White rhino and black rhino in Kenya
Ol Pejeta is a good place in Kenya to see both rhino species in the open. Southern white rhinos graze across the grassland. Eastern black rhinos live in the bush and are harder to find. The conservancy also holds the last two northern white rhinos, in a separate guarded enclosure.
Ol Pejeta is one of the largest black rhino sanctuaries in East Africa. In July 2026 it counted 190 eastern black rhinos. Sightings are never guaranteed, but a morning of Ol Pejeta game drives gives you good chances of at least one species.
The three kinds of rhino at Ol Pejeta
How they differ and where you can expect them.
| Rhino | What sets it apart | At Ol Pejeta |
|---|---|---|
| Southern white rhino | Wide, square mouth for grazing | Lives in the open conservancy and is often seen on game drives |
| Eastern black rhino | Pointed upper lip for browsing leaves | 190 animals in July 2026, spread across the conservancy |
| Northern white rhino | A subspecies of the white rhino | Two females in a guarded enclosure, visits only with a guide |
Colour does not help you, because both species are grey. Look at the mouth. For most visitors, a good plan is a full day on a game drive for the first two kinds and the guided visit for the third.
Our pick: a private day trip with game drives
Game drives in a private Land Cruiser are how you look for rhinos in the conservancy. No tour can promise a sighting.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Ol Pejeta rhino safaris and day trips
Day trips and safaris to Ol Pejeta with a good chance of rhinos, with live prices and availability.
Baraka, the blind black rhino of Ol Pejeta
One animal that many visitors ask about.
Baraka was a blind black rhino and one of the best-known animals at Ol Pejeta. He was born there on 20 November 1994 and died on 16 August 2026, aged 31. Visitors can no longer meet him.
Black rhinos in Kenya are still a reason to visit Ol Pejeta. If you want more than a game drive, the Rhino Monitoring activity below is the option to look at.
How to see the rhinos
Rules and options for 2026.
On a game drive
Entry includes a normal game drive. At a sighting, at most 6 vehicles stay for no more than 10 minutes each. Stay on the tracks, give the animals priority and do not follow or feed them. Drones need a permit.
Rhino Monitoring
A paid activity at $70 per adult in 2026, with no child price. Entry is extra, and booking a day ahead is recommended.
The Endangered Species Enclosure
This is a separate fenced area and not part of the open drive zone. Do not plan to drive up to it. The northern white rhinos are met on a guided visit instead.
Northern white rhino guide →Entry fees
Non-residents pay $110 per adult and $55 per child in 2026. East African citizens pay KES 2,000 and KES 1,000, residents KES 3,500 and KES 1,750.
Park fees →When and how to go for rhinos
Timing and practical points.
Dry weather helps
Dry phases make it easier to watch animals. The long rains fall from March to May and the short rains from October to December. High season runs from June to October and from January to February. No season promises a rhino on a given day.
Weather and best time →Gates and hours
The Rongai and Serat gates are open daily from 07:00 to 19:00. Payment at the gate is cashless, so buy your ticket online and bring a pass or ID if you pay a citizen or resident rate.
Vehicles
A vehicle with up to 6 seats pays KES 1,000 in 2026. Vehicles with 7 to 12 seats pay KES 5,000, and 15 seats or more pay KES 12,000. Check the rate for 13 or 14 seats before you arrive.
Park fees →Keep planning
Rhinos are one part of the conservancy.
White and black rhinos: frequently asked questions
Will I see a rhino at Ol Pejeta?
There are good chances, especially of white rhinos on open grassland, but no sighting is guaranteed. Black rhinos are harder to find. Give yourself a full morning.
What is the difference between a white and a black rhino?
The white rhino has a wide, square mouth and grazes. The black rhino has a pointed upper lip and browses on leaves. Both are grey.
Can I still meet Baraka?
No. Baraka died on 16 August 2026, aged 31. He was born at Ol Pejeta on 20 November 1994.
How many black rhinos live there?
190 eastern black rhinos in July 2026. The number changes with births and deaths.
Is this the official Ol Pejeta website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. Check current rules and bookings with the conservancy before you go.