Who are Najin and Fatu

Najin and Fatu are a mother and daughter and the world's last two surviving northern white rhinos. They live at Ol Pejeta Conservancy under 24-hour armed protection. Scientists are working on IVF technology using harvested eggs from these females to potentially save the subspecies.

Is Ol Pejeta good for Big Five sightings

Yes, Ol Pejeta has excellent Big Five wildlife density. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and both white and black rhino are resident and regularly sighted. The conservancy is consistently rated as one of East Africa's best wildlife destinations.

What is the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is the only facility in Kenya caring for rescued and orphaned chimpanzees. It was established with the Jane Goodall Institute and provides rehabilitation and permanent sanctuary for animals from conflict zones in central Africa.

Can I see black rhinos at Ol Pejeta

Yes, Ol Pejeta has the largest population of black rhinos in East Africa. These critically endangered rhinos are regularly spotted during game drives, particularly in the morning and evening when they are most active.

Is this a good first safari destination

Absolutely. Ol Pejeta's compact size, excellent wildlife density, professional guides, and unique conservation experiences make it one of the best first-time safari destinations in Kenya, especially for visitors with limited time.

2 Day Ol Pejeta Safari Last Northern White Rhinos and Big Five

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Review

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Review

Overview

An Ol Pejeta safari offers a wildlife experience found nowhere else on Earth, the chance to stand in the presence of the world’s last two northern white rhinos on a 90,000-acre conservancy set in the shadow of Mount Kenya on the equator. Najin and Fatu, a mother and daughter, are the final survivors of a subspecies that once roamed the grasslands of central Africa in their millions, protected now around the clock by armed rangers and a dedicated conservation team working on an IVF programme that represents humanity’s last hope for the northern white rhino’s survival. This 2-day Ol Pejeta safari delivers this moving encounter alongside East Africa’s most comprehensive Big Five game viewing, as the conservancy also houses the largest black rhino population in East Africa, alongside lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. Beyond the wildlife spectacle, Ol Pejeta is one of Kenya’s most intelligently designed conservation landscapes, where wildlife corridors, community partnerships, and anti-poaching operations provide a template for the future of African conservation. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary within the conservancy adds a completely unexpected dimension, offering close encounters with orphaned chimpanzees from Central Africa in a beautifully managed rehabilitation setting. Set in Laikipia County with the iconic silhouette of Mount Kenya visible on clear days, Ol Pejeta combines exceptional wildlife density with striking highland scenery in a destination that is just three hours by road from Nairobi, making it the ideal destination for a deeply meaningful and unforgettable short safari.

Trip Highlights

Visit the world's last two northern white rhinos Najin and Fatu at Ol Pejeta
East Africa's largest black rhino population with regular sightings
Big Five game drives across 90,000 acres of highland savannah
Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only chimp refuge in Kenya
Stunning Mount Kenya backdrop on clear mornings
Expert conservation guides sharing the northern white rhino story
Lion tracking and leopard spotting on Laikipia plains
Night game drive option revealing nocturnal predators and aardvark

Day 01 :

Nairobi to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Depart Nairobi early morning on the A2 highway, climbing through the Mount Kenya foothills past Thika, Karatina, and Nyeri before arriving at Nanyuki on the equator after approximately three hours. Upon entering Ol Pejeta Conservancy, you pass the famous equator sign before your guide introduces the conservancy’s remarkable history as a former cattle ranch transformed into one of Africa’s premier wildlife sanctuaries. After checking into your lodge and enjoying lunch, you spend the afternoon on your first game drive through the conservancy’s sweeping plains where lion prides patrol the open grassland, elephant herds graze peacefully, and buffalo gather in their thousands near the Ewaso Nyiro River tributary. In the late afternoon, you visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where rescued and orphaned chimpanzees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda live in a large forested enclosure, offering intimate and engaging close-up encounters with our closest relatives. Return to the lodge for dinner with Mount Kenya’s silhouette against the evening sky.

9 hours

Lunch + Dinner

Day 02 :

Full Day Ol Pejeta Conservancy & Return to Nairobi

Rise early for the highlight of the safari: a visit to the northern white rhino enclosure where Najin and Fatu, the world’s last two northern white rhinos, graze peacefully under the watchful eye of armed rangers. Your guide provides a comprehensive account of the northern white rhino’s story, from its population collapse due to poaching in the 1970s and 80s to the ambitious IVF programme now offering hope for the subspecies’ survival. Spending time in the presence of these magnificent animals is one of the most profound wildlife encounters available anywhere in Africa. The morning game drive continues through the conservancy’s prime wildlife areas, tracking black rhinos through the highland scrub and following lion and leopard spoor with your experienced guide. After a hearty breakfast back at the lodge, you embark on a final afternoon game drive covering the eastern sectors of the conservancy before checking out and beginning the three-hour return drive to Nairobi, arriving by early evening.

10 hours

Breakfast