Watch the Great Wildebeest Migration from Horseback

The Migration Ride takes place in a private concession area near to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Close to 1.2 million wildebeest gather in huge migratory herds in search of quality pastures - the largest movement of land animals on the planet.

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.

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.

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.
The Camps: The 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 Makoa-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. Rates include a fixed daily amount of 75 USD per person, used for national organized conservation and the development of local community projects (kindergardens, schools, hospitals and more).
Dates:

For the migration after the short rains:

1. - 8. December 2007
15. - 22. December 2007

Dates 2008:
6. – 13. December
13. – 20. December
20. – 27. December

For the migration after the long rains:

10. - 17. Mai 2008
24. - 31. Mai 2008

The rate includes:
8 days / 7 nights on a full board basis in the camps and locations as described in the itinerary, during the day non-alcoholic drinks, in the evening all drinks, horse including equipment, back-up vehicle, all transfers and luggage handling from and to Kilimanjaro International Airport, English speaking guides.

Not included are personal expenses (e.g. phone calls), tips and gratuities, national and international flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport!

Rate: Per Person sharing 3.990 Euro

For further information contact Makoa Farm on www.makoa-farm.com