ol Donyo Lodge horseback fly camping preview
Fans and friends,
Those of you who keep up with all things Great Plains know that we recently decided to amend Ride Kenya a bit. We still have the magnifcent 25 horse stable based at ol Donyo Lodge, but in lieu of our advanced only multi-day safaris,we will now be offering slightly more accessible overnight horseback itineraries for guests of ol Donyo Lodge. Stay at the lodge a couple nights, head out by horseback and stay in our fly camp for a couple nights. Perfect mix for a truly one-of-a-kind place like ol Donyo and the Chyulu Hills.
To that end, we’ve just now done a test run of our new fly camp gear. Ray & Alyssa along with David and Nicola set it up under the stars, added hot water, cold drinks, good company, new linens and strapping horses and were on their way. It was a great success, and an easy to arrange adventure. It is available to guests at no extra cost, but must be booked in advance.
Sample itinerary
Day 1- Arrive at ol Donyo Lodge, settle into suites. Afternoon horse ride of 2.5 hours, designed to select the horse for each rider, and to allow riders to get accustomed to the terrain and riding with wildlife. Sundowners back at the lodge.
Day 2- Morning ride with packed breakfast- about 4 hours riding before arrival into crater camp for lunch. Enjoy lunch in camp, followed by a short siesta, and then afternoon climb of the nearby crater or exploration of the lava tube caves beneath. Sundowners in fly camp.
Day 3- Full day ride into Chyulu East National Park, with picnic lunch. As the horses rest at lunchtime, take a short walk into one of the mist forests atop the Chyulus, stretching tired legs and enjoying the lush forest environment and its many exotic insect, bird and plant residents. Ride or drive back to the crater fly camp in the late afternoon.
Day 4- Morning ride back to ol Donyo Lodge, taking the horses back to the stables before heading into the lodge for a shower, and relaxing lunch by the pool. Enjoy an afternoon massage, followed by any afternoon activity offered at ODL e.g. Mountain bike ride to Kopjes, walk around the forest tracking elephants, another horse ride, game drive, relaxation by the hide.
