COFFEE FARM STAY - TANZANIA

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A great riding holiday where you will spend a week on a coffee farm set at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in  Tanzania. Stay in a chalet with beautiful views of the snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro  from private balconies. All rooms have en suite hot showers, basin and toilet. Meals at the farm are taken on a large netted veranda with views of Kilimanjaro. There is a large living room with fire lit every night in the colder months. There is riding on the slopes of the coffee farm and plains below. Plains game is encountered on your rides. Here you are free to relax between your twice daily rides or you can take part in many activities. See below for a suggested itinerary. Your hosts are both veterinarians and ensure the condition of the horses even in the challenging conditions in the bush, are superb. They are very welcoming and are helpful with requests for unusual items. This is a farm environment with many dogs, cats, geese, chickens, peacocks, and a little further stables for horses, a donkey, some pigs and cattle. All the animals are very friendly and welcome a pat or scratch behind the ear!

Trip length 8d / 7n but can be tailor made to any length Ride only price £1,105 for 2008 Departure dates 5 Jan, 26 Jan, 23 Feb, 31 May, 28 Jun, 26 Jul, 23 Aug, 20 Sep, 18 Oct, 22 Nov 2008 Please note - these dates are shared with the Hot Springs ride but only one ride will operate on each date. Please contact us for latest information. Approximate riding time per day 4 to 6 hours. Riding ability required Confident, fit and experienced riders. Novice riders by arrangement. Group size 2 - 6 Meeting point (getting there) Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania Transfer Included from meeting point Flight guide Kilimanjaro to London return £530-£790. See below for flight info. Single supplement 30% (£329 in 2008) single supplement only charged if not willing to share

SAMPLE ITINERARY - COFFEE FARM STAY

Kilimanjaro looks on as you discover an area of Tanzania far off the beaten path. On this horse riding holiday, you will experience the African landscape from horseback - a refreshing change from being enclosed in a safari vehicle. We ride through wilderness and farmland, enjoying stunning scenery with opportunities for viewing Kilimanjaro up close.

Day 1
Arrive Coffee Farm
Arrive at Coffee Farm, nestled into the southern slope of Mount Kilimanjaro. If you arrive early enough, you can meet the horses, choose one for your safari and begin an introductory ride, exploring the farm and getting to know your horse. Farming in Africa may be a little different from what you are used to. On the 358-acre farm, we grow coffee, maize and vegetables, but a significant amount of land is left as natural grass and bush land. In addition to the expected farm animals like cattle, horses, pigs, chickens and geese, the area is also inhabited by a variety of wild creatures, noisy ones such as Sykes monkeys, yellow baboons, and vervet monkeys and secret ones as leopard, duiker, bush buck, striped hyena, side striped jackal, aardvark and bush pig.

Day 2
Day ride into Masailand
This horseback trail leads through farmland and bush deep into Masasiland. We pass a historical bridge and move far down inside a fertile valley. Our crew prepared a delicious lunch at a scenic point. Later on we return on another way to the farm, crossing the steep gorge of the Kikafu river. When we reach the Kikafu River Gorge, we'll dismount and lead the horses into this enchanting area to explore. After a small break or some exploring of the riverbanks on foot we make our way further through bush- and farmland, passing flower and coffee plantations.

Day 3
Excursions to the Hot Springs
Wake up early in the morning for an early morning ride. The ride leads you through the farm and you have a good chance to meet some of the wildlife who shares the farm with us. After breakfast we depart by 4xvehicle to the Hot Springs to see more of this unusual ecosystem. After arrival a guided walking tour will lead us through the numerous springs and small streams. As we retrace the footsteps of Dr. Livingstone, keep alert for exotic birds, different types of monkeys, and for crocodiles! We return to the springs for lunch and for a refreshing plunge into the spring, followed by an afternoon for leisure. Late afternoon we drive back to the farm, arriving there just after sunset.

Day 4
Masailand and local market
Late morning you have the chance to visit a local Masai market. You will be surprised what items Masai trade in and what they will take home, often multiple day-journeys away, carried on their donkeys back. After lunch we depart for another ride towards the Masailand. We will find another place to reach the deep Kikafu river gorge and anyone who wants to join the horses for refreshing splashes or a plunge in the water is welcome. On our way back for sure you will experience one more of the unforgettable sunsets of Africa.

Day 5
Experience Coffee Farm and surroundings
After breakfast we hike through Chagga villages and small farms, passing through scenic river valleys to reach a romantic spot on the river's edge for light refreshments. See people's daily life, admire their always good mood and learn about their farming methods. In the afternoon start for another ride towards the Weru-Weru River, passing tobacco and small holder farms. We stop for a walk to the Makoa River waterfall for an unusual wildlife viewing -a colony of rare mountain fruit bats in a cave below the waterfall. You may also see one of the shy, very impressive monitor lizards that live nearby.

Day 6
Day ride north-east through lush plantations, Chagga villages and small coffee farms, passing through scenic river valleys to reach a beautiful spot on a flower farm with an incredible view over the Masai steppe. Our picnic lunch will be prepared under old trees. Later in the afternoon we will make our way back on a slightly different route. But what will not change is the permanent good mood of all local people we meet.

Day 7
Day trip to Kibo-Kikafu-Coffee
Estate Here is where we pay a visit to Tom, the 150 year old giant Aldabra tortoise. During our lunch on the neighbors farmhouse we enjoy again breathtaking views. The ride back home through lush banana and coffee plantations as well as long fields offers possibilities for nice canters. The day ends with sunset on horseback and, weather permitting, the breathtaking scenery of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the evening sun.

Day 8
Ride and departure
After an early morning tea or coffee enjoy the day waking up from horseback. Take your last round through our coffee farm where you hopefully will spot some of the game which is on their way back to the places where they spend dosing their day. After breakfast depart for your onward or homeward journey.

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, a reasonable quantity of drinks with meals, accommodations, horses, tack, guide, round-trip transfers from the Kilimanjaro International airport, all transportation during the ride, taxes and entrance fees to national parks.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Other alcoholic beverages and gratuities, laundry and phone calls, other items of a personal nature

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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