Kenya Safari Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Plan Your Ol Pejeta Safari

Planning a Kenya safari starts with the right information — and this is where you'll find it. Below you'll find everything you need to prepare for your stay at The Safari Cottages on Ol Pejeta Conservancy: a downloadable fact sheet and Kenya travel guide, answers to the questions we're asked most often, and a growing library of monthly guides covering what to expect from every season.

FACT SHEET
FACT SHEET
KENYA TRAVEL GUIDE
KENYA TRAVEL GUIDE

Further FAQs

  • Ol Pejeta is home to the Big Five with regular sightings of lion, elephant, black and white rhino and buffalo. The conservancy also hosts an abundance of plains game including giraffe, zebra, eland, haartebeast, gazelles and more plus over 300 bird species.

  • We welcome people of all ages and the privacy of your safari cottage combined with exclusive use of a chef and vehicle + guide makes The Safari Cottages an ideal choice for families with fussy eaters or who need flexibility in their daily schedule. A travel cot, baby bath and high chair can be provided on request.

  • Generally speaking, neutral tones like khaki and beige are best on your Kenya safari holiday. Be sure to bring something warm as it can get chilly in the evenings, open toe shoes for use in your safari cottage and closed toe shoes (waterproof if you’re visiting in the rainy season). Scroll a little further down to see our Kenya Travel Info folder which includes a comprehensive packing list.

  • The Safari Cottages have hot and cold running water and we operate on solar power with a back up generator. Our power supply is sufficient for you to charge your devices but it can’t handle large loads like hair dryers or hair straighteners.

  • All our safari cottages are designed in a similar homey style, but if you have a preference for one over the other please do let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate this.

  • Your schedule is totally flexible but, as a rough guide, here’s what we’d recommend: a cup of coffee before sunrise then head out for a morning drive returning for late breakfast/brunch or lunch then a siesta in the heat of the day. `head out again for an afternoon game drive leaving around 4PM and returning after dark with a spotlight for a night drive. Drinks around the fire and dinner on your return. Or, here’s what 3 days can look like for you.

Monthly Kenya Travel Guides

Featured
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in February
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in February
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travelling to Kenya in April: What to Expect (And Why It Might Be Your Best Safari Yet)
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travelling to Kenya in April: What to Expect (And Why It Might Be Your Best Safari Yet)
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in January
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in January
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in December
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in December
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in September
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in September
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Kenya Safari in May: Why It's One of the Best Months to Visit (And Why Most People Don't Know It)
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Kenya Safari in May: Why It's One of the Best Months to Visit (And Why Most People Don't Know It)
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Best Time to Visit Kenya for a Safari: A Month-by-Month Guide
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Best Time to Visit Kenya for a Safari: A Month-by-Month Guide
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides
Travel Information, Kenya "When To Go" Guides

Blog Posts

BLOG
5-Night Safari Itinerary at Ol Pejeta: What We'd Recommend
5-Night Safari Itinerary at Ol Pejeta: What We'd Recommend

Five nights at The Safari Cottages is a different kind of safari altogether. You move from ticking animals off a sighting list to living in rhythm with the bush. The extra days unlock full-day trips out, unhurried night drives and encounters with rhinos you can’t have anywhere else in the world. Here's exactly how to structure it.

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National Park vs. Private Conservancy. Why it Matters for Your Safari.
National Park vs. Private Conservancy. Why it Matters for Your Safari.

What's the difference between a national park and a private conservancy in Kenya? Night drives, bush walks, off-road driving, vehicle numbers — here's what it means for your safari, explained by the people on the ground.

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Honeymoon Safari in Kenya: Planning Your Perfect Trip
Honeymoon Safari in Kenya: Planning Your Perfect Trip

Planning a honeymoon safari in Kenya? The Safari Cottages at Ol Pejeta Conservancy offers exclusive-use accommodation with private guide, private vehicle and private chef included. Discover the perfect Kenya honeymoon.

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Travelling to Kenya in June: What to Expect on Your Safari
Travelling to Kenya in June: What to Expect on Your Safari

June sits at Kenya's perfect sweet spot — dry season conditions, extraordinary wildlife, cooler temperatures and quieter conservancy roads, before the peak season crowds arrive. Here's why we love it.

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Safari Photography Tips for your visit to Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages - from a professional photographer
Safari Photography Tips for your visit to Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages - from a professional photographer

Get top tips for your safari to Ol Pejeta Conservancy from award-winning wildlife photographer and conservationist Margot Raggett MBE. Learn about cameras, lenses, the best time of day to shoot and everything you need to know to get the most out of your wildlife and safari photography.

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Family Safari in Kenya: Visiting Ol Pejeta with Kids
Family Safari in Kenya: Visiting Ol Pejeta with Kids

Planning a family safari in Kenya? Discover why Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages is perfect for kids of all ages — private guides, flexible schedules & unforgettable wildlife.

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Driving to Ol Pejeta: A Scenic Safari Road Trip Guide
Driving to Ol Pejeta: A Scenic Safari Road Trip Guide

A road trip to Ol Pejeta allows you to experience Kenya at ground level; you travel through changing landscapes, pass local towns and farmland, and watch the scenery slowly transform into open savannah, turning the journey itself into part of the adventure. Here’s what you can expect from the drive…

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Birdwatching at Ol Pejeta Conservancy: A Seasonal Guide
Birdwatching at Ol Pejeta Conservancy: A Seasonal Guide

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is one of central Kenya’s most rewarding destinations for birdwatching. With diverse habitats ranging from open savannah to riverine woodland and acacia groves, the conservancy supports an extraordinary variety of birdlife throughout the year including endemic and migratory species. So whether you’re a dedicated birder with an extensive birding list, the birder who loves to obsess over the LBJs (little brown jobs) or simply someone who enjoys spotting wildlife in all its forms, birdwatching at Ol Pejeta offers all safari-goers a peaceful, immersive bird watching experience.

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Wildlife You Can See at Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Beyond the Big Five)
Wildlife You Can See at Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Beyond the Big Five)

When most people think of a Kenyan safari, they think of the famous Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. While our wonderful home on Ol Pejeta Conservancy is easily one of the best places in Africa to see these iconic animals (if we do say so ourselves), what truly sets it apart is the extraordinary diversity of wildlife you’ll encounter beyond these more famous species.

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5 reasons to travel to Kenya in February
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in February

Get stuck into a safari on the award winning Ol Pejeta Conservancy, enjoy big cats moments, iconic backdrops and exquisite beaches on a safari holiday to Kenya Safari in February.

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Meet our Guides: Mike, Hezzie, James & Sam
Meet our Guides: Mike, Hezzie, James & Sam

Meet Mike, Hezzie, James and Sam; Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages guiding team and learn more about how they discovered found their passion in sharing the wonders of the natural world with our guests.

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Travelling to Kenya in April: What to Expect (And Why It Might Be Your Best Safari Yet)
Travelling to Kenya in April: What to Expect (And Why It Might Be Your Best Safari Yet)

Crisp mornings, unique photographic opportunities, the drama of an African rainstorm; Google may say that an April Kenya safari is a no-go but here’s why you why should ignore Google and do it anyway.

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Introduction to Spinners & Weavers
Introduction to Spinners & Weavers

Welcome to the Spinners and Weavers. A wonderful group of women supporting widowed and disadvantaged women the opportunity to learn new skills and to gain employment in Nanyuki town.

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5 reasons to travel to Kenya in January
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in January

Welcome the new year on a Kenya Safari in January to get your year off to an incredible start! Incredible wildlife, sweeping wild spaces and moments that will stick with you forever from your home-away-from-home at The Safari Cottages. Here are five things we love about Kenya in January.

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The History of Ol Pejeta
The History of Ol Pejeta

Read more about the history of Ol Pejeta and how it transformed from a large, successful cattle ranch to a model for wildlife conservation and the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa.

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5 reasons to travel to Kenya in December
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in December

If you’re wondering if it’s a good idea to escape the Christmas chaos and spend December on safari in Kenya this year the answer is absolutely yes! Here’s why you need to stop what you’re doing and book that trip immediately.

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Sonja's Kitchen: Traditional Kenyan Beef and Bean Stew
Sonja's Kitchen: Traditional Kenyan Beef and Bean Stew

A traditional Kenyan beef stew is made up of really simple ingredients, is super saucy and easy to whip together. Here’s our take on this camp favourite.

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The Last Two Northern White Rhinos: Najin, Fatu and Ol Pejeta's Mission to Save a Species
The Last Two Northern White Rhinos: Najin, Fatu and Ol Pejeta's Mission to Save a Species

Najin and Fatu are the last two northern white rhinos on Earth — and they live at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Here's the story of how they came to be here, what's being done to save their species, and how you can visit them.

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What to expect on a day trip to Mt Kenya
What to expect on a day trip to Mt Kenya

Here’s what your day looks like when you book a day trip to Mt Kenya for a mini mountain hike, taking in the unique flora and fauna and astonishing views!

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Your Kenya Safari Packing List
Your Kenya Safari Packing List

Here’s what you need and what you can leave behind on your holiday. Our top tips for packing for a Kenya safari.

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Kenya Yoga Safari Retreat: Yoga for the Wild at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Kenya Yoga Safari Retreat: Yoga for the Wild at Ol Pejeta Conservancy

A chat with Yoga for the Wild founders Kat Macleod and Laura Messer on what it is that has them returning to The Safari Cottages every year to lead their Kenya yoga retreat raising funds and awareness for wildlife conservation.

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5 reasons to travel to Kenya in September
5 reasons to travel to Kenya in September

If you’re considering booking your safari to Kenya in September then here are five reason why this is your best idea yet!

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A dream come true: building and running our safari camp in Kenya
A dream come true: building and running our safari camp in Kenya

An interview with the owners offering a sneak peak into what it’s like living our dream of owning and managing our very own safari camp in Kenya!

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What to expect on a day trip to Ngare Ndare
What to expect on a day trip to Ngare Ndare

Explore more of Kenya’s hidden gems on a day trip to Ngare Ndare forest: wander along the Ngare Ndare canopy walkway and take a dip in the crystal clear falls.

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