Horse Riding Safari Holiday's in Kenya

Chyulu Hills - Southern Kenya

(Horse Back Riding Safaris take place in the Foothills of the Chyulu Hills in Southern Kenya, with panoramic views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Ride Kenya is located close to Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge. There are daily scheduled flights departing Wilson Airport to Chyulu hills which take 50 Minutes. Private charters fly directly to Ol Donyo Wuas Airstrip. By road is a four hour's drive from Nairobi. Mbirikani Group Ranch is a Masai owned Private Ranch that is located between the Amboseli, Chyulu, Tsavo and Kilimanjaro National Parks)

Horse Back Riding Safaris in Kenya

Horse Back Riding Safaris View Rates, Discounted Prices - Book & Save Now!

Horse Back Riding Safaris; Horse Back Riding Safaris are offered by African Spice Safaris together with Ride Kenya. Ride Kenya is nestled in the foothills of the Chyulu Hills in southern Kenya, and close to Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge and offers tailor-made horse riding holidays in a truly unique part of Kenya.

Horse riding Safaris in Kenya in the wild operation is nestled in the foothills of the Chyulu Hills in southern Kenya, with panoramic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The riding safaris take place on over 300,000 acres of wilderness. Ride Kenya and their partner, Ol Donyo Wuas has exclusive access to this concession.

Horse Back Riding Safaris Rates/Prices (See Full Itinerary below)

Chyulu Ride

The Chyulu Ride: This signature ride has been popular since the start. The range of scenery and terrain are perfect for both horse and rider. The wildlife on this ride is more spread out than that of the Amboseli Ride, but there are great sightings nonetheless. It is an ideal itinerary for families, or less-experienced riders.

Amboseli Ride

The Amboseli Ride: Arguably, one of the world’s most thrilling rides; the itinerary traverses swamps filled with elephant, buffalo, lion, hyena and much more. This ride is designed for an advanced rider, who is used to long days in the saddle and riding at speed.

Notes

* Conservation Fees to Mbirikani Group Ranch (South-Eastern Kenya) - 80 US Dollars Per Person Per Day

Horse Back Riding Safaris Price includes:

* Full board accommodation

* Laundry

* Drinks

Horse Back Riding Safaris Price Excludes:

* Staff/Guide gratuities

* Items of a personal nature

* Personal, medical or accident insurance

* Conservation Fees to Mbirikani Group Ranch

* Temporary membership of the Flying Doctor’s Society of Africa

* Schedule flights between Wilson Airport (Nairobi’s domestic airport) and Ol Donyo Wuas return

* Transfers between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi’s international airport) and Wilson Airport on arrival and departure

There are Two Distinct Mobile Horse Back Riding Safari Itineraries:

Horse Back Riding Safaris guests are able to choose between Luxury Mobile Horse Safaris or staying at Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge and Riding out from there each day.

Mobile Horse Safaris
Horse Back Riding mobile safaris are reminiscent of the safaris of old. Rides tend to cover between 15 to 30 miles per day, during which the luxury camp is moved ahead to the next destination.

The tented camps are very comfortable, with wrought iron twin or double-beds, fine linen, en-suite bathrooms, a central dining tent and a high standard of food and drinks. All of the mobile safaris are supported by a crew of grooms, chefs, waiters and general helpers to ensure maximum comfort for the guests.

Guests enjoy riding through a great variety of truly wild, unfenced ecosystems. The terrain is volcanic, so the going is mostly soft and sandy, with some areas of rocky lava flow. You will enjoy riding through a great variety of ecosystems; from the vast savannah plains, to thick acacia forests, and the Chyulu Hills themselves which run for about 40 miles.

Ride Kenya has a selection of 20 very well-schooled horses, which are used to the wildlife and terrain. In order to join the horse safaris, guests should be comfortable at a canter at least. There are plenty of chance to gallop and jump also, but this is not compulsory.

Horse Back Riding mobile safaris usually spend 4-6 hours per day in the saddle, and then also offer guests the chance to enjoy game drives, bush walks and night game drives.

Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge Riding Safaris
Any guest staying at Ol Donyo Wuas lodge is welcome to enjoy horseback riding Safari. Ol Donyo Wuas lodge accepts any standard of rider, from a novice child to an advanced adult. They offer horseback riding everyday for Ol Donyo Wuas lodge guests.

This can be enjoyed either early in the morning or at sunset and most of the lodge rides last for about two hours, but they are able to cater to each guest’s needs.

Full-day rides are also available for experienced riders. Many of Ride Kenya’s mobile safari guests enjoy a night or two in the lodge before or after their safari, and this is an excellent add-on to the safari itineraries.

Horse Riding Holidays in Kenya

Mobile Horseback Safari

Horse Back Riding Mobile Safaris Information

Mbirikani Group Ranch concession has several distinct ecosystems, each with its own unique set of plants and animals, ranging from vast and rolling savannah plains, to acacia woodland and even jungle-like mist forests that cloak the hilltops.

The focal part of the ranch is the Chyulu Hills, which rise from 3000 feet to 7500 feet and run for 40 miles. In addition to the concession, Ride Kenya has access to 500,000 acres of the Amboseli eco system. The varied and expansive landscapes in the region allow for rides lasting anywhere from 2 to 14 days.

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. There is also a huge variety of bird and plant life to be found in this area.

The tents on horseback riding mobile safaris are large and spacious, and you can easily stand up inside. There is an en-suite bathroom with a bucket shower and traditional safari style toilet. Lanterns and torches provide the light at night and all linen, soap and towels are provided.

A separate dining tent is used for all meals in camp. For these safaris, you will be looked after by a full team of staff and your guides, Patrick Stanton and Nicola Young.

Please note: There is a weight limit for Ride Kenya’s horses. Novice riders (Ol Donyo Wuas lodge only) should be no more than 85 Kilograms whilst advanced riders should be no more than 95 Kilograms.

7 Days / 6 Nights Horseback Safari Itinerary

Arrival into Nairobi - Take any day time flight from London Heathrow or another European city to Nairobi (JKIA). Guests should aim to spend their first night in Nairobi to rest.

Day 1: Nairobi to Chyulu Hills

Nairobi to Chyulu Hills (Lenkiliriti)- Transfer from the hotel early in the morning to Wilson Airport in Nairobi to catch the scheduled flight at 0730 Hours to the Chyulus (or to a private charter from other safari destinations in Kenya if desired).

Upon arrival, Horse Back Riding guests will be met by Patrick and Nicola, Ride Kenya’s guides and hosts, and transferred to the first camp site.

After lunch in camp, guests have a chance to catch up on sleep before heading out for an afternoon ride at about 1600 Hours. The horses will already be in the camp waiting for you upon arrival. Having received detailed information on each guest, Patrick and Nicola will have chosen a horse for everyone.

This afternoon’s ride is designed to give guests a taste of the safari to come and to ensure a perfect match between horse and rider before the safari departs. The ride will meander through a spectacular volcanic landscape, known as Lenkiliriti to the local Masai.

We are likely to come across klipspringer, baboon, Coke’s Hartebeest, rock hyrax and gerenuk who reside in and around the volcanoes. The ride will emerge onto a vast plain where we will end the day with a sunset drink in a picturesque location.

We will then return to camp for a hot shower, drinks by the fire and a three course dinner. Anyone who is not happily paired with a horse has a chance to change horses on this first day.

Day 2: Macaruru (5 to 6 Hour Horse Ride)

After a delicious breakfast at the camp, guests and their guides will set out on a five-six hour ride through an area of Chyulu East National Park, known as Macaruru. This is a wild and untouched area of Kenya, where the scenery is incredible.

The ride will take guests through a spectacular and wild landscape, with a picnic lunch to break up the riding. Guests will be met by a vehicle for lunch. Under the shade of a sprawling acacia tree, guests enjoy cool drinks and a picnic before continuing with the ride back to the Lenkiliriti camp.

On the ride today, guests might be lucky enough to come across signs of 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 on the ride. Other wildlife which can be seen on today’s ride includes eland, kudu, giraffe, coke’s hartebeest and mountain reedbuck, a rare antelope which resides in the hills around the park.

Tonight guests can try their luck on a night game drive, as the area around this campsite is excellent for viewing nocturnal wildlife such as hyena, bat-eared fox, serval cat, porcupine and much more.

Day 3: Crater Camp

Today’s ride leaves camp after breakfast and proceeds through the acacia forest up towards Chyulu East National Park. En Route, the ride will trek through seemingly endless stands of whistling thorn acacia as we begin our ascent into the Chyulu Hills.

As we make our way, there are ample opportunities to canter, gallop and jump. Deep in the forest, guests are likely to come across some of our exceptionally large, resident, bull elephants browsing. As we ride, we are likely to meet zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, oryx, gazelle, cheetah and even lion.

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. On the way, we will have a picnic lunch before making our final ascent into camp.

Today’s camp is nestled into a forest next to a large volcanic crater. It is situated overlooking the quintessential East African plains that lead up to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Upon reaching the camp, guests are invited to spend the late afternoon climbing the volcanic crater in pursuit of the very rare Verreaux’s Eagle which nests in the nearly inaccessible rocky outcrops that line the rim of the crater.

As an alternative, guests can opt to explore the lava tubes that lie within walking distance of the camp. These jagged caves stretch for miles as they lead away from the crater and have been used by hunter gatherers for generations as shelter. Guest return to camp before sun-down for a shower, drinks and dinner.

Day 4 : Mist Forest

Today’s ride ascends another 2,000 feet higher 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 wildernesses of Tsavo East National park to the east and Mount Kilimanjaro and Amboseli national park to the west.

Today’s riding traverses steep slopes and valleys and leading of the horses may be necessary at times. Due to the altitude of the area, clouds often sit on the top of the Chyulu Hills. This consistent moisture has given rise to miniature jungles that dot the summits of the hills. Today’s ride takes about four hours and ends at one of the largest mist forests in the hills.

Whilst the horses get sent back to the Crater camp, guests and guides have a chance to enter the mist forests on foot, in pursuit of the buffalo, leopard, syke’s monkey and giant forest hog that reside within it. We will have a picnic lunch on the edge of the mist forest, overlooking the vast landscape below. After lunch guests will be driven back to the camp, where they can enjoy a relaxing sundowner, hot shower and dinner.

Day 5: Kopjes

Today the ride descends out of the hills, through a sprawling acacia forest and on into a large, open, sandy lugga. Over the years, wind erosion has exposed these ancient soils in which archeologists have discovered stone tools made by some of the first hominids to walk the earth. Stone chips and simple stone tools known as hand axes have been collected in this region. As we ride, we always keep our eyes out for signs of artifacts used by our ancient ancestors.

In this area, we will also keep our eyes out for signs of lion. Although, it is highly likely that the lions will be fast asleep deep inside the shady lava flow, we will be able to get a picture of their most recent activity by the tracks they have left the night before.

With these tracks, we will be able to formulate a plan to come back after dark, in a vehicle with a spotlight and try our best to locate the lions as they come out to hunt. After about a five hour ride, guests will arrive at the new campsite which is set on the plains, with a view of some spectacular granite rocks, or Kopjes. This evening we aim to enjoy sunset on top of the rocks themselves, with a stunning view of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Day 6: Kopjes

For our final day’s ride we plan to explore the vast wilderness out behind the Kopjes, heading towards a dry river bed. As it can be hot riding in the area during the midday heat, we suggest a dawn ride, enjoying the wildlife early in the morning, and watching the sunlight catch on the summit of Kilimanjaro as the sun rises over the Chyulu Hills.

On this ride we can expect some sightings of large groups of elephant, which dig in the dry riverbed for water. Riders will love the chance to canter up and down the banks of the riverbed and can let their horses gallop through the soft sand.

We are also likely to encounter some local Masai herdsmen, who also survive in this area by digging into the dry riverbed for water.

Today’s five hour ride will finish back at the Kopjes camp for lunch, after which guests can plan to enjoy a last game drive or bush walk, or both.

Day 7: Departure Day

After breakfast, guests will leave on the schedule flight, at 0830 Hours (or private charter) to Wilson airport in Nairobi. From Nairobi they can go on to their next Kenyan destination or leave from the international airport that evening.

Booking & Reservations for Horse Back Riding Safaris which take place in the Foothills of the Chyulu Hills in Southern Kenya, with panoramic views of Mount Kilimanjaro - Kenya

Booking Office Tel: + 254 (0) 20 2437871

Mobile : 0721242711 (Safaricom) - Kenya

Email: info@africanspicesafaris.com