7 Night Masai Mara Riding Safari Itinerary
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.
7 night Masai Mara Riding Safari Itinerary
DAY 1 – Mara River Hippo Camp – 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).
DAY 2 – Mara River Hippo Camp – We begin the day with an early morning ride, crossing the Mara River for the first time, 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 will be back 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.
DAY 3 – Escarpment Soit Olololo Camp – We 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 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 16:00 and ascend the Soit Olololo Escarpment. We reach our camp at about 17:30 on the edge of the escarpment and spend the night overlooking the whole Mara ecosystem.
DAY 4 – Olare Orok Camp – 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 from about 12:30-15:30 on the way. Reaching our camp in time at about 17:00 in time for tea, there should also be time to do an evening game drive and sundowners, before supper under the stars.
DAY 5 – Olare Orok Camp – 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.
DAY 6 – Olare Lamun Camp – 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 7.00am, we have a picnic breakfast stopping from about 10-11am. We continue
on until 13:30 where we break again for lunch and a siesta after reaching Ol Kinyei Conservancy. At 16:00 we head to our last camp, arriving 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.
DAY 7 – Olare Lamun Camp – 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.
DAY 8 – Departure Day – Our last morning ride before saying goodbye to our horses. After a final breakfast you will drive to the airstrip and fly back to Nairobi around 11am, landing into Wilson at 12noon. We will organise for a
taxi to pick you up and either take you around Nairobi to do some shopping/visits, or 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.
Itinerary
The itinerary goes in both directions (Mara River to Olare Lamun or Olare Lamun to Mara River).
Camps & Conservancies
● Mara River Hippo Camp, Mara North Conservancy
● Soit Olololo Escarpment Camp, Siria Escarpment
● Olare Orok Camp, Mara North Conservancy
● Olare Lamun Camp, Ol Kinyei & Naibosho Conservancies
Moving Days, Hours in the saddle
● Day 3 – River Camp to Escarpment Camp: 5 Hours Riding (Breakfast at Camp, Ride 9am-12:30, picnic lunch + siesta, Ride 16:00 – 17:30)
● Day 4 – Escarpment Camp to Olare Orok Camp: 5 Hours Riding (Breakfast at Camp, Ride 9am-12:30, picnic lunch + siesta, Ride 15:30- 17:00)
● Day 6 – Olare Lamun Camp, Ol Kinyei & Naibosho Conservancies 7 – 8 Hours Riding (Small Breakfast at Camp, Ride 7am – 10am, Picnic Breakfast, Ride 11am – 13:30, Picnic lunch + siesta, Ride 16:00 – 17:30)
Included in Set Departure Riding Safaris:
All conservation & park fees
Internal flights and transfers associated with each safari
Dayroom in Nairobi on last day if required
Full board accommodation
All drinks (except Champagne)
All riding
Game drives
Walking
Laundry
Local airstrip transfers
Amref Flying Doctors Membership (Air Evacuation to
Nairobi)
Not Included in Set Departure Riding Safaris:
Single Supplement: $100 per night (if not willing to share)
KENYAN LAW:
Kenyan Law: It is a condition of making a reservation with the Company that the client agrees that these terms and conditions constitute a contract under Kenyan Law and the client agrees irrevocably to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Kenyan Courts and that in the event of any dispute or action of any kind against the Company that dispute or action shall be heard under Kenyan Law in the Kenyan Courts.
SUPPLEMENTARY CONDITIONS
INSURANCE:
It is a condition of using the rates and services offered by the Company that all clients (including individuals, companies and other legal entities) take out appropriate travel, medical and other insurance prior to departure of clients from their country of origin. A visit to Africa and particularly a safari entails an element of risk and neither the Company nor its officers and employees shall be liable in any way for any loss or damages expense or cost arising from any incident involving clients (individuals, companies and other legal entities) that may occur whilst using any of the services provided by the Company or third parties contracted by this company. Guests should be aware that all properties in the Offbeat Safaris portfolio will require guests to sign indemnity forms. If guests are not willing to sign these forms then they will not be able to take part in certain activities. It is the responsibility of every client (including individuals, companies and other legal entities) to assess their own insurance requirements and to organise appropriate insurance. In the event of failure of any client
(individual, company or other legal entity) to comply with these insurance conditions and requirements or to organise appropriate insurance then neither the Company nor its officers or employees nor any third party contracted by this company shall be liable in any way for any loss or damages expenses or costs arising from any incident.
BOOKINGS TERMS:
All provisional bookings are given an automatic expiry date (normally 2 weeks from booking date). You are required to confirm the booking prior to the expiry date to avoid automatic release of the booking. If you require more time to confirm the booking, the expiry date may be extended on request. Bookings are confirmed upon receipt of a 20% deposit of the total reservation cost. The balance is payable in full 45 days prior to arrival.
IN THE EVENT OF CANCELLATION:
More than 120 days in advance: Full deposit is returned net of bank charges.
120 – 46 days in advance: Full deposit is forfeited.
45 – 31 days in advance: 50% of full amount is forfeited.
30 – 0 days in advance: 100% of full amount is forfeited
