Offbeat Safaris, Kenya
10 Day Mara Riding Safari (consisting of 8 days riding, 2 nights at Deloraine)

Day 1
You will be collected from your Nairobi Hotel or directly from the airport. Drive with a picnic lunch through the fertile Kikuyu Highlands before dropping down 2000 ft into the Great Rift Valley. We cross the volcano studded floor of the Rift before ascending the Mau Escarpment on the far side and thence to the Masai capital of Narok. We reach our camp in a grove of fever trees by a small stream at the foot of the Loita Hills near the village of Barkitabu in time for tea. There may be time for an evening ride. Overnight Barkitabu.

Day 2
Our first moving day with the horses and after breakfast we pack up a picnic lunch to be carried in our saddle bags. Leaving the Loita Hills behind us we cross the plains to the foot of the Bardamat Hills. A ride of approximately 30 kms. As we ride we encounter an increasing amount of game including giraffe, zebra, buffalo and a variety of plains game. We arrive at our next camp set up beside the Olare Lamun Springs. Overnight Olare Lamun.

Day 3
A full day to explore this remote area with abundant game. Drives, rides and walks may be taken from camp. Overnight Olare Lamun.

Day 4
Another moving day and we break camp in good time as it is the longest ride of the trip covering nearly 50kms. We ride across rolling open plains and the game generally becomes more plentiful as we approach the Mara ecosystem. We should see herds of zebra, topi, giraffe, wildebeest, gazelle and there is a good chance of seeing elephant and buffalo as well. We reach our camp on the edge of the Masai Game Reserve on the Olare Orok lugga late afternoon. From camp we are likely to hear lion and hyena at night and the abundance of game is apparent everywhere. Overnight Olare Orok.

Day 5 and 6
Two full days of morning and evening rides from camp with the option of driving into the game park for some good photographic opportunities. From the landrovers we can get much closer to lion, elephant and buffalo than we are able to do from the horses. Overnight Olare Orok.

Day 7
Another moving day and we follow the Olare Orok Lugga upstream before heading our across the plains to the foot of the Siria Escarpment, where we find our final campsite set up on the banks of the Mara River. Close by there are some hippo pools and their grunting at night is a special feature of this camp. Overnight Mara River.

Day 8
Once again we are able to go for a morning and evening rides from camp as well as using the vehicles for our final day in the Mara. Overnight Mara River.

Day 9
Leaving camp after breakfast with a picnic lunch we drive to Deloraine via the impressive tea growing area of Kericho. We arrive in time for tea and an evening walk around the beautiful garden. Overnight Deloraine.

Day 10
An early morning ride before breakfast is optional. Also day trips to either Lake Nakuru or Bogoria famous for their flamingoes can be arranged with a picnic lunch. Overnight Deloraine.

Day 11
Transfer to Nairobi.