AFRICA IN THE SADDLE - Mara Horseback Safari

Seasons

We do not operate during the two rainy seasons of April/May and November. We otherwise operate for every other month of the year and enjoy a wonderful climate with fantastic wildlife viewing year round. We ride at an average of 5500ft, which makes for warm days (up to 28°C and cool nights (down to 11°C) and very few mosquitoes. August/September/October are the best months for seeing the wildebeest and zebra migration from the Serengeti, but these animals can be seen in good numbers all year round.

Accommodation

Our mobile tented camp includes a mess tent for meals and spacious 9ft x 10ft sleeping tents with camp beds, mattresses, sheets & blankets. Towels, soap and torches are provided. There is a solar lamp in each tent, with hurricane lamps outside at night time. There is a long drop loo tent for every tent and hot safari bucket showers are always available.

Food

All our food is fresh and we provide English breakfasts, light lunches and 3-course dinners. We often have picnics and eat in the open air if the weather is good. We carry ice cubes and are self sufficient for the whole safari. Bread is baked daily on open fires and our chefs are extremely good. All house wines, beers and spirits are included, except Champagne. Please let ask now if you have any dietary requirements or preferences ahead of time so that we can try to cater for you

Type of Riding

We ride in big game country, on open plains interspersed with bush. The short grass plains are ideal for riding (although you must look out for holes) and long canters are taken. We ride for 4 – 7 hours per day with 1 1⁄2 - 2 hours lunch stops, and on our longest moving day we stop for breakfast on route. Walking on foot is sometimes necessary over rough terrain.

Riding Ability Required of guests

In order to enjoy the safari and for the safety of all the riders and horses, guests should be experienced riders, comfortable at all paces (walk, trot, canter, gallop) and able to get out of trouble calmly and at the necessary speed. You should be balanced with an independent seat and fit enough to ride 4 – 7 hours per day. We have a strict maximum weight limit of 210lbs/15 stone/ 95kg, due to our horses in Kenya simply not being very big and carrying the rider for 40+km per day. On booking, we will require details of your riding experience, plus your age, weight and height, so that we can match you to suitable horses.

Horses

Our horses are based at Deloraine House, and are trucked to each safari destination ahead of our guests. All our horses are thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross and have excellent stamina as a result. They are well schooled and some play polo and event. They are therefore responsive, tough and fit. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Tack

We ride in English General Purpose Wintec saddles and leather saddles. Some Australian stock saddles are available on request. Seat savers are available. We mainly use snaffle bridles.

Non Riders

We often have non-riders join our safaris, when their spouse or friends are riders but they are not. We can cater very well for anyone who does not wish to ride and have an excellent team of guides and spotters who take them out by vehicle, meeting up with the rest of the group for meals, picnics and sundowners. All our guests enjoy game drives, night drives and walking, as well as riding, so the non-riders are still very much part of the group. Game drives are always available, even for the riders, if they prefer a break from the saddle every so often.

Insurance

Insurance is compulsory. Whilst we carry public liability insurance and take all reasonable care, we insist that you travel with full travel and medical insurance for the duration of the holiday, including coverage of cancellation and curtailment, missed departure or delays, stolen, lost or damaged luggage, medical expenses, personal liability, extreme sports and activities (safari driving, camping, bush walking and horse riding).These are adventure safaris and Offbeat Safaris Ltd accepts no liability for accidents on safari – riders ride at their own risk.

Amref Flying Doctors

We provide every guest 30 day membership to Amref Flying Doctors https://flydoc.org/air-

ambulance-services/ This includes air evacuation from the Mara to Nairobi in the case of a medical emergency and an ambulance to a Nairobi hospital. Any further medical insurance is required from the guest.

Riding Hats

It is strongly recommended that you wear a hard riding hat on safari. Offbeat Safaris do not provide hard hats or chaps. If you wish to wear a riding hat, please bring your own.If you choose not to wear a hard riding hat this is at your own risk. Please check your holiday/medical insurance covers you in an accident if you are not wearing a riding hat.

Emergency Comms

The safari guide carries a satellite phone and mobile phone at all times.

Medical Kit

We have a medical kit for people and horses in the game drive cars at all times and an emergency medical kit in the guide’s saddle bags.

Vaccinations & Medication

There are no compulsory vaccinations for entering Kenya. However, please ask your doctor for advice on what vaccinations and malaria medication are required before travelling. We do not recommend Larium.

Passports

Passports are required and must have validity for at least six months after travelling to Kenya. Those requiring a visa are now advised to have at least two blank pages available in their passport upon arrival.

Visas

You will require a tourist visa for Kenya. Visas can be obtained in advance at https://

www.kenyavisagov.com although airport visas are available as well. There is a fee for the visa (approx $50 per person), whether obtained in advance or at the airport and you are required to pay in cash USD. Contact the nearest Kenyan embassy or consulate for information.

Communication

There is no wifi available, however there is intermittent ‘Safaricom’ 3G signal across the Masai Mara. Nairobi hotels mostly have wifi and signal.

Cash

Shopping - Offbeat Safaris T shirts and Caps are available as well as local Masai goods which can be paid for on a cash only basis in US Dollars or Kenyan shillings (small denominations are advisable). Most shops in Nairobi will take a credit card.

Tips

If you wish to leave a tip at the end of your stay this is at your own discretion.Tips are accepted in any denomination and collected by the guide to be distributed among the staff. The recommended amount for safari staff is $10-20 per day from each guest. The suggested gratuity for the guide and assistant guide is $20 per client, and should be handed directly to them.

Luggage Allowance

NB. Domestic flights have a weight allowance of maximum 15 kilos including hand luggage. A soft bag is preferable to a hard case on safari.

Laundry

Laundry will be washed by hand on non-moving days whilst you are on safari and dried in the sun. Ladies are asked to hand wash your own underwear for cultural reasons and we provide laundry powder for hand washing.