Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Wildlife Sanctuary · Kenya

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Photo © Lengai101

Photo © Lengai101 — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons

Where the Laikipia plateau rolls northward into dry highland country, a mosaic of open grassland, whistling-thorn scrub and riverine woodland holds one of East Africa's most quietly compelling wildlife sanctuaries. The climate here is Mediterranean in character — warm, dry summers and cooler, wetter winters — so the vegetation is adapted to drought rather than abundance: short grasses that green quickly after rain and cure to gold through the dry months, acacia stands, and denser gallery forest along the watercourses where moisture lingers. This is semi-arid highland, not lush tropics, and its ecological character is defined by that restraint. Wildlife follows the same logic. Grazing herds move with the grass, browsing species work the scrub, and the resident predators shadow both. Birds of prey work the thermals above open ground, woodland songbirds and ground-foraging species occupy the thicker cover, and the riverine strips concentrate water-dependent birds and small mammals. Seasonal wetlands and dams pull in migratory waders and waterfowl when the rains arrive.

For photographers, the appeal is the light and the space: long dry-season mornings of low, clean sun across open country, dust and haze that separate layers of landscape, and a winter wet season that repaints the grass and brings dramatic skies. Birdwatchers should work the habitat edges — the seam between grassland and woodland, and the corridors along water — where diversity concentrates. Access is by road through Laikipia's conservancy network, with the dry summer months offering the most reliable conditions for game viewing and the wetter winter months rewarding those interested in birds and wildflowers. Plan around the seasons rather than against them, carry patience for the heat of midday, and let the landscape set the pace.

Website olpejetaconservancy.org

Sagittarius serpentarius

Polemaetus bellicosus

Struthio camelus

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Yellow-billed Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Vulturine Guineafowl

Acryllium vulturinum

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis leucoscepus

Montane Nightjar

Caprimulgus poliocephalus

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

White-rumped Swift

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Crinifer leucogaster

White-bellied Bustard

Eupodotis senegalensis

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Hartlaub's Bustard

Lissotis hartlaubii

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Black-faced Sandgrouse

Pterocles decoratus

Speckled Pigeon

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

African Green Pigeon

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Senegal Lapwing

Vanellus lugubris

Black-winged Lapwing

Vanellus melanopterus

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Calidris minuta

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ciconia abdimii

Ciconia ciconia

Microcarbo africanus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

African Spoonbill

Western Cattle Egret

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Aquila nipalensis

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Micronisus gabar

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Von der Decken's Hornbill

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

D'Arnaud's Barbet

Trachyphonus darnaudii

Red-fronted Barbet

Tricholaema diademata

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Eastern Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos spodocephalus

Falco tinnunculus

Falco amurensis

Poicephalus meyeri

Rosy-patched Bushshrike

Rhodophoneus cruentus

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Mountain Oriole

Oriolus percivali

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Northern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus ruppelli

Lanius dorsalis

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Corvus capensis

Fan-tailed Raven

Corvus rhipidurus

White-bellied Tit

Melaniparus albiventris

Fischer's Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucopareia

Fawn-colored Lark

Calendulauda africanoides

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Pycnonotus barbatus

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Hirundo rustica

Ethiopian Swallow

Hirundo aethiopica

Hirundo angolensis

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

African Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis melanocrissus

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Cecropis senegalensis

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Phylloscopus trochilus

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Stout Cisticola

Cisticola robustus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Grey-capped Warbler

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Rufous Chatterer

Argya rubiginosa

Turdoides plebejus

Black-lored Babbler

Turdoides sharpei

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Rüppell's Starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Hildebrandt's Starling

Lamprotornis hildebrandti

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Abyssinian Thrush

Turdus abyssinicus

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

African Grey Flycatcher

Bradornis microrhynchus

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Myrmecocichla aethiops

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Oenanthe pleschanka

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Nectarinia kilimensis

Cinnyris mariquensis

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris pyrgita

Chestnut Sparrow

Passer eminibey

Passer rufocinctus

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Grey-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita arnaudi

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Vitelline Masked Weaver

Ploceus vitellinus

Red-billed Quelea

Euplectes capensis

Long-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes progne

Grey-headed Silverbill

Spermestes griseicapilla

Estrilda astrild

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Ortygospiza atricollis

Purple Grenadier

Granatina ianthinogaster

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Pin-tailed Whydah

Straw-tailed Whydah

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Macronyx ameliae

Anthus cinnamomeus

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Crithagra citrinelloides

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Streaky Seedeater

Crithagra striolata

Struthio molybdophanes

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

African Black Duck

Eastern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera pucherani

Coturnix coturnix

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

Pternistis squamatus

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Sombre Nightjar

Caprimulgus fraenatus

Donaldson Smith's Nightjar

Caprimulgus donaldsoni

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

Hartlaub's Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

Buff-crested Bustard

Lophotis gindiana

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Actophilornis africanus

Gallinago nigripennis

Gallinago gallinago

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Plegadis falcinellus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Macheiramphus alcinus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Grasshopper Buzzard

Butastur rufipennis

Western Barn Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Spotted Eagle-Owl

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Violet Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus damarensis

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus minor

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

African Pygmy Kingfisher

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Red-and-yellow Barbet

Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

Green-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus zambesiae

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Red-throated Wryneck

Jynx ruficollis

Polihierax semitorquatus

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Falco biarmicus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Red-fronted Parrot

Poicephalus gulielmi

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Grey Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris caesius

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Long-tailed Fiscal

Lanius cabanisi

Grey-backed Fiscal

Lanius excubitoroides

Lesser Grey Shrike

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

Singing Bush Lark

Mirafra javanica

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Neophedina cincta

Riparia riparia

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Northern Crombec

Sylvietta brachyura

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Hunter's Cisticola

Cisticola hunteri

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Pectoral-patch Cisticola

Cisticola brunnescens

Red-fronted Prinia

Prinia rufifrons

Buff-bellied Warbler

Phyllolais pulchella

Chestnut-throated Apalis

Apalis porphyrolaema

Grey Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes simplex

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Zosterops flavilateralis

Kikuyu White-eye

Zosterops kikuyuensis

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Northern Pied Babbler

Turdoides hypoleuca

Magpie Starling

Speculipastor bicolor

Bare-eyed Thrush

Turdus tephronotus

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Rüppell's Robin-Chat

Cossypha semirufa

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

Cape Robin-Chat

Dessonornis caffer

White-throated Robin

Irania gutturalis

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Little Rock Thrush

Monticola rufocinereus

Saxicola rubetra

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes orientalis

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Hunter's Sunbird

Chalcomitra hunteri

Tacazze Sunbird

Nectarinia tacazze

Golden-winged Sunbird

Drepanorhynchus reichenowi

Northern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris reichenowi

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Passer domesticus

White-headed Buffalo Weaver

Dinemellia dinemelli

Black-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita cabanisi

Speckle-fronted Weaver

Sporopipes frontalis

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Ploceus cucullatus

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-cowled Widowbird

Euplectes laticauda

Jackson's Widowbird

Euplectes jacksoni

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

African Silverbill

Euodice cantans

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus cyanocephalus

Orange-winged Pytilia

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Motacilla capensis

Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

Tmetothylacus tenellus

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus trivialis

Red-throated Pipit

Anthus cervinus

White-bellied Canary

Crithagra dorsostriata

Thick-billed Seedeater

Crithagra burtoni

Yellow-crowned Canary

Serinus flavivertex

Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Cuculus clamosus

Ardea intermedia

Black-shouldered Kite

Elanus axillaris

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

African Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos goertae

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Brown-headed Parrot

Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Golden-breasted Starling

Lamprotornis regius

Northern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis edolioides

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Ploceus capensis

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Emberiza poliopleura

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

Crocuta crocuta

Orycteropus afer

Southern Tree Hyrax

Dendrohyrax arboreus

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Northern Lesser Galago

Galago senegalensis

African Savanna Hare

Myocastor coypus

Yellow-winged False-vampire

Ictonyx striatus

Black-backed Jackal

Lupulella mesomelas

Otocyon megalotis

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Eastern Aardwolf

Proteles septentrionalis

Rusty-spotted Genet

Genetta fieldiana

Aepyceros melampus

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Thomson's Gazelle

Eudorcas thomsonii

Grant's Gazelle

Raphicerus campestris

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Tragelaphus oryx

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Phacochoerus africanus

Procavia capensis

Acinonyx jubatus

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Syncerus caffer

Reticulated Giraffe

Giraffa reticulata

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