Horseback Riding in Kenya
CHYULU HILLS SAFARI |
Riders on the hill, Mount Kilamanjaro behind
Surveying the savannah
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This horse safari is based in the remote Chyulu Hills of Southern Kenya, a landscape dominated by the unmistakable form of Mount Kiliminjaro.
The Chyulus are adjacent to the Mbirikani Group Ranch, which is completely unfenced and covers 300,000 acres of land. It is owned by the local Masai and deemed protected wilderness by the Kenyan government. Our safari operates with exclusive access to the land, as part of a lease agreement with the Masai.
The safari ventures off the ranch and into the surrounding Amboseli ecosystem and the Chyulu Hills, giving you access to over 1.4 million acres of wilderness. One of the features of Amboseli is a large dry lake bed which is ideal for long canters. The Amboseli is also the year-round home of elephants.
The low country consists of semi-desert and rolling savannahs. As you climb away from the acacia-dotted plains into the Chyulu Hills, the scenery gives way to acacia woodlands. The hills, which run for 40 miles, consist of a series of volcanic craters with the peaks covered in dense forests unique to this area.
Due to the lack of water in the hills, wildlife is more prolific in the low country where there are 38 recorded species of large mammals, including all of the “big five”: elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo.
The qualified guides and well-schooled horses are intimately knowledgeable about the area’s terrain and wildlife. The luxury tented camps, with wrought iron beds, fine linen, en-suite bathrooms and central dining tent maintain the highest standards for food and drink. All mobile safaris are supported by a crew of grooms, chefs, waiters and general helpers to ensure your maximum comfort.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Nairobi to Chyulu Hills Arrive into Nairobi early in the morning and transfer to the Safarilink scheduled flight to the Chyulus at 7.45am (or a private charter can be arranged at a different time). The flight takes about 50 minutes, and the guides will be waiting at the airstrip for your arrival. Drive about an hour to the first campsite in Chyulu East National Park, with good game viewing on the way.
Lunch in camp, followed by a siesta before heading out for an afternoon ride. This 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. Anyone who is not happily paired with a horse has a chance to change horses. The first ride usually ends with a cold drink in a picturesque location. Return to camp for a hot shower, drinks by the fire and a three course dinner. |
| Day 2: | Macarooroo After a delicious breakfast, set out on a 5 to 6 hour ride through the area of Chyulu East National Park known as Macarooroo. This is a wild and untouched area of Kenya, with breathtaking scenery. Ride through the spectacular volcanic landscape, with a picnic lunch in the shade of a sprawling acacia tree at a volcanic crater. With a little luck, you will cross sign of the rare black rhino which reside in the park. These are the last truly wild black rhino in Kenya, and it is possible to find fresh tracks to follow. Other wildlife which can be seen today include eland, coke’s hartebeest and mountain reedbuck, a rare antelope which resides in the hills around the park. Return to Macarooroo campsite for sundowners and dinner. |
| Day 3: | El Mau Today we leave Chyulu East National Park, and head onto Mbirikani Group Ranch. The route passes through some dense lava flows, where we are required to dismount and lead the horses over the rocks. You have a good chance of seeing klipspringer, vervet monkeys and various birds of prey within the lava flows. Exit the rocky terrain and the quintessential East African plains of Mbirikani open before you, beckoning for long gallops among zebra and wildebeest. You will reach the next campsite in time for a late lunch. The El Mau campsite looks back onto the Chyulu Hills from across the vast plains.
In the afternoon, we recommend a game drive in the landrover to view the area’s abundant wildlife. Return to camp, and walk to a hilltop behind camp to enjoy sundowners with a stunning view. |
| Day 4: | Lodge Head for the main lodge, a 3-4 hour ride. On the way, the ride crosses the plains before entering a thick acacia forest where you are likely to encounter some exceptionally large bull elephant. The area of forest around the lodge is dense with game, and we will spend the morning riding with giraffe, oryx, gazelle and possibly even cheetah. Arrive at the lodge in time to enjoy a lavish lunch and cool off in the swimming pool.
In the afternoon, saddle up and ride back to the El Mau campsite. A night game drive is recommended for the evening, giving you a chance to view nocturnal wildlife such as hyena, porcupines, aardvarks and even lions. |
| Day 5: | Crater Camp Depart camp after breakfast and proceed though the acacia forest towards the Chyulu Hills. The route winds through seemingly endless stands of whistling thorn acacia as it climbs into the hills. As we proceed, there are ample opportunities to canter, gallop, and jump. The forest is home to many game species and we hope for close encounters with gerunek and giraffe in particular. Over the course of the day, the ride ascends about 2,000 feet above the plains, with stunning views stretching for 90 miles on a clear day.
Arrive at Crater Camp for a late lunch. The camp is nestled into a forest next to a large volcanic crater, and overlooking the quintessential East African plains that stretch to the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
After lunch, you are invited to climb the volcanic crater in pursuit of the very rare verreaux’s eagle which nests in the nearly inaccessible rocky outcrops at the rim. Or, you can explore the lava tubes which lie within walking distance of the camp. These jagged caves stretch for miles as they lead away from the crater and have been used for generations by hunter gatherers as shelter. Return to camp before sundown for a shower, drinks and dinner. |
| Day 6: | Mist Forest back to Crater Today’s ride ascends another 2,000 feet into the Chyulu Hills. A noticeable change in climate and temperature occurs as you reach over 7,000 feet above sea level. The ride is dominated by incredible views of the vast wilderness of Tsavo East National Park to the east, and Mt Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Parks to the west. Lunch will be had on the trail. The day’s riding traverses steep slopes and valleys and at times it will be necessary to walk and lead our horses. We plan to arrive at our new camp for late afternoon tea.
Due to the altitude of the area, clouds often sit on the Chyulu hilltops. This consistent moisture has given rise to miniature jungles that dot the summits. We aim to reach one of the largest mist forests in the hills, where you will get a chance to enter on foot in pursuit of buffalo, leopard, syke’s monkey and giant forest hog while the horses rest for lunch. After exploring the forest, return to Crater Camp for dinner and a final memorable night under the African night sky. |
| Day 7: | Airstrip and Nairobi After breakfast, drive to the airstrip to catch the Safarilink flight at 8.30am (or private charter) to Nairobi. Spend the day in Nairobi, visiting museums, shopping or enjoying local animal sanctuaries (or get a dayroom at a hotel) before departing on an evening flight.
CUSTOM ITINERARIES AND A LODGE-BASED STAY ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. ASK FOR DETAILS. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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Riders abreast crossing the plain
Through the woods
Young Masai women
A welcome sight at the end of the day
Waiting our turn
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Nairobi |
| Length of Ride | 7 days, 6 nights and 5 1/2 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Advanced Strong Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-8 |
| Riding Per Day | 4-6 hours |
| Pace | moderate, some long canters |
| Tack | McClellan-type |
| Horses | Boerped, Thoroughbred, Somali ponies, and crosses |
| Weight Limit | 190 lbs (210 lbs for advanced riders) |
| 2010 Dates | Jan 6-12, Feb 14-20*, June 7-13, July 12-18, Sept 20-26, Dec 6-12 |
| 2010 Price | $4,295
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| Single Supplement | $1,180 (not required if willing to share) |
| Transfers | Domestic flights included |
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