SEE.AFRICA · KENYA · CONSERVANCY FIELD GUIDE

Ol Pejeta Conservancy Guide (2026)

Rhinos, rescued chimpanzees, Big Five game drives and a practical Laikipia travel plan — with a map and lodges.

Information reviewed 26 October 2026

Hero source and image attribution recorded in the WordPress Media Library.

Ol Pejeta at a glance

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a private wildlife conservancy on Kenya’s Laikipia plateau. It combines the Big Five, serious rhino conservation and the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Its most distinctive conservation story is the protection of Najin and Fatu, the last two known living northern white rhinos.

DestinationOl Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia

Main arrivalNanyuki by road or air

WildlifeBig Five and endangered species

Signature experienceNorthern white rhino conservation

Family optionSweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary

Recommended stay1–3 nights

BaseIn-conservancy camp or Nanyuki

BookingConservancy entry plus separate activities

Quick answers

Entry fees (2026)

Adult: KES 2,000 (East African citizen), KES 3,500 (East African resident) or USD 110 (non-resident). Children aged 3–11: KES 1,000 / KES 1,750 / USD 55 respectively. Vehicle entry costs extra. See all fees and the official source.

Big Five?

All five species occur here; sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Self-drive?

Allowed on designated routes subject to conservancy rules.

From Nanyuki?

A practical road transfer; allow time for gate procedures.

Northern white rhinos

Special access needs advance arrangement.

Chimpanzees

View rescued chimps at Sweetwaters subject to sanctuary rules.

See our other national park and wildlife-area guides.

Best time to visit Ol Pejeta

Wildlife viewing is rewarding throughout the year. January–March and June–October often have relatively favourable road and game-drive conditions; rain remains possible. Laikipia evenings can be cold, especially around dawn.

Dry stretches

Open landscapes, reasonable road conditions and crisp mornings.

Rainy periods

Greener scenery; occasional slippery tracks.

Dawn and dusk

Useful for more active predators and softer photographic light.

Rhino conservation

Activities are scheduled separately, so book ahead.

Ol Pejeta entrance fees (official 2026 tariff)

Ol Pejeta Conservancy’s official 2026 tariff lists the following daily prices:

Category	Adult	Child (3–11)
East African citizen	KES 2,000	KES 1,000
East African resident	KES 3,500	KES 1,750
Non-resident	USD 110	USD 55

Children under three enter free. Vehicle entry is additional: KES 1,000 (up to six seats), KES 5,000 (7–14 seats) or KES 12,000 (15 seats or more). A ticket permits a single entry; exiting and returning requires another ticket. Activities such as northern white rhino encounters are separately booked.

Official sources: Ol Pejeta Conservancy — Tariff Guide, January–December 2026 (PDF) and Conservancy entry rates webpage; retrieved 26 October 2026. Check the live official booking rate before payment.

Special activities (2026)

The official conservancy tariff lists Meet the Northern White Rhinos at USD 70 per adult, night game drives and lion tracking at USD 70 per adult / USD 35 per child, and conservation talks at USD 20 per adult. These are separate from the regular entry fee. Booking in advance is recommended and availability is limited.

Official source: Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Tariff Guide January–December 2026 (PDF), retrieved 26 October 2026. Confirm current prices and booking eligibility with the conservancy.

Ol Pejeta opening hours, gates and routes

Visitor gate hours: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. via Rongai and Serat gates, according to conservancy visitor information. The normal overland approach is Nairobi → Nanyuki → Ol Pejeta; confirm the entrance appropriate to your camp. Travellers arriving by air can use Nanyuki Airstrip and arrange a lodge road transfer. Do not treat the map’s approximate centre as a gate location.

Road from Nairobi

Travel to Nanyuki and continue by road to the gate agreed with your lodge; traffic and final approach can vary.

Rongai Gate

Official entry/exit gate. Check the gate your accommodation uses.

Serat Gate

Alternative entry/exit gate; arrange pickup and transfer beforehand.

Fly-in arrival

Use Nanyuki Airstrip when flights operate, then a prearranged road transfer.

Sources: Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Plan Your Visit; Ol Pejeta official 2026 tariff and entry policy. Retrieved 26 October 2026. Confirm gate schedules with the conservancy before travel.

Ol Pejeta orientation map

Map markers indicate approximate conservancy centre, Nanyuki, Nanyuki Airfield and Mount Kenya direction. Not a turn-by-turn gate or ranger route.

Loading OpenStreetMap…

View Ol Pejeta region in OpenStreetMap if the interactive map is blocked.

One-day and two-night safari plans

Day trip

Early game drive, planned chimpanzee sanctuary visit and a final afternoon loop.

Night one

Overnight inside the conservancy for less transit and dawn wildlife.

Day two

Add a dedicated rhino conservation experience if permitted.

Before departure

Check gates, transfer timing and the day’s activity bookings.

18 mammal field-guide profiles

Wildlife varies by season and time of day. Images illustrate species, and are not necessarily photographed within Ol Pejeta. Sensitive rhino visits depend on the conservancy’s rules.

White rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

The conservancy is a major sanctuary for southern white rhinos; guided drives offer chances of sightings

Black rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

A more secretive rhino with a hooked browsing lip; give individuals ample space

Northern white rhinos

Ceratotherium simum cottoni

Najin and Fatu are the last two known living northern white rhinos; any visit is tightly controlled

African elephant

Loxodonta africana

Large family herds use grasslands and bush; never block their movement

African lion

Panthera leo

Present in this Big Five ecosystem, but not guaranteed

African buffalo

Syncerus caffer

Often in grazing groups; keep well clear when near roads

Leopard

Panthera pardus

Elusive, often most active in low light

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

Occasional open-grassland predator; sightings are unpredictable

Reticulated giraffe

Giraffa reticulata

Distinctive polygonal coat pattern; identify with your guide

Plains zebra

Equus quagga

Common grazing wildlife on open ground

Grevy’s zebra

Equus grevyi

Endangered zebra of northern Kenya; regional conservation significance, check current on-site presence

Spotted hyena

Crocuta crocuta

Scavenger and predator; usually more active outside midday heat

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

Antelope found in more open woodland and grassland

Common eland

Taurotragus oryx

Large antelope often in smaller groups

Common warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

Often feeds kneeling in grass; near roads as well

Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Water-associated mammal; localised, never approach on foot

Serval

Leptailurus serval

Secretive spotted cat in tall grasses

Olive baboon

Papio anubis

Social primate, particularly in wooded habitats

12 birds to watch for

Bird habitats range from open grasslands to waterholes and woodland. Some entries illustrate wider regional species rather than guaranteed on-site sightings.

Secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius

Tall grassland raptor; look for a walking hunting silhouette

Martial eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus

Powerful raptor; scan mature trees and skies

African fish eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Near suitable water, voice often heard before sighting

Marabou stork

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Large scavenging bird in open settings

Crowned lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Open ground, with distinctive black crown

Lilac-breasted roller

Coracias caudatus

Brilliantly coloured perch-hunter

Southern ground hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Ground-walking bird of open savannah; local records vary

Pied kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

Hovering fish-hunter near water

Brown-hooded kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Woodland hunter, not strictly tied to water

Sunbirds

Nectariniidae

Small nectar-feeders near flowering shrubs

Weaverbirds

Ploceidae

Look for hanging grass nests, especially near water

Oxpeckers

Buphagus spp.

Often on larger mammals, feeding on ectoparasites

Trees, grasses and flowers

Ol Pejeta’s plateau includes acacia woodland, grassland and wetter pockets. Some photographs show related regional habitats or plants; botanical identification should be verified locally.

Whistling-thorn acacia

Vachellia drepanolobium

Characteristic thorn tree of East African highland savanna

Umbrella thorn

Vachellia tortilis

Recognisable spreading crown in drier habitats

Fever tree

Vachellia xanthophloea

Yellow-green bark near wetter ground

African olive

Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata

Hardy upland woody species

Wild fig trees

Ficus spp.

Fruit can attract birds and primates

Albizia

Albizia spp.

Feathery leaves and spreading shade

Croton

Croton spp.

Broadleaf woodland species; local identification important

Wild date palm

Phoenix reclinata

Associated with wetter patches

Acacia woodland understory

Mixed shrubs

Diverse shrubs for small browsers

Savannah grasses

Poaceae

Grazing foundation for zebras and antelope

Sedges

Cyperaceae

Wetland margins

Seasonal flowering herbs

Mixed families

Seasonal flowers respond to rainfall

Wild gingers

Zingiberaceae

Not a signature feature of open savanna; look only in suitable shaded habitats

Lichens and mosses

Multiple taxa

On shaded trunks and moist stones

What to do in Ol Pejeta

Rhino conservation

Learn about southern black and white rhinos and special northern white rhino conservation.

Sweetwaters sanctuary

Visit rescued chimpanzees under sanctuary management rules.

Game drives

Explore designated tracks with a guide or self-drive where allowed.

Night drives

Confirm availability and licensing with the conservancy.

Bush walks

Only on approved guided walks.

Photography

Use longer lenses and never crowd endangered animals.

Best places to stay around Ol Pejeta

Choose Sweetwaters for a stay inside the conservancy; choose Nanyuki for hotels and more flexibility. The Expedia links below open property-name searches so you can confirm the exact listing, date and availability, rather than relying on unverified hotel ID numbers.

Inside Ol Pejeta

Sweetwaters Serena Camp

Best choice for early game drives without leaving the conservancy. Tented safari setting overlooking the waterhole.

Find hotel on Expedia

Nanyuki · luxury base

Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari

Historic resort at the foothills of Mount Kenya, with comfortable grounds but requiring a road transfer to Ol Pejeta.

Find hotel on Expedia

Nanyuki · practical base

Kongoni Camp Nanyuki

Alternative for travellers combining the conservancy with Nanyuki activities. Confirm travel time to the gate.

Find hotel on Expedia

Affiliate disclosure: See.Africa may earn a commission from eligible Expedia bookings at no extra cost. Conservation fees and guided activities are separate.

Safety and conservation rules

Follow conservancy rangers’ instructions, obey speed and access restrictions, keep safe distances from all wildlife and never get out of your vehicle on unauthorised tracks. Respect sanctuary procedures and never feed chimpanzees or wild animals.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see northern white rhinos?

The conservancy protects Najin and Fatu, the last two known living northern white rhinos. Visits require the conservation programme’s permission and advance booking.

Can I see chimpanzees?

Yes, the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary houses rescued chimpanzees. Viewing depends on opening and sanctuary rules.

How much is entry?

Ol Pejeta’s 2026 adult daily entry is KES 2,000 for East African citizens, KES 3,500 for East African residents and USD 110 for non-residents. Children aged 3–11 pay KES 1,000, KES 1,750 or USD 55 respectively. Vehicle fees are additional. See the fee table and official 2026 tariff source.

Can I self-drive?

Yes, within authorised routes and visitor regulations. Enquire about road conditions, especially after rain.

How long should I stay?

One full day is possible; two nights allow more game drives and fewer rushed activities.

Is Ol Pejeta a national park?

No. Ol Pejeta is a privately managed wildlife conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya.

Which lodge is inside the conservancy?

Sweetwaters Serena Camp is a well-known in-conservancy property; Nanyuki hotels require a transfer.

Primary sources and editorial method

Information reviewed 26 October 2026. For up-to-date fees, special visits, gate access and safety advice, Ol Pejeta’s own visitor guidance takes precedence. This page uses illustrative species photography and approximate map markers.