Horseback Riding in Kenya
MASAI MARA SAFARI |
This is the land which was so loved by Ernest Hemingway and Karen Blixen and it remains much as it was in their days. The Masai are still there, herding their cattle, and living as they did in past centuries. Their fierce pride and strong culture survive, and so do the wild animals in almost the same abundance which so amazed the early explorers. Riding through the country on horses, we breathe the dust, gallop after the zebra which cut our path, share our camp with the Masai and are part of age-old Africa. The route avoids the clamor of tourist vans, roads and lodges. Riders are totally cut off from the modern world and life takes on the quieter, more gracious rhythms of a bygone era. Comfortable camps are set up each night by an extremely capable and amenable staff. When riders reach camp showers are hot, the beer is cold and a delicious dinner is being prepared over wood fires. This archetypal riding safari has been one of our most popular for twenty years.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | You will be collected from your hotel in Nairobi, or directly from the international airport. Transfer to Wilson Airport (the domestic airport in Nairobi) to catch the 10.00am flight to the Mara. Upon arrival at the airstrip in the Mara, you will be met by landrovers. Drive through the Mara, observing the abundant wildlife. The first camp is located in a grove of acacia trees by a small stream at the southern edge of the Loita Plains at Olare Lamun (the rhino salt lick). There may be time for an evening ride. Overnight Olare Lamun. |
| Day 2: | A full day to explore this remote area with abundant game. Drives, rides and walks may be taken from camp. Overnight Olare Lamun. |
| Day 3: | Our first moving day and we break camp in good time as it is the longest ride of the trip covering nearly 50kms. We ride across rolling open plains and the game generally becomes more plentiful as we approach the Mara ecosystem. We should see herds of zebra, topi, giraffe, wildebeest, gazelle and there is a good chance of seeing elephant and buffalo as well. We reach our camp on the edge of the Masai Game Reserve on the Olare Orok lugga late afternoon. From camp we are likely to hear lion and hyena at night and the abundance of game is apparent everywhere. Overnight Olare Orok. |
| Day 4: | Days 4 and 5: Two full days 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. Overnight Olare Orok. |
| Day 6: | Another moving day. We head west across the Mara plains and reach the Mara River on the park boundary. We hopefully ford the river (unless in complete flood) at one of the famous wildebeest crossings and then head southwest across the Mara Triangle where we have our picnic lunch before ascending the Soit Olololol Escarpment to reach our camp in a forest glade overlooking the whole Mara ecosystem. Overnight Soit Olololol. |
| Day 7: | We ride southwest along the top of the escarpment enjoying glorious views to the east on excellent going for the horses. We hopefully see the beautiful Mrs Ross’ and Schalows Turaco as well as much plains game. We descend the escarpment on foot along a rocky cattle track and have a picnic lunch under some acacias at the foot of the escarpment.
After lunch we ride back through the Mara Triangle at the foot of the escarpment before ascending on a game trail. Many bachelor buffalo herds are a feature of the afternoon. Overnight Soit Olololol. |
| Day 8: | We descend the escarpment again and ride across to the same wildebeest crossing on the river. We head in a northwestern direction and after lunch, and find our final campsite set up on the banks of the Mara River. Close by are some hippo pools and their grunting at night is a special feature of this camp. Overnight Mara River. |
| Day 9: | Leaving camp after breakfast with a picnic lunch, we drive through the Mara to the airstrip to catch a flight to Deloraine (via Nairobi). Arrive at Deloraine in time for tea and an evening walk around the beautiful garden. Overnight Deloraine. |
| Day 10: | An early morning ride before breakfast is optional. Also day trips to either Lake Nakuru or Bogoria famous for their flamingoes can be arranged with a picnic lunch. Overnight Deloraine. |
| Day 11: | Optional morning ride. Transfer to Nairobi. If departing by plane, do not book a flight departing prior to 7.00pm. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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Deloraine
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Nairobi |
| Length of Ride | 11 days, 10 nights and 7 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Advanced Strong Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-4 Maximum-12 |
| Riding Per Day | 4-6 hours |
| Pace | moderate / fast |
| Tack | English |
| Horses | Somali / Thoroughbred cross |
| Weight Limit | 200 lbs |
| 2009 Dates | Jan 2-12, Feb 16-26, Mar 14-24, July 3-13, Aug 7-17, Aug 21-31, Sept 4-14, Sept 15-25, Oct 2-12 |
| 2009 Price | $5,515
(includes internal flights, from Nairobi to the Mara and return)
Price may increase after July 31, 2009. |
| Single Supplement | $1,000 |
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