Ol Pejetta Conservancy

This extraordinary reserve is located about 50 minutes away from the Rhino Watch Safari Lodge. Ol Pejeta is East Africa’s Largest Black Rhino Sanctuary, home to 87 black rhinos after the single largest rhino translocation ever. As one of the world’s most endangered species, the care, and protection of the black rhino are one of the largest operations of the Ol Pejeta conservancy.

In addition to the black rhinos, the reserve accommodates 11 Southern white rhinos and 4 of the world’s last remaining 7 Northern white rhinos. These animals were relocated from a zoo in the Czech Republic to the conservancy aimed at providing the rhinos with the most favorable breeding conditions in an attempt to pull the species back from the verge of extinction. Besides the endangered rhinos, the reserve is also home to a number of other endangered species including the locally threatened Jackson’s hartebeest and Grevy’s zebra.

Dependent upon seasonal migration patterns Ol Pejeta estimates a total of 300 elephants on the Conservancy at any one time. The Conservancy incorporates corridors within its northern boundary fence to ensure wildlife connectivity to the greater Laikipia/Samburu ecosystem. These corridors allow free movement of all species on the Conservancy – except for rhinos – and are used heavily by elephants.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy holds some of the highest predator densities in Kenya with approximately 67 lions, 30 cheetahs, 20 leopards, and 60 spotted hyenae. Since mid-2011 there have also been frequent sightings of a pack of 5 wild dogs.

Moreover, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy houses a Chimpanzee Sanctuary and it is the only place in Kenya where this highly endangered and remarkably intelligent species can be seen. The facility was initially established to receive and provide lifelong refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees from West and Central Africa. Over the last decade, however, the sanctuary has been compelled to keep accepting chimpanzees rescued from various traumatic situations.

In the Ol Pejeta reserve, you have a good chance to encounter the ‘Big Five’ all in one day. With such a high wildlife density, a game safari to the Conservancy is a great completion of the Rhino Watch safari program. Currently, Ol Pejetta is one of the best places in Kenya to observe the rare wild dogs.