OL DONYA WUAS & BORANA LODGES - KENYA

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This is a combination of two lodge based safaris in two very different parts of Kenya from the South to the North. Ol Donya Wuas in the south is feautured in the "Out of Africa" and the site of Ernest Hemmingway's classic safaris 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 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. There is an opportunity to spend 2 nights out under canvas in a fully staffed classic mobile tented safari in the style of Hemmingway. Then fly via Nairobi to Borana Lodge near Mount Kenya and Lew Downs. Here the countryside is steep and rocky with wonderful views. A very luxurious lodge is the base for your horseback exploration of the game and scenery in the north.

Trip length 11 days / 10 nights Ride only price £3,445 in 2008 Departure dates Tailor made departures for 2 or more people all year except November and 15 April to 15 May. Components can be tailor made. Approximate riding time per day 4 to 7 hours daily Riding ability required all abilities, experienced riders separated. Min age 6. Group size 2 - 6 Meeting point (getting there) Nairobi Transfer Included from Nairobi Flight guide Return London - Nairobi £550 - £850. See below for flight info. Single supplement None if sharer available, otherwise £654 on accommodation. There may be air fare supplements on safarilink flights if only one person has booked on a particular date amounting to US$432.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - OL DONYA WUAS & BORANA LODGES

Day 1
You arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International airport the day before, overnight in Nairobi and are transferred to Wilson airport for the Safarilink schedule to the Chyulu Hills bordering Tsavo. This leaves at 07:30 and is a 45 minute flight. When you land in the Chyulu Hills you will be met by your guide and transferred the short way to Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge. Lunch beside the swimming pool and a short introduction and ride in the afternoon are on the programme.

Day 2 to 6
For the next 5 days you ride daily from the lodge with an experienced guide. This gives you an opportunity to ride a different horse each day, if you wish, or stick with your favourite. Each day you can set off in a different direction and see three different ecosystems that the Chyulu Hills has to offer from the mist forests to the dusty plains, always with fantastic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. During this time you have the opportunity to spend 2 nights under canvas in a mobile tented safari if requested at the time of booking. This gives you the chance to explore the furthest reaches of the Mbirikani Group Ranch, which covers 300,000 acres and is owned by Maasai people. The focal part of the ranch is the Chyulu Hills, which rise from 3000 feet to 7500 feet. In the low country you have dry semi desert rolling savannah plains and as you climb away from the plains you go through acacia woodlands before reaching the hills. The hills - which run for 40 miles - consist of a series of volcanic craters with the peaks covered with mist forests. Due to the lack of water in the hills, wildlife is more prolific in the low country where we have 38 recorded species of large mammals including all the big five - Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Leopard and Buffalo, plus the plains game dominated by zebra, wildebeest and eland.

Day 7 to 10
After breakfast you have a Safarilink schedule flight departing at 0940 to take you to Wilson airport where you can connect with the Safarilink schedule to Lewa Downs which leaves at 1130. When you land at Lewa airstrip a representative from Borana will be there to meet you and game drive you to Borana Ranch through the Lewa downs conservancy. The amount of riding you do during your stay at Borana is entirely up to you. If you wish you can spend up to 6 hours in the saddle each day, riding out from the lodge on morning, afternoon or longer day rides to explore and look for game, riding to a fly camp or to another lodge. Experienced riders can also try their hand at polo with chances to 'stick and ball' and practice chukkas often arranged. There are dry lowlands at the foot of the escarpment, rolling grassy plains at the top and the thicker Ngare Ndare Forest all overlooked by the snow capped Mount Kenya. Much of the going is good for horses with wide sandy plains and river beds and there are usually plenty of opportunities for long, fast canters. There are other areas where there may be rough ascents as you climb to the top of a high ridge to admire the wonderful panoramic views, or descents where the horses will need to be lead over rough ground. Borana, the Lewa Conservancy, the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve and the Il Ngwessi and Lekerruki Group Ranchs share a joint conservation management policy. Borana is also a working cattle ranch. This shared enterprise covers an area of about a quarter of a million acres. There are over 3,000 elephants in the whole Laikipia area. More than one tenth of this healthy and growing population roams freely over Borana. Cattle ranching in lion country is challenging and Borana is are proving that they can continue successfully by building secure bomas (enclosures) for the cattle at night. They have four lions on the ranch that are fitted with radio collars so that they can monitor their movements.

Day 11
Today you have a Safarilink schedule leaving at 08:30 for Wilson airport arriving at 09:45. The afternoon is free for shopping or local activities then dinner and on to the airport for your International flight home. The end of a truely amazing horse riding holiday.

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 meals, accommodation, drinks alcoholic or otherwise, riding, guiding transfers, flights between lodges and activities as described. There is also a conservation fee included in the price which is paid into the conservation and community fund.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, imported spirits and wine and gratuities and dinner before your departure on the last night.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.

Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

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