Offbeat Safari

8 Days  |  From £8800pp

Kenya ( Best airport: Nairobi)

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Head to the Masai Mara in the wilds of Kenya to join this unrivalled horseback safari in big game country. Offbeat Safaris have been running these safaris since 1990, guests on the mobile safaris stay in a traditional tented safari camp which moves through the wilderness, fully supported by a knowledgeable and experienced team. Riding up close to elephants, lions and buffalo, or galloping with wildebeest and zebra are exhilarating experiences if you are an experienced rider and this safari takes you across the Masai Mara over 7 nights; the epitome of what a true wildlife safari is all about. Game drives, night drives and bush walks are all available for non-riding companions or riders who would like a break from the saddle and each day ends with a three-course meal and sundowners in the wilderness.

The Riding

The riding style is relaxed with loose reins and neck reining. All paces are used where the terrain permits including gallop. The terrain varies from thick bush, gullies and rocky hillsides but encompasses many wide open plains filled with game, ideal for faster riding. Riders are all given a full safety briefing and strongly encouraged to wear riding helmets. There are some long days in the saddle – up to seven hours, but equally a few days where you have the option to have the morning or day off and ride in the jeeps.

Level of Riding and Fitness

As you are riding with big game, competent riders with a secure seat and fit enough to enjoy up to seven hours in the saddle are required. There is no specific age limit and children who are fit and competent riders are welcome with their parents. The riding is at all paces and over uneven terrain so experience of riding out is required. The safari is fully supported by grooms and horse handlers as well as two guides and help is always on hand for mounting, stirrups etc. A back up jeep can be called by radio at any time and the guides are experienced and armed for your safety. There have been no serious incidents giving rise to injury with mounted riders and game in the history of this horseback safari due to all the precautions taken.

Guides and Group Size

You’ll be guided by experienced and qualified guides who will escort you through this big game country. The group size is between 2-12.

Any questions?

Contact us now on WhatsApp with any queries you have about this trail.

The Horses

All the safari horses at this destination are thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross and have excellent stamina as a result. The standard of horses on this safari is well above average for Kenya and is a key point of this safari. The horses are all kind natured and very bush wise, sure footed, experienced safari horses. There is an excellent selection with 70 horses being available for the 12 riders, varying in size from 14.3hh to 16hh. All the horses are responsive and fit, great care is taken to match horses and riders and riders are welcome to swap horses throughout the week.

Tack and Riding Equipment

You will ride in English General Purpose Wintec saddles and leather saddles. Some Australian stock saddles are available on request. Seat savers are available and bridles are mainly fitted with snaffle bits. Saddle bags are provided to carry small items required en-route such as sunscreen, cameras and film or a sweater. Bottled water is also provided.

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Accommodation and Dining

You’ll be staying in light mobile safari tented camps that move through the wilderness fully supported by an experienced back up team. The camp includes a tent for meals and spacious 9ft x 10ft sleeping tents with twin camp beds, mattresses, good quality linens, duvets and blankets. Towels, soap and torches are all provided. There is a solar lamp in each tent, with hurricane lamps outside at night time. There is a laundry service, so you can pack light!

All meals are freshly prepared and you will enjoy English breakfasts, light lunches and 3-course dinners. You’ll often have picnics and eat in the open air if the weather is good. Ice cubes are always on hand. Bread is baked daily on open fires and your chefs are extremely good. All house wines, beers and spirits are included, except champagne. Vegetarian or other dietary requirements can be accommodated with advanced notice.

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Itinerary

Day 1 You will either be collected at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transferred to Wilson Airport for your flight to Naboisho. It is a beautiful flight passing over the fertile Kikuyu Highlands before reaching the Great Rift Valley. You will fly across the volcano studded floor of the Rift before reaching the Loita Hills and Naboisho Air strip. You will be met by your guide and there will be an hour’s drive to camp. We reach our camp in a grove of acacia trees by a small stream at the southern edge of the Loita Plains. Lunch will be served and you will have a little time to relax before meeting your horses and setting off on your first gentle evening ride.
Day 2 After an early morning ride we will come back to camp for a light breakfast and then set out for a game drive and walk up a hill nearby called Oloiburmut returning to camp for a brunch/lunch. There will be time for a siesta and at around 4pm we will drive up the hill to visit the local Masai Village.
Days 3 Our first moving day and you’ll leave camp in good time as it is the longest ride of the trip covering nearly 50kms. You will meet the vehicles to break the ride with a picnic breakfast and lunch along the way. Riding across the rolling open plains the game generally becomes more plentiful as we approach the Mara ecosystem. You can see herds of zebra, topi, giraffe, wildebeest, gazelle and there is a good chance of seeing elephant and buffalo before reaching our camp on the edge of the Masai Mara Game Reserve on the Olare Orok lugga late afternoon.
Day 4 A full day of morning and evening rides from camp with the option of driving into the game park for some good photographic opportunities. From the landrovers we can get much closer to lion, elephant and buffalo than we are able to do from the horses.
Day 5 The second moving day; you’ll head west across the Mara plains and reach the Mara River on the Park boundary. You’ll hopefully ford the river (unless in complete flood) at one of the famous wildebeest crossings and then head south-west across the Mara Triangle where you can have a picnic lunch before ascending the Soit Olololol Escarpment to reach camp in a forest glade overlooking the whole Mara ecosystem.
Day 6 Today we will descend the escarpment again and ride through the Triangle once more to the same wildebeest crossing on the river. Riding to the north west and after a picnic lunch you’ll find the final campsite set up on the banks of the Mara River. Close by there are some hippo pools and their grunting at night is a special feature of this camp.
Day 7 With a full day camped on the river you’ll follow the same morning and evening ride routine and often take the opportunity to cross the river close to the hippo which is an exhilarating highlight. A walk or drive will be on offer after breakfast, providing another good opportunity to take photographs.
Day 8 Enjoy a final early morning ride before breakfast and after saying goodbye to your horses we will drive to the airstrip to meet your flight back to Nairobi at around 11am in time to do some shopping in town and relax before your evening flight or in good time to reach your onward destination.

Offbeat Safari

8 days / 7 nights / 8 riding days
£8800pp

Single supplement £75 per night (payable if not willing to share)

Flights & Airport transfers

You will either be collected from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or if you have arrived earlier, from your Nairobi hotel, and transferred to Wilson Airport for your 10am flight to Mara North in the Masai Mara. If arriving on the day you will need a flight that arrives early (7am or earlier) to give you time to get to Wilson Airport for your internal flight. Your departure flight should be booked for the evening on the final day.

Price Includes
  • 7 nights tented accommodation
  • All meals and drinks (except champagne/premium spirits)
  • Riding on 8 days (including short arrival and departure day rides)
  • Game drives
  • Conservation and park fees
  • Internal light aircraft flights and all transfers associated with the safari
  • A day room in Nairobi on last day is available if required
  • Flying doctor membership
Price Excludes
  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Extra transfers or hotel nights in Nairobi
  • Premium spirits/champagne, tips & other personal expenses