Masai Mara Horse-riding Safari

Your scenic short-haul flight will take you from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to the Naboisho airstrip in the Mara North. After touching down, your guide will drive you to your first camp, set up on the banks of the Mara River near a teeming hippo pool. This camp is set on the banks of the Mara River, overlooking a lively pool of resident hippos. After lunch and a little downtime, you will set off on your first sunset horse ride. You will also have the option to go on a game drive to spot herds of wildebeest, zebra, and if you are in luck, elephant, buffalo and lion.

Leave camp in the early hours of the morning for your first ride of the day, where you’ll also be crossing the Mara River for the first time. You will traverse the river (if not in full flood) at one of the renowned wildebeest crossing points under the curious gazes of hippos and crocodiles. Return to camp for a light breakfast, before going on a game drive to explore more of Northern Mara. There’s time for lunch and quick nap before heading out again for sundowners and a short night game drive.

After breakfast, you leave camp at 9am to head toward the park boundary, meeting with the river once again at one of the famous wildebeest crossings. Journey along the top of the escarpment and wonder at the awe-inspiring views over the Masai Mara’s landscape. You should see plenty of plains game down below and, if you are in luck, you might get a glimpse of the solitary Schalow's or Mrs Ross’s turaco – colourful, fruit-eating birds.

Enjoy a scenic ride along the foot of the Mara Triangle, where a car awaits with your picnic lunch at 12.30pm. Ascend up the escarpment via a game trail featuring large herds of bachelor buffalo. Make your way to camp Soit Ololol, freshen up and savour a delicious dinner followed by a tipple of your choice beside a cosy campfire, with a view of the Mara ecosystem before you.

Today you will descend the escarpment once again and ride back across the same wildebeest crossing spot as on Day 2. You will head west and descend into the gorgeous Olare Orok Valley and dismount for a picnic beside a serene streamlet. Arrive at camp Olare Orok just in time for afternoon tea, followed by an evening game drive. Olare Orok offers comfortable sleeping tents equipped with torches, gas lanterns and hurricane lamps. Each tent features a bathroom tent with authentic safari hot bucket-showers. Be lulled to sleep for the next two nights by the distant calls of lion and hyena.

Go on morning and evening horse rides from camp and enjoy exploring Kenya’s flagship conservation area on a game drive. You will revel in up-close photographic opportunities while spotting big game like lion, elephant and buffalo – and maybe cheetah and leopard if you are lucky.

Break camp early as today you will ride a distance of almost 50 kilometres or 31 miles through big game country. Gallop among herds of wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and gazelle, stopping en route for a picnic breakfast and lunch. Resting beside a tranquil streamlet on the southern edge of the Loita Plains and nestled within a gorgeous grove of acacia trees, you will find camp Olare Lamun (meaning ‘the rhino salt lick’). This will be your refuge for the next two nights.

Go on game drives, horseback rides or guided walks to discover this remote area of the Masai Mara. The Mara’s superb year-round game viewing means that you can enjoy incredible sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hyena, zebra, giraffe, and of course, the astonishing number of wildebeest that arrive from about July to November.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Nairobi with treasured impressions of Africa that will stay with you for the rest of your life.