Remembering Baraka: The Ol Pejeta Rhino I Met in March

Some travel experiences stay with you long after the journey ends.

For me, meeting Baraka at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki was one of them.

I had heard about Baraka for years. As a member of the Yana Trekkers team, Ol Pejeta was already a destination we regularly recommended and organised trips to. But somehow, I had never visited the conservancy myself.

That changed in March 2026.

I went to Ol Pejeta with my camera, ready to experience and document what I had heard so much about for *The Experience with Keituu*.

And then I met Baraka.

Meeting Baraka

Baraka was a 31-year-old blind black rhino who had become one of Ol Pejeta's most recognisable residents.

What struck me wasn't simply that he was a famous rhino. It was his story.

Baraka had lost his eyesight but continued to live under the care and protection of the Ol Pejeta team. For visitors, meeting him was an opportunity to understand rhino conservation on a much more personal level.

As a content creator, I am always looking for experiences that tell a story. Baraka didn't need a script. He already had one.

And now, after learning that Baraka has passed away, the footage I recorded during that March visit feels very different.

It is no longer just a travel video. It is a memory.

Ol Pejeta is bigger than one rhino

Baraka's passing is heartbreaking, but Ol Pejeta's conservation story continues.

The conservancy is home to Najin and Fatu, the world's last two northern white rhinos. Their presence makes Ol Pejeta one of the most important wildlife conservation destinations in Kenya and in the world.

There is also the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where rescued chimpanzees have a safe home, alongside game drives, lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, birdlife and numerous conservation experiences.

That is what I love about Ol Pejeta. You don't simply go there to see animals. You go there to understand them.

Staying at Maisha Sweetwaters Camp

When we take our Yana Trekkers travellers to Ol Pejeta, one of our preferred places to stay is Maisha Sweetwaters Camp.

The tented camp gives you that classic safari feeling while still offering the comfort you want after a day exploring the conservancy.

Rates vary depending on the season and room type, so we always confirm the current rate when planning a trip. It is an excellent option for travellers looking for where to stay near Ol Pejeta Conservancy or a comfortable Nanyuki safari getaway.

And waking up in this part of Kenya is an experience in itself.

Why you should visit Ol Pejeta

Baraka may no longer be there to welcome visitors, but his story is now part of Ol Pejeta's history.

And there is still so much to experience:

• Rhino conservation and the last two northern white rhinos
• Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• Lion tracking
• Day and night game drives
• Wildlife and conservation experiences
• Birdwatching and guided walks
• The beautiful Nanyuki and Mount Kenya landscape

Goodbye, Baraka

I wish I had known in March that I was meeting Baraka for one of the last times.

Maybe I would have stayed a little longer. Maybe I would have filmed a little more.

But perhaps that is the beauty of travel. We don't always realise when an ordinary moment is becoming a memory.

Baraka was part of my first Ol Pejeta experience. Now, he is part of my story.

Rest well, Baraka.

You were blind, but you helped so many of us see.

— Keituu The Experience with Keituu Yana Trekkers