Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari – Dates 2024

1 – 8 June, 15 – 22 June, 29 June – 6 July
13 – 20 July, 27 July – 3 August
10 – 17 August
4 – 11 September
2 – 9 October, 30 October – 6 November

Included – Accommodation (shared) full board, drinks, transfers to and from Kilimanjaro international airport at set times, a qualified guide, flying doctor membership, local taxes and wildlife fees.

Excluded – International flights, gratuities, visas, medical and travel insurance, drinks at the Polo Club, lunch on the 1st and last day.

Getting There
International flight to Kilimanjaro airport.

Transfer
We meet and transfer you to your lodge on the first day at a set time.

Note: Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our Terms & Conditions for full details.

All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.

SUMMARY OF THE TRIP top

We love these rides headed up by the fantastic Jo, one of the best guides in the industry and she’s a woman…. prepare to be amazed!  Jo Westermark and her partner offers these fantastic and adventurous horse-riding safaris using mobile tents in the wilderness in game rich Northern Tanzania. These rides are adventurous with lots of fast paced riding and suited for the young at heart!  Some of the most outstanding game experiences as well as beautiful and varied scenery, you’ll also come across local tribes, so this is a very authentic safari. You start out at Jo’s base which is situated in an area called Kilo Bravo, just on the outskirts of Arusha, at an altitude of 1400m above sea level. This offers an excellent climate for riding. From the stables there is an incredible view of Mount Meru and on a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen emerging from the skyline. The safari are fully mobile, and the horses are trucked from here to the required location, they will already be in situ, and you will meet them by vehicle transfer. On this trip you you will have great opportunities to spot elephant, buffalo, monkeys and are species such as Suni, Red Duiker, the magnificent Hartlaub’s turaco and so much more. What is absolutely unique about Jo’s safaris is she truly with her team scouts out the best places to see game and overnight on the fly and then camp is set up there. If you need to get further into the bush to get closer to some action, then she’ll organise to set up a very basic fly camp…it really feels like a proper adventure and if you get lucky, you’ll feel like you are in the middle of a David Attenborough movie…

There are several different rides available here including the Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari and the Serengeti Migration Safari.

THE RIDING top

Horses – The horses are a mix of local breeds and thoroughbreds. They are well trained and used to the big game, fit and perfect for the job. Size wise they range from 15-16hh.

Level of Riding & Pace – Intermediate plus riders, some walking tracking and viewing game but plenty fast cantering too depending on terrain.

Tack – Mostly snaffles bridles and African stock saddles.

Weight Restriction – 90kg / 200lbs / 14 stone.

Group Size – Minimum 2 to a maximum of 12.

ACCOMMODATION top

You will stay in the lodge at the stables or while on mobile safari you will stay in very comfortable canvas tents.

The villa has en suite double and twin rooms and there is a small swimming pool. One of the camps is semi-permanent and the KD tents each with its own en suite bathroom and toilet. Meals will be provided in a large dining tent.

The food is of great standard, with professionally trained chefs, you won’t go hungry, and you’ll be amazing at what they can produce.  The team create delicious dishes with a mix of local and international cuisine, based around wholesome good cooking.
Breakfast is a traditional cowboy style meal, accompanied by fresh juice and exotic local fruits. Lunch is eaten outside at a scenic location in the wilderness, such as under a shady tree – it will either be carried by the support vehicle or in saddle bags but there is always plenty and it’s deliciously fresh. Dinner is a three-course meal and is always served with freshly baked bread, salad and herbs along with tasty wine or tipple of your choice.

Drinks are locally sourced, and a good variety is provided

SAMPLE ITINERARY top

Day 1
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be collected and driven c. 35mins to a private villa where you will be accommodated for the night. You will have a chance to settle into your new surroundings, enjoy the facilities on offer here and meet the other guests that are participating in the safari. The lead guide will join you for dinner and briefly introduce the itinerary for the next few days as well as answering any questions you may have.

Day 2
After a big breakfast, you will set off and take the c. 2hr drive to the mobile camp. Upon arrival the crew will welcome you with drinks and open arms, making you feel part of the team from day one. After being shown to your tents and allowed to settle in, it will be time for lunch where you will receive a short briefing. After lunch, your guide will introduce you to your horse and you will head out for an afternoon ride to get to know your mounts and settle into the saddle. The day will end with drinks around the campfire.

Day 3
Today you will wake with the sun and enjoy a tasty breakfast in camp. Mounting your horse, you will head out northwards, with the impressive Mt Meru towering to your west. The day’s ride will be amongst typical Tanzanian farmland in the famed Maasai steppe. You will make good use of the cooler early morning hours, trying to cover as much ground as possible. Your lunch will be served under the shade of a large acacia tree, sometimes near the dam where the Maasai herdsmen water their cattle – also an opportunity for the horses to a have drink. You will have a good 3 hour stop for lunch, with time to enjoy a siesta and regain some lost strength. The afternoon continues across open plains, ensuring you reach your overnight stop before the sun hits the horizon. The night is spent in an area known locally as Nyumbu , named after its abundant wildebeest population.

Day 4
An early wakeup call will be followed by a tasty English breakfast which will set you up well for the day ahead. The safari will begin by heading out towards the Seven Sisters hill range, so called because of the seven prominent peaks. Riding over the seven hills, you will reach the Sinya Village which you will pass through in order to reach your lunch spot, under the shade of another delightful, large tree. The terrain in this area varies dramatically from open green grassland to beautiful canopy forests. This day of riding offers great chances of spotting plains game such as zebras, giraffes and wildebeests, but most importantly the shy antelope – the Gerenuk. Tonight, is spent at an astonishing location which, on a clear night, will allow you to experience the feeling of being watched over by the four powerful mountains, Mt Meru, Namanga, Longido and the most legendary of all, Mt Kilimanjaro.

Day 5
Another early wake up with coffee and tea before a delicious bush breakfast is served. Today will be spent tracking the largest land-living mammal in Africa – the elephant! The terrain differs significantly from that of the previous day, with thick scrublands and beautiful desert-like flats close to the edges of the great lake. You will find plenty of opportunity to enjoy some great, fast gallops. Before sunset, you will return to the camp in order to further enjoy this remarkable setting.

Day 6
Today you will be offered another chance to track the footsteps, and hopefully spot, the elephant herds. Riding around the plains, you will learn the art of recognising certain, specific tracks and markers; for the lucky, it will result in a rare chance to experience these magnificent animals up close and personal. The night will be spent at a mobile camp overlooking the pans, the perfect viewing spot to watch the herds of plains game – on constant alert for predators!

Day 7
You will wake with the sun and enjoy another early start to your riding day, in order to make the most of the cooler early hours. Today you will be heading out towards the Kenyan border. The majority of the riding will take place in some very good big cat country providing a great opportunity of spotting these wonderful creatures – make sure to keep your eyes peeled. Your overnight stop will be in an entirely new location, chosen by your guides on the same morning as you leave camp. Hopefully the night will be clear, as apart from the view of the beautiful mountains in this area, the African night sky is a breath-taking sight.

Day 8
A more leisurely morning as you enjoy a large breakfast and then pack your belongings for the transfer back to the airport (c. 3 hours’ drive). If everyone’s flight times allow then there may be a short ride first but this isn’t always possible. For those departing late, a day room is available at Kili villa (where you spent the first night) and you can relax and refresh before transferring to the airport later in the day.

NOTE – Please note that although this is an example of the itinerary planned it is only an example and day-by-day arrangements, camp locations and routes will be varied by your guide in her absolute discretion according to the weather, game movements or if other local conditions require. This is left to the experience and discretion of your guide.

DESTINATION MAP top

Zara’s Planet Horse Riding Holidays Guarantee:

All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.

If you are having trouble finding exactly the right horse riding holiday for you from our horse riding holidays collection, please contact us directly using the form below and tell us in your own words what you would like to do and we will use our extensive knowledge to make sure we find that perfect horse riding holiday.

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