The Mara is an area that epitomizes most people’s idea of Africa. The landscape rolls away in endless savanna, streaked by dark green veins of riverine woodland on the banks of the Mara and Talek rivers. This game reserve is an extension of the Serengeti (Tanzania) ecosystem and is considered by many to be Kenya's best wildlife sanctuary, where animals can still be seen in vast numbers. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo, crocodile, antelope and gazelle are but some of the many species to be found. The annual migration of up to one million wildebeest is most dramatic and is considered one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world. Needless to say, both wildlife and bird viewing are phenomenal. It is a safari feast of quite overwhelming proportions. The Greater Mara ecosystem is also home to the colourful and handsome Masai people and their herds of livestock, who are synonymous with the region.
The Wildebeest Migration in East Africa, also known as “The Great Migration” takes place between Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet. Thousands of wildebeest and zebra’s migrate between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, constantly driven by their search for fresh grazing. The massive herds are closely followed by predators (lion, hyena and cheetah), making the most of every opportunity to catch their next meal.
The best time to see the migration in the Masai Mara is generally between August & September and remain in the Masai Mara until October or November.

IT-KYRT01
9 days/ 8 nights: from $ 3,975
                           based on 8 riders
Hotel in Nairobi extra. 
Single (if requested) + $900

2008 Set dates:
Feb 10 to 18: Space available
Aug 22 to 30:   full
Sept 3 to 11:  Space available (migration)
2009 Set dates:
Feb 18 to 26: Space available

2008 Safari Season :
Each of 12       $ 3,905 per person  
Each of 11       $ 4,060
Each of 10       $ 4,015
Each of   9       $ 4,215
Each of   8       $ 3,975
Each of   7       $ 4,225
Each of   6       $ 4,560
Each of   5       $ 4,570
Each of   4       $ 5,155
Each of   3       $ 6,130
Each of   2       $ 8,085

... all rates are subject to a
·         Game Reserve entry fee of $500 pp
·         Flying Doctors’ Membership: $ 15 pp

Rates Include ~ Full board accommodation, all drinks in camp, a Kenya Professional Safari Guide in each vehicle, National Park - Game Reserve - Wilderness Concession fees, private camping fees, full compliment of safari crew (cooks, waiters, mechanics, drivers, grooms, porters and tent stewards), camp & safari equipment, horses & tack, support vehicles & trucks, 4x4 game viewing vehicles, day & night game drives, cultural visits, Serena hotel day rooms and flying doctor membership.
Rates Exclude ~ International & local flights, extra activities, visas, hotel and meals outside of the safari itinerary, insurances and gratuities.
 

Level:       Strong intermediate + 
Tack:        English using handmade pigskin
                 trekking saddles
Horses:    Anglo Arab, Anglo Somali
Pace:       3-8 hrs per day
Minimum Age: 8 years
Maximum Weight: 215 lbs

Rates Include ~ Full board accommodation, all drinks in camp, professional guide, private camping fees, full compliment of safari crew (cooks, waiters, mechanics, drivers, grooms, porters and tent stewards), camp & safari equipment, horses & tack, support vehicles & trucks, 4x4 game viewing vehicles, day & night game drives, cultural visits and flying doctor membership.
Rates Exclude ~ International & local flights, extra activities, visas, hotel and meals outside of the safari itinerary, insurances and gratuities.

Itinerary

DAY 1 ~ On arrival in Nairobi you will be met by Safaris Unlimited at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transferred to our small home and farm near the Ngong Hills.  Alternatively we will meet you at your hotel at about 08.30am.  Over a cup of Kenyan tea or coffee your professional guide, Gordon or Tony Church, will give you a briefing on your safari. We then drive for approximately 5 hours out through the fertile Kikuyu highlands to the edge of the Great Rift Valley, into which we descend 2,000 feet. The panorama of grassland studded with volcanic mountains is home to an animal kingdom unrivalled anywhere else in Africa. Our route takes us up over the Mau Escarpment and through the Masai trading town of Narok. We fork south onto rough roads, reaching our private camp at the foothills of the Loita Mountain Range in time for a late lunch. Camp is established beneath giant yellow-fever acacia trees and is a popular roost for olive baboons and vervet monkeys. The afternoon is spent settling-in, followed by a short ride to familiarise ourselves with the horses (as an optional extra you may like to fly to the Mara on a scheduled charter).
Meal Plan : Lunch and dinner in camp.
Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Barkitabu, Masailand.

DAY 2 ~ The morning and afternoon is spent on horseback exploring the beautiful Loita Hills and the surrounding countryside. We ride through acacia thickets and open plains in search of Burchell’s zebra, East African eland, warthog, Cape buffalo, Grant’s & Thomson’s gazelle and Masai giraffe. There is a variety of birdlife to enjoy, including the African Scops owl, superb starling, secretary bird and the white-backed vulture.
Meal Plan : All meals in camp.
Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Barkitabu, Masailand. 

DAY 3 ~ Our first full day in the saddle takes us across the Loita Plains, past Kaitapini Hill and down onto the Shangalara lugga (dry river bed) for a picnic lunch. We enter the Olare Lamun valley and find our camp situated near a spring used by the Masai to water their cattle, a favourite haunt for both lion and leopard. Herds of impala, white-bearded wildebeest, Coke’s hartebeest and topi inhabit the neighbouring scrubland.
Meal Plan : Breakfast and dinner in camp. Picnic lunch in the bush.
Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Lamun, Masailand.

DAY 4 ~ After an early breakfast we saddle up and trek across the open savanna, interspersed with acacia, wait-a-bit brush and leleshwa (wild sage) woodland. We ride along the base of Oloiburmut Hill, before returning to camp for lunch. This area is home to a number of Masai manyattas (villages).  Throughout the safari we have several opportunities to learn about, and, most importantly, enjoy the company of the Masai - a tribe of semi-nomadic people to whom the land belongs. Those who are interested may visit a small and remote primary school for the Masai children and in the late afternoon we visit a nearby manyatta of the local Masai “chief”. His constant company is a highlight of the stay here - a great friend of Gordon’s, he loves to serenade guests with stories of Masai tradition and lore.
Meal Plan : All meals in camp.
Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Lamun, Masailand.