From a working cattle ranch in colonial Kenya to an award winning role model for conservation innovation, the story of Ol Pejeta is full of intrigue and inspiration. With a mission to “work with partners and stakeholders to conserve biodiversity and support economic and social development through innovative nature-based solutions that benefit people, wildlife and the climate,” Ol Pejeta’s work is vital to the planet.
Today, Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, with more than 150 black rhinos, and home to the last two northern white rhinos in the world. Amazingly, Ol Pejeta’s successful anti-poaching program has resulted in zero incidences of poaching in the last 4 years. Ol Pejeta is also the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees. Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established in 1993 to rehabilitate orphaned and abused chimpanzees rescued from the black market. OPC has some of the highest predator densities in Kenya, and still manages a very successful livestock program. As a not-for-profit wildlife sanctuary, profits from ecotourism are reinvested back into the conservancy and community development programs.
Ol Pejeta seeks to support the people living around its borders, to ensure wildlife conservation translates to better education, healthcare and infrastructure for the next generation of wildlife guardians. PA-MOJA is extremely proud to partner with Ol Pejeta Conservancy to support its scholarship program. Together, OPC and PA-MOJA provide educational scholarships to some of the brightest and most deserving young Kenyans. The future prosperity of wildlife and these young people are intertwined; both depend on your generosity and support.
Operating under the direction of former CEO Richard Vigne from 1996–2021, Ol Pejeta now welcomes Justin Heath as the new CEO. Justin is equally passionate about conservation and community social economic development and PA-MOJA looks forward to working with him. He takes over an award winning conservation area that uses a novel conservation model that seeks to enhance land productivity while furthering conservation and community development. OPC is on the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas and has won many travel awards such as Africa’s Leading Conservation Company in 2022 and the 2022 Traveler’s Choice Award. These awards are a testament to OPC’s commitment to sustainable conservation that carefully balances the needs of wildlife with those of the local communities.
