Located in Laikipia County, central Kenya, Ol Pejeta Conservancy is one of Africa’s most respected private wildlife sanctuaries. It is situated on the equator west of Nanyuki, between the foothills of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya. Ol Pejeta is a protected land in the Laikipia district in central Kenya.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 360 km2 (140 sq mi) not-for-profit wildlife conservancy. The Conservancy boasts the largest black rhinoceros sanctuary in East Africa; in 2013, it reached a population milestone of one hundred eastern black rhinos. Famous for housing the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, it is also home to Kenya’s only chimpanzee sanctuary, the Big Five, and an array of other wildlife.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is owned by the Ol Pejeta Conservancy Trust, which holds the land in perpetuity for conservation purposes. The organization is governed by a board of trustees and operates as a registered charity (also in the UK: Charity No.
Ol Pejeta is a powerful example of how land ownership, when aligned with purpose and vision, can drive sustainable change.
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From Ranching to Wildlife Conservation
Ol Pejeta started its life as a cattle ranch. Ol Pejeta’s ranching life started in the early 1940’s with Lord Delamere, well-known as one of the first and most influential British settlers in Kenya. Bought in the 1940s by the prominent British settler Lord Delamere, it thrived for many years as a successful beef ranch under a number of owners, including for a time the infamous arms-dealer Adnan Khashoggi. The building is designed in the style of a local ranch house with a tiled roof; a style in vogue during Kenya’s colonial era.
During the colonial era, the Laikipia region was an extensive ranching area where wildlife had little to no value to land owners. Low rainfall meant crops couldn’t thrive here but cattle could, and so the landscape was speckled with ranches packed with cows. In 1949 Ol Pejeta, then owned by the colourful Lord Delemere, was under the management of John and Jane Kenyon who spent the best part of fifteen years pouring their life and soul into it’s development and expansion.
When the Kenyons first took on Ol Pejeta, they were joined by Delemere's school friend and business partner Marcus Wickham Boynton. Together they organized the then 230 km2 (57,000-acre) ranch into a successful beef-producing company. Over the next few years, they expanded the farm to cover an estimated 360 km2 (90,000 acres).
Following John and Jane’s departure the ranch changed hands a few times, falling under the ownership of a slew of colourful characters including Marcus Wickham Boynton, who was notorious for occasionally shooting cattle “he didn’t like the look of,” as well as the infamous international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.
While being regaled with some astounding stories (mostly gossip I suspect) about the lifestyle of Kashoggi, the visit to this private getaway was an interesting experience. With an imposing view of Africa’s second highest peak - Mount Kenya, the grand house has four bedrooms, all en-suite with walk-in dressing rooms, two lounges, dining room, living room, two private swimming pools - one for the visitors and the other for the owners - and large balconies providing fabulous views of Mt.
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Khashoggi’s exploits elevated the region’s stature as a pristine wildlife-rich hinterland to a rich man’s indulgent party place. Lavish parties for visiting heads of state, royal family members and billionaires were hosted here. Everything in the house was built to showcase lavish taste - huge bedrooms, rich dining areas and particularly the huge bathtub that can accommodate 2-3 people!
Over time cattle ranching became less and less profitable though. To make matters worse for the ranchers, increasingly, elephant populations that previously used the ranch as a transit area from the Northern expanses of the country to Mount Kenya and the Aberdares were forced to take up permanent residence on the property as fences started to go up all around country blocking off wildlife migratory routes.
As a result, the ranch’s cattle fences were often destroyed and maintaining the fences became unsustainably expensive and time consuming. Consequently, they gave in to the elephants; in the face of declining wildlife populations elsewhere and the increasing popularity of tourism in Kenya, talk of repurposing the ranch for wildlife conservation and tourism purposes began.
As wildlife populations and in particular elephants and rhinos faced drastic decline, the then owner Lonrho Africa recognised the urgency, and in 1988 established Sweetwaters Game Reserve adjacent to the ranch.
In 1988, a portion of the ranch; the Sweetwaters game reserve (24,000 acres) was opened by another of Ol Pejeta’s previous owners, Lonrho Africa. Primarily, Sweetwaters started as a sanctuary for the endangered black rhino, but animals of all shapes and sizes benefited from the new focus and wildlife populations (including the “Big Five”) have been steadily increasing since that time.
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In 1992, the famous Sweetwaters Chimpanzee sanctuary was built for chimpanzees rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is incorporated within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and is the only place in Kenya where chimpanzees can be seen. The Sanctuary opened in 1993 in a negotiated agreement between the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Jane Goodall Institute. The facility was initially established to receive and provide lifelong refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees from west and central Africa.
At the Sweetwaters Sanctuary, chimpanzees are nursed back to health and enjoy the rest of their days in the safety of a vast natural enclosure. The chimpanzees live in two large groups separated by the Ewaso Nyiro River.
In 2004 the ranch was purchased by Flora and Fauna International, a UK based conservation organization and the conservation area extended to encompass the entire ranch. The land purchase was wholly funded by a $15 million donation from the Arcus Foundation, which worked in tandem with FFI and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to secure the 360 km2 (90,000 acres) of open savannah grassland and convert it to a national land trust.
“The Ol Pejeta Conservancy,” approximately 90,000 acres in extent was born. It is the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, with the aim of generating profit from wildlife tourism and complementary activities (including cattle ranching which still happens on the conservancy) for reinvestment into community development in the local area.
Ol Pejeta now holds the largest single population of eastern black rhino in Kenya, and is working with partners to save the northern white rhinos from extinction. We have developed expertise in wildlife and habitat management and security, conservation technology, and scaled our investment in community development.
Ol Pejeta has demonstrated its resilience, weathered COVID and shown that despite the challenges of population growth and climate change, wildlife and people can thrive. This incredible 90,000 acres of prime wildlife habitat and ranching land is now held for the foreseeable future in trust for the Kenyan people.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy recently marked its 20th anniversary with a grand celebration attended by esteemed guests, staff, management, and board members, including His Excellency Dr. William Ruto, President of Kenya. As we commemorate two decades of remarkable achievements in conservation and community development, we reflect on our journey and look forward to an even brighter future.
A Vision Realized
Twenty years ago, Ol Pejeta Conservancy embarked on a journey fueled by a shared vision: a future where sustainable management of natural resources supports thriving biodiversity and meets the needs of local communities. This bold vision encompasses protecting the environment, enhancing sustainable livelihoods, and leaving a legacy of stewardship for future generations.
Ol Pejeta has successfully established a secure environment for rhinos, supported by strong community cooperation. Through partnerships with neighboring communities, we have created a habitat that allows rhinos to roam safely, enhancing the management of wildlife corridors and open spaces.
Ol Pejeta offers a range of accommodations from luxury lodges to budget campsites, providing options for different preferences and budgets.
Wildlife and Conservation
Ol Pejeta is home to the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos.
- Black Rhinos: Ol Pejeta has the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, with over 100 individuals. Why See Them: The conservancy is home to over 100 black rhinos, making it one of the most significant sanctuaries for this species in East Africa.
- Northern White Rhinos: The conservancy is also the last place on Earth where you can see the two remaining northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu. Why See Them: These two rhinos are the only survivors of their subspecies, making them a poignant symbol of conservation efforts.
- Elephants are one of the most iconic African animals, known for their intelligence and complex social structures.
- Spotting a leopard in the wild is a thrilling experience due to their stealth and nocturnal habits.
- Cheetahs’ speed and hunting prowess are fascinating to witness.
- Giraffes’ unique appearance and gentle nature make them a favorite among visitors.
Apart from rhinos, Ol Pejeta is committed to protecting other endangered species, such as the Grevy’s zebra and Jackson’s hartebeest.
All members of the "Big five game" (lion, Cape buffalo, African bush elephant, African leopard and rhinoceros) can be found on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Both black and white rhino thrive here.
Other rare animals that can be found on Ol Pejeta include the endangered African wild dog, oryx, Jackson’s hartebeest, Grevy’s zebra, serval, cheetah and bat-eared fox. The more common African wildlife can be found too, including giraffes, vervet monkeys, baboons, hippos, impala, eland, Grant's gazelle, dik-dik, plains zebra, silver backed jackal, hyena.
All animals are free to move in and out of the Conservancy by way of specially constructed game corridors that only restrict the movement of rhinos. Knee-high posts in the ground, situated very close together, present no challenge for elephant, antelope and carnivores, who are easily able to jump or step over.
On 20 December 2009 Ol Pejeta became home to four of the then seven rhinos left in captivity. The males (named Sudan and Suni) and the females (Fatu and Najin) enjoyed 24-hour armed security and a 700-acre enclosure.
Ol Pejeta is trying to cross-breed the closely related southern white rhinos with the northern whites to preserve northern white rhino genetics in hybrid offspring. Poaching and habitat loss are depleting rhino and elephant populations all over Africa.
The African elephant is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN list, the white rhino as "Near Threatened" and the black rhino as Critically Endangered. Rhino horn is erroneously believed to have medicinal properties by many people in Asia and is used as traditional dagger handles in Yemen.
Protecting wildlife from these criminals is an expensive business. Convention has it that the cost of protecting wildlife habitat doubles with the presence of black rhino.
How Africa Saves The Last White Rhinos From Extinction!
A team of 14 dogs and their handlers assist in several areas of Ol Pejeta Conservancy security. The bloodhounds are trained to track human scent, and are often the first on the scene at any incidents. In 2013, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy started to use a drone with the capacity to deliver real time video and thermal imaging feeds to a team on the ground.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy's fully electrified perimeter fence demarcates the Conservancy's boundary and prevents human-wildlife conflict. Efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict have significantly strengthened relations with surrounding communities. The fence keeps the rhino from wandering into dangerous territory while safely directing elephants along their migratory routes.
Ol Pejeta currently has a fence attendant for every 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) of fence who conducts maintenance and provides security in the form of insurgence detection. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy works closely with surrounding communities on incidents related to insecurity through the provision of tracker dogs, transport and close relations with local authorities.
Activities and Community Engagement
Visitors can participate in the conservancy’s lion tracking program, which involves helping researchers monitor the lion population.
Cycling Safaris: For a more active adventure, cycling safaris offer a unique way to experience the landscape and wildlife.
Night game drives offer a different perspective on the wildlife of Ol Pejeta, allowing visitors to see nocturnal animals in action. The endangered species enclosure is the only area of the park that is fenced off for the animals.
OlPejeta’s proximity to local communities offers visitors the chance to engage with indigenous cultures. The conservancy hosts numerous educational and research programs.
Take a walk down the Ewaso Nyiro river, patiently waiting and adorned in camouflage, you'll soon spot the hippos that come to the surface for sunshine. A walking safari in the Ol Pejeta plains offers unrestricted views of the park - be brave and walk alongside park rangers, learn about their daily lives as you explore the park in search of wildlife.
Open daily between 10:00 to 15:30, the Sweetwater’s chimpanzee sanctuary has been home to orphaned chimpanzees since 1993 and has provided a natural environment to the non-indigenous species within an island on the park.
Why Engage: These drives offer the chance to see a wide range of wildlife, including the Big Five, in their natural habitats.
Why Engage: The sanctuary provides a safe haven for rescued chimpanzees.
Why Engage: This unique activity allows you to get closer to wildlife, including rhinos, in a way that is less intrusive than vehicles.
The OlPejeta House, once the ranch house of renowned multi-millionaire Adnan Khashoggi, offers a glimpse into the region’s colonial history.
Commitment to Conservation and Innovation
Ol Pejeta Conservancy has always been at the forefront of conservation innovation. His Excellency Dr. William Ruto acknowledged this during the celebration, stating, “This conservancy is home to the largest hub of rhinos, including the only two remaining northern rhinos in the world.”
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