Riding with Offbeat
Excitement and a deep connection with nature…
Offbeat Riding Safaris has been operating since 1990 and has a stellar reputation for providing unrivalled mobile horseback safaris amongst big game. Riding up close to elephant, lion and buffalo, or galloping with wildebeest and zebra are life-changing experiences. If you are a rider, there is simply no better way to see Kenya than from the back of a well-schooled and fit horse.
We ride across the Masai Mara, Amboseli, and Laikipia, choosing the best routes. With a traditional mobile tented safari camp that moves with us, supported by a lorry and Land Rovers, this is the epitome of what a true ‘safari’ is all about. Wildlife is plentiful in all the areas that we ride, and your guide is highly knowledgeable and conversant with the habits and likely reactions of the wildlife.
Types of Riding Safari
Set Departure Rides (Mara & Laikipia) – Offbeat Riding Safaris offer 7 night set departure riding safaris, which are scheduled throughout the year, on which we take up to 12 experienced riders.
Lodge to Lodge Rides – For those wanting more luxurious accommodation, rather than a mobile tented safari camp, we offer tailor-made lodge to lodge riding safaris throughout Kenya.
Tailor Made Rides – We offer tailor made riding safaris for private groups, for 5 nights or more.
Mara Ride
With outstanding game viewing from horseback and superb riding country, the Mara exceeds all expectations. This is undoubtedly our most popular riding safari, especially for first timers to Kenya. With four different camp locations you will literally ride from one side of the Masai Mara to the other, covering over 250km. The Mara hosts an abundance of wildlife including lion,…
Day 1
Mara River
This morning 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.
Your guides will meet you and drive you to your first camp, set up on the banks of the Mara River adjacent to a teeming hippo pool. 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 (about 2 hours).
Overnight Mara River Hippo Camp.
2 Nights
Day 2
Mara River
This morning we will begin the day with an early morning ride, crossing the Mara River for the first time and returning to camp for a light breakfast. After breakfast a game drive will be on offer. Driving provides better photographic opportunities than from a horse and exploring more of this northern part of the Mara has much to offer. We will return in time for lunch and a siesta before setting off on an afternoon ride. We return to camp in good time to shower and maybe set off in the vehicles once more for a sun downer and a short night game drive before supper.
Overnight Mara River Hippo Camp.
Day 3
Siria Escarpment
This morning we will leave camp after breakfast at about 9am, heading south towards the park boundary where we meet the river again at one of the famous wildebeest crossings. We will cross the river and head southwest across the Mara Triangle, meeting the car with our picnic lunch at around 12:30. After lunch and a siesta we set off at about 4pm and ascend the Soit Olololol Escarpment. We reach our camp at about 5.30pm on the edge of the escarpment and spend the night overlooking the whole Mara ecosystem.
Overnight Escarpment Soit Olololo Camp.
1 Night
Day 4
Olare Orok Valley
We descend the escarpment after breakfast at about 9am and ride across to the same wildebeest crossing on the river. We head in a westerly direction and descend into the enchanting Olare Orok Valley with a picnic lunch and siesta between 12:30 – 3.30pm. Reaching our camp that afternoon, in time for tea. There should also be time to do an evening game drive and sundowners, before supper under the stars.
Overnight Olare Orok Camp
2 Nights
Day 5
Olare Orok
Here we will have a full day of exploring this glorious area on horseback, car and possibly on foot. You will have excellent photo opportunities, getting close to buffalo, elephant, lion and maybe cheetah or leopard.
Overnight Olare Orok Camp
Day 6
Olare Lamun
Our third moving day and we break camp in good time as it the longest ride of the trip covering nearly 50kms. Setting off at 7am, we ride through the morning, stopping for a picnic breakfast along the way. We continue to cover ground with long canters before we break again for lunch and a siesta after reaching the Ol Kinyei Conservancy. That afternoon we will reach our last camp at Olare Lamun (the rhino salt lick), nestled in a grove of acacia trees by a small stream at the southern edge of the Loita Plains.
Overnight Olare Lamun Camp
2 Nights
Day 7
Olare Lamun
After an early wake up we will set off for a morning ride before returning to camp for a light breakfast. We will then set out for a game drive and beautiful walk up the nearby hill called Oloiburmut, returning to camp for a lunch and a siesta. At around 4pm we will drive or ride to visit the local Masai village.
Overnight Olare Lamun Camp
Day 8
Departure Day
This is our last morning ride before saying goodbye to your horses. After a final breakfast you will drive to the airstrip and fly back to Nairobi at around 11am, landing into Wilson at 12noon. We will organise for a taxi to pick you up and take you to a hotel day room (included), before taking you on to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time for your evening flight home, or your onward destination.
Laikipia Ride
Laikipia is a unique wildlife area and contains an enormous diversity of wildlife from the Big Five downward. It is famous as the last reserve of the Jacksons Hartebeest and is home of several rare species such as the Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk and Somali Ostrich among others.
Day 1
Borana
Arrive Borana either by private charter or scheduled flight. Borana is a cattle ranch turned conservation area in pristine countryside on the Northern slopes of Mount Kenya with beautiful views to the snow-capped peaks of the Mountain in the south and the rugged mountains of the Mathews Range, Bodich, and even Marsabit on the way to the Ethiopian border. It is home to the big five and a host of other species such as Grevy’s Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe and Black Rhino. You will have lunch in Camp in a grove of euphorbia trees.
Overnight Private Camp Borana.
2 Nights
Day 2
Borana
A full day exploring Borana by horseback and vehicle, and a picnic lunch on the Ngare Ndare River. Borana is on top of an escarpment and the scenery is spectacular. A great variety of species is to be seen. Borana is home to your hosts Nicky and Michael Dyer, who own and run Borana Lodge.
Overnight Private Camp Borana.
Day 3
Lolldaiga Hills
Your first moving day takes you with a picnic lunch (in you saddle bags) to the west. You will cross from Borana onto Ole Naishu ranch and climb the first ridge of the spectacular Lolldaiga Hills. These form a northern extension of the Mt Kenya Massive and consist of large rocky Kopje’s interspersed with Cedar forest. You will cross Ole Naishu onto Lolldaiga Hills a 55,000-acre ranch and probably one of the most beautiful farms in Africa. You will reach camp at the head of a beautiful valley surrounded by cedar forest where you will stay again for 2 nights.
Overnight Private Camp Lolldaiga Hills.
2 Nights
Day 4
Lolldaiga Hills
Enjoy a spectacular ride and a picnic lunch by land rover to the northern areas of the ranch which will fill today’s program amply. At one point you shall be on the western edge of the Lolldaiga Hills with spectacular views of the Laikipia Plateau below, which you will be crossing over the next four days.
Overnight Private Camp Lolldaiga Hills.
Day 5
El Karama
We leave Lolldaiga Hills and today cross four ranches on our way to El Karama, home of the Grant Family. We drop down a hidden valley on elephant and buffalo tracks with little dams before crossing Enasoit ranch and then onto the specialist cattle ranch of Mogwooni, home of the Kenyon family. This is one of the few days we see some cattle fencing and we will have a picnic lunch here on the banks of the Nanyuki River. After lunch we cross onto El Karama ranch 13,000 acres of pristine game country and find our camp on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River.
Overnight Private Camp El Karama Ranch.
2 Nights
Day 6
El Karama
A full day exploring this ranch by horse and vehicle and a good chance of a game walk along the river, before lunch. There is a host of games including Grevy’s Zebra, the rare endemic Jackson’s Hartebeest, elephant, giraffe, and hippo in the river.
Overnight Private Camp El Karama Ranch.
Day 7
Sosian
A long day’s ride to Sosian. We cross the Ewaso Narok River and traverse Segera ranch to the Northwest. Our route takes us up the spectacular Sugoroi River valley before crossing rather monotonous black cotton plains, covered in whistling thorn (acacia Drepanolobium) which is home to the Patas monkey, a chestnut coloured long limbed primate which is widespread but rare among the northern savannahs of Africa.
We reach the Mutara River and follow this pretty valley down before crossing onto Sosian ranch for a late lunch at the edge of the lovely Suguta Swamp. A short ride after lunch brings us to our camp by the Ewaso Narok River, below Sosian’s waterfalls.
Overnight Private Camp Sosian.
2 Nights
Day 8
Sosian
A full day riding, driving and enjoying this re-habilitated cattle ranch which boasts a wide variety of game including Jackson’s hartebeest, Grevy’s Zebra, Elephant, Hippo, Buffalo, Lion, Giraffe and all the other species.
From certain points we can look back at the Lolldaiga Hills over which we passed and Mt. Kenya now appears a good distance away.
Overnight Private Camp Sosian.
Day 9
Departure Day
A last ride before breakfast at Sosian and a transfer back to Nairobi in time for the International return flights.
Lodge to Lodge Rides
For those seeking a more luxurious experience, our tailored lodge-to-lodge riding safaris throughout Kenya provide an exhilarating alternative to mobile tented camps. Indulge in the finest accommodations while embarking on thrilling adventures across Kenya’s stunning landscapes Contact us for more information