OI PEJETA CONSERVANCY AND THE LAIKIPIA PLATEAU

- Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Laikipia Plateau - 

 

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The area referred to as the Laikipia Plateau is a high-altitude savannah area, unique in its character, and stretches from the slopes of Mount Kenya to the rim of the Great Rift Valley. It encompasses dozens of smaller parks and private conservancies including Lewa Downs, Borana and Aberdare National Park where Princess Elizabeth was staying in 1952 on the night she became Queen of England.


Situated in the foothills of snow-capped Mount Kenya in central Laikipia County, Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a bucket list destination and one of our firm favourites at The Travel Cafe.

 

This 36,400 hectare private conservancy used to be a cattle ranch, and it’s now one of the few Big 5 conservancies that is open to day visitors. We, however, highly recommend a 2-night stay, in which case you will stay in one of the beautiful lodges in the pristine Northern sector, far from the day-tripping crowds. 

With beautiful Mount Kenya in the backdrop, lions prowling the plains, giraffe and elephant gracefully going about their day, while cheetah, wild dog and leopard are scanning for prey, Ol Pejeta is yet another stunning offering on the Kenyan safari circuit. It is also one of the largest black rhino sanctuaries in East Africa, with such a dense rhino population that sightings are practically guaranteed.


As if that wasn’t enough, Ol Pejeta is a trailblazer in conservation. Unlike many protected areas, cattle farming has been built into Ol Pejeta’s conservation plan, benefitting the land and wildlife through strategic grazing, and the people through employment. The conservancy is most famous for protecting the world’s last two Northern White Rhinos, both female, and the information centre is a great source of info and tells the story of how they hope to keep the species alive. 

Despite chimpanzees not being native to the area, you can visit these primates at the Sweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary, created by Jane Goodall on Ol Pejeta when a chimpanzee rescue centre in Burundi was forced to close due to civil war in 1993.

 

Ol Pejeta is also the perfect fit for more active and adventurous guests to Kenya. If you are the type who gets antsy when stuck in a lodge with no exercise, you will never want to leave this exciting reserve. In addition to stunning game drives, night drives, and walking safaris you could even try something new and track lion with the conservancy’s researchers, meet the anti-poaching dogs, start the day with a jog with the rangers through Big 5 territory or go on a horse-riding rhino spotting safari. How exciting! 

Each region is unique!

Click on the different regions below to find out more about the unique beauty each offers, and when the best time is to visit.

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- Best time to visit Ol Pejeta -

Best time to visit Ol Pejeta

Winter (June - October): Ol Pejeta, like all other Kenyan parks experiences its dry season in winter. Temperatures are stable and you can look forward to bright sunny days. This is the perfect time to go to Ol Pejeta, as animals converge to the water sources and vegetation is sparse making the animals easier to spot. 


Summer  (January - March): For a quieter safari consider travelling to Kenya during the short dry season of January and February, after the short autumn rains have dispersed. This season is almost as perfect as winter, and yet surprisingly unknown by the majority of tourists visiting Kenya. 


Spring (November - December): Spring is the season of the short rains in Ol Pejeta.   The rain falls in form of short late afternoon showers, so it won’t really impact your game viewing while on your Kenyan safari, and you have the added benefit of lower rates and lesser crowds.  


Autumn (April - May): April and May bring the long rains, with torrential continuous downpours and muddy washed-out roads, some of them unpassable. At The Travel Cafe, this is our least favourite season to go to Ol Pejeta. 
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