“Our expectations of The Safari Cottages were totally surpassed. What a magic, private hideaway in a very quiet area of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy with total serenity and peace. The food was exceptional. All the staff were welcoming and went out of their way to give us the holiday of a lifetime. The space in the cottage was simply glorious and, being totally private, it’s a joy for families with kids. The game viewing was incredible and we saw an extremely high concentration of wild animals in incredibly beautiful surroundings. Adopting a chimpanzee and feeding a black rhino were extremely emotional and iconic experiences that will remain with us for life. Thank you so much. We will without a doubt be back.”

Julia, Nairobi

These newly-completed cottages are the perfect retreat for anyone who wants to be as private and independent as possible when on safari. There are only 4 cottages in total – two with 2 bedrooms and two with 1 bedroom – making this small development ideal for visitors wanting to avoid the constraints and crowds of lodges or camps.

The cottages are also the perfect place from which to experience and explore Ol Pejeta’s unrivalled abundancy of animal and bird life. They nestle in an unspoilt bush location amid towering yellow- bark acacia trees, sitting alongside the meandering Ngobit River in the remote and little-visited southern part of the conservancy, and enjoy uninterrupted views across the river valley to the upland plains beyond.

“I am so happy that I found the Safari Cottages before going for a weekend trip to Ol-Pejeta – they are ideal!  The staff were all very sweet and helpful and nothing was too much trouble. We went for a beautiful drive along the yellow-fever acacia dotted river which was just stunning and came across a den of hyenas with the sweetest cubs who were very playful and entertaining. We saw a large herd of elephant on the river with a number of calves – so good  to see -and rhino too.”

Kiki, Nairobi

Each spacious two-bedroom cottage can comfortably house four adults – with room for two additional children sharing a bedroom. The one-bedroom cottage is ideal for a couple. All bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms with showers, washbasins, wardrobes and dressing areas. The living and dining rooms boast large fireplaces and comfortable sofas. Meals are prepared in a well-equipped external kitchen.

In each cottage all the rooms open out and unzip, safari-tent style, onto an enormous veranda which runs the length of the building, and which is furnished with outdoor dining table, sofas and chairs. Steps lead down to the lawn area where guests can enjoy an al-fresco meal or an open campfire under the stars at night. Power and lighting are solar in keeping with the cottages’ environmentally-friendly ethos.

The cottages come complete with a full complement of staff including on-site manager, private chef, housekeeper and waiter. Day and night guards patrol the electric fence which surrounds the property. The staff are on hand to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible – from preparing meals and picnics to lighting the fires each evening to welcome guests home from a late game drive.

“Ol Pejeta far exceeded our expectations and The Safari Cottages were the perfect place from which to experience it. Settled deep in the conservancy, the cottages are spacious, with great verandas for dining, a stunning view, and pleasant conveniences (hot showers, electricity, luxury bath soaps etc) From the cottages, you look out onto the savannah, just across a rumbling river – we actually had elephants gather along the river one afternoon, and sat enjoying a glass of wine and watching them interact. On our game drives, we saw 4 of the big 5, along with a host of other diverse and unique animals. Really, the whole trip was very very pleasant, and I would encourage others to visit without question.”

Ben, Nairobi

During your stay at the safari cottages your days are completely your own, and you can spend as much or as little time as you like exploring the numerous attractions of the conservancy. Or you may prefer simply to sit back and relax on the veranda and soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the surrounding bush.

The land around the cottages abounds with wildlife – elephant, lion, leopard and cheetah can all be found nearby, and animals will often come down to the river in front of the cottages to drink. An early morning drive, with a picnic breakfast prepared by the staff, may reward you with a black rhino or leopard encounter. Less dramatic, but very entertaining, are the baboons, guinea fowl and Egyptian geese that make their homes nearby.

There are various additional game viewing activities that can be arranged through Ol Pejeta’s tourism office. Options include night drives, bush walks, lion tracking, private visits to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary and to the Endangered Species Enclosure where the rare Northern White Rhinos are located. Please see the ‘Location’ section for further information on the conservancy.