ITINERARY
Day 1
Karibu Kenya!! Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), you will be met by your guide and driven to your first hotel on the outskirts of Nairobi. After your long journey, the hotel is the perfect place to unwind and get a great night’s rest before your adventure begins.
Hotel: Macushla House
Day 2
This morning, after a relaxed breakfast, you will embark on the drive to Nanyuki. The drive takes approximately 4 hours and it is a great way to see part of the country. This afternoon hop on your mountain bike for your first spin. You will become acquainted with the bike and beautiful scenery by riding through Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. Dine at the hotel while learning about rhino conservation in Laikipia.
Hotel: Soames
Driving Distance: 200 Km’s
Driving time: 3-4 hours
Day 3
Your first full day of biking will take you from Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy to your first rhino conservancy. Ride through tree nurseries, bamboo forests, and descend single track next to potato fields that are farmed by local Kikuyu people. After lunch head to the renowned Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a leading model for sustainable wildlife conservation and home to 110 black rhinos, two northern white rhinos and 30 southern white rhinos.
Hotel: Sweetwaters
Riding Distance: 56 km’s
Elevation drop: 732 meters
Day 4
Rise with the rays of the African sun and set out to meet the last two Northern White Rhinos~ Fatu and Najin. Learn about the conservancy’s dedication to rhinos and all other wildlife. Hop back on your bikes for a ride through Laikipia’s savannah and onto your next destination. Today’s ride will take you through community land, an important piece of the puzzle in terms of land conservation. We will spend the next two nights on the privately owned Lolldaiga Hills Ranch.
Hotel: Fly Camp in Lolldaiga Hills
Riding Distance: 51 km’s
Elevation Gain: 607 meters
Day 5
Today’s ride is a magical experience through the hills of Lolldaiga. Ride among Laikipia’s wildlife and experience the beauty of this hilly landscape. Tonight enjoy camping in luxury tents in the middle of Laikipia’s wilderness. We will camp under the African sky and gather around the fire to hear tales of the bush.
Hotel: Fly Camp in the Lolldaiga Hills
Riding Distance: 15-20 km’s (this is totally dependent on the group and could be an optional ride)
Elevation Gain: 200 meters
Day 6
Hop on the bikes and ride out of Lolldaiga onto Ole Naishu, a ranch planning to support rhinos in the near future. Finish your ride in Borana Conservancy.
Borana Conservancy is part of the larger Lewa-Borana landscape; a piece of land 93,000 acres in size dedicated to the conservation of wildlife. It hosts over 150 rhinos.
Settle into your room and enjoy a drink from your private porch.
Hotel: Borana Lodge
Riding Distance: 50 km’s
Elevation Gain: 1,015 meters
Day 7
Your day, your decision. Rhino tracking, bush walk, mountain biking, horseback riding… your choice. This afternoon head out with Borana’s expert guides on a game drive and enjoy sun-downers at a private location. Enjoy dinner at the lodge with the owners Michael and Nicky Dyer, to learn about the past, present and future of the Borana Conservancy and their dedication to wildlife conservation and community.
Hotel: Borana Lodge
Day 8
Today, we board our 4-wheel drive vehicles and head to the start of our mountain trek. Here we’ll be met by our guide and porters from African Ascents.
Mount Kenya is one of the most enchanting and alluring mountains in Africa. We will climb to Lenana via Timau route, enjoying an access that is full of solitude and peace. We will spend the night at Marania Camp and enjoy our first mountain dinner under the stars.
Hotel: Camping on Mt. Kenya
Walking Distance: 9 km’s
Walking Time: 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 445 meters
Day 9
Today’s trek will continue through the Moorland where you will start to notice the mountain’s amazing vegetation including Lobelia, Senecio’s and a number of different plants. Tonight’s camp will camp at Major’s camp, which lies at 3,800m ~ 12,470 ft. Relax beneath dramatic rock faces and then enjoy another home-cooked meal.
Hotel: Camping on Mt. Kenya
Walking Distance: 11.2 km’s
Walking Time: 6-7 hours
Elevation Gain: 808 meters
Day 10
This trek will leave the Moorland and enter the unique lunar landscape dotted with more Groundsels and Lobelias; vegetation that is endemic to Mt. Kenya and very unique in its adaptation to the varying temperatures of the mountain. This afternoon we will settle down next to Simba Tarn and get an early night before tackling the tantalizingly close peak of Lenana.
Hotel: Camping on Mt. Kenya
Walking Distance: 11 km’s
Walking Time: 4-5 hours
Elevation Gain: 1,088m meters
Day 11
Step outside your tent to the bright stars and sip on a hot beverage before heading up to the summit. You will find breathtaking views of the two technical peaks, Batian and Nelion, and the vast lands of Kenya below.
Take a moment to reflect as you gaze over Laikipia and see the landscape that you have helped to protect. Tonight, we will return to Soames Hotel and celebrate your achievement!
Hotel: Soames
Walking Distance: 14 Km’s
Walking Time: 2 hours to point Lenana and a further 6 hours down to the Vehicle.
Elevation Gain: 400 meters Elevation Drop: 1900 meters +-
Day 12
Enjoy a luxurious breakfast while staring up to the slopes of Mt. Kenya. Gather with your fellow travelers to reflect on your experience and share ideas about how to stay involved in the conservation of Laikipia’s landscape. Your trip to Laikipia and your contribution to the Rhino Revival Fund through Adventure for Rhinos, will help the future of wildlife and people of Laikipia. Today, we will say goodbye and you will travel back to Nairobi.