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Horseback Riding Safaris
in Kenya
Each of 12 USD$ 5,045 per person Single Room Supplement (if requested) USD$ 910 per person
Level:
Strong
Intermediate C-D Itinerary MARA
MOUNTED PATROL DAY 1 ~ Your professional guide will meet you at your Nairobi hotel after breakfast, at about 08.00 am. We then drive out through the fertile Kikuyu highlands to the edge of the Great Rift Valley.
After descending 2,000 ft. to the valley below, which is studded with
volcanic mountains, we begin to see an animal kingdom unrivalled
anywhere else in Africa. Our route takes us up onto the Mau Escarpment
and through the trading town of Narok. We fork south and onto very rough
roads, slowly winding our way up into the forested Loita Hills close to
the Tanzanian border. Late in the afternoon we reach camp set up beneath
towering acacia and podocarpus trees on the banks of a small stream.
DAY 2
~ Morning and afternoon rides settling into the saddle and exploring the
beautiful Loita Hills and the Nguruman Escarpment. We shall ride through
forests and glades in search of bohor reedbuck, East African eland,
warthog, African wild dog and the striking black and white colobus
monkey. Occasionally we may see leopard and bushbuck as we visit various
secret waterholes. There is also a beautiful variety of birdlife to
enjoy, including the African Scops owl, superb starling, martial eagle,
Nubian vulture and the sunbirds.
DAY 3
~ After breakfast our friendly African staff strike camp and we ride off
through the hills and around Morijo Swamp into a valley to our second
camp. We may see white-bearded wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle during
the ride.
DAY 4
~ Today we ride across the rolling highlands up to Subugo, the summit of
the Loita Hills (8,660 ft.), with incredible views, before descending to
Leshuta where our camp is set beneath a grove of yellow-fever acacia
trees. This is a favourite roost for vervet monkeys.
DAY 5
~ After an early breakfast, we saddle up and trek over the open plains
interspersed with acacia and leleshwa (wild sage) woodland,
crossing a number of luggas (dry river bed) that drain the
surrounding hills, reaching Barkitabu in the late afternoon. We hope to
see Masai giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, Kirk’s dik dik and Grant’s gazelle
today.
DAY 6
~ A full day in the saddle, riding across the Loita Plains, past
Kaitapini Hill and on-to the Shangalara lugga 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 and which is also a favourite
haunt for lion. Herds of impala, Coke’s hartebeest and topi inhabit the
neighbouring scrubland.
DAY 7
~ A spectacular morning ride along the base of Oloiburmut Hill and
surrounding open country, before returning to camp for lunch. There are
a number of Masai manyattas (villages) in this area, so we shall
come into close contact with these fine semi-nomadic people. We will
have several opportunities throughout the safari to learn about and
enjoy the company of the Masai, to whom this land belongs. In the late
afternoon we shall visit a nearby manyatta – a truly fascinating
experience.
DAY 8
~ With a pre-dawn wake-up call, our long ride today takes us over vast
rolling plains, skirting the southern end of the Bardamat Hills, out
across the Koiyaki Plains and onto a picnic lunch on a small escarpment
overlooking the Masai Mara Game Reserve. We are now within the
Mara/Serengeti ecosystem and an increase in the abundance of wildlife is
immediately evident. We reach camp set up in a glade of riverine forest
of the Olare Orok. A large camp fire and extra vigilant syces
(grooms) keep watch at night making sure the predators stay at a safe
distance!
DAY 9
~ We tarry at this camp for a day and enjoy morning and evening rides
and game drives using our customised 4x4 safari vehicles to photograph
the wildlife. We expect see spotted hyena, cheetah and elephant. Our
horses will be bathed and rested. An afternoon walk with our Masai
morran (warriors) is also an option. You may like to consider a hot
air balloon safari in the Mara or a winged excursion to Rusinga Island
on Lake Victoria (to fish for the giant Nile Perch, visit a local Luo
fishing village or Mary Leakey’s Proconsul africanus prehistoric site
(optional extras)). After dinner we may go out by vehicle with a
spot-light and search for the illusive nocturnal animal species.
DAY 10
~ Today we ride in a westerly direction across the Musiara Plain. We
ford the Mara River, under the ever-watchful eyes of hippo and enter the
Mara Conservancy. A unique experience as this is the first time we have
been allowed to ride in this wilderness area. The great herds of
elephant, Cape buffalo and waterbuck are staggering. After a picnic
lunch, we climb on foot up the steep Soit Oloolol Escarpment, which
marks the western edge of the reserve. The top of the escarpment is
heavily wooded in places and harbours troops of olive baboon and sykes
monkey. From our campsite we have superb views of the Masai Mara Game
Reserve and the Mara Conservancy. Our camp is positioned at the point
where Universal Pictures shot the funeral scenes in the Oscar winning
film 'Out of Africa'. On arrival we picket our horses and enjoy dinner
and cocktails round the camp fire.
DAY 11
~ After sunrise we descend the escarpment and ride south towards
Tanzania. We will explore the Conservancy and photograph wildlife
including lion, leopard, silver-backed jackal, bat eared fox, and
possibly black rhino, some of which we see at close quarters. We can
expect another sensational day amongst the game. The Masai Mara boasts
over 100 mammal species. Afternoon game drive.
DAY 12
~ After breakfast we ride down the escarpment, over the Kichwa Tembo
Plain and then along the south bank of the Mara River inhabited by
crocodile and some large pods of hippo. The riverine forest is home to a
variety of tropical birds including the rare Ross's Turaco, giant
kingfisher and the African fish eagle. The concentration of game,
especially during the wildebeest migration (July to October) is
absolutely breathtaking. We arrive in camp in the middle of the
afternoon. There may be time for a short game drive after tea.
DAY 13
– After a ‘full-Monty’ breakfast we say our “good-byes” to the horses
and camp staff and return by vehicle to your Nairobi hotel arriving in
the early afternoon. As an optional extra, you
may like to fly back to Nairobi on the scheduled charter. For those
interested to do some shopping of East African gem stones, bronze
sculptures, Africana jewellery and other curios, this can be arranged.
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