Duration: minimum 4 days
Please note:
Conservation & Activity fees apply and will be on extra charge.
Departures:
Please let us know your preferred date
InquireMeet Elephants, giraffe and more…
on this horseback adventure between Amboseli, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru.
Ride along the wildlife corridor tracking animals that roam freely between Lake Ambosel, Kilimanjaro National Park and Arusha Park. The area is famous for elephants and old bulls can be met here amongst other game. The colorful Masai tribe shares the same area and we often will see them and their herds mingling with zebra, wildebeest and antelope on the vast plains.
We offer Specials for
- Alternative itineraries for non-riding guests
- Last-Minute bookings
- Honeymooners (within 1 year after the wedding)
- Groups and families
- Waiver of Single Supplement
- Early-Bird rate for bookings with departure dates of more than 9 months.
This is where we will ride: In private concession areas and the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area, where animals congregate and migrate in order to follow new pastures. This usually happens with the starting rains, ideal for tracking herds of plains game in this area.
Significance: This game corridor hosts variety of wild species which includes Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, Leopard, Oryx, Lesser Kudu, Eland, Gerenuk, Klipspringer, Hartebeest, Bushbuck, Wildebeest, Bushuck, Hyaena, Thomson Gazelle and Grants Gazelle and other small animals. Ecologically, it acts as connectivity between the Mkomazi, Arusha, Kilimanjaro National Parks and Amboseli and Tsavo ecosystems.
86% of the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area has been set aside as a conservation area. It is located in Longido district near the Tanzania-Kenya border and surrounded by various conservation areas including Amboseli national reserve, Kilimanjaro and Arusha national parks and the Natron Wildlife Management Area. The Enduimet WMA is as an important migratory route and dispersal area for many animals including the African elephant.
You may encounter elephant herds, further expect to meet zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, eland and other antelopes in small herds.Have you ever seen giraffe galloping gracefully in slow motion? What could be more exciting than the opportunity to gallop alongside such amazing animals. And where else should this happen if not in the plains next to Africa´s highest mountain – Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Day 1
MAKOA-FARM - FIRST RIDE
We will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport and drive you to Makoa-Farm, our base and starting point for the safari. Driving time will be around 40 minutes. The 358-acre coffee and horse farm is nestled into the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. The house and rooms are situated to take in spectacular views of this impressive mountain; Africa’s highest peak!
Depending on your arrival time you will meet the horses and we will help you choose one for your safari. Thereafter head out for an introductory ride, exploring the plantation and getting to know your horse.
Later meet for a sun-set drink on the veranda and enjoy the view of the magnificent mountain in front of our doorstep – Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Day 2
THE NARCO PLAINS
After breakfast you will be transferred to West Kilimanjaro. We will find the horses at our mobile camp and start the ride from here. Soon we will ride over the Narco Plains where we will encounter the first plain animals.
Our private mobile camp is erected next to an Acacia forest and our ever-friendly crew will be waiting for you. Spacious tents with 3 x 3.80m are equipped with comfortable beds and linen, additionally there is your private verandah and en suite bath tent with toilet, sink and a shower, which the crew will fill up with steaming hot water every night. The horses are always next to the camp and visible from your tent.
Day 3
OUT OF AFRICA
We will wake up early and start for a long ride ride in this wilderness area, through Euphorbia and acacia forest and the savanna, tracking amongst others elephant, zebra, wildebeest and many other antelopes (Eland, Thomson, Grant and Impala), occasionally buffalo.
Lunch will be prepared on a treehouse overviewing a waterhole – the most enjoyable entertainment with all sorts of wild animals coming, drinking, bathing and moving further.
Later afternoon we will arrive at a place called “Mgunga”, which is the Kiswahili name for Acacia trees.
The view over rolling grass fields and bush, with Mt. Meru at one side, Mt. Kilimanjaro behind you and the mountains Longido and Namanga to the other side will make you feel that this is the place where you’d like to stay…
After a break we will depart with the 4×4 vehicle for an interesting journey into another world: to the homestad of a Masai family. Get to know the cheerful women and children and learn about their daily life. It will be dark when will return to camp, for sure we will meet some nocturnal animals usually not seen during the day.
Day 4
ACACIA FOREST AND NGASURAI PLAINS
We move further, passing rocky hills and winding our way through bush and acacia forests. This is elephant and giraffe land and we will often find tracks and other signs of the giants. Wildlife is variable but in the dense bush animals might be seen only a second before they take off. Although this is Masai land and predators are shy, there might be some around dozing during the day and we will be constantly alert.
By the evening we will reach our camp, beautifully set under Acacia trees on the Ngasurai Plains. Sometimes we can hear Masai herders leading their animals to the water hole during the night. They move in the darkness and use their voices to keep predators away – a magical night with ongoing Masai songs coming and moving far away.
Day 5
PLAINS AND MASAAILAND
There will be an early start in order to cover some ground. If there was a good rain season then these vast plains can get very populated and there are migratory herds wandering while feeding on the fresh short grasses. The area is perfect for canters with wildebeest or zebra herds – or what about a gallop with giraffe…
We will stop for lunch under a shady acacia tree next to a dam where Masai frequently water their herds. There is quite some coming and going of animals, along with lots of friendly chatting, whereas the wildlife prefers to watch this from a safe distance away.
After a break during the hot midday hours we will continue our way, a good terrain invites again for faster paces.
You will be awaited with a camp fire in our mobile Sinya camp, with a Gin &Tonic to enjoy the warm sunset colors.
Day 6
TRACKING ELEPHANTS AND MORE
A long ride will lead us up to the Kenyan border close to Amboseli Reserve in Kenya. The landscape changes completely and we will ride over Lake Ambosel and salt pans that allow for great canters – often with herds of zebra or giraffe.
We will carefully scan the forests along the salt pans as these are favorite browsing sites for elephant. This is also cat country and we will be constantly aware in order to spot any predators well in advance.
After returning to camp we will change horses against a 4×4 vehicle. We will visit the Sinya Mines that where mined for “Meerschaum” many years ago. The remaining springs and ponds turned back to nature and are frequently visited by wildlife. With some stops for for wildlife viewing on the way we will finally arrive on “the rock”, a huge kopjes with a stunning view – just in time for the sunset drink. It will be almost dark by the time we will make our way back, and most probably encounter some nocturnal species on the way.
Day 7
TURN SOUTH
Wake up with the sun for the last exiting day in the bush. First we turn west, towards Mt. Longido. We will pass the plains and follow the bush line on the other side. There will be some last exhilarating canters over the plains, some accompanied by giraffe who seem to enjoy these as much as we do.
Later we will meet the vehicle and horse truck and our crew will load the horses and bring them back to Makoa-Farm.
For the guests there is another interesting activity: Join a Masai warrior on a bush walk and learn about the daily life of tribal people in nature. You will be surprised how many medical plants there are on your way to cure all sorts of disorders, and that making fire was quite a task before lighters were easily available…
You will drive back to Makoa and arrive just in time for nocturnal animals stretching their legs after a long day of sleep. This is the time to meet our resident bush babies, passing by to check if there is anything interesting for them. Have you ever been near to a friendly porcupine? If not then there will be the chance today, our resident porcupines moved to us after the enclosure at their previous home was to small to host them comfortably, and for being too tame a release would not have been safe for them.
Day 8
MAKOA-FARM
After a relaxed breakfast there may be enough time to have look around our farm and learn more about our educational projects. Maybe you like to join our rescue-monkey troop on a bush walk. Or, visit the small rescue station with an ever-changing number of animals. Some of them became orphaned, injured or have unwillingly lost their habitat. Some will stay, often due to injuries, and will be ambassadors for education of local school kids, teaching them about environment and conservation.
Alternatively you may decide to take another ride along the boundaries of Makoa-Farm or visit Moshi for some souvenier shopping, a the small town right at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
There will be a day room available for you, so you can shower and relax before your departure.
This is where your safari comes to an end and you will feeel it difficult to leave new friends and horses so plans for the next trip evolve!
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