OI Pajeta conservancy was a cattle ranch during the colonial time in Kenya and the story how a ranch turned into a now famous conservancy is so fascinating. OI Pajeta conservancy is located in the heart of Laikipia on the foothill of Mount Kenya national park and it is one of the successful conservancies in Africa. OI Pajeta is so outstanding not only in terms of wildlife, beautiful sceneries and avifauna, but the coexistence of wildlife and man, makes the whole story a unique experience. OI Pajeta covers an area of about 90,000 acres, and it is a home to a number of wildlife and as a care center as well. OI Pajeta is the only place in Kenya where to find chimpanzees and Northern white rhino. The conservancy is at a high altitude about 2000 meters above the sea, it composed of open grasslands, riverine forests, acacia and wetlands.
In 1940s during the colonial time, this was a cattle ranch however in 1980s it was gazetted as Sweetwaters Game Reserve and in 1993, it was transformed to Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. In 2004, a group of conservation partners made a resolution and formed OI Pajeta conservancy and this was designed to have humans coexist with wildlife. The conservancy is non-profit, meaning it reinvests 100% of its money into the community and the operation of the conservancy. It works under the Trust-Based Ownership Model. The main vision of the conservancy is to preserve, conserve wildlife, create income for the communities and preserve the chimpanzees.
The money generated from the conservancy is reinvested back into communities to build schools, hospitals, making roads, improving agriculture, livestock-wildlife coexistence rotational grazing.
Why you should visit OI Pajeta Conservancy?
- The conservancy is a home to the last two northern white rhinos known as Najin and Fatu and these are the only one remaining in the whole world.
- This is the only place in Kenya where you will have an encounter with great apes (Chimpanzees).
- It is a home to black rhinos as well on top of white rhinos.
- It is a home to Africa’s big 5 and you will be able to see them from a shorter distance and less crowded area.
- It is near Nairobi, so you can drive for about 4hours and spend the rest of your time in the conservancy since there are cottages and lodges.
- You can visit the conservancy on the purposes of research.
Wildlife in OI Pajeta Conservancy
The conservancy stomachs Africa’s Big 5 which are lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos (both black and white). There are other animals which roam in the conservancy for example cheetahs, Grevy’s zebras, giraffes, hippopotami, jackal, African wild dogs, pangolins, chimpanzees, Aardvarks among others.
The conservancy is a home to over 500 recorded bird species of which some are migratory birds and others being endemics and this makes it a birders’ choice. Some of the birds you will encounter in the conservancy include; Augur buzzard, secretary birds, martial eagles, marabou storks, yellow-billed storks, Abdim’s storks, Bateleurs, crested francolins, Hildebrandt’s starlings, little grebes, vulturine Guinea fowl to mention.
What to do in OI Pajeta Conservancy?
Having a number of attractions, the following activities can be done in the conservancy
- Game drives in IO Pajeta Conservancy: Having a number of wildlife that roam in the open savanna, you can only see most of them when you do a game drive. Game drive can be day game drive, where you have to wake up in the morning at dawn to catch the early risers. You can also do a night game drive to catch the nocturnal animals which are very active during night time. In the presence of the game ranger, you can explore the conservancy with a lot of ease.
- Guided Nature Walk in OI Pajeta Conservancy: Get immersed in the wilderness of OI Pajeta where you will feel very close to wilderness. With a ranger guide, you will engage in the guided nature walk, have an encounter with the wildlife in the conservancy for example; buffaloes, giraffes, birds among others.
- Visit Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary: This is the only place where you will find chimpanzees in Kenya. You will have a chance to spend 1hour in the presence of Chimpanzees.
- Birding in OI Pajeta Conservancy: OI Pajeta is a birding haven with a recorded number of birds to be 500, OI Pajeta stands out to be a birders’ choice on any day.
- Horseback riding OI Pajeta: Horseback riding in OI Pajeta is always done in predator free areas but with the watch of the ranger guide. You get to come close to nature, a feeling that is out of this world.
- Rhino Tracking in OI Pajeta: The conservancy is famous for having over 130 rhinos both black and white, you have a chance to track rhinos in this conservancy, spend 1hour, learning about their behaviors and social life.
- Lion Tracking in OI Pajeta Conservancy: With the help of the GPS locator, you out to track lions in their habitats, learning about their movements, social life, hunting and killing skills and many more. All this can be done in the conservancy. Other activities that can be done in the park include;
- Community tours
- Wildlife photography
- Yoga and Wellness Sessions
- Behind the scenes conservation trips among others
How to Get to OI Pajeta Conservancy?
You can access OI Pajeta by using both road transport and Air transport from Nairobi the capital of Kenya.
By Road: it is about 4hurs drive from Nairobi via Thika-Nanyuki highway. From Nakuru via Nyahururu it is about 3hours and from Samburu via Isiolo its about 2hours and 30minutyes.
By Air: You can fly from Jomo Kenyatta international airport to Nanyuki airstrip and transfer to OI Pajeta in 30minutes.
What is the best time to Visit OI Pajeta Conservancy?
You can visit the conservancy throughout the year however the best time to visit is during dry season between June to October and December and February. This is when you can clearly see far because vegetation is dry and short, secondly most of the animals gather at the water catchment areas and you can see them from a short distance. On the other hand, during wet season between March and May and November, this is the best time for birders. During this time, there is a lot of food for birds, there are many migratory birds during this time and for birders, this is your time to flourish. Combine OI Pajeta safari with Nairobi national park or gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda.
