Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages

Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages

Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages are a collection of four beautiful cottages tucked along an acacia-lined riverside in the beating heart of Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Nestled between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Range, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in the Laikipia and Lewa Region offers a wonderfully-uncrowded safari experience, despite the fact that the density of wildlife in this area is greater than some of Kenya’s national parks, save for Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages manages to successfully blend superior yet unfussy levels of service with eco-friendly but luxurious accommodation options—topped off with the finest cuisine and exceptional guiding. Activities are organized around your own schedule and all meals are catered to your own specific preferences. At Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages you’ll spend glorious days exploring open plains and secret valleys and unforgettable evenings indulging in decadent dinners on your private veranda.

Children of all ages are welcome at Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages, though walking safaris are reserved for youth 12 years and older. Parents will appreciate that the property is fully fenced, and each cabin is assigned a dedicated night guard.

What we love about Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages

The brainchild of safari industry veterans Andy and Sonja Webb, Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages offers a highly personalized safari experience. Not only will you have an individually curated timetable, but you’ll also have access to a private 4WD safari vehicle and a knowledgeable guide at no extra cost. Add to that, the services of your very own private chef—and it’s easy to understand why Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages’ safari style provides guests with a warm sense of belonging.

Andy Webb’s track record of more than 35 years as a professional guide means he’s renowned as one of the best safari operators of his generation. He now uses that expertise to hand-pick some of the best guides in Kenya. With the exclusivity of your own guide and vehicle, a stay at Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages is as well suited for those with specialist interests (like birdwatching or wildlife photography), as it is for generalists.

Getting to Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages 

Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages is a lengthy and uneventful four-to-five-hour drive from Nairobi.

The easiest way to get to camp is a short, non-stop scheduled flight from Nairobi to Kamok airstrip which is located within the Conservancy. The journey to Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages doubles as a game drive and takes around one hour depending on which animals you stop to see en route. Charter flights are also available along this flight path.

Nanyuki airstrip, located outside of the Conservancy, is an alternate option that also involves a one-hour game drive ground transfer.

Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages accommodations

There are four gorgeous Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages in total—two one-bedroom cottages and two two-bedroom cottages. They all come with the services of a dedicated server and room attendant.

All of the safari cottages at Ol Pejeta boast beautiful, rustic-style open-plan lounges/dining rooms adorned with large, open fireplaces and a bar complete with doting butler service. The en suite bathrooms have wardrobes and dressing areas, as well as plenty of hot and cold running water in the shower and wash basin.

Each cottage features rooms that unzip—safari-tent style—onto their enormous veranda, which runs along the entire length of the building. These wonderful outdoor spaces are furnished with dining tables, sofas and chairs—making them the perfect place to relax with a hot cup of Kenyan tea while you soak up the views across the Ngobit River and wild plains beyond. Behind each cottage, there is a fully fitted independent kitchen where meals are specially prepared for its occupants.

Steps lead down from the veranda to the lawn area, where you can enjoy an al fresco meal or an open campfire under the stars.

The two single safari cottages at Ol Pejeta—“Moja Juu” and “Moja Chini”—provide the ideal accommodation solution for adventurous couples yearning for a private bush escape. They’re also a great fit for small families who want to share a room with a young child.

Alternatively, there’s the two-bedroom “Mbili” cottage, which was built largely of recycled wood from the ranch house that once stood on the site. The two bedrooms in this pioneer-style cottage each sleep two people comfortably (or three in a triple room), making Mbili an excellent choice for small families or groups of friends in search of adventure.

And finally, there’s the “Tatu” cottage, which is an exact replica of Mbili. Both Mbili and Tatu can be booked individually, but when booked together they can comfortably accommodate groups of eight or 12. The two cottages are within easy walking distance of each other, but the thick bushes between the units ensure privacy if it is desired.

Note: There are no shared lounge spaces or communal dining at Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages, meaning guest stays center less on mingling with other travelers. If you’re looking for an elusive hideaway, this is it.

Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages amenities

The land surrounding Ol Pejeta is abundant with wildlife. Lion, elephant, cheetah and leopard often come to the river in front of the cottages to drink. So, when it comes to power and lighting, it’s easy to understand why the ethos at Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages is environmentally friendly. 

Each of the safari cottages at Ol Pejeta has 24-hour solar electricity and hot and cold running water in the shower and wash basin. You’ll also find an eco-friendly power system in your unit to charge your devices. A collection of all-natural toiletries and soft bath towels add a touch of elegance.

Guests at Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages are provided with the services of a private 4WD safari vehicle and knowledgeable guide at no extra cost. Other staff includes an on-site manager, private chef, housekeeper, waiter, and groundsmen.

There is no WiFi at Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages, but the cell phone signal is reasonable.

Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages activities

Game drives with a private vehicle and guide: Search for the Big Five as you explore 90,000 acres of unadulterated wilderness in the Laikipia and Lewa Region with your expert guide. Expect to come face to face with elephants, wild dogs, lions, hyenas, buffalo, cheetah, and rhino.

Bush breakfast and/or lunch: Head out into Mother Nature’s dining room to watch the wildlife as you dine al fresco in the shade of a tree.

Equator bush breakfast and/or sundowner: Experience a breakfast or sundowner like no other on the Equator line which runs straight through Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Spotlight night drive: Find out what happens on the conservancy after dark. This is a fabulous opportunity to spot aardvark, bat-eared foxes, and leopards.

Bush walks: Your guides know Ol Pejeta Conservancy like the backs of their hands, so pull on your hiking boots and get up close and personal with the sights, smells, and sounds of the Laikipia and Lewa Region.

Specialist bird walks with Andy: Hit the trails with the owner of the safari cottages at Ol Pejeta, Andy Webb. He has more than three decades of guiding to his name, so you’re sure to have an unrivaled birding experience.

À la carte extras:

Aberdare day trip: The breathtaking scenery of the Aberdare Mountain Range includes forest, bamboo thickets, rolling moorlands, and dazzling waterfalls. On a day trip, peer overhead into the canopy for appearances of colobus and Sykes monkeys, and some 250 species of birds. On the forest floor, keep an eye out for rare mountain bongo (antelope) and giant forest hogs.

Mount Kenya day trip: Admire the dense forests and glorious glaciers of Mount Kenya, a formidable icon presiding over the Laikipia Plateau. On a guided forest and moorland walk, you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch while learning about the high-altitude adapted game and montane flora.

Yoga and wellness retreats: Stretch, breathe, and hold a pose—just mind the ellies in the background. A few times each year, Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages plays host to yoga wellness retreats. You’ll work on mobility while setting your intentions alongside like-minded travelers.

Our Favorite Lewa/Laikipia Accommodation on a Map