Kenya:The Rift Valley Rides

Highlights of

Kenya: The Rift Valley Ride

What:

We are offering an exciting five night Rift Valley Ride with plenty of wildlife and comfortable lodge type settings

Dates and Rates:

Ride operates year round.

Each of 6 USD$ 2,080: Each of 5 USD$ 2,140:
Each of 4 USD$ 2,230: Each of 3 USD$ 2,280
Each of 2 USD$ 2,685

Single Room Supplement (if requested) USD$ 500 per person

Wilderness fees: USD$ 60 per person

Flying Doctors’ Membership: USD$ 15 per person

General Description: Deep in the heart of the Rift Valley lies a dormant volcano, Mt. Longonot derived from the Masai word O-Loo-Nong'ot, meaning 'of the valleys'. Straddling the slopes of Longonot and bordering Hell's Gate National Park to the west lays a private ranch, Kedong, of 80,000 acres where the colonial style ranch house is situated. Amongst the many species of game, which roam freely over the open plains are eland, giraffe, zebra, impala, gazelle, Coke’s Hartebeest, hyena and bat-eared fox. The option of a night game drive is a must, for there are good opportunities to find several nocturnal species such as the African springhare, white tailed mongoose, zorilla and the aardvark. Our ‘legendary’ hosts here are Tony and Susie Church.

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARKAltitude 5,700-6,300 ft. ~ Area 188 sq. km ~ Gazetted in 1968.

Lake Nakuru is one of a series of shallow alkaline lakes that formed on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The park is renowned for its birdlife (over 400 species) and in particular for its huge concentration of lesser flamingo (up to one million), which turn the shores of the lake pink. The lake has been termed “the greatest bird spectacle on earth” by Roger Peterson, one of the worlds leading ornithologists. The landscape is picturesque: areas of sedge, marsh and grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of yellow-barked acacia woodland and an amazing forest of euphorbia candelabra trees. There are a good number of mammals to be seen - Rothschild giraffe, both black and white rhino, leopard, impala, warthog, waterbuck, zebra and buffalo.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Horsesense:

We own over twenty-five Somali-Arab crossbred horses; the majority are bred and raised at home. They are familiar with being amongst big game, have great endurance and are very evenly tempered. Each young horse spends nearly a year on safari acclimatizing with the wilderness environment before being ridden by a guest. We ride English, using French cavalry trekking saddles. They are extremely comfortable.

Getting There:

Transfers are included from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi.

Room and Board:

This colonial style ranch house is hosted as a home-stay retreat by Tony and Susie Church. Longonot Ranch House is ideally located for excursions to Hells Gate National Park, Longonot National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Mt Suswa caves, the Aberdare range and Lake Naivasha, well known for its birdlife, black bass fishing and watersports.

There is also an 18-hole golf course at Green Park, Eburru, 1 hours drive from the ranch.

Weather:

Climate

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Temprature	max
	Min

25

26

25

24

22

21

24

23

12

13

14

13

12

11

13

Rainy Days

05

06

11

16

17

09

06

07

06

08

15

11

ITINERARY

II- DAY BY DAY SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY:

Day1:	DAY 1 ~ On arrival in Nairobi you will be met by Safaris Unlimited at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transferred to our small home and farm near the Ngong Hills. Alternatively we will meet you at your hotel at about 9.00 am. Over a cup of Kenyan tea or coffee your professional guide will give you a briefing on your safari. We then drive for approximately 2 hours out through the fertile Kikuyu highlands to the edge of the Great Rift Valley, into which we descend 2,000 feet. We head north onto the lower slopes of Mt Longonot, arriving at Longonot Ranch House, the family home of Tony and Susie Church, in time for lunch. The afternoon is spent settling-in, followed by a short ride to familiarise ourselves with the horses. Meal plan : Lunch and dinner at the Ranch House. Overnight : Longonot Ranch House ~ Kedong Game Ranch
Day2:	The morning and afternoon will be spent on horseback exploring the vast Kedong Ranch (80,000 acres) enjoying all the wildlife including: Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, Coke’s hartebeest, Masai giraffe, East African eland, warthog and Buchell’s zebra. Meal Plan : All meals at the Ranch House. Overnight : Longonot Ranch House ~ Kedong Game Ranch.
Day3:	The morning and afternoon will be spent on horseback exploring the vast Kedong Ranch (80,000 acres) enjoying all the wildlife including: Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, Coke’s hartebeest, Masai giraffe, East African eland, warthog and Buchell’s zebra. Meal Plan : All meals at the Ranch House. Overnight : Longonot Ranch House ~ Kedong Game Ranch.
Day4:	Our last full day with the horses in the Great Rift Valley. The options are numerous: ride to a bush breakfast; a sese canoe trip on Lake Naivasha to photograph hippo and birdlife; a long ride to the nearby Hell’s Gate National Park or for the more energetic, a hike up the extinct volcano of Mt Longonot to over 9,000 feet. In the late afternoon we set off for a ‘sundowner’ and afterwards a night game drive in search of leopard, spotted hyena, porcupine, aardvark and all sorts of wild and wonderful nocturnal species. Meal Plan : All meals at the Ranch House. Overnight : Longonot Ranch House ~ Kedong Game Ranch.
Day5:	A dawn ride with the game, followed by a leisurely brunch and ‘goodbyes’ to the horses and house staff. We return by vehicle, approximately 2 hours, to Nairobi. For those interested in shopping a trip to find East African gemstones, bronze sculptures, Africana jewellery, paintings and other curios can be arranged. Meal Plan : Brunch at the Ranch House. SAFARI ENDS.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a sample itinerary, planned several months in advance. Accordingly, arrangements (routes or facilities) are subject to change depending on local conditions and hotel choice may vary due to availability. Also, the tour may be arranged in different order than is described above.

III –SERVICES INCLUDED:

· Full board accommodation and all drinks at the Ranch House including bottled drinking water

· Sese canoe trip

· Kenya Professional Safari Guide in each vehicle

· Horses & tack

· 4x4 game viewing vehicles

· Day & night game drives

· Laundry

IV–NOT INCLUDED:

· International flights

· Visas

· Accommodation outside the safari itinerary

· Insurances

· Gratuities

Extras :

· National Park & Wilderness Concession entry fees: USD$ 60 nett per person

· Flying Doctors’ Membership: USD$ 15 nett per person

Optional Extras :

· Rift Valley Scenic flight: USD$ nett per person

Single Room Supplement (if requested): USD$ 500 per person