Riding at Sosian
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 20 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, the varied terrain makes it interesting riding, through rivers, along tracks and across more open country where you can canter, jump and gallop. There are open plains filled with zebra, oryx, giraffe, eland and gazelle, stretching down into valleys that harbour kudu, buffalo and elephant, plus 15km of river which provides superb birding, as well as hosting large numbers of hippo, elephant and the not-so-elusive leopard. A riding safari is a peaceful, yet exciting way to explore the bush and view wildlife in its natural habitat.
Rides are generally one to three hours in the morning and / or afternoon. The keener riders may also choose to ride out to an overnight fly camp for the night. This is a fantastic experience, camping out with the horses and sleeping under the stars, returning to the lodge for lunch the following day.
We have a yard of 30 well schooled safari horses (including children’s ponies) to suit all abilities. However, to ride out in the bush you do need considerable riding experience, and be confident to handle a horse in open country at all paces. For the less experienced riders we offer shorter rides close to the lodge and lessons in the sand arena.
Lodge based riding
Riding from the lodge is generally 2-3 hours in the mornings and/or afternoons and riders can spend up to 6 hours per day in the saddle. We 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 breathtaking escarpment.
OVERNIGHT FLY CAMP WITH HORSES
We also offer a one or two night fly camp with the horses. Leaving Sosian after lunch we ride approximately three hours north, exploring rivers and escarpments along the way, arriving at our fly camp that evening, in time for a sundowner. With simple tents, a long drop loo and a traditional hot safari shower, guests settle in for the night with a bush dinner before falling asleep to the sounds of the bush. We have a second stable block up on these northern plains where the horses spend the night. The following morning we get up early, have tea and then head out across the plains. We stop for a bush breakfast before either returning to the lodge in time for lunch at the pool and a chance to cool off after the long morning’s ride or if on a two night fly camp will have lunch out in the bush and spend a further afternoon and evening exploring before spending a second night out.
Five – seven night riding safaris
With prior arrangement, we also offer longer riding safaris from Sosian. There are three other lodges and camps within a half day ride from Sosian and riding out to these properties is a fantastic way to see more of the area and sample some different lodges. Starting and ending at Sosian, our horses become our transport and together with our team of grooms and guides we can offer a really exhilarating riding safari experience, with plenty of wildlife and excellent riding.
