African Safaris » Horseback Safari Africa

As these safaris gained popularity longer and more ambitious routes were pioneered. In 1972 a five-day trail was forged from the Athi Plains, over the southern shoulder of the Ngong Hills and into the Great Rift Valley, dropping into the Lookariak lugga (dry stream bed) and beyond to the Kedong River. Then across the great Akira I plain between extinct volcanoes mounts Suswa and Longonot, finishing with a spectacular day through Hell’s Gate Gorge to the shores of Lake Naivasha.

Tentage, camp gear, groceries, horse grain and safari staff are carried by truck a bush tracks while riders go cross county covering between 25 and 40 kilometre, and 25 miles) a day. Picnic lunch and bottles together with a few personal effects are carried in saddle bags strapped to cavalry saddles.

Another spectacular riding safari heads from the wooded Nguruman escarpmem over the rolling Loita Hills down to Narosma spring before branching north west across the Loita plains always teeming with game to the Mara River. This ride finishes on the beautiful Esoit Oloolol escarpment which forms the western boundary of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

Safaris Unlimited (Africa) Ltd are the outfitters and organisers of these horseback adventures, with stables and safari depot 16 kilometres (10 miles) outside Nairobi. Those wishing to undertake a horseback safari should book in good time since these safaris are organised by special arrangement or by joining a group put together by an overseas agent.

Riding today: On arrival in Nairobi you will be taken to one of the capital city’s leading hotels for the night. The next day you will be driven to a very comfortable and picturesque camp set up in a glade of Podo among huge herds of plains game, sometimes canter with giraffe or wade across muddy rivers, closely observed by families of hippo. You are always led by a highly experienced English-speaking guide.

Each day you head into the wild blue yonder while staff pull down the tents, drive round on bush tracks and then re-erect the whole camp at the next waterhole. After six or seven hours in the saddle (broken by a lunch stop) the party ride into the camp at about 4 p.m. for tea or cold drinks and hot showers before dinner.

The 10-day route leads from the swamps of Morijo, over the Subugo ridge to Naro-can Olive trees.
After a restful evening followed by a sub English breakfast you head out in the wilds with your own horse on a cross trek that will take you through, forests, grassy plains, rivers and filled with a variety of wildlife are no fences, telegraph poles or tar-roads and the sense of space and free is quite overwhelming. You walk among huge herds of plains game, sometimes canter with giraffe or wade across muddy rivers, closely observed by families of hippo. You are always led by a highly experienced English speaking guide.

The 10 day route leadsfrom the swamps of Morijo over the Subugo ridge to Narosura, Maji Moto (hot springs), Olare Lamun, and Olare Orok near the Maasai Mara where you rest for a day before theJong ride across to Musiara, the Mara River and up on to the Esoit Oloolol escarpment to the site where Denys Finch-Hatton was buried in the famous scene from Out of Africa.

Finally, it’s back to the Mara River for your last night under canvas in the riverine forest near Hippo Pool. Four-wheel drive station wagons are always nearby, enabling anyone to take a break from the horses and head into the game reserve to photograph animals at close quarters from the safety of a vehicle.