CHYULU MOBILE SAFARI - KENYA

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

In the Masai lands in the southwest of Kenya, near the border with Tanzania we find the beautiful remote area of the Chyulus Hills, long an insider secret for safari aficionados. Featured in the film "Out of Africa" this area offers a remote private wilderness safari with versatile riding tailored to guests wishes and is a superb choice of riding holiday.
On the doorstep of Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, this area is home to a huge diversity of game and ecosystems as well as some of the biggest tusking elephant alive in Africa today.

This safari is a point to point luxury riding holiday under canvas  for riders interested in acquiring an in depth knowledge of African mammals. Non riders can be catered for with their own parallel jeep safari itineraries. The riding is fun, safe and secure on beautifully schooled boerperd and cross horses. These are very personal full service safaris with no more than 8 guests and 2 guides on each departure.

Additional nights before or after the safari may be 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. A lodge safari can also be organised if preferred.

Trip length 7 days / 6 nights Ride price detailed prices price promise 2012: double pp £2,655/€3,215/$3,899 Departure dates 2012: 3 Mar, 9 Jun, 7 Jul, 18 Aug, 18 Sept, 13 Oct, 9 Dec Approximate riding time per day 4 to 7 hours daily Riding ability required Intermediate riders onwards Group size 2 - 10 Meeting point (getting there) Chyulu Airstrip - nearest major airport, Nairobi (NBO) Transfer Included from Chyulu Airstrip, the scheduled internal flight from Nairobi to Chyulu departs early in the morning necesitating an overnight in Nairobi the night before, see below for details. Transfer from the airtrip is by way of a 1 hour game drive. Flight guide Return London - Nairobi £450 - £800. See below for transfer/flight info. Internal flight Nairobi to Chyulu Single supplement detailed prices No supplement if willing to share. Otherwise: 2012: £669/€815/$985

SAMPLE ITINERARY - CHYULU MOBILE SAFARI

Day 1 - Nairobi - Chyulu Hills
Transfer to the Safarilink scheduled flight to the Chyulus departing at 07:30hrs (or to a private charter departing anytime by arrangement). The flight takes about 50 minutes and guests are met on arrival by Patrick and Nicola, your two very friendly and personable guides. Transfer to the first camp site in a 4WD - in reality this is a 1-2 hr game drive to the northern end of the Chyulu Hills near the Chyulu East National Park where the last wild black rhino in East Africa survive. The Chyulu Hills offer some of the most stunning scenery in Africa; rolling volcanic hills, Acacia forests, and grassy plains all under the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro.
This first drive serves as an introduction to the area and its inhabitants; there are 38 recorded species of large mammal here and over 300 species of bird.
Arrive in camp, and be shown to your tent. Orientation around camp, have a cool drink, and before lunch meet the rest of the staff who will accompany you throughout the safari.
After a post-lunch rest, drive to the main stables (30 minutes’ drive) to meet the horses.
The Chyulu safari starts close to the stables, so that riders can be matched with a horse and then assessed as a group in the fenced arena, before heading out into the bush. Anyone who is not comfortable with their horse has a chance to switch at the stables.
This first ride sets off from the stables, and is designed to introduce the rider to their horse and the local ecosystem. The ride will pass through thick Acacia forest, and out onto the savannah. Expect to ride at a variety of speeds and to see game such as giraffe, impala, elephant, warthog and gazelle.
Arrive into camp at dusk. Enjoy a drink by the fire, a hot shower and a three-course dinner. As the sun goes down, listen to the jackal and hyena calling to commence their nocturnal hunts.


Day 2 Bush Breakfast Ride and Afternoon Walk

Depart at dawn on horseback for a morning exploration of the woodland and savannah around camp. The woodland is thick with umbrella-shaped Acacia tortilis, where giraffe browse and antelope abound. Enjoy the dawn chorus as the horses set off into the first light of the day.
The footing is ideal for horse riding; coarse volcanic soil that is firm yet forgiving under hoof. This morning’s ride is a chance to enjoy the horses’ schooling and fitness; long trots and canters can be supplemented with some cross-country style jumping over fallen trees and other fences, for those who wish. As the land here is owned by nomadic Maasai people, there are often villages to ride past. The traditional Maasai culture is fascinating to see first-hand.
Emerge from the woodland, and traverse the wide open Mbirikani plains, dotted with wildlife. The plains stretch for 70 miles before Mt. Kilimanjaro rises up from them on the distant horizon. Enjoy a full English breakfast under the shade of an Acacia tree before riding back to camp.
Late lunch in camp is followed by a few hours’ rest in the heat of the day. An evening walk is offered, to stretch out riding muscles, and to learn more about the local flora and fauna. There is even a chance to track and locate some of the area’s resident bull elephants; several of which are known to be the largest ‘tuskers’ left in Africa today.

Day 3 Game-drive to Amboseli National Park and Afternoon Horse Ride

Depart by road before dawn to enjoy a half-day game drive in Amboseli National Park.
Amboseli is home to around 1,500 elephant which live in and around the swamps beneath Mt Kilimanjaro. As well as the famous elephant, there are plenty of hippo, buffalo, plains game, predators and birds to enjoy viewing. This is a world-famous ecosystem and the photographic opportunities are endless.
Return to camp for a late lunch. Enjoy a horse ride in the afternoon, ending up in a scenic spot for sunset and drinks.

Day 4 Morning ride to Crater Camp and Afternoon Hike

Leave camp early on horseback and proceed through the Acacia woodland up towards Chyulu East National Park. Taking a packed breakfast in the saddle-bags allows the ride to be flexible and to enjoy wandering with the game on its daily movements.
Coming across wildlife on horseback is thrilling; from small sightings like flocks of guinea-fowl, pairs of dik-dik or packs of jackal, to the huge bulk of a herd of eland, orynx or elephant.
The ride soon leaves the thick Acacia woodland and begins to pass through seemingly endless stands of whistling thorn Acacia on the ascent up into the Chyulu Hills. This is a good ecosystem for seeing cheetah, gerenuk, zebra, wildebeest and Coke’s hartebeest. This morning is a long and fast ride, with plenty of chance to canter, gallop and jump.
Over the course of the morning, the ride ascends about 2,000 feet above the plains with stunning views stretching for 90 miles on a clear day. Arrive into Crater camp for a late lunch. This camp is nestled into a forest next to a large volcanic crater. It is situated over looking the quintessential East African plains that lead up to Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Late afternoon, 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, explore the lava tubes under the crater 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 of hunter-gatherers as shelter. Enjoy sunset in this most spectacular campsite.

Day 5 Full-Day Ride to the Mist Forest

Depart after breakfast in camp.
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 vistas of the vast wilderness 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 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 created to pockets of mist forest that dot the summits of the hills. Enjoy a picnic lunch just outside one of the largest mist forests, and then enter the mist forest on foot, in pursuit of buffalo, leopard, Syke’s monkey and bush pig that reside within.
Get back on the horses and enjoy the dramatic descent out of the hills, passing a few subsistence farmers’ villages en route. Most of the farmers are Kamba people, who seek a living maize farming on the hillside. Rural school children are likely to spot the horses and follow them for a while, giggling and running along beside.
Arrive in the late afternoon to Olekuto Camp. Enjoy a well-earned drink and rest in stunning scenery.


Day 6 Full-Day Ride, with a Barbecue Lunch

After breakfast in camp, depart on horseback to explore the woodland of Olekutu. This area is extremely beautiful and remote, with herds of giraffe, gazelle, zebra and wildebeest. Enjoy seeing ostrich and Kori bustard bathing in the red dust. Leaving Olekuto, the ride passes by the Inchalai swamps. These are swamps where breeding herds of elephant come to drink at night and if riders are lucky they might catch the elephant returning to the thick lava flow in which they seek refuge during the day.
Maasai herdsmen and women also bring their livestock for water in the swamps. Enjoy a scenic spot for a barbecue lunch, atop some beautiful rocky outcrops. Ride across the vast savannah after lunch and into camp.


Day 7: Departure

Enjoy breakfast in camp, followed by departure by road, to the Ol Donyo Lodge airstrip. Scheduled flight to Nairobi departs at 0815.



* All itineraries are subject to change on account of weather and the movements of game.

NOTES - CHYULU MOBILE SAFARI

Arrival
A night in Nairobi may be needed before the start of the safari. International flights do not arrive in time to allow a connection to the early morning scheduled flight to the start of the ride. Should you arrive in Nairobi in the morning we can organize some sightseeing and an overnight, should your flight arrive in the evening (BA) we can organise only the overnight and early transfers to Wilson Airport ofr the safari Link flight.
Should you arrive in the morning we can also organise a private charter flight to come into Chyulu on the same day. For groups the price is similar to the scheduled flight.

On your homeward journey the scheduled flight arrives into Nairobi in the morning and so you can have a driver for the day who will take you shopping and sightseeing before transferring you to the International airport in the evening. If you prefer to have longer at the lodge and less time in Nairobi on some days there may be an afternoon flight back to Nairobi or it is possible to have a private charter. 

Cost estimates 2012: hotel accommodation in Nairobi - about £259 per room at the Fairview for B&B and airport transfers; flight from Wilson Airport to and from Chyulu Hills and road transfers in Nairobi - about £299 per person.


Extensions
This itinerary for this riding holiday can be extended with days before or after at the magnificent 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.

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.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
Full board accommodation, drinks, laundry, all riding and guiding

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Safarilink 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, Conservation Fees to Mbirikani Group Ranch and temporary membership of the Flying Doctor’s Society of Africa. Personal, medical or accident insurance, staff/guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

Riders who booked this ride also considered:

Horizon Ranch - South Africa
All round fun riding holiday with non dangerous game viewing, tuition in jumping, cross country and cattle work, superb selection of horses. Everyone will enjoy this one!

Western Ranch - France
A cattle ranch in unspoilt countryside with western tuition for intermediate riders onwards. Also varied riding out.

Pantenal Wildlife Tour - Brazil
Ride from one fazenda to another, from the low pantanal to the high pantanal with one overight camping included en route. Wildlife, cultural and riding highlights.

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

conditions of access  booking conditions print  back  top

sitemap