Affordable Transport From NBO to Ol Pejeta

Hi All,

I'll be going to Kenya in September and am planning on staying at one of the lodge's at the Ol Pejeta conservancy for 3 nights. Rates around that time are a bit high but understandable given that its the busy season.

However, getting to and from there appears to be outrageously expensive based on the rates quoted by the Lodges. A one way flight costs $138USD to Nanyuki and $110USD for a one way trip from Nanyuki airport to the Conservancy (15 minute drive).

While I don't dispute the convenience of having everything arranged, paying close to $250, or $500 return, seems a bit too much.

I was wondering if anyone here knew of alternative options. Are there companies that could offer a driver service to get to and from the area? I feel that $150 for a one way trip would be reasonable... Or are there safe and reliable bus services to Nanyuki, and could I take a taxi from there to the lodge? Or is the $250 rate that I've been quoted for transport reasonable? Are there taxi services as Nanyuki airport that I could use should I opt for the flight only (my preferred option)?

I'd really appreciate any assistance as its my first time doing this, and I hope I can repay the favour someday (or immediately if anyone has questions on travelling around Ontario, Canada :) ).

Edited by: Bryan_Wheat

Hi Brian,

I'm Canadian myself, spend half the year in Africa and half in Toronto (where I am now).

Yes, the airport transfer is a terrible ripoff. You could always get your own taxi at Nanyuki to take you to the lodge for much less, but the question is whether the conservancy (which is private property) will allow the taxi in. Check with them on that. Judging from the map, the trip is less than 20km, so I imagine 1,500 Kenyan shillings would be enough - that is the "foreigner price" of course.

You don't need to fly to Nanyuki either. From Nairobi there are comfortable 7-seat vans (called executive matatus) leaving hourly for Nanyuki. They cost a few dollars, and there are no goats or chickens on board. Lots of tourists take them.

Lucky you for staying at Ol Pejeta. I can't afford it myself but I hear it is great. Too bad they treat you like a human ATM though.

Please feel free to come back with further questions.

Great, and thanks, really appreciate your advice!
'Human ATM' is a great way of describing it. I was drawn to Ol Pejeta due to their conservation efforts but you're right, it's very pricey...and there are fees for anything beyond the room and board, which is why saving on the transport would be great.

I live in Toronto as well...I was actually born in Kenya, moved to Canada as a kid and haven't been back in close to 13 years. This is my first time heading back and it's a bit weird coming in as a tourist. It can't be helped though...while I remember Nairobi and Mombasa, and their neighbourhoods pretty decently, the rest of the country is a bit of a blur.

I'll look into the executive matatu's. If I were to take one of these to Nanyuki, are there safe options to get to Ol Pejeta from there? I'll check in with the Conservancy on private vehicles or taxi's...from what I've read, that shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks again!

I see I misspelled your first name above.

Theoretically, once in Nanyuki you could catch a matatu bound for Rumuruti that would drop you right at the gate of the conservancy. But you would still have to have arrange transport into the conservancy itself. Ol Pejeta could pick you up at their gate but I imagine they charge dearly for that as well.

Your best bet I think is to get a taxi in Nanyuki.

You'll find Nanyuki quite a bustling town these days. It still hosts a lot of British servicemen and it is getting popular as a retirement place for expats. Some very swanky gated communities are going up on the edges of the parks. The taxi drivers are used to ferrying foreigners but they won't be too soft on prices. Still much cheaper though than the lodge's private car. What an absolute disgrace they charge so much, considering many retreats give their customers free transfers if they book a room.

Just curious... as you were born in Kenya, could you not apply for an ID card there? It would slash a huge amount off your safari costs. Kenya now allows dual citizenship. Were you born before 1963?

I stayed at sweetwaters in Ol Pejeta a few months back, it's lovely and I saw a pack of hunting dogs there so it was worth the trip.

I drove there myself so can't comment on taxi prices (haggle hard) or matatus but be aware that the main gate is about 15-20 minute drive from the main highway on rough roads (turn at the equator sign) and probably about 25-30 minutes from the centre of Nanyuki itself. In the conservancy, sweetwaters isn't far from the gate but the other lodge might take some time and the road there might get muddy if it rains. Also you'll probably have to pay for the car and taxi drivers entry into the park too. Still suspect that the taxi would be cheaper though. How much are game drives?

Oh regarding the 'human ATM' Sweetwaters is easily the most expensive place I've stayed in Kenya with regard to extras like drinks etc. I paid over $10 for a G&T!

Can probably bring your own alcohol and just pay a corkage fee. I spent last weekend at the Treetops and we paid Ksh 500 in total in corkage fees.

There's a good idea. I wonder if you can just sneak a bottle in your luggage and enjoy it in your room?

At any rate I would definitely take some snacks and maybe some sodas with me.

adsp - thanks for that...does the place get very busy? And is it at all possible to tour the whole conservancy or are you limited to the areas directly around whichever lodge you choose to stay in? I'm looking at Sweetwaters as well...it seems to have gotten excellent reviews but, as you mentioned, you pay a pretty coin for staying there. And I'm not clear on whether or not game drives are extra. Probably extra but I haven't seen prices.

strikingstar, christopher - that's a good idea. I'll be sure to do that. And yeah, while the lodges are expensive, it's the cost of the airport transfer that really got me.

I was considering applying for dual citizenship but was nervous about the length of time that would take and the process hasn't been entirely clear. Do they require originals of the official documents? I need my passport for travelling to the US this summer and have to figure out how to coordinate around that. I was born in the 1980's. I'll write to the embassy here and get more details.

It wasn't too busy when I was there, one day I actually went about 3 hours without seeing another vehicle. You can drive round the whole conservancy not just the bit near the your lodge.

Sweetwaters is really nice it's got a floodlit waterhole infront of the tents and bar, that's where I spotted the hunting dogs. But I'm a resident so got a very good last second deal for accomodation only. Two suggestions if you go - 1) get a tent in the 'front row' they are very near the waterhole 2) avoid it at the weekend if you want some peace and quiet. When I was there lots of families had come up from Nairobi for the weekend. They stayed in camp playing in the pool and made sooooo much noise. Didn't bother me, I just wanted out of Nairobi too, but some of the tourists seemed unhappy as noise isn't good for encouraging animals to the waterhole and that's what they had come all this way for! No idea about game drives I'm afraid but they seem to have loads a jeeps but I'll bet it's pricey!

for your dual citzenship dilema don't underestimate how long it can take for any paperwork to be processed and stated timeframes often are not to be trusted. If the embassay need to hold your passport be careful as you might not get it back at the stated time. I spent about 2 months in Kenya with no official ID when my ID card and UK passport went missing after I handed them over for 'a few days'.

Ah, thanks for the tip. I was actually planning for the weekend of September 21 or 28. I'll try moving that forward to the middle of the week.

I'm familiar with the classic Kenyan Passport processing system - that's one of the few things that I still remember from my time there. During passport renewals, the office once 'lost' our passports for a couple of months and asked us to pay for an investigator to help locate them...you don't forget that experience in a hurry. I've heard that things have improved but I'd rather not risk it. Gaining my citizenship back would be great though and I'll look into it.

Edited by: Bryan_Wheat

My roommate is trying to get dual citizenship too (Kenya-US). Born in 91. Problem is he lost his Kenyan passport in a fire. He showed up with his birth certificate but that wasn't enough. He had to go back to his dad's village to get the liguru or chief to sign some document to verify he was legit. But he still got rejected after waiting for 3 months. Now he's fed up with the Kisumu HQ so he's going to get it done at the Kenyan embassy in the US instead.

ABOUT THE TRIP TO NANYUKI,
I WOULDNT ADVISE YOU TO TRAVEL BY PUBLIC MEANS BECAUSE THE SERVICE OFFERED BY PUBLIC MEANS IS SOMEWHAT PATHETIC. ITS QUITE A LONG WAY AND CONSIDERING THE DISTANCE TO BE COVERED, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WONT ENJOY THE JOURNEY AT ALL. SINCE FLYING TO NANYUKI IS ALSO EXPENSIVE, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO HIRE A CAR FROM NAIROBI WITH A CHAUFFER WHO WILL DRIVE AND DROP YOU INSIDE THE CONSERVANCY ITSELF (THAT IS IN THE LODGING WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO STAY) RATHER THAN RISKING TO FACE INCONVENIENCES THAT MIGHT BE CAUSE TO YOU BY OTHER DRIVERS. IF YOU HIRE A NICE COMFORTABLE SALOON CAR, YOU WILL REACH YOUR DESTINATION VERY SAFELY COMFORTABLY AND YOU WILL APPRECIATE QUALITY FOR YOUR MONEY. ALL EXPENSES INCLUDED, YOU CAN GET TO OL PEJETA WITH THE 150 DOLLARS THAT YOU HAVE. FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS @ mdswissholdings@gmail.com