THE BEST OF KENYA-ON HORSEBACK-SAFARI

1Night at Eka Hotel in a superior room on a bed and breakfast basis.

A contemporary style hotel that provides all the comfort, convenience and efficiency to the discerning traveler. Ideally located along Mombasa road in Nairobi the capital city of Kenya, Eka Hotel has stylish accommodation offering the best choice venue for your Leisure stay.

The hotel is situated with convenient access to all the city’s tourist attractions and is within easy reach to the city’s main eateries and entertainment venues.

The Chyulu Hills National Park was formed between the Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks to protect this unique habitat and because of its significance as a water catchment area. A magical land of open grass plains and tree covered rolling green hills with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. The Park is surrounded by miles of Maasai land, dusty, dry and stalked by scarlet cloaked herders and dust plumed cattle.

OL DONYO LODGE: 3 nights at ol Donyo Lodge in a standard pool suite on a full board basis. The Lodge is located on the Maasai-owned Mbirikani Group Ranch, comprising 275,000 acres of wilderness between Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, bordering Chyulu Hills National Park. This stunningly beautiful area is incredibly diverse, and often has spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Ol-Donyo Lodge is a harmonious blend of contemporary and rustic, merging the landscape into each suite. Designed for a wide appeal, the lodge is a perfect getaway for families, honeymooners or multi- generational groups. What makes it a standout is its variety of activities – from cultural visits, good quality wildlife viewing, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking – Ol-Donyo Lodge is a place to feel Africa, and get out from behind the wheel. Add to this the lodge’s creature comforts of fine dining, massage, infinity pool, star beds and multiple lounges, and it is a place to relax and unwind for days.

Each suite has a private plunge pool, and two are connected for a ‘villa’ concept, perfect for families or couples traveling together. Constructed of local thatch and gunnite, the suites blend with the environment despite their commanding design.

The lodge’s main lounge, complete with grand stone fireplace, a small library, inviting open bar and expansive verandah are the place to rendezvous with new friends, and the local staff. The attached dining area as well as the nearby pool lounge/dining is where sumptuous meals are served, and good times abound. The main infinity pool, curio shop and office provide other diversions should exploring the area not be enough.

RIDE KENYA: OL DONYO LODGE
Ride Kenya – Chyulus offers Ol-Donyo Lodge guests a truly unique experience; riding through and exploring 275,000 acres of private, open plains and volcanic hills.

Guests with little or no prior horse-riding experience, including children over 12 years, are able to enjoy gentle walking saddleback wildlife viewing experiences of up to 90 minutes out on the open plains. Riding guests that are intermediate and advanced will have the chance to ride at faster paces moving over more uneven terrain. The difference between an intermediate and advanced ride is simply pace and route and each ride is tailored to the group’s riding ability.

All riders are required to have a short assessment in the arena prior to setting out. Morning rides go out from around 07h00 and can be up to 4 hours in length. Afternoon rides go out at 16h30 and are 90 minutes. Both sessions are subject to availability of guides and horses. Longer rides can be organized in advance.

Ol-Donyo Lodge has 5 South African Boerperds. They are typically 15hh in height and are known for their steady temperament, endurance and versatility. We also have quite a number of Warmbloods, mostly Thoroughbred crossed with a Shire. There is also a Somali pony, some local Kenyan Thoroughbreds, and a pure bred Percheron, the only French draught horse in Kenya!

A selection of riding hats and half chaps are available for guests at no additional charge. The bridles and majority of the saddles are English style, but we do have some South African Trail saddles for the larger horses by request.

MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE: The Maasai Mara is one of Africa’s most famous wildlife parks. The image of acacia trees on endless wildlife filled grass plains epitomizes Africa for many. Add Maasai warriors and the conversation need go no further.

The greater Maasai Mara Reserve offers unparalleled game viewing opportunities; large prides of lions, elephants and giraffes in grasslands, gazelles and eland to mention just a few. Aside from traditional open game drive vehicle safaris and hot-air ballooning over the Mara plains has become almost essential and you can even do a horseback safari.

MARA PLAINS CAMP: 3 nights at Mara Plains Camp in a luxury tent on a full board basis.

Mara Plains Camp is a one of-a-kind, seven tented camp located in the private 35,000-acre Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just on the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. This intimate camp blends the finest wildlife viewing with outstanding hospitality and guiding. No other camp offers the extensive traversing area of Mara Plains Camp, with access to a total of 100,000 acres of private conservancy land as well as the world-renowned Maasai Mara, home to the Great Migration. Each of the seven tents has deep canvas canopied ceilings, rough-hewn wood floors and accents of East Africa’s rich safari history. The well-appointed en-suite facilities (including a deep copper bath) plus the extensive private veranda complete what is genuinely a stunning concept. Each guest tent has a set of professional Canon camera and lenses available for guests to use on a complimentary basis. Add in a pair of Swarovski binoculars, and it is impossible not to see and capture the region’s incredible wildlife scenes.

The Olare Motorogi Conservancy is reputed to have the lowest vehicle density in the Maasai Mara region, while also having the highest concentration of big cats anywhere in Africa. There is only one guest bed per 350 acres, leaving the land unadulterated for the wildlife to roam and thrive, as nature intended. By day and night, the camp is a sanctuary for resident animals, including many of the Maasai Mara’s 300 bird species. After dark, larger mammals frequent the camp and Maasai warriors escort guests to and from their rooms. Hippos snorting and leopards barking often provide the night’s chorus. Mara Plains also offers walking safaris and day & night game drives. Hot air ballooning is available and should be booked in advance and is subject to availability and additional cost. Departures are very early in the morning to allow time to transfer to the nearest launching point. Night drives are particularly prolific in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, and while they take patience, sightings commonly include lesser known nocturnal mammals and even lion and hyena hunts.

THE RATES INCLUDE:

EKA HOTEL: Road transfer from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the hotel, accommodation, full English breakfast, use of the Gym, in room tea/coffee making facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi and transfer from the Hotel to Wilson Airport.

OL- DONYO LODGE: Accommodation, scheduled activities (including horseback riding), meals, Big Life conservation fees, daily laundry, return Chyulu airstrip road transfers, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (excluding premium brand spirits and champagne), Nairobi air transfers to/from hotel and scheduled flights between Wilson Airport and Ol-Donyo Lodge.

MARA PLAINS CAMP: Fully inclusive of accommodation, scheduled activities on the Mara North Conservancy and the Maasai Mara Reserve, all meals, laundry, return Ol-Kiombo airstrip road transfers, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (excluding premium brand spirits and champagne).

Inquisitive Africa reserves the right to review published rates in the event of currency exchange rate fluctuations or increases in costs or taxes, which are beyond our control.

EXTENDING YOUR STAY WITH US: Inquisitive Africa has a variety of authentic experiences in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, Kenya and Dian or Mombasa, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa. We would be happy to facilitate and plan any extended stay you might require in East and Southern Africa.