WSilverdreamsHolidays finds joy in helping tourists to locate great holiday destinations that guarantee the revelers unforgettable memories. Our interest goes straight to Sweet Waters Game Reserve where most people who aspire to visit get countless confusion. The confusion mainly arises in names where most people wonder whether Sweet Waters and Ol Pejeta are the same places or not.

Whether you like seeing animals or watching magnificent sceneries, Sweet Waters Game Reserve is irresistible as it provides you with both experiences. Sweet Water Game Reserve is in Laikipia County, Central Kenya and sits at the foot of Mount Kenya all through to Aberdare Ranges on an expansive 364 sq. Km wildlife land.

Sweet Waters Game Reserve as a home to all the Big Five

Any tour to Kenya without seeing at least three of the famed Big Five animals can be termed as an unsuccessful trip. The animals include lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos. The named animals are not only just big, but everyone looks towards seeing each of them all under one roof.

At Sweet Waters Game Reserve, you’ll get to see the lion that’s regarded as the king of the jungle. Lions live in prides consisting of between 20-30 members where the role of everyone is spelled in their social norms. The hunting prowess of the lion is what makes the mammal the most sought after animal by tourist in Africa. I bet you also want to see the animal whose males have long hair called mane, but females don’t.

Sweet Waters Game Reserve offers you a chance to the largest mammal living on land. The elephants are scattered across the nation with some living in the parks while others freely taking part in human-game life conflict tussles. The elephant is considered as an intelligent animal that can recognize his colleagues even long after death.

Do you fancy seeing the fool-hardy water buffaloes which are known for their fearlessness stance? Sweet Waters Game Reserve wouldn’t be complete without these herbivores who can take even the lions head-on. Buffaloes walk in small herds led by the dominant bull as they graze in the park. Lions that hunt buffaloes suffer serious injuries or even face fatal wrath.

The other two members of the Big Five category are leopards and rhinoceros available in the Game Reserve. Rhinos are considered to be animals under critical danger, and you need to see them before some species face extinction. Leopards don’t only fall under the Big Five category; they’re also in the big cat class where they once again dwarf the ability of the lions. Until you come to Sweet Waters, you might find it hard to distinguish a leopard from his closest relative, the cheetah.

The Sweet Waters Sanctuary for Chimpanzees

   

The natural habitat of chimpanzees isn’t in Kenya, but the nation is playing its part in saving the animal whose population is quickly diminishing. The sanctuary was founded in 1993 through collaboration with Jane Goodall Institute to offer a new life to the endangered man’s closest relative.

The Sweet Waters Chimpanzees Sanctuary is fenced with water, so you’ll need a boat to Ewaso Nyiro River to see our fellow primates. While inside the Game Reserve, the best route to take for you meet great apes is via Porini Rhino Camp. There are about 40 chimps in the sanctuary that we often call Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Lion Tracking at Ol Pejeta Conservancy within Sweet Waters Reserve

The unusual activity that brings many tourists to the game reserve that’s close to Nanyuki town is the tracking of lions. As we have already mentioned, lions double up as the leader of both Big Five and Big Cat categories. It’s scintillating watching and recording the movement of the lions from one point to the next one.

The activity has two sessions during the day and the excursion runs all the way from dawn to dusk. The cost for this adventure is $40 for adults and $20 for children below 11 years. Remember, the service fee is inclusive of visiting the chimps in their sanctuary.

Amazing Sceneries within and around Sweet Waters Reserve

The journey to Laikipia County from the capital city will give you a memorable moment to see the landscape of Kenya. Upon reaching the Game Reserve, there’s a clear view of Aberdare Ranges where you can see deep valleys and systematic elevation.

Mount Kenya remains the highest point in the country, and the reserve is just at its foot so that you can feel the cool climate around. The volcanic mountain has snow on the top, and there are all kinds of forests around it including; moorland, rain forest, and bamboo forests. The famous mountain is the second highest peak in East Africa after Mt Kilimanjaro.

The Endangered Species Boma in Ol Pejeta Conservancy

This is the point that you can’t succeed in finding a reason for not visiting. The place is the home to the two surviving female Northern White Rhinos that are critically endangered. I’m sure you’ll want to know how the future generation will see this rare rhino species without the males that can help to sire offspring. Also, there are two Black Rhinos and six Southern White Rhinos within the conservancy that exists in the Sweet Waters Game Reserve.

Apart from the giraffe, what other large wild animals that are harmless to human do you know? Well, your guess should be good as mine since I have the zebras in mind and the conservancy in the home to several Grevy’s Zebras. The walk within the conservancy will tax you two hours for a good cause and it usually starts at 2:45 PM.

The Special Baraka Black Rhino’s Corner

Baraka is the black rhino that has gone through it all to deserve becoming an ambassador representing the endangered black rhinos. I know you’re wondering why Baraka isn’t part of the other black rhinos you spotted while at the Boma conservancy.

Baraka is a pioneer in the conservancy since he was the first rhino that was born here. His life has gone through a lot of downs that has seen him suffer from eye infections which eventually claimed his entire sight. Tell me, how can you survive in the wild when you’re blind and surrounded by colossal predators? It’s for a reason on your mind that made Baraka be allocated his 100-acre safety enclosure.

From 9.30 in the morning to 6.00 in the evening every day, you have the freedom to meet and feed Baraka. Is it not safe to say that you have the entire day to interact with the rhino that will never charge at you?

Meet the famous Maasai community and other communities

Laikipia County is partly home to one of the most indigenous ethnic community in Africa, the Maasai. The community has defied centuries without intoxicating their rich culture with modern civilization. Other communities that you will get an opportunity to interact with the Samburus, the Kikuyus, the Pokots, and the Turkana.

Camps within Sweet Waters Game Reserve  

Since the game reserve is several miles away from the capital city, Nairobi; most visitors prefer to stay within the location as they exploit their limits of adventure. There are numerous holiday camps and you’ll be spoilt with choices to pick. Here is the list of camps;

• Rift Valley Adventures Ol Pejeta Camp.
• Ol Pejeta Budget Camp Site.
• Jambo Laikipia Tented Camp Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
• Ol Pejeta Bush Camp.
• Porini Rhino Camp Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
• Sweet Water Serena Tented Camp.
• Pelican House Upcountry Cottage.

Conclusion

The establishment of Sweet Waters Game Reserve 1988 has been a big boost to the economy of Kenya and brought significant experience to tourists visiting the nation. The three-decade-old tourist destination offers the maximum height of happiness given that it has more than 10,000 large animals hence boasting of an excellent game-to-area ratio.

The sanctuaries have given people the opportunity of showing their compassion to the animal kingdom. By visiting the place, you’re contributing to the conservation of endangered species of animals through the entry fee that you pay. Besides, visitors are given a chance to bond with the mammals and even to feed them.