Migration Riding Safari
Watch the Great Wildebeest Migration from Horseback in Tanzania
 

The Experience of your Lifetime – watch the Great Wildebeest Migration from horseback. This migration in East Africa comprises the largest movement of land animals on the planet.
Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, the Serengeti is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle join the 1.2 million wildebeest - in search of quality pastures, some of which pass through our riding area. Let’s go and track them! Live your dream – join us in this extraordinary experience.

Our Migration Ride takes place in a private concession area near to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, which are popular national parks and reserves. The wildebeest migration is a tale of life and death on the African plains. The migration is all about food; the wildebeest migrate to follow the seasonal rains and thus the supply of fresh nutrient rich savannah grass. The migration begins in Tanzania in March with the birth of the new calves; once they are strong enough the long trek north begins. Then they move into the Masai Mara. October to November is when the short rains begin to fall in the south and east Serengeti, so the herds start to leave the Masai Mara, crossing the Mara River yet again, bringing all the same perils as before. They head slowly back to the Serengeti's eastern plains.

IT-TZRT06M
Rates include all meals, in deluxe camps and locations as described in the itinerary, during the day non-alcoholic drinks, in the evening all drinks, back-up vehicle, English speaking guides.  
8 days/ 7 nights     $ 5,675
.. based on Euro 3,990
15 days/ 14 nights $ 8,245
.. based on Euro 5,800
2008 Dates:
05/10-05/17    05/24-05/31
12/06-12/13    12/13-12/20    12/20-12/27
... 15 day option:
05/03-05/17    05/10-05/24   05/17-05/31
11/29-12/13    12/06-12/20   12/13-12/27

  availability & reservation

Meeting: Arusha
Airport:   Arusha Kilimanjaro
Transfer: from Kilimanjaro Airport  incl.
Level:       Intermediate+
Horses:    Variety of Thoroughbred, Warmbloods and Mix of both, Arabian Mix, Australian Brumby, Achal-Tekke
Tack:      Quality trail saddles (‘Trailrider’), treeless saddles (‘Barefoot’ and ‘Torsion’)
Bitless bridles like Sidepull and Hackamore
Pace:      Long trots and canters. 6 hours in saddle
Min/Max Riders:  2-6
Weight Limit: 200 lbs
Note:  Riders must be able to post to the trot for extended periods and able to use leg aids to control a horse. Good balance & state of fitness is required.

Highlights:
During our rides we may encounter the following animals: giraffe, greater and lesser kudu, impala, Grant, Thomson, eland and oryx gazelle, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, gerenuk, dikdik, olive baboon, vervet monkey, jackal, occasionally hyena and cheetah, ostrich and a wide variety of bird species. There are usually no lions in this riding area.
Nocturnal game (on night game drive): plains animals like zebra, antelope and wildebeest, aardwolf, striped and spotted hyena, bat-eared fox, leopard.
Game at the mountain-forest camp and during game walk: buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and typical bird varieties of the montane rain forest.
 

Our Camps:
Our base is a permanent luxury camp equipped with beds and an en suite bathroom with shower.
Meals are taken in the mess tent. In the Mountain-Forest Camp (1 night) you stay in small dome tents with mattresses on the ground. There is also a mess tent and a separate tent with bathroom facilities.
For the fly-camp (1 night) you sleep under the stars (mosquito net), or for those who prefer we will set up a dome tent.

The Food: All meals are always prepared fresh and most of the ingredients are produced on the farm. This includes most vegetables, meat, milk and milk products. There will be fresh home-baked bread on your table every morning. There will also be home-made confectionary available in the afternoon. Depending on the schedule, lunch will be served in camp or under a shady tree as a picnic.

Eco-Tourism: We believe in sustainable tourism and our impact on the environment and community is extremely low.
Our rates include a fixed daily amount of 75 USD per person, used for national organized conservation and the development of local community projects (day cares, schools, hospitals and more).

8 day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Introductory Ride
Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to Choroa-Camp. After the briefing you will be introduced to the horses, followed by an afternoon ride (around 3 hours).
Enjoy your first sunset on horseback in Africa. It will already be dark when we arrive back at camp.
Day 2: Game Rides
Early morning tea and light breakfast. Afterwards a game ride. Admire your first Grant, eland and oryx gazelles and herds of zebras and wildebeest. Even today we might meet the migratory herds of plains animals which pass through this area on their search for new pastures. Back to camp for lunch and a break.
Later in the afternoon we start a sunset ride through the sand dunes. Watch out for more animals on our route.
Day 3: The Migratory Herds and Mountain-Forest-Camp
Today we will follow the plains animals and stay with the migratory herds on a long morning ride. By now every rider should be well acquainted with his/her horse and exhilarating canters with zebra and wildebeest herds will be an unforgettable experience for any rider.
There will be a snack in our saddle bags because we will return to camp for late lunch. After our break, we will be picked up by an open vehicle for a game drive. The car will bring us through a totally different environment to our Mountain-Forest-Camp where we will stay for the night.
The vegetation of the mountainous rain forest is populated by buffalo, elephant and even lion. These animals may provide exciting sounds for the night…
Day 4: Buffalo Tracking and back to Choroa-Camp
In the morning a game walk, we will be accompanied by an armed ranger as we try to track the impressive buffalo on foot. Expect to see bush buck - there is even the chance of encountering an elephant. Lunch might be served in camp or as a picnic.
After lunch, we will return by vehicle back to Choroa-Camp and enjoy another sunset on horseback in the warm lights of the afternoon.
Day 5: Day Ride to the South
Today’s plan is for a full day ride towards the south. En route we pass Masai bomas (settlements of Masai) where you will experience some insight into the culture of this colorful pastoralist tribe. Later we will climb the escarpment which was formed by the movement of continental plates during the last 16 million years. These escarpments are found along the Great Rift Valley. Enjoy the amazing view while riding next to the cliff until we meet the sand river Enabaitaat. We descend into the valley where a picnic is served under shady trees.
In the afternoon we follow the sand river back to camp. After dinner there is a night game drive where we can watch nocturnal animals with the help of special spot lights - designed for not disturbing the animals.
Day 6: Fly-Camp at Engaruka River
In the morning a ride to Lake Magadi (soda-lake) where there will be more exhilarating gallops along the lake shore.
There are often flamingos at the lake. We pass Mt. Kitumbeine on our way and continue towards Oldonyo Lengai, the sacred mountain of the Masai. Picnic en route and after some more riding we will arrive in our fly-camp next to the Engaruka River. This day offers mixed riding with slow passages for game viewing and fast gallops over perfect riding ground.
Day 7: More Game Rides on the Masai Plains
We follow the river and ride over the Engaruka Masai Plains, which offer various landscapes.
At some point we will reach peculiar lava sculptures which were formed during volcanic activity in the Rift Valley. Our picnic will be served under an acacia, often monitored by interested giraffes browsing on the trees nearby.
Early afternoon we return to Choroa-Camp.
Day 8: Early-Morning-Ride and Departure
Depending on your future schedule there may be time for an early-morning ride. After breakfast we say good bye to new friends and horses, afterwards transfer to Makoa-Farm or your home- or ongoing journey.

  see Migration Video
(National Geographic)

15-day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to the farm. We are a working coffee farm and from this base we keep and breed horses and this is where you begin your safari. Depending on the time of arrival you may have a chance to get to know our miniature “zoo” or enjoy a walk through the coffee plantation.
Day 2: Acclimatization and Introduction to Makoa-Land
The day starts with early-morning tea or coffee in bed and weather permitting a fantastic view of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the forest vista. This day is for acclimatization and to introduce you to the farm and surrounding area. We recommend a hike along the beautiful and steep valleys of the Kikafu and Makoa Rivers which mark the boundaries of our farm. These are populated by sykes and vervet monkeys, yellow baboon, bush buck, grey and red duikers and dwarf antelopes like suni and an array of other animals. In the evening you may encounter side-striped jackal, aardvark or even porcupine or hyena.
Or, learn more about the local tribe on a village walk. The Chagga who populate the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro operate an interesting farming culture. Experience a guided tour through smallholder farms and banana plantations.
After dinner there will be a briefing about the coming safari.
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park
Today an early start followed by a drive to Lake Manyara National Park. This park is part of the Rift Valley and is home to a unique flora and fauna and a forest with indigenous fig, mahogany and sausage trees originating from an underground water source. Lake Manyara is a soda lake, home to large numbers of flamingo, pelican, storks and other bird life. The park offers a fantastic insight into the vast spectrum of East Africa’s animal and bird species.
This evening you will be transferred to Choroa-Camp which is our base for the ongoing safari.
Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater
Again we start bright and early to visit the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most stunning animal paradises in the world. You will be amazed by the high concentration of game that we will see. There are about 25,000 mammals and 300 bird species. This is one of the few places in the world where you may see the incredibly rare black rhino in the wild.
In the afternoon we drive back to Choroa-Camp.
Day 5: Start of your Horseback Safari
After a relaxed breakfast and short safety talk you will get to meet the horses, followed by an introductory ride. You will have a long lunch break and later set out again for an afternoon ride - your first sunset on horseback in Africa! It will already be dark when we arrive back at camp.
Day 6: Game Rides
Early morning tea and light breakfast. Afterwards a game ride. Admire your first Grant, eland and oryx gazelles and herds of zebras and wildebeest. Even today we might meet the migratory herds of plains animals which pass through this area on their search for new pastures. Back to camp for lunch and a break.
Later in the afternoon we start a sunset ride through the sand dunes. Watch out for more animals on our route.
Day 7: The Migratory Herds and Mountain-Forest-Camp
Today we will follow the plains animals and stay with the migratory herds on a long morning ride. By now every rider should be well acquainted with his/her horse and exhilarating canters with zebra and wildebeest herds will be an unforgettable experience for any rider. There will be a snack in our saddle bags because we will return to camp for a late lunch.
After our break, we will be picked up by an open vehicle for a game drive. The car will bring us through a totally different environment to our Mountain-Forest-Camp where we will stay for the night.
The vegetation of the mountainous rain forest is populated by buffalo, elephant and even lion. These animals may provide exciting sounds for the night…

Day 8: Buffalo Tracking and back to Choroa-Camp
In the morning a game walk, we will be accompanied by an armed ranger as we try to track the impressive buffalo on foot. Expect to see bush buck - there is even the chance of encountering an elephant. Lunch might be served in camp or as a picnic.
After lunch, we will return by vehicle back to Choroa-Camp and enjoy another sunset on horseback in the warm lights of the afternoon.
Day 9: Day Ride to the South
Today’s plan is for a full day ride towards the south. En route we pass Masai bomas (settlements of Masai) where you will experience some insight into the culture of this colorful pastoralist tribe. Later we will climb the escarpment which was formed by the movement of continental plates during the last 16 million years. These escarpments are found along the Great Rift Valley. Enjoy the amazing view while riding next to the cliff until we meet the sand river Enabaitaat. We descend into the valley where a picnic is served under shady trees.
In the afternoon we follow the sand river back to camp. After dinner there is a night game drive where we can watch nocturnal animals with the help of special spot lights - designed for not disturbing the animals.
Day 10: Fly-Camp at Engaruka River
In the morning a ride to Lake Magadi (soda-lake) where there will be more exhilarating gallops along the lake shore. There are often flamingos at the lake. We pass Mt. Kitumbeine on our way and continue towards Oldonyo Lengai, the sacred mountain of the Masai. Picnic en route and after some more riding we will arrive in our fly-camp next to the Engaruka River. This day offers mixed riding with slow passages for game viewing and fast gallops over perfect riding ground.
Day 11: More Game Rides on the Masai Plains
We follow the river and ride over the Engaruka Masai Plains, which offer various landscapes. At some point we will reach peculiar lava sculptures which were formed during volcanic activity in the Rift Valley. Our picnic will be served under an acacia, often monitored by interested giraffes browsing on the trees nearby.
Early afternoon we return to Choroa-Camp.
Day 12: Early-Morning-Ride and Back to Makoa-Farm
Early- morning ride and, after breakfast, we say good bye to horses. Transfer back to Makoa-Farm. En route we pass Arusha, presenting a chance for some souvenir shopping.
Late afternoon arrival at Makoa-Farm.
Day 13: Hot Springs
The day to relax. After breakfast we depart by 4x4 vehicle to the Hot Springs to see more of this unusual ecosystem. After arrival we will embark on a guided walking tour during which you will be lead through numerous springs and small streams. As we retrace the footsteps of Dr. Livingstone, stay alert for exotic birds, different types of monkeys, and crocodiles! We return to the springs for lunch and for a refreshing plunge into the natural pool, followed by an afternoon of leisure. Late afternoon we drive back to Makoa-Farm, arriving just after sunset.
Day 14: Different options
There is no set program for today but here are some different options to choose from: Guided hikes on Makoa-Farm and surroundings i.e. to a waterfall and mountain fruit bat colony. A day hike in Kilimanjaro National Park (there will be additional park fees). What about a visit to a Masai market, or join us while shopping in a market in the heart of Chagga-land. And the old-colonial town of Moshi with market and many gift shops, is certainly worth a visit.
Day 15: Early morning ride
Depending on your future schedule there may be time for an early-morning ride. After breakfast we say good bye to new friends and horses, afterwards transfer to your home- or ongoing journey.