Ol Pejeta Conservancy tour from Nairobi: Chimpanzees and rhinos

You'll stand a few feet from rescued chimpanzees and see the last northern white rhino in East Africa on the same day.

A private full-day tour from Nairobi to Ol Pejeta Conservancy combines a game drive through wildlife habitat, a visit to a sanctuary housing 35 rescued chimpanzees, and a stop at a traditional Maasai manyatta. Hotel pickup begins at 6 am, and the 3.5-hour drive passes the equator line before reaching the conservancy for lunch and cultural immersion, returning to Nairobi by 6 pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chimpanzee sanctuary and game drive

• Pick up from hotel at 6 am
• Drive 3.5 hours to Chimpanzee sanctuary
• Stop at equator line for photos
• Visit Chimpanzee sanctuary and learn about chimpanzees
• Game drive in Ol Pejeta conservancy
• Lunch at lodge inside the park
• Visit traditional rhino homestead and manyatta
• Drive back to Nairobi, arrive by 6 pm

The experience

What makes this tour different is the pairing of two separate experiences (wildlife and sanctuary work) in one day. The morning drive to Ol Pejeta takes you through Laikipia's green farmland, with a stop at the equator line for photos. Once at the conservancy, you move between the chimpanzee sanctuary, where you learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of over 35 orphaned chimpanzees from West and Central Africa, and the game drive itself, where you watch for wild dogs, cape buffalo, and the Big Five across the open landscape.

The game drive and cultural component run back-to-back. After lunch at one of the lodges inside the park, you visit a traditional rhino homestead and a manyatta to learn how different Kenyan communities live. The tour is private, which means your guide can adjust the pace and focus based on what interests you most, whether that's the animals, the sanctuary's conservation work, or the cultural stops. You'll have a guide speaking English throughout, and the air-conditioned vehicle handles the full 3.5-hour return journey to Nairobi, arriving around 6 pm.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or residential address in Nairobi.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.
• bottled water.
• English-speaking guide for the full tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cedar tours and safaris

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you want to balance sanctuary time with a game drive. Your guide can weight the day toward whichever matters more to you, whether that's the rehabilitation work or wildlife spotting.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How close do you get to the chimpanzees at the sanctuary?

The chimpanzee sanctuary at Ol Pejeta provides lifelong refuge to rescued chimpanzees, and you visit as part of the tour to learn about their rescue and rehabilitation. The exact viewing distance depends on sanctuary protocols and the animals' behavior on the day you visit.

What is the northern white rhino, and why is Ol Pejeta significant for it?

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to the last northern white rhino in East Africa, making it one of the most significant rhino sanctuaries in the region and a key stop on this tour.

Will there be time to see the Big Five on the game drive?

The game drive portion of the tour passes through habitat where wild dogs, cape buffalo, and the Big Five live, though wildlife sightings depend on where the animals are on any given day.

How long is the drive from Nairobi to Ol Pejeta?

The drive from Nairobi takes 3.5 hours each way through Laikipia's farmland, with a stop at the equator line on the way out and the return journey departing at 3:30 pm to reach Nairobi by 6 pm.

What happens at the manyatta, and what will I learn there?

A traditional manyatta is a Maasai settlement, and your visit includes learning about the daily life, customs, and traditional styles of different Kenyan communities as part of the cultural component of the day.