Ol Pejeta Sweetwaters Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy (informally known as Sweetwaters for the location of Sweetwaters Tented Camp), is a 90,000 acre wildlife conservancy situated between the foot hills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snowcapped Mount Kenya.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy boasts an astounding variety of animals including the non-indigenous chimpanzees and the big 5 (the endangered black rhino, leopard, elephant, buffalo and lion). The combination of amazing wildlife and stunning views across the open plains of Ol Pejeta guarantees an unforgettable safari experience.

Ol Pejeta conservancy is the only place in africa that offers the opportunity to see chimpanzees and the big 5. Ol Pejeta conservancy is a 90,000 acre wildlife conservancy.

Home to over 40 chimpanzees, 73 endangered black rhino, 5 endangered white rhinos, elephants, lion, leopard, buffalo, grevy zebra, giraffe, cheetah, thomson's gazelle, black-back jackals, ostrich, grant's gazelle, baboons, waterbuck, oryx, eland and several hundred bird species.

Only a three hour drive from nairobi on good roads, ol pejeta conservancy is the closest place for you to come and see the big 5.

The Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary opened in 1993. Lonrho Africa, the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) established a facility to receive and provide sanctuary and housing to an original group of 3 chimps orphaned at a young age by the bush-meat trade. With the evacuation of the JGI facility in Bujumbura due to civil war breaking out in Burundi, the chimps were brought to Sweetwaters. In 1995, 9 older chimpanzees arrived, followed at the beginning of 1996 by 10 younger chimpanzees.

The Sanctuary is partitioned into two parts, with the river acting as a natural border between the two groups. The eastern side of the sanctuary is 96 acres and home to the older group while the western side is 151 acres and home to the younger group. The sole objective of the sanctuary is to provide a safe, secure and permanent refuge for theses chimpanzees in an environment that is as natural as possible.

Owing to the ongoing destruction of the West African rainforest and continued demand for bush-meat, Sweetwaters is compelled to continue accepting new orphaned and abused chimpanzees. The sanctuary now holds 40 chimpanzees with 16 fully qualified staff taking care of them day and night.

The annual cost of taking care of each chimpanzee is approximately $6000. Any contributions we receive help us to give these chimpanzees the life they deserve.

If you would like to help the chimpanzees, Ol Pejeta now offer 2 new improved adoption packages available to people visiting The Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The money from these adoption packages and any donations goes toward the feeding, housing and care of the chimpanzees.

The Rhino Sanctuary

The population of black rhino in Africa plummeted from an estimated 65,000 to about 10,000 in the early 1980's. By 2001 the total African population was estimated at 3,100.

The population of black rhinos in Kenya dropped from an estimated 20,000 in 1970 to an estimated 450 animals presently. Kenya is the stronghold of the last remaining population of the eastern subspecies (Diceros biconis michaeli), holding 88% of the population.

In response to the drastic reduction in rhino numbers through poaching, Kenya decided to set up specially protected and fenced sanctuaries for rhino conservation. The creation of these sanctuaries was designed to maximize the breeding potential of rhinos, using surplus animals to re-stock any new areas. Sweetwaters game reserve is one such sanctuary.

Sweetwaters game reserve was set up in 1989 and covered an area of 24,000 acres. Twenty-two black rhinos were introduced into Sweetwaters from other sanctuaries between 1989 and 1993. The carrying capacity for black rhinos was then estimated at 90 animals but due to the high densities of competing species, especially elephants and giraffes, the estimated carrying capacity was reduced to approximately 40 animals.