Ol Donyo Lodge

Upon arrival at Ol Donyo airstrip, guests enjoy a short game drive en route to the lodge. The Chyulu Hills offer some of the most stunning scenery in Africa; rolling volcanic hills, Acacia forests, and grassy plains all under the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro.
This first drive serves as an introduction to the area and its inhabitants; there are 38 recorded species of large mammal here and over 300 species of bird.
Upon arrival at Ol Donyo lodge, guests are welcomed by our friendly staff and given time to relax, swim, unpack and enjoy lunch.

Afternoon
Riding option; Introductory horse ride.
Riders head to the stables to meet the horses and guides. Each rider is given a brief assessment in the outdoor arena, to make sure they are comfortable and happy with the horse they have been given and have the correct ability for riding with big game.
Having finished the assessment, riders set out off from the stables on a ride designed to introduce the rider to their horse and the local ecosystem. The group will pass through thick Acacia forest, and out onto the savannah. Expect to ride at a variety of speeds and to see game such as giraffe, impala, elephant, warthog and gazelle.
Riders head back to the lodge for sundowners.

Non-riding option; Choose from a number of afternoon activities eg game drive, walking or mountain biking. Join the riders back at the lodge for sunset.

Both riders and non-riders can enjoy a journey up into the hills behind the lodge this morning.
Riders can take their horses up to the top of ‘Ol Donyo Wuas’ a beautiful tree-covered hill behind the lodge that affords magnificent views of the whole area. This is a four-hour ride, so a packed breakfast will be carried in saddle-bags. Expect to see large bull elephant, eland, impala and giraffe en route to the summit.

Non-riders can also enjoy this morning’s hill climb, either on foot or in a vehicle. If the latter, a popular descent option is to take a mountain bike from the top and race back down to the lodge! Non-riders also take a packed breakfast today.

Afternoon
After an active morning, those that wish to horse ride again are welcome to go for a short evening ride.

Those looking for relaxation can enjoy a massage at the lodge, followed by an afternoon at the ‘blind’ near the lodge waterholes. Hidden within the log-jam, guests can watch wildlife coming in for their evening drink; from elephant, to cheetah, giraffe, warthog, jackal and much more.

Early supper followed by a night drive, to go in search of nocturnal wildlife.

Riding option; leave the stables early morning for a long ride through the woodland, across the savannah and beyond. Enjoy stopping for a spoiling cooked breakfast under a large acacia tree whilst the horses graze.

Non-riding option; Bike ride or walk from the lodge, through the woodland and onto the plains to the same breakfast spot as the riders.

All drive or ride back to the lodge after breakfast, shower, pack small overnight bag and enjoy lunch by the pool.

Afternoon
Riding option; Enjoy a two hour ride up into the Chyulu Hills themselves, heading towards Crater Camp; a secluded campsite that is nestled into a cedar forest next to a large volcanic crater.

Non-riders leave Ol Donyo by vehicle, arriving in the camp in time to climb the nearby volcanic crater in pursuit of the very rare Verreaux’s Eagle which nests in the nearly inaccessible rocky outcrops at the rim.
Or, they may choose to explore the lava tubes under the crater, which lies within walking distance of the camp. These jagged caves stretch for miles as they lead away from the crater and have been used for generations of hunter-gatherers as shelter.

Enjoy sunset together in this spectacular campsite, before settling down for an evening by the fire, enjoying bush stories and sounds of the wild. Accommodation this evening is in comfortable bell tents, with bedrolls, and hot showers are provided.

Riding option; Today’s riders ascend another 2,000 feet higher into the Chyulu Hills. A noticeable change in climate and temperature occurs as you reach over 7,000 feet above sea level. The ride is dominated by incredible views of the vast wildernesses of Tsavo East National park to the east and Mount Kilimanjaro and Amboseli national park to the west.
Due to the altitude of the area, clouds often sit on the top of the Chyulu Hills. This consistent moisture has given rise to miniature jungles, or mist forests that dot the summits of the hills. Today’s ride takes about four hours and ends at one of the largest mist forests in the hills.

Non riding option; Setting off from the camp in the vehicle, non riders can enjoy a long walk today, stopping to meet the riders at the mist forest for a picnic lunch.

After a sumptuous picnic, all guests and guides have a chance to enter the mist forests on foot, in pursuit of the buffalo, leopard, syke’s monkey and giant forest hog that reside within it.

For those guests that wish to return to the lodge tonight, a drive out of the hills, via a different route to the ascent is suggested. The route passes local subsistence farming communities, as well as thick tongues of volcanic lava containing much interesting flora and fauna.
For those wishing to camp again, this can be arranged at crater camp once more and horses can be ridden back to the camp in the late afternoon.

Those who camped last night return to the lodge on horseback, or in the vehicle, following a cooked breakfast in camp.
Before breakfast, there is one last chance to either climb the volcanic crater or explore the lava tube caves below it.

For those who returned to Ol Donyo last night, this morning is free to choose any activity on offer; from a visit to a local maasai village, to a game drive, or bush walk.

Afternoon
This afternoon, perhaps the whole group can head out for a game drive and ‘sundowners’ together. A suggested location is a stunning rocky outcrop to the west of the lodge, which guests can climb up and watch the sunset from.

Depart after breakfast, by plane, to Wilson Airport.
Continue to enjoy your Kenyan experience through relaxing at the coast, or heading to another region for some wildlife viewing and photography.