| Ol Pejeta Conservancy | | | | accommodation options, offering a range of activities. |
| Formerly called the sweet waters Game reserve, this | | | | Sleeping and Eating |
| impressive 97-sq-km (soon to be 300-sq-km) wildlife | | | | Timau River Lodge (off A2 Hwy; camping kshs300; |
| conservancy (adult/child US$25/13) is home of a wide | | | | cottage incl breakfast per person Kshs1400). A |
| variety of plains wildlife, including the big Five, massive | | | | wonderfully offbeat place, consisting of several lovely |
| eland antelopes and a plethora of birdlife. | | | | thatched cottages of varying sizes and a |
| There's also an important Chimpanzee sanctuary | | | | well-equipped campsite with a large covered cooking |
| (9-9.30am - 3-4.30pm), operation by the Jane Goodall | | | | area. The restaurant (meals kshs150-450) is good and |
| institute. | | | | it happily caters to vegetarians. |
| Sleeping and eating | | | | Besides offering all-inclusive treks (US$70 per day) up |
| There are two top-end accommodation options in | | | | Mount Kenya on the rarely used Timau route, the |
| the reserve. | | | | lodge also offers camel treks (Ksh 850 per day), |
| Sweetwaters tented Camp (low season full board s | | | | cultural visits (Kshs600 per day) and safaris to Ol |
| d US$90/180, high season US$235/310) recently | | | | Pejeta conservancy (US$68, minimum two people). |
| purchased by Serena Hotels, this Equator-straddling | | | | There is a good chance of seeing Elephants and |
| place is up for some major renovations. There are | | | | other wildlife. |
| currently 30 permanent tents beneath thatched roofs | | | | Ken Trout Guest Cottages (off A2 Hwy; camping |
| that sit beside a floodlit waterhole (tent numbers one | | | | Kshs300, half board cottages per person Kshs 2500) |
| and two have the best view). It has a lovely small | | | | this place, 3km south of Timau, is a more mainstream |
| bar and lounge where wicker abounds. Activities | | | | establishment with an excellent restaurant (meals |
| available include wildlife drives (US$45), walking safaris | | | | Kshs450; 11.00am to 5.00pm). There is some very |
| (US$21) and camel rides (US$11 per hour). | | | | good fishing here, although you pay everything you |
| Ol Pejeta House (low season full board s/d US$10 | | | | catch. The main house (which sleeps up to eight) is |
| 170, high season US$270/390) once home to Lord | | | | rented exclusively and has old plank floors and brick |
| Delamere and subsequently the holiday gateway of | | | | fire places in most rooms. The cottages are much |
| the now bankrupt international arms dealer Adnan | | | | smaller but more cosies. |
| Kashoggi, this house has also just been bought by | | | | Getting there and away |
| Serena Hotels. Whether they'll keep Adnan's lavish | | | | Any matatu running between Nanyuki and Isiolo or |
| decoration sand his massive 4m x 4m bed is | | | | Nanyuki and Meru will happily drop you in Timau or at |
| anyone's guess. Rates include wildlife drives. | | | | the turn off to either sleeping options. |
| Getting there and away | | | | El Karama Ranch |
| You can visit the reserve independently if you have | | | | About 2km to the northwest of Nanyuki, El Karama |
| your own vehicle. Access if is off the A2 highway | | | | Ranch (bandas per person Kshs2500) is on the |
| south out of Nanyuki. Mt Kenya safari club (p273) | | | | Ewaso Ngiro Riva. Although still a working ranch, |
| runs half the wildlife drives for US$55 per person | | | | wildlife conservation is paramount and the |
| (minimum 2 passengers); guests staying two or more | | | | 5668-hecters play home to lions, leopards, elephants, |
| night gets free entry to the conservancy and lunch | | | | hippos, buffalo and rare northern species like Gravy's |
| at Sweetwater's Tented Camp. | | | | zebras and reticulated giraffes. Billed as a 'self service |
| TIMAU | | | | camp', it's an old family-run settlers' ranch with a |
| This tiny town is a convenient stop between Isiolo | | | | number of basic but comfortable riverside bandas. |
| and Nanyuki and as a couple of interesting | | | | Seated long-drop toilets and showers are close by. |