Riding Safaris at Ol Donyo Wuas

The Chyulu Hills rise from 3,000 feet to 7,500 feet.  In the low country you have dry semi desert rolling savannah plains and as you climb away from the plains you go through acacia woodlands before reaching the hills.  

The hills - which run for 40 miles - consist of a series of volcanic craters with the peaks covered with mist forests.  Due to the lack of water in the hills, wildlife is more prolific in the low country where we have 38 recorded species of large mammals including all the big five - Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Leopard and Buffalo, plus the plains game dominated by zebra, wildebeest and eland. 

 

Riding can either be done as morning and afternoon rides from the main Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge.  Alternatively, riding can be done as part of a mobile safari where you spend between one and six days away from the main lodge, staying in lightweight tented camps that are put up by a safari crew at the end of each days ride.  For more detailed information see below.

Ol Donyo Wuas Mobile Safaris:  For these safaris, you will be staying in tents in various locations and will be looked after by a full team of staff and your guides.  There is a cook, waiter, general staff and a groom for the horses.  They take care of all the domestic chores like heating water for showers and cooking all meals as well putting up and striking the camp, feeding, grooming and tacking up the horses.

Riding Ability Needed for Ol Donyo Wuas:  You should be comfortable at all paces and be able to sit to a horse shying.  We ride in big game country but the game is quite shy so it tends to move away.  You should be fit enough to ride between 4 and 6 hours a day.

Length of Ol Donyo Wuas Rides:  The average is 4-6 hours in the saddle.  Usually a morning ride with lunch in camp and a walk or game drives in the evening.  However, some days we will be met by the land cruiser with a picnic lunch then ride to camp in the afternoon.  This can vary according to the ability and wish of the rider.  Some places may require us to get off and walk because of rough or steep terrain.

Size of the Ol Donyo Wuas Rides:  Maximum of 6 guests. Minimum 2 guests.

Ol Donyo Wuas Weight Limit:  Maximum weight is 200 lbs for a novice rider and 210 lbs for an advanced rider (15 stone or 95 kg).

Ol Donyo Wuas Horses:  There are about twenty horses of varying sizes, temperaments and breed, from thoroughbreds to Somali cross ponies.

Ol Donyo Wuas Accommodation:  The tents are large and spacious, and you can easily stand up inside.  There is an ensuite bathroom with a shower and a short drop loo.  Lanterns and torches provide the light at night and all linen, soap and towels are provided. A separate dining tent is used for all meals in camp.

Ol Donyo Wuas Tack:  All the horses are ridden in English tack.  There are 3 comfortable large cavalry type saddles and the rest are general-purpose English saddles.  There are seat savers provided if anyone wishes.

Drinks:  Are included except champagne – We do carry ice and cold boxes to ensure that the drinks are cold throughout. 

Terrain:  The country offer several different ecosystems, from steep wooded hills to open plains.  Most soil is lava ash therefore ideal for the horses although occasionally we would need to cross a rocky lava flow. The riding pace is varied, with plenty of opportunity for long canters on the open plains, jumping logs or fallen trees and also some more technical riding up and down the hills. Mount Kilimanjaro provides our backdrop.

Other Activities:  On any day where anyone does not wish to ride we have a vehicle that can take you on day or night drives, with a guide, or you can explore the area on foot,  walking up kopjes or hills and exploring lava caves.

Ol Donyo Wuas Clothing List:  Layers of clothes is the best option as mornings and evenings can be chilly but in the middle of the day can be very hot.  Long sleeved cotton shirts are recommended to keep the sun from burning. Hats, sunglasses and sun block are a must. Hard hats and chaps are recommended, as is a warm and clean set of clothes for relaxing in the camp in the evenings. We do have a swimming pool at Ol Donyo Wuas, so make sure to bring your swimsuit.

Insurance:  We recommend you take out the Flying Doctors ambulance cover that we offer for $15. This is only an emergency evacuation service so we strongly advise you to have full medical and holiday insurance.

Game:  We ride where there are elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and cheetah, as well as plains game that are plentiful at certain times of year when they are looking for grazing.  There is a severe lack of water in the Chyulu Hills so there is a constant movement of animals to and from their water sources to the abundant grass found in the hills.

Children:  We will accept children on riding safaris but they must be competent riders.  There are no discounts for children.  For Children who are not experienced riders we suggest staying in the main lodge, and doing shorter rides from there.  

Single Supplement:  Is only charged for those who are not prepared to share accommodation.

Weather:  Although close to the equator, our climate can vary. June to August are the cooler months, where a fleece is needed for the evenings. There are two rainy seasons; November and April to May.  The hottest months are February and March, September and October but there are no hard and fast rules on this.  We ride at an average of 5500ft which means there are very few mosquitoes and other biting insects and the end or start of the day is often cool. Most days will be hot.

Medical and safety:  A medical kit is on hand in camp and in the saddle.  We are in radio contact from camp to the main lodge that is in contact with the Flying Doctor Service. We also have a satellite phone for emergencies and both the guides are trained in equine specific first aid.

Booking information:  for sample itineraries and guide profiles contact us on  0207 622 5114 , or click here to send us an email about Riding Safaris at Ol Donyo Wuas.