.
Kicheche Laikipia
An intimate camp overlooking a waterhole, known for strong guiding and photography.
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
A classic tented camp on the Ewaso Nyiro river, with elephants and buffalo often in view.
Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages
Conservancy-run cottages, good for families and longer stays at a lower price.
Nanyuki Town
Hotels and guest houses 20 to 30 minutes from the gate. The budget option, with day visits into the conservancy.
SAFARI PACKAGES
Safaris That Include Ol Pejeta
Ol Pejeta pairs naturally with Samburu to the north and the Rift Valley lakes to the west. All departures are private.
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS
4 Days Samburu and Ol Pejeta Safari
Northern specials in Samburu, then rhino tracking on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
From $750 per person
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
5 Days Aberdare, Ol Pejeta and Samburu Safari
Aberdare's forest waterhole, Ol Pejeta's rhino and the rare species of Samburu.
From $1,100 per person
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
8 Days Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Nakuru, Naivasha and Masai Mara Safari
Samburu and Ol Pejeta in the north, then Nakuru, Naivasha and the Masai Mara.
From $1,640 per person
KEY QUESTIONS
Ol Pejeta Safari, Key Questions
Two nights is ideal. That gives you three or four game drives plus time for the chimpanzee sanctuary and one conservancy activity such as lion tracking or a night drive. One night works if you are passing through on the way to Samburu.
Yes. Najin and Fatu live in a protected enclosure and visits are arranged with their keepers for a separate fee. Numbers are limited, so tell us when you book and we will reserve a slot.
Only at Ol Pejeta. Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary cares for chimpanzees rescued from other countries; they are not native to Kenya, which is why this is the one place to see them.
It is different. The Mara has the migration and bigger cat numbers. Ol Pejeta has rhino, activities the Mara reserve does not allow, a milder climate and far fewer vehicles. Many guests do both.
Budget from about USD 180 to 250 per person per day, mid range USD 280 to 420 and luxury camps from USD 500. The conservancy fee is USD 110 per adult per day in 2026. Our four day Samburu and Ol Pejeta trip starts at USD 790.
Very. It is close to Nairobi on good roads, malaria risk is low at this altitude, Nanyuki town with its hospital is nearby, and the chimpanzees and rhino make it memorable for children.
EXPLORE MORE
Pair Ol Pejeta With Other Destinations
Ol Pejeta sits in the middle of Kenya’s northern circuit, so it links easily with the parks around Mount Kenya and the dry north.
Your Ol Pejeta Safari Starts Here
Tell us your dates and whether you want to add lion tracking, a night drive or the northern white rhino visit. We reply within 24 hours with a route and a clear price.
TAILOR MADE SAFARI
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Phone: +254 736 992 608
Email: info@solasafaritravels.com
