Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya
Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya offer visitors an opportunity to tour Kenya and experience an exquisite safari, away from conventional safari destinations like the Masai Mara, Tsavo and Amboseli national parks. Unknown to many people, the Conservancy has a high wildlife to area ratio of any park in or reserve in Kenya. A sighting of lions, elephants, the buffalos, leopards and rhinoceros is certain.
This 90,000-acre private wildlife conservancy is situated on the equator, in Laikipia between the foot hills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kenya. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a very good example of how conservation and eco-tourism can be implemented sustainably. The underlying principle at the Conservancy is that tourism can help in poverty alleviation among local communities near game reserves. The conservancy supports the construction of schools, bursary funds, health care facilities and access road maintenance.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to the endangered black and white rhinos. After a successful black rhino translocation from Solio Rhino Sanctuary to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in February 2007, Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino Sanctuary in East Africa with 78 animals, and known to have many of the most conducive conditions for the conservation of these two endangered species.
Other endangered species at the conservancy are Chimpanzees, Grevy’s zebra, spotted hyenas, Jackson’s Hartebeest and Cheetahs. Grevy’s zebras are the largest, wildest and most untamable of the three zebra species in Africa. In Kenya they are found in the Northern Kenya specifically Samburu, Buffalo and Shaba National Reserves.
Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established in 1993 to receive and provide lifelong refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees from West and Central Africa
From an initial number of three chimpanzees in 1993, their population is now as about 43. This is the only place in Kenya where you can find these endangered, intelligent animals.
You will be able to see the largest single herd of pure Boran cattle in the world, Ol Pejeta having been established as cattle ranch before ecotourism was in introduced. Other activities to engage in include bird watching and camel riding. Mountain climbing at Mt. Kenya can be arranged because the conservancy is near the mountain.
The conservancy hosts and annual Cricket in the wild tournament to raise funds in support of various community empowerment programmes in the area.
Tourists can visit a number of parks and reserves in the vicinity of Nanyuki, the most obvious one being Mount Kenya National Park. Others are Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Samburu National Reserve and Shaba National Reserve.
The Conservancy gives five options for those who need accommodation; Sweetwaters Tented Camp, Ol Pejeta House, Ol Pejeta bush camp, Porini rhino camp and Kicheche camp. Sweetwaters Tented Camp, – managed by Serena Hotels was in 2007 voted 35th Best Hotel in the World by readers of Travel & Leisure Magazine. The camp has 39 luxuriously appointed tents (13 doubles, 26 twins). Each tent has a thatched roof, an en suite bathroom and its own verandah with views over the waterhole. The camp has a Restaurant, Lounge and Gift shop. You can also relax in the swimming pool.
Ol Pejeta Ranch House has 2 superior guest rooms with queen size beds, ensuite bathroom, dressing room and large balcony with excellent view of game teeming plains; 2 standard guest rooms with double bed, ensuite with bathroom and terrace; Buffalo Cottage with 2 Deluxe Rooms and a Fireplace.
The nearest town to the Conservancy is Nanyuki town, 17 km away while Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is 190 km away. There are 45-minutes direct flights from Nairobi to Nanyuki airstrip, and a further 45 minutes drive the Conservancy. Alternatively guest can take a charter flight direct to one of the two airstrips in Ol Pejeta.
For all your questions on Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, contact us through Kenya Safari travel form.
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