GAME TRACKING IN THE CHYULUS - 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. Here we offer a specialist game tracking safari led by a very knowledgeable and fun guides. This is suited to people interested in aquiring an in depth knowledge of African mammals, who are fit and adventurous. 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. The game tracking is while staying under canvas in a fully staffed classic mobile tented safari in the style of Hemmingway.

Trip length 8 days / 7 nights Ride only price 2008: £2,435 Departure dates Tailor made departures for 2 or more people all year round except for the rainy season of April, May and November. Approximate riding time per day 4 to 7 hours daily Riding ability required Fit confident intermediate onwards able to gallop out of danger. Min age 6. Group size 2 - 6 Meeting point (getting there) Nairobi /Chyulu Airstrip Transfer included from Chylu or Nairobi with supplement under notes below Flight guide Return London - Nairobi £450 - £800. See below for flight info. Single supplement only charged if not willing to share, then £420

SAMPLE ITINERARY - GAME TRACKING IN THE CHYULUS

Day 1
Take the early morning 8.40 am scheduled departure from Wilson to the Chyulu airstrip. Arrival at Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge, guests are transferred from the airstrip (15 minute drive) and are shown to their room. Guests are welcome to relax by the pool until lunch at 12.30. After lunch, a quick nap in the comfort of the lodge before tea at 16.00. After tea, proceed to the stables to get acquainted with your horse and meet Patrick and Nicola. Go for a two hour ride to feel out the horse and to get to know the lay of the land. Return to lodge where you'll spend the night thinking of the amazing horse riding holiday ahead of you!

Day 2
Early breakfast before heading out on horseback to the first camp destination. This first morning ride will be about three to four hours, looking for interesting game and tracks in the local area. Specific focus will be on finding out the whereabouts of any elephants, in preparation of tracking them in the afternoon. In the late morning, the ride will arrive at the first camp site destination, where guests can enjoy a three course lunch, followed by a siesta. It is suggested that the afternoon is then spent on foot, tracking down some of the biggest tusker elephants in Africa. Guests are invited to walk through the elephants’ habitat, discussing the ecosystem and the behavior of the elephants. Elephant tracking techniques are discussed in depth as the animals are pursued. If the elephants are in an area that is approachable, guests are encouraged to join their guide to approach the elephants on foot. Once within about 50 yards, guests have the opportunity to observe the herd in its natural environment. After a few hours of tracking, guests will be returned to the camp site for sundowners and a hot shower, followed by a candlelit three course dinner.

Day 3
This morning it is straight onto the horses, for a five hour morning ride. The ride will stop mid morning at a beautiful rocky outcrop with panoramic views of Kilimanjaro. Guests are invited to climb up on top of the rocks for a lovely view of the area. From these kopjes the ride will head along a volcanic lava flow, where many species of animals seek cover during the day. The dusty track displays a record of all the animals that have come through the area. Animal tracks are pointed out and discussed as the guests ride along. As the lava flow reaches the base of the Chyulu Hills, guests are invited for a gallop up a long airstrip to Richard Bonham’s house. Richard is one of East Africa’s most well known safari guides and hunters. If the Bonhams are at home, guests are often invited to meet Richard and his family over a quick drink before carrying on into the Chyulu Hills. Once up in the hills, guests soon arrive at camp for a late lunch. This camp is situated at the base of a volcanic crater. On a clear day, views extend 100 miles into Tanzania. The nearby crater can be summitted in the afternoon, on foot, or those who wish, the area’s famous lava tube caves underneath the crater can be explored. Guests walk back to camp for dinner and a night under canvas.

Day 4
08.30 breakfast before heading further up into Chyulu East National Park. The ride meanders through the youngest hills in Africa before arriving at a mist forest on top of the hills. Riding through the mist forest gives an opportunity to experience a unique ecosystem which is a refuge for buffalo and leopard. It is this forest that holds the only constant water in the area and the mud around the water provides clues as to which animals are dwelling within the forest. After carrying on through to the other side of the mist forest riders will enjoy a picnic lunch. Views from the picnic spot include those of the Amboseli eco system to the west and Tsavo National Park to the east. After lunch, the guests return on horseback to camp, for a relaxing evening around the fire.

Day 5
We descend out of the hills on horseback and proceed through the acacia forest to arrive at the golden hills of Longeriti. This is where the last completely wild and unmanaged population of black rhino in Kenya resides. There are about 15 black rhino that live in the lava flows of this area. Guests are welcomed to enter the lava flow on foot, with a team of Amboseli/Tsavo Gamescouts, in pursuit of the rhino in the afternoon. The habitat and behaviours of the rhino are discussed in detail as guests discover the reasons for their survival in this small isolated area. Guests return to camp and spend the night.

Day 6
08.30 breakfast before riding further into the volcanic landscape of Longeriti. The morning ride explores another new and interesting area, After lunch guests may enjoy game drive or walk or just relax before dinner. After dinner, guests may have the opportunity to radio track lions that are being studied in the area. These lions are often very active at night and can be seen stalking the plains. The predator conservation projects that are in operation in the area are discussed. Overnight in camp.

Day 7
07.30 Breakfast before riding across the quintessential and vast East African plains to the lodge. Guests arrive back for in time for lunch and a bit of R & R by the pool. Dinner is served around 8 o’clock. The last night is spent in the comfort of the lodge.

Day 8
Depart the Chyulus after breakfast on Safari Link at about 09.30. Arrive in Nairobi. Spend the day seeing the sights and sounds of Nairobi before departing on that evening.

NOTES - GAME TRACKING IN THE CHYULUS

Arrival
Only guests arriving with Kenya Airways can be sure of making the Safari Link scheduled flight to the Chyulus at 7:30 am due to the need for a transfer from the international airport to the domestic one at peak traffic time.

If you are arriving with another airline or wish to start your holiday in a more relaxed manner 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 £197 per person sharing.

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.

Extension
This itinerary for this riding holiday can be extended with days before or after at the Ol Donya Wuos lodge, including riding. Please contact us for details.

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 and activities as described. Ther 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 transfers not mentioned in the itinerary.

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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