3 Days | Ol Pejeta Conservation Safari

Day 1: Nairobi - Ol Pejeta Conservancy

06:30 AM – Pick-Up in Nairobi Your safari begins with a warm welcome from your professional driver-guide at your hotel or the airport. After a quick briefing, settle into your custom 4×4 Land Cruiser as you depart the city before rush hour. 07:00 – 10:30 AM – Scenic Drive to Laikipia Travel north along the A2 Nairobi–Thika–Nanyuki Highway, passing the lush pineapple fields of Thika, tea and coffee estates in Karatina, and the green foothills of the Aberdare Range. Stop briefly at the Equator Crossing in Nanyuki for photos and a short demonstration. 11:30 AM – Arrive at Ol Pejeta (Serat Gate) Register at the main Serat Gate and begin your first introductory game drive en route to your lodge. You’ll traverse Toki Plains and Morani Loop, where herds of elephants, zebras, and impalas graze against the snow-capped backdrop of Mount Kenya. 1:00 PM – Check-In and Lunch Arrive at your selected accommodation — for example, Sweetwaters Serena Camp (inside the conservancy) or Rhino Watch Lodge (nearby). Enjoy a buffet lunch overlooking a waterhole frequented by warthogs and giraffes. 3:30 – 6:00 PM – Afternoon Game Drive Head out for your first full safari drive focusing on the Western Plains and Nyangoro sector, known for large elephant herds, buffalo, and prides of lions resting under balanite trees. Stop at Pelican Dam for excellent birdwatching and hippo sightings. 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Optional Night Game Drive After dinner, opt for a guided night safari (permit required) to spot nocturnal species such as leopards, aardvarks, bat-eared foxes, and genets—an experience available in few Kenyan conservancies. Overnight: At your chosen camp or lodge inside/near Ol Pejeta Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Full-Day Ol Pejeta Conservation & Big Game Experience

06:30 AM – Early Morning Game Drive Wake to the sounds of weaverbirds and distant roars. Depart for a sunrise game drive when predators are most active. Follow Acacia Circuit and Eastern Grasslands, scanning for lions on a hunt, cheetahs, and black rhinos moving through the morning mist. 08:30 AM – Breakfast at Camp or Bush Setting Return for breakfast overlooking the plains, or enjoy a bush breakfast arranged by your lodge near the Ewaso Nyiro River. 09:30 – 11:00 AM – Visit Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary Cross the Ewaso Nyiro Bridge to the Sweetwaters Sanctuary, the only place in Kenya where rescued chimpanzees find lifelong refuge. Walk along raised platforms to watch family groups feed and play. Guides explain rescue stories and daily routines. 11:15 AM – Endangered Species Enclosure Tour Continue to the 700-acre Enclosure, home to Najin and Fatu—the last two northern white rhinos. Learn from rangers about IVF programs, anti-poaching patrols, and other species like Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, and Beisa oryx. 1:00 PM – Bush Lunch or Lodge Meal Enjoy a picnic under shady acacias with panoramic views of Mount Kenya, or return to camp for a hot lunch. 2:30 – 5:30 PM – Afternoon Exploration & Optional Activities Choose how to spend your afternoon: Game Drive along Ewaso Nyiro River – elephants bathing and waterbucks grazing nearby. Lion Tracking Excursion (add-on) – join the research team using telemetry to locate collared lions and learn about their behaviour. Walking Safari near Mutara Gate – guided walk identifying tracks, dung, and medicinal plants. 6:00 PM – Evening Relaxation & Dinner Return to camp in time for a sunset drink by the firepit. Enjoy a three-course dinner featuring local produce and Kenyan hospitality. 9:00 PM – Stargazing & Campfire Stories On clear nights, Laikipia’s high altitude offers dazzling skies — spot the Milky Way as your guide shares stories of life in the wild. Overnight: Same camp or lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Morning Safari & Return to Nairobi

06:15 AM – Final Sunrise Game Drive Begin your last safari through Ol Lerai Swamp and the Western Corridor, where rhinos and elephants gather to drink. Early mornings also offer the best chance of seeing leopards retreating to the trees. 08:30 AM – Breakfast & Check-Out Return to the lodge for breakfast. Spend a few minutes shopping at the Ol Pejeta Gift Shop or visiting the Morani Information Centre to learn more about community and conservation programs. 10:00 AM – Depart for Nairobi Drive south through Nanyuki and Karatina, enjoying views of rolling hills and small farmsteads. Stop for coffee or souvenirs at Karatina Market. 03:30 – 04:00 PM – Arrive in Nairobi Drop-off at your residence or airport — marking the end of an unforgettable 3-day safari that not only delivered incredible wildlife encounters but also supported Ol Pejeta’s mission to protect Kenya’s wild future.