CLASSIC TENTED SAFARI - KENYA
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This beautiful part of Kenya, featured in the "Out of Africa" and the site of Ernest Hemmingway's classic safaris is set in the south west of Kenya near Mount Kilimanjaro. Off the beaten tourist track and on the doorstep of Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, this area is home to some of the biggest tusking elephant alive in Africa today. The first and last nights are spent in a luxurious eco lodge, sympathetically built from local stone, volcanic rock, olive wood and thatch, set at the base of the Chyulu hills with panoramic views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Enjoy camping under canvas in a fully staffed classic mobile tented safari in the same style and in the countryside that Hemmingway enjoyed.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - CLASSIC TENTED SAFARI
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Transfer from your hotel in Nairobi to Wilson airport for the 07:30am Safarilink scheduled flight to the Chyulus (or to a private charter if desired for a supplemental cost). Guests will be met and transferred to Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge.
After lunch, your
riding holiday get underway as guests are encouraged to try out their potential safari horse on an afternoon ride with Patrick Stanton and Nicola Young, your guides and hosts for the week. This afternoon ride is designed to give guests a taste of the week ahead and to ensure a perfect match between horse and rider before the safari departs. Guests will return for dinner and the first night in the comfort of the lodge.
Day 2
Lenkiloriti
After a delicious breakfast at the lodge, guests and their guides Patrick and Nicola, will set out on a four hour ride to an area of the ranch called Lenkiloriti. On the way, guests are likely to come across some of our spectacular bull elephant browsing in the forest before they emerge onto the plains where they are bound to meet zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, oryx, gazelle, cheetah and even lion. En route to their camp, they will skirt the lava flows which line the plains. After a late lunch at the camp and a bit of a rest, it is into the lava flow, on foot, to track down some of the last wild black rhino in Kenya. Lenkiloriti is also an exciting place for a night game drive where guests will look for leopard and lion on the prowl.
Day 3
Chyulu Foothills
Today’s ride meanders amongst the youngest hills in Africa. This magical landscape could be mistaken for another planet. The flat ground is dotted with massive golden volcanoes which have only been dormant for a few thousand years. A chance to see klipspringer, rock hyrax and gerenuk on this day’s ride, as well as monkeys, giraffe and gazelle. Lunch will be a picnic out in the wilderness, allowing horses and riders to rest and refuel before heading back to camp for sunset.
Day 4
Kopjes
This morning we ride to the Kopjes, which are huge granite outcrops in the middle of the savannah plains. This is about a 5 hour ride so we will begin early and get there for a late lunch. The day’s terrain will be mostly the classic, quintessential, short grass plains dotted with thorn trees. This country allows you plenty of opportunity for long canters amongst the local zebra and wildebeest. After a ride, walk or game drive in the afternoon, we will climb up on top of the kopjes for a magnificent sunset which will include a 360 degree panoramic view, dominated by Mount Kilimanjaro.
Day 5
Crater Camp
On this day, after breakfast, we will set off on our horses for a full day’s ride up into the Chyulu Hills. This is a more technical ride which will take us to the Crater Camp. The ride up is quite steep through wooded areas, which pass lava tunnels and caves to explore on the way. The suggested afternoon activity is to climb up the magnificent volcanic crater next to the camp for another breathtaking view. Upon returning from sundowners you will find hot showers and a campfire to sit around whilst dinner is being prepared.
Day 6
Mist Forest Camp
Depart early morning and climb up onto the central ridge line of the Chyulu Hills. This will take us through rolling grass lands and will skirt the central indigenous forests. Views are spectacular of Tsavo National Park to the East and Kilimanjaro to the West. We expect to see eland, hartebeest, reed buck and bushbuck as well as a host of indigenous birds and plants. You will arrive at the mist forest for a late lunch. Riding through the mist forest you will be able to see huge Strangler Figs, creating cathedral-like arches, some of which you can ride under. Buffalo live in these forests and you are likely to hear leopard at night. It is very chilly as we will be at about 7000 feet.
Day 7
After Breakfast, guests spend the morning riding back to the main lodge, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon they can relax by the pool, have a massage or siesta and will overnight at Ol Donyo Wuas.
Day 8
After breakfast, guests will leave on the 08:30am Safarilink schedule (or Private Charter) to Nairobi. There is time to enjoy a day in Nairobi, visiting museums, shopping or enjoying local animal sanctuaries before leaving on your evening flight.
* As with many horse riding holidays, all itineraries are subject to change on account of weather and the movements of game.
NOTES - CLASSIC TENTED SAFARI
The Safarilink scheduled flight from Wilson airport to the Chyulu's departs at 07:30am. We recommend arriving in Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport one day before the start of the itinerary and overnighting in the beautiful and relaxing Ngong House Hotel, with exquisite cuisine and a chance to feed the giraffe or see the orphan elephants, before transferring to Wilson Airport for your 50 minute light aircraft flight to the Chyulus the following morning. We can arrange this for an additional cost, please call. Other hotels also available.
Of course private light aircraft charters are available at any time of the day no matter when you arrive. We also arrange international flights on request.
GETTING TO Nairobi
As a fully ATOL bonded and registered agency we would be delighted to book your flights for you. Should you wish to book your own flights please see our flights page for some options.
The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
All transfers from Nairobi to Chyulu and reserve, all meals, accommodation, drinks alcoholic or otherwise, riding, guiding, laundry, park/conservation fees.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, imported spirits and wine and gratuities, dinner on day 8, private charter flights and international flights.
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