- Jan–Feb, Jun–Aug & Oct
- 10 Days
- Limited to 12 Participants
Beneath the towering slopes of Mount Kenya, a black rhino emerges from the brush. Look closely at the notches in its ears: Each pattern helps researchers identify an individual. At Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where black rhino numbers have climbed from just 20 in 1993 to more than 180 today, you'll track these endangered giants on foot with Kenyan scientists, investigating what their growing population needs to thrive.
Go beyond the traditional safari, surveying wildlife across Ol Pejeta's sweeping plains. Between research outings, watch for lions, elephants and giraffes, and visit the world's last two northern white rhinos.
Then fly north to the rugged Mathews Range and remote Namunyak Conservancy, where the focus shifts from tracking rhinos to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants. At Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, watch young elephants at feeding time, meet the Samburu keepers responsible for their daily care and hear the stories behind their rescues. Discover how the sanctuary prepares these calves for a return to the wild.
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Research at a Glance
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The Research Focus
Investigate whether Ol Pejeta's growing black rhino population has enough habitat to thrive. Study the plants rhinos eat, browsing pressure from elephants and giraffes and how habitat management can help protect and restore their food supply.
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What You'll Do
Walk research transects through rhino habitat, identify individuals by their ear notches and record wildlife sightings and tracks. Measure trees and seedlings, assess browsing damage and examine camera-trap data to monitor wildlife movements.
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Why It Matters
Ol Pejeta's rhino comeback raises a vital question: How many rhinos can the land support? Your field observations contribute to decades of research guiding habitat restoration, decisions about rhino population growth and recovery efforts across Kenya.
Expedition Highlights
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Track Kenya's Endangered Black Rhinos
Leave the safari vehicle behind and walk through Ol Pejeta's acacia woodlands and grasslands with Kenyan scientists, searching for black rhinos at eye level. Learn to recognize individuals by their distinctive ear notches and gather observations that reveal how these animals use their habitat.
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Safari on the Plains Beneath Mount Kenya
Explore Ol Pejeta's sweeping plains in search of lions, elephants, giraffes and other safari wildlife. Enjoy a private visit to the world's last two northern white rhinos, gaining rare access to conservation experts working to protect endangered rhino populations.
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Meet the Rescued Elephants of Reteti
Fly north to remote Namunyak Conservancy for a behind-the-scenes visit to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Watch orphaned elephants at feeding time, meet their Samburu keepers and hear the stories of their rescue and preparation for a return to the wild.
Meet Your Lead Scientist
Geoffrey Wahungu, Ph.D.
Geoffrey Wahungu, Ph.D. Chief Conservation & Programs Officer, Ol Pejeta Conservancy Ecologist Dr. Geoffrey Wahungu has studied black rhino habitats at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy for more than two decades, translating his research into practical strategies for managing the landscape. His research guides the conservancy's management of black rhino habitat, helping protect the vegetation and ecosystems rhinos depend on.
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Search for Black Rhinos Beyond the Safari Routes
Follow fresh tracks, examine dung and learn to read the signs black rhinos leave across the savanna. With Kenyan scientists guiding your search, discover how these clues help locate and identify animals that can vanish into dense brush.Escape to a Private Camp in Rhino Country
Stay at Nat Hab's secluded, solar-powered Rhino Camp, where spacious safari tents offer comfortable beds, en suite bathrooms and private verandas. Savor hearty meals prepared over the fire and gather beneath the African sky after days in the field.Explore Ol Pejeta After Dark
Join nighttime wildlife surveys and watch thermal drone footage as researchers search for animals hidden in the darkness. See how the technology reveals nocturnal activity that would be difficult to observe from a safari vehicle.Investigate What Black Rhinos Need to Thrive
Measure acacia trees, count seedlings and inspect vegetation browsed by rhinos, elephants and giraffes. See how these observations help researchers assess whether Ol Pejeta can sustain a growing rhino population.Meet the Experts Behind Ol Pejeta's Rhino Comeback
Spend time with the Kenyan scientists helping guide Ol Pejeta's remarkable black rhino recovery. Hear how they monitor wildlife, manage habitat and tackle the challenges of protecting a growing population of endangered rhinos.Uncover the Discoveries Changing Rhino Conservation
Explore findings from research underway since 1999, including why Ol Pejeta stopped using fire to manage habitat and established protected enclosures to help the shrubs and trees rhinos feed on recover.Visit the Last Two Northern White Rhinos on Earth
Accompany rhino conservation experts on a private visit to the last surviving members of this subspecies. Hear about the challenges of protecting them and the scientific efforts to give northern white rhinos a future.Connect With Communities Beyond the Conservancy
Meet residents of a neighboring community and learn how Ol Pejeta's rhino recovery has affected local livelihoods. Discover how researchers assess the social and economic effects of conservation to help improve community programs.Discover Reteti's Community-Led Elephant Rescue
Learn how Samburu keepers rehabilitate orphaned elephants at a sanctuary owned and operated by the local community. Explore how the project creates opportunities for people living alongside wildlife.Seek Out Wild Elephants in the Mathews Range
Explore Namunyak Conservancy on game drives and guided bush walks, watching for roaming elephants in a rugged landscape that serves as an important corridor for their movements.Explore Wild Kenya With Just 12 Travelers and an Expert Leader
Travel in a group of no more than 12 guests, guided by an expert Expedition Leader. Ask questions of the conservation team during field outings and discuss the day's discoveries back at camp.