Expertly guided horse riding safaris in various locations throughout Kenya, available as set-departure and bespoke trips
All camps have comfortable lounge and dining areas, bars, and campfires
Guests stay in simple mobile camps across the Mara region, Amboseli, and Laikipia
Ride up close to predators and herbivores, and gallop alongside plains game
Riding safaris are available in the Mara region, Amboseli National Park, and Laikipia. Below we provide a few details about set-departure routes.
Mara ride – This is Offbeat’s most popular ride, especially for first-time travellers to Kenya. The set-departure trip is made up of seven or eight nights and uses four camp locations to showcase the Maasai Mara National Reserve and surrounds. Covering over 250 kilometres, the route includes the wildlife-rich Mara Triangle and the world-renowned Mara river! If you’re here during the period from July to October, you’ll experience the Great Migration, riding alongside thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles. These attract the big cats and fierce crocs, making for a very impressive show overall. But even out of migration season the Mara is a dream destination for safarists, with its numerous predators, herbivores, and birdlife.
Amboseli ride – The national reserve of Amboseli is famous for its stunning scenery, featuring the backdrop of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro . And the area is equally well known for its astonishing concentrations of elephant! The trips to this area have to be booked privately and usually start near the border town of Namanga, heading east towards the Chyulu Hills. On the way, you’ll have opportunities to view a wealth of wildlife – not only the elephants, but also lion and leopard, huge herds of buffalo, plenty of plains game, and hundreds of birds. Cultural experiences are offered too.
Laikipia ride – An excellent option for riders hoping to see some unusual species on safari, Laikipia is home to the Northern Speciality Species – reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich. You can look out for four of the traditional Big Five too! The set-departure ride in this part of Kenya involves eight nights in four camps, and the route takes in the Lewa–Borana Landscape, the Loldaiga Hills, and the Sugoroi river valley. For sheer variety of scenery, the Laikipia ride is highly recommended – and Mount Kenya can be seen in the distance throughout the trip.
*For information about bespoke safaris, or anything else to do with horse riding with Offbeat, please contact a member of our team.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.
All first camps are accessed via road transfer from the local airstrip. The camps are situated in the Mara region, Laikipia, and Amboseli National Park.
*As this is a riding safari, the location of your camp can change daily or every couple of days.
All camps have a classic mess tent, in which you’ll find comfortable lounge and dining areas.
Typically the lounge features comfy seating around coffee tables, while the dining area has one big table where everyone eats together. All food is freshly prepared and guests enjoy English breakfasts, light lunches, and three-course suppers at the end of each day. Picnics are often offered, and al fresco dining is available whenever the weather permits. Each camp’s bar stocks a good range of alcoholic and soft drinks, and the only drink that isn’t included in the price of your stay is champagne. A campfire is set up close to camp, and it’s the perfect place to relax after your safari day.
Guest accommodation in all camps consists of spacious tents, each measuring 9 feet by 10 feet.
Of course the number of tents in camp depends on the size of the group of riders. Set-departure trips require a minimum of five people and a maximum of 12, but both smaller and larger parties can enjoy a tailor-made safari. Every tent contains one or two camp bed/s with mattresses, sheets, and blankets. There’s a solar lamp per tent too, as well as hurricane lamps outside for night use. Each tent is adjacent to a long-drop loo tent and a hot bucket shower enclosure. Camp staff members provide towels, soap, shampoo, and conditioner, in addition to torches and one aluminium water bottle per guest – the latter item fits neatly into your saddle bag.
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