Ol Pejeta– a conservation success with a quirky history – the Kashoggi connection

I was quite surprised when I heard that name ‘Kashoggi’ during my trip to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. I was visiting the Ol Pejeta house (a Serena property),  I learnt that the Ol Pejeta House (within the Conservancy) had some very famous owners and had quite a colourful history.

The name Kashoggi would ring a bell (faint) for many Indians (especially the older ones). Current news apart; with the much talked about the horrific Jamal Kashoggi murder, the name Kashoggi would bring back memories of the 80s India when stories abounded about the famous Saudi arms dealer, Adnan Kashoggi. The world’s richest man (as he described himself at that time), his lifestyle and his links with Indian Godmen and politicians made for some scandalous news items.

(Trivia Fact: Jamal Kashoggi is the nephew of Adnan Kashoggi. Another famous nephew of Kashoggi was Dodi al Fayed, the rumoured boyfriend of Princess Diana, who died with her in a car crash in Paris).

Today, Ol Pejeta, situated on the equator between the foothills of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya, is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa, and home to two of the world’s last remaining northern white rhino in addition to being the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, in a Sanctuary established to rehabilitate rescued primates. It has some of the highest predator densities in Kenya, but still manages a very successful livestock programme and thus is an example of how conservation efforts balance human interests and wildlife protection.

Ol Pejeta’s ranching life started in the early 1940’s with Lord Delamere, well-known as one of the first and most influential British settlers in Kenya. Throughout the colonial era and afterwards Ol-Pejeta was a very successful beef ranch with different owners – but the place became famous as the ‘billionaires’ nest of Adnan Kashoggi, who built a lavish private residence inside the vast ranch property.

While being regaled with some astounding stories (mostly gossip I suspect) about the lifestyle of Kashoggi, the visit to this private getaway was an interesting experience. The building is designed in the style of a local ranch house with a tiled roof; a style in vogue during Kenya’s colonial era. With an imposing view of Africa’s second highest peak – Mount Kenya, the grand house has four bedrooms, all en-suite with walk-in dressing rooms, two lounges, dining room, living room, two private swimming pools — one for the visitors and the other for the owners — and large balconies providing fabulous views of Mt. Kenya and excellent game viewing as well!

Khashoggi’s exploits elevated the region’s stature as a pristine wildlife-rich hinterland to a rich man’s indulgent party place. Lavish parties for visiting heads of state, royal family members and billionaires were hosted here. A close associate of then Kenyan President, Kashoggi was treated so special,  that he would fly directly into Kenya in a private jet to his Laikipia Ranch forcing customs officials to drive from Nairobi to the ranch to clear his entourage!

Everything in the house was built to showcase lavish taste – huge bedrooms, rich dining areas and particularly the huge bathtub that can accommodate 2-3 people! The bed in the master bedroom is massive – at least 4 people can sleep on it comfortably! The joke here is that since the house almost straddles the equator, it is possible for one person to spend the night in the northern hemisphere while another sleeps in the southern hemisphere – but on the same bed!

Another peculiar feature of the house is the boat-shaped basket that is connected to a pulley system. While it would be used to drop foodstuffs, it was also said to convey Khashogi’s beauties, some of whom would be flown in from various parts of the world (one of his muses was the former Indian beauty queen – Pamela Bordes)

Interestingly, there is a secret door in the closet, perhaps to serve as an escape route if the need arose. Such secret escape routes were apparently common in his house designs.

Again, another dramatic story is about how Kashoggi disposed of or rather lost the property. He apparently lost it in a poker game!

So if you have the money, want to live like billionaires used to (of course, no orgies or lavish parties) and the inclination to sleep in ‘different hemispheres on the same bed’, you can actually stay here at this place, currently managed by Serena hotels.

All in all, the visit was quite an interesting sideshow in a journey of safari adventure in the fascinating wild of Kenya!