What to expect from a 3 day safari in Ol Pejeta

A day on safari can look different for different people and their interests, and it can play out very differently depending on where in the continent you are. So, what can you expect from a day on safari in Ol Pejeta, with The Safari Cottages? Let’s get stuck in!

First off, there’s so much to do and to see here that we recommend a minimum 3 night stay; that’s two full days with the afternoon of your arrival and the morning of your departure adding up to three days. And here’s how we’d suggest you spend your time so you get the most out of your Kenya safari holiday with us.

You’ll have amazing views of Mt Kenya from all around Ol Pejeta

SUGGESTED ITINERARY FOR YOUR 3 DAY SAFARI IN OL PEJETA

DAY ONE

You can fly into Nanyuki Airport, or drive from Nairobi. Granted you depart in the morning you’ll likely arrive at The Safari Cottages in time for lunch. When you arrive you’ll be met by our team and management will give you a short briefing explaining a little more about the property layout, safety and what you can get up to during your stay.

It’s pretty hot in the middle of the day so you'll have lunch on your verandah, served up by your chef and waiter, before relaxing and unpacking after your travels. We suggest heading out on your first game drive today around 4.30PM and your team can prepare a cup of tea and a snack for you before you go incase you’re feeling peckish. After a game drive and a sundowner (a drink and snacks enjoyed whilst watching the sun set) you can return to camp to an open fire and enjoy dinner on your verandah or under the stars before tucking in for a good night’s sleep.

Returning from your game drive to a roaring fire and a sky full of stars

DAY TWO

You’ll let your team know what you prefer to drink in the mornings and, at around 6AM, freshly brewed tea, coffee or whatever you’d prefer will wake you and ready you for the adventures that await; the perfect start to your day on your Kenya safari holiday. You’ll head off just before sunrise at 6.30AM in search of lions, leopards, cheetah, elephant, black and white rhino, giraffe and so much more! The conservancy abounds with an incredible density and variety of game so be sure you’ve packed an extra memory card for your camera - you’re going to need it. As the sun rises and you start to warm up you’ll tuck into a picnic breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed Kenyan coffee or tea.

You’ll meander back through the bush as your game drive continues and the heat of the day really starts to set in, then arrive at your safari cottage to a colourful lunch, a cool drink and a chance to rest. You can enjoy a book on your verandah, wander the property bird watching, take a tour of the garden with Dominic, enjoy yoga in the cool breeze of your verandah (yoga mats are provided), a volleyball game with the staff or take a cooking lesson with your private chef and learn how to make some of our favourite Kenyan staples.

Tucking in to leisurely lunch on the riverside deck

After an afternoon cup of tea you’ll head out again around 4.30PM to see what wonderful wildlife awaits you on the plains surrounding our little spot of heaven in the bush. After your sundowner this evening, if our askaris haven’t yet had a chance to share their knowledge of the night skies with you, we’d recommend you ask them too - you’ll learn about the constellations on our side of the globe which, on a clear night, are spectacular!

Lions hunting on a morning game drive

DAY THREE

Ol Pejeta is home to the last two Northern White Rhinos in existance and, this morning, you’ll head off after a light breakfast to meet them. Ol Pejeta’s passionate rhino caretakers will meet you and guide you to the spacious enclosure that Najin and Fatu, a mother and daughter due call their home. They will tell you all about how these gorgeous girls found their way to Kenya and the impressive project that Ol Pejeta and it’s partners have undertaken to bring Northern White rhinos back from the brink of extinction.

After meeting the Northern Whites you’ll also meet Baraka, a blind black rhino rescued by Ol Pejeta who is not averse to a chin scratch. Then return back to your bush home for brunch and a chance to relax in the heat of the day.

Najin & Fatu - the last two Northern White Rhinos left on the planet

This afternoon you’ll embark on your final evening game drive and sundowner, returning with a spotlight on a night drive in search of Kenya’s more secretive nocturnal species like leopard, aardvarks and white tailed mongoose. Enjoy dinner and a drink around the fire before tucking in for the night.

A big male cheetah posing for the shot on an afternoon game drive

DEPARTURE DAY

After breakfast today your guide will drive you to Nanyuki Airport to meet your flight to your next destination, or drop you off at the Ol Pejeta entrance gate to meet your road transfer back to Nairobi. Your three day safari with us will leave you full to bursting with enthusiasm for the wilderness, wildlife and people that call this corner of the world home and leave you inspired by the hard work and dedication of our conservation team. If you do choose to linger longer you can continue your safari on the conservancy or explore further afield with a day trip to the local town, Aberdares National Park or Ngare Ndare too.

Remember, you have a private guide and vehicle for the duration of your stay with us so this outline is just one idea. You can do as little or as much as you’d like.

Sonja's Kitchen: Flakey Kenyan Chapati Recipe

The chapati is a much loved staple of Kenya cuisine and unlike an Indian chapati it is flakey and served alongside curries, stews or with eggs at breakfast time. If you’re sat at home after your safari and craving a little bit of Kenya, cooking up a pile of delicious chapatis and enjoying them along side a plate of githeri or a beef stew is a great way to feel transported right back to Africa! Here’s our much-loved chapati recipe, right from my camp cookbook, Footprints in The Butter.

FLAKEY KENYAN CHAPATI RECIPE

Serves 8

• 3½ cups plain white or wholemeal

• wheat flour

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 tbsp margarine, butter or ghee

• 1⅓ cups warm water

• ½ cup vegetable oil or shortening

1. Sift flour and salt together, if using shortening rub in with finger tips.

2. Make a well in the centre, pour in half the water and, if using oil pour it in also. Mix with a wooden spoon, gradually adding the remainder of the water until a firm but soft dough forms. Continue kneading with your hands.

3. Divide the dough into 8 balls. Roll out each ball on a circular chapati board or on a lightly floured pastry

board.

4. Coat the surface of each circle of dough generously with margarine. Roll up the circle lightly with your fingers into a sausage, then coil the sausage into a wheel, thus trapping the air inside. Then, with a rolling pin, roll out each wheel into a circle less than ⅛inch thick.

5. Smear a chapati pan or 23cm non stick frying pan with oil. Using low heat, brown the chapatis on both sides

until golden brown. If you press the chapati lightly with a folded tea towel whilst cooking, the air bubbles will quickly rise.

6. Keep warm until served.

Guests mastering our Kenyan chapati recipe WITH OUR CHEFS on a recent group safari with Yoga By Candace

Let us know how your chapatis turned out! You can purchase Sonja’s recipe book Footprints in The Butter here for more of our favourite camp recipes.

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More from the Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages blog

3 ways to bring your Kenya safari cost down

A Kenya safari is undoubtedly one of the more expensive holidays you’re going to take. Why? Because caring for and protecting wildlife, especially so many valuable and endangered species, is incredibly expensive. So don’t be surprised when a decent safari camp is going to charge upwards of $400 per person per night in low season. Even then, these camps, you might be surprised to hear, will be just about covering their costs with a rate like this. So the nightly cost of your safari, coupled with park fees often over $100 per person per night, and the added cost of transport, really starts to rack up and your Kenya safari cost moves into the thousands, if not tens of thousands.

Here are some basic but bulletproof ways tO BRING YOUR Kenya safari cost DOWN

1. Consider seasonal prices and special offers

   All camps will have seasonal prices, and most will have special offers available for traveling out of season or for staying a little longer. And don’t be afraid of traveling out of season; it’s true that some areas will be completely inaccessible, but many are still offering incredible wildlife experiences at much lower prices for those who don’t mind getting their boots a little muddy. For example, it’s nearly $200 per person per night less to stay at The Safari Cottages in low season, than in high season. Or, if you stay 3 nights or more you qualify for a lower rate. Not sure when out of season is? Read our Kenya When To Go Guide to find out more.
   
   

2. Plan your route carefully

   If you’re doing a multi-destination safari then careful planning of your route can significantly help you better manage your final Kenya safari cost. Speak to your travel consultant to help you better understand ways around expensive flight routes or the need for private charter flights by opting to drive or re-order the destinations to make more financial sense.

   For example, if your safari destinations are the Masai Mara, Ol Pejeta and Diani, there are no direct flights from Diani to Ol Pejeta, meaning if you wanted to start at the beach or have a beach stopover between two safari destinations, you’d have to charter a private flight or do two flights, plus an overnight in Nairobi. So, in this case, it’s cheaper and easier to fly from the Masai Mara to Diani at the end of your safari for which there are direct flights.

3. Check the inclusions and exclusions

   A lot of camps will offer you a fully inclusive price, and some will offer a rate that excludes certain activities or amenities. This means that the price you are given can look very low but you’ll end up paying the same, if not more, once you tack on hidden costs like drinks, activities, late check out and meals feels or park fees.

An overview of our special offers

MOST IMPORTANTLY

When considering ways to bring your Kenya safari cost down the most important thing to bear in mind is that this is really a country where you get what you pay for so, considering this might be your once-in-a-lifetime safari holiday, it’s worth paying a little more to ensure that you have the best experience possible.

And when booking your stay don’t hesitate to ask us for advice on where else to go and where to stay that will offer you just that!

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Kenya: When to Go & What to Expect

You’re excited to pack your binoculars, lock the front door behind you and head off to Kenya to meet the country’s iconic wildlife, experience it’s beautiful and warm culture and take in the epic scenery. But, when’s best to embark on this adventure? We’re here to share all we know about Kenya; when to go and what expect, right from the horse’s mouth… or the zebra’s mouth shall we say.

JANUARY – MARCH

Early January sees the tail end of the busy festive season and so prices stay high and crowds linger but start to disperse around mid-January. This also marks the start of low or mid-season in Kenya so you can expect lower prices and fewer crowds. It’s often dry and hot at this time of year too across the country, so wildlife viewing is excellent as animals tend to congregate around water sources. Ahead of the April rains, February and March often welcome lots of little ones from plains game such as zebra, wildebeest and gazelles and this, in turn, can cause an uptick in predator activities.

Golden light: March on Ol Pejeta

APRIL – MAY

Historically known as “the long rains,” April, May in Kenya is still considered a red flag, but global weather patterns are shifting, and this rule does not hold as firmly as it did ten years ago. Rains do arrive in April most years, but dryer weather has largely returned by mid-May. Even so, a lot of camps continue to close over this time for maintenance and some, more remote locations, struggle to provide reliable access in April and May. So, whilst your options might be limited camps that do remain open over this period often provide excellent discounted rates, The Safari Cottages included. This also means fewer crowds, cooler temperatures and enjoying vast tracks of wilderness to yourself.

If you’re traveling to the coast, the Kusi trade winds cause bigger swells, so Kenya in April and May is a great time for windsurfers and sailings but not ideal for snorkelling and diving. This is also a cooler time of year on the coast due to wind and rainfall, which is otherwise up to over 34 degrees Celsius in the day and the cooler temperatures can be a relief for some, but frustrating for those seeking heat and all day sunshine.

Hyena pups on Ol Pejeta

Kite surfing in Diani

JUNE

Following the rains the landscape is often lush and green, and youngsters have a little prance in their step. June is largely considered shoulder season as camps reopen and tourist numbers begin to increase. It’s still very quiet on Ol Pejeta so an ideal time to plan your Kenya safari holiday if you’re looking for less crowds, lots of lovely greenery and lower prices. If you’re planning a beach extension in June however, it’s worth noting that coastal beaches, especially in the North, are often affected by seaweed well into June which washes up onto the beaches and rainfall can liger longer here too. The seaweed is harmless but does affect the appearance of Kenya’s otherwise postcard perfect white sand beaches.

JULY – OCTOBER

July marks the start of the great migration in the Masai Mara, where millions of wildebeest congregate on the plains and photographers flock to the Mara to witness the famous river crossings. Due to the popularity of this event, combined with Summer holidays abroad, this is a busy and expensive time of year to travel but for those eager to witness the migration it’s the best time. When considering when to go to Kenya it’s important to know that, historically, this was a predictably dry time of year but these days you can expect the odd afternoon shower or thunderstorm to add to the drama.

The famous Mara river crossings

NOVEMBER

November until mid-December is considered the “short rains.” You can expect afternoon showers and the odd cloudy day but properties largely remain open and afternoon showers make for dramatic images so photographers tend to enjoy traveling at this time too. Some areas or activities become restricted however due to access in the rains and tourist numbers in bigger wildlife parks and in Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the surrounding Laikipia area start to quieten down as the herds move back into the neighbouring Serengeti. On the coast, early December marks the turning of the winds and brings about higher temperatures and humidity.

DECEMBER

Whilst the first half of December is much the same as November across the country, mid-December marks the start of the festive season. This is the busiest and most expensive time to travel to Kenya but also the most rewarding to see the festivities in action (especially on the coast) – Kenyans love a good party. Wildlife is usually thriving after the short rains and the weather is largely drying up making for glorious sunny skies.

On safari with The Safari Cottages in Ol Pejeta

A NOTE ON RAINFALL IN KENYA

When considering when to go to Kenya it’s important to bear in mind that rainfall is not as predictable as it once was and seasons are not as clear cut as they used to be. We always say; travel for the wildlife not the weather and you won’t be disappointed because wildlife in Kenya and certainly in Ol Pejeta is excellent year-round!

WONDERING HOW TO ROUTE YOUR ITINERARY? READ THIS BLOG ABOUT CHOOSING THE BEST ROUTE FOR YOUR KENYA SAFARI.

That’s a wrap on our Kenya when to go guide and we hope it gives you a little more clarity when you’re planning and booking your Kenya safari holiday.

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Keep reading for more travel information to inspire your Kenya safari holiday