Sosian Lodge
Sosian Lodge is a ranch house which has been beautifully restored to accommodate up to 14 people. Four double cottages are dotted throughout the gardens, against a backdrop of Mt Kenya with views for miles over the Laikipia Plateau. This is true unspoilt Africa. The lodge has a beautiful swimming pool, plus a tennis court, organic vegetable garden and a stable yard of 30 safari horses. The list of safari activities available is extensive and the ranch lies at an altitude of 5500ft, which makes for a perfect climate, with no record of malaria.
Kenya is the birthplace of horseback safaris, offering some of Africa’s most outstanding riding. Sosian is no exception to this, and over the last 10 years has become one of Kenya’s top lodge based riding destinations. With over 24,000 acres of pure Laikipia wilderness, traversing this vast expanse of game filled land with Mt Kenya as a backdrop is an entirely private experience to only those staying at Sosian.
Sosian offers a great variety of riding, across open plains filled with zebra, oryx, giraffe, eland and gazelle, stretching down into thicker valleys harboring kudu, buffalo and elephant, plus a further 15km of river providing superb birding, as well as hosting large numbers of hippos and yet more elephant, plus the not-so-elusive leopard.
- Ride across a 24,000-acre private wildlife conservancy in Laikipia
- Encounter zebra, giraffe, elephant, buffalo and more on horseback
- Enjoy exclusive bush riding with bush breakfasts and sundowners
- Stay in a beautifully restored safari lodge and garden cottages
- Swim, relax and unwind with views towards Mount Kenya
- Combine riding with walking safaris, fly camping and camel rides
itinerary
Day 1
Arrive at Sosian in time for lunch at the pool. Your hosts will give you a brief tour of the lodge and rooms and introduce you to our friendly team of staff. After lunch you can discuss what you would like to do that afternoon. You may like to head straight to the stables and meet our horses or relax by the pool.Guests generally head out in the afternoons after tea, going on a game drive, walk or horse ride from about 5pm for a couple of hours. If between your group you are all doing different things, you can all end up at the same spot with a sundowner out in the bush and then drive back together, just after dark, to find some of the nocturnal species found at Sosian such as leopard, hyena, small cats and hippos out grazing. After showers and some time to freshen up in your rooms you can head to the main lodge for drinks and canapes before dinner. For younger children who go to bed earlier we can arrange early children’s dinner and a listening service outside their rooms.
Day 2
This morning tea or coffee is brought to your room with an early wake-up call before you head to the stables to ride at 07.30am. You will meet your horses and head out with the riding guides to explore Sosian on horseback for 2-3 hours. In a normal morning you can expect to see elephant, giraffe, zebra, hippo, antelope and buffalo to name a few. You may choose to finish your ride on the river where you can have a beautiful bush breakfast! The horses will be taken home whilst you take a gentle walk upstream with the guides to see the Sosian waterfalls and even jump off the top for the brave! After a full morning in the bush you head back to the lodge to relax a little before lunch.This afternoon, you can either head out on the horses again or perhaps cover a greater distance and go for a game drive in search of lions or the rare wild dogs that are endemic to the area. Sundowners in the bush will become your afternoon ritual and there are so many different, but equally beautiful, spots to choose from at Sosian. Back to the lodge for dinner.
Day 3-5
After your tea or coffee wake up call you can either head across to the stables once again or perhaps head out this morning on foot, with our walking guides to stretch your legs and see the bush from a different perspective. Following tracks and learning about the flora and fauna of the area is fascinating for all ages. You all meet up for breakfast back at the lodge and for those who are feeling active you may choose to jump in the game drive vehicle and head downstream with the kayaks for some late morning fun on the river.Getting back to the lodge you can cool off in the pool before sitting down for lunch. Lunches are healthy and light using fresh produce from the organic kitchen garden. For any younger riders ponies can be brought over to the lodge gardens at teatime for lead rein rides or novice riders can have some lessons in the arena. Experienced riders can head out once again for a few hours exploring the rivers and escarpments of Sosian from horseback. Back to the lodge for sundowners, canapes and dinner.
Day 6
Today is your last day and after an early ride or game drive you will head back to the lodge for a full breakfast laid out in the lodge gardens before saying goodbye.
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Sosian Lodge
Mini-brochure PDF
know before you go
Riding is generally 2-3 hours in the mornings and/or afternoons and riders can spend up to 6 hours per day in the saddle. You will often ride to bush breakfasts or sundowners, which seem to appear from nowhere as you turn a corner on a particularly beautiful stretch of the river or reach the top of a breath-taking escarpment.
To ride safely in the bush you must be an intermediate to advanced rider, with several years of experience. You must be comfortable riding in English saddles and confident at all paces, including rising trot and 2-point canter, as well as handling a (well-schooled) Thoroughbred-type horse in open country. For less experienced riders, we can arrange garden rides and arena sessions. There is a strict weight limit of 90kg.
You’ll be guided by experienced and qualified guides who offer a bespoke riding experience. Riding groups are a maximum of 8.
There are almost 30 horses to choose from at Sosian Lodge, all are in excellent condition; fit, forward-going and well-mannered. In 2017 the lodge began its own breeding program of Irish Sports Horses, to add some European quality to the string of safari horses. There is a wide range of horses to suit each individual and there are also ponies available for children. The horses are sure footed in their terrain and comfortable in their environment. The riding style is English using English general–purpose saddles. They also have a few Australian stock saddles available.
Price includes
- Luxury lodge accommodation
- All drinks (excluding champagne)
- Game drives (day and night)
- Horse riding
- Camel riding
- Fly Camping
- Fishing
- Guided walks
- Laundry
- All meals
Price Excludes
- International flights and visas
- Travel insurance
- Conservation Fees
Accommodation
Sosian Lodge is a welcoming and informal lodge offering a friendly home from home environment. The original main house provides classic elegance with a dining room, sitting room, bar and billiards room. Four cottages are then spread across the tropical gardens offering 6 en suite rooms, plus a family cottage, each with their own private verandas. The beautiful swimming pool and pool house provide welcome refreshment after a day out in the bush and for those with the energy, a tennis court is available for guests to use.
Your hosts at Sosian are passionate about food and over the years have nurtured their own extensive kitchen garden, becoming largely self-sufficient, growing their own salads and vegetables and sourcing high quality, farm fresh beef, chicken and lamb from their neighbours. With these wonderful ingredients, their head chef has no problem producing wholesome, organic, home cooked meals throughout your stay at Sosian. We can cater for any dietary requirements for all the family.
Sosian Lodge
Booking Conditions
See the full booking conditions specific to this trail here.Prices are based on a 5-night stay at Sosian Lodge. The lodge operates on flexible arrival dates, so alternative dates and longer stays can be arranged on request, subject to availability. Sosian Lodge is closed throughout May.
Special Offers
5 Night Special
Stay for five nights during Low Season and receive 50% off your fifth night's accommodation. This applies during March, April, November and 1–18 December. Conservation fees remain payable for all five nights.
Early Bird Discount
Receive 5% off accommodation rates when you book at least 9 months before your travel date. This is available in all seasons and can be combined with selected other offers.
Solo Travellers – No Single Supplement
The first single room in each booking is charged at the standard adult-sharing rate. The single rate is only charged from the second single room within the same booking. This applies in all seasons.
Family Offer
The third child aged 3–11 sharing a triple room pays conservation fees only. Children aged 0–2 stay free of charge.
Flight and transfer information
Do NOT book flights until you have received the 'Booking Confirmation Email' from saddletravel.com.
- Arrival airport: Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
- Arrival time: Arrive the day before your holiday and stay overnight in Nairobi, or arrive in time to connect with the morning internal flight from Wilson Airport.
- Departure time: We recommend an evening international flight from Nairobi on your final day to allow time for the internal flight and airport transfer.
- Transfer arrangements: From Nairobi, take an internal flight from Wilson Airport to Loisaba Airstrip, followed by an approximately 50-minute transfer to Sosian Lodge. Internal flights, Nairobi airport transfers, the Loisaba transfer and any necessary overnight accommodation in Nairobi are not included in the holiday price and are payable separately although we can book and arrange it all for you. The 2027 Loisaba–Sosian transfer is $150 per vehicle each way (up to 7 passengers).
- Conservation fees are not included in the displayed rate and are $140 per adult per night for 2026 and $150 per adult per night for 2027.