Duration
8 Days
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrive to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Arrive to Kilimanjaro International Airport; here you will be picked up by our representative and driven for about thirty-five minutes to the lodge.
For those arriving Kilimanjaro international airport in the morning:-
Settle into the new surroundings and meet the other participants on the safari. Over lunch a briefing will take place and shortly thereafter an afternoon introduction ride takes place. This is good opportunity for everyone to get to know their mount before heading into the National Park the following day. The afternoon ride takes place on a wildlife estate, home to plenty of plains game like zebras, wildebeests, elands and if lucky there is a good chance of seeing one of the shyest and rarest antelopes in Africa, the Gerenuk (also known as giraffe antelope). Head back to the lodge in time for showers and sundowners before dinner is served.
For those arriving at night, upon arrival at the lodge, you enjoy late lite dinner before having a short rest ready the ride on the next day.
DAY 2: Full day at Arusha National park
Wake up calls with tea and coffee, breakfast is served anytime from early hours. After breakfast, you will check out and drive for about twenty minutes to Arusha National park gate where the horses will be waiting, ready to be mounted and shortly after you will ride into one of the most beautiful parks in East Africa. The feeling is magical as you enter into the big canopy forests. Lunch will be set on route, with time for a small siesta. After lunch the ride continues through leopard country and as we head towards our night stop, we will pass by Margarete Trappe’s old house. The legendary lady known and remembered as the Iron lady from the First World War.
After this exciting ride, you will head back to the camp; arrive to camp, based on the foot of Mt Meru in time for showers and sundowners then dinner under the stars.
DAY 3: Another day in Arusha National Park
After breakfast at the camp this morning, you mount and directions are taken towards the area where the film Hatari was filmed, starring John Wayne. Thereafter half way into the morning ride you start the climb (on horseback), aiming to reach the “Fig Tree Arch”, a massive fig tree arch, big enough to fit five horses underneath the arch. The ride continues until you reach lunch, beautifully located in the rain forest next to a waterfall. You are now on about 2000 meters above sea level. After lunch you start heading back towards camp, passing by another 30-meterhigh waterfall on route back. After returning to camp, there will be an option to jump into the vehicles and go visit the Momella lakes, hoping to see some hippos and beautiful water birds. Sundowners at the lakes before heading back to camp for showers and dinner.
DAY 4: Head to west Kilimanjaro
After breakfast at the camp this morning, you will check out and get on your horse. Today you ride out of Arusha National Park. The directions are eastbound heading towards Mount Kilimanjaro and leaving Mount Meru behind. The day’s ride is long and amongst Tanzanian farmland and the Massai steppe, it’s scenic with many cultural interactions as the rides goes along. You make use of the cooler hours in the morning and try to cover as much ground as possible.
The lunch is served under a big acacia, sometimes near to a dam where the Massai’s water their cattle and you will water your horses. You will have a good 3-hour’s stop for lunch, with time for a siesta to regain some strength. The afternoon enters into wildlife areas again, continues across opened plains, making sure to reach your night stop before the sun hits the horizon.
DAY 5: Full day in West Kilimanjaro
Early wake up with coffee and tea before a bush breakfast is served. The day will be spent tracking the biggest land living mammal, the elephants. The terrain differs from thick scrublands to acacia woodland. Today you will return to camp for lunch and head out for another ride in the afternoon. Before sunset, you will return to camp to enjoy another night in this remote and remarkable place on earth.
DAY 6: Another full day in West Kilimanjaro
This morning, you will have an early wake up calls followed by an English breakfast. Everyone mounts their companion and the safari starts heading towards the so-called Seven Sisters. After you have crossed the seven hills (seven sisters) you ride through Sinya Village and continue towards lunch, served under a shady tree. The terrain varies from opened grassland to beautiful canopy forests.
The day offers good chance of seeing plains game such as zebras, giraffes and wildebeests but most important is the presence of the shy antelope, the Gerenuk that you will keep an eye for as you ride along. The night is spent at an astonishing place, hopefully the night is clear and you will get the feeling being watched by four powerful mountains, Mt Meru, Namanga, Longido and the most legendary of all, Mt Kilimanjaro. Safari
DAY 7: Another day in West Kilimanjaro
Wake up with the sun; taking directions for the Kenyan border. This day will be spent tracking the footsteps of the biggest land living mammal, the elephant. Hopefully we have good luck tracking and get the chance to see these giants from the back of a horse. The night will be spent overlooking the pans with its plains game on constant alert for predators. Hopefully this night is clear, as apart from the view of the mountains within this area, the night sky is a mind-blowing site.
DAY 8: Head back to Arusha / Departure
The last morning has arisen and the safari has come to its end, enjoy a big breakfast before directions are taken towards civilization, depending on road conditions about 3 hours journey back to the airport. You will arrive back to the lodge and have a last lunch together. There you will have an option for a shower for everyone however for those who fly out late please let us know if you would like to book a dayroom.
