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 Olololol 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.

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. 

Children

We will accept teenagers of age 14yrs and above on set departure safaris if they are competent riders and prepared to join in with other adults. Teenagers 14-17yrs pay 75% of the adult rate on a set departure. Teenagers and Children are welcome on private tailor made safaris, but are charged full adult rates.

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 - Masai goods can be paid for 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 him.

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.

Itinerary

The itinerary goes in both directions (Mara River to Olare Lamun or Olare Lamun to Mara River).

Camps & Conservancies

1. Mara River Hippo Camp, Mara North Conservancy

2. Soit Olololo Escarpment Camp, Siria Escarpment

3. Olare Orok Camp, Mara North Conservancy

4. 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)

Flying to the Mara

If the ride begins at the River Camp you will land into Mara North Airstrip and drive 30 minutes to camp.

If the ride begins at the Olare Lamun Camp you will land into Naibosho Ol Seki Airstrip and drive 30 minutes to camp.

Flights from Wilson to the Masai Mara are 1 hour. You must be at Wilson at least 1 hour before your flight to check in.

Flights from Masai Mara to Deloraine (Gogar Airstrip) are 40 minutes.

The Offbeat Safaris Team

Cindy Voorspuy - Born in Kenya, and a passionate horse-woman, Cindy is the founder and director of Offbeat Safaris, which she started with her husband Tristan in 1990. Cindy manages Offbeat Safaris from Deloraine House, home to the family and horses.

Imo Voorspuy - Since leaving university Imo has been working at Offbeat. Having grown up on a horse and on safari Imo feels at home out on safari and loves to get out on trips when she can.

Archie Voorspuy - Tristan's son, Archie has literally grown up on safari and more than 20 years later has become a fully fledged riding guide in his own right. A true horseman and a superbly knowledgeable guide, Archie couldn't be more qualified for the job. With boundless youth and energy Archie makes everyone feel at ease and is the most charming of hosts. As one of Kenya's top polo players, as well as spending time playing polo in the UK and Australia, he provides much expertise and tuition when playing chukkas with guests back at Deloraine House.

The Safari Guides

Simon Kenyon - Simon was born in Kenya and grew up on a farm in Laikipia near Mount Kenya. Simon, who has a degree in Zoology. Simon started as a back up guide to Tristan Voorspuy and soon started to lead the Offbeat Safaris. As well as spending 5 years as head guide and lodge manager at Sosian Lodge in Laikipia, Simon has been leading rides in the Mara and throughout Laikipia for Offbeat for the past 12 years. Simon has also worked for Jakob Von Plessen of Jakotango Horse Safaris in Argentina, Robin Hurt Safaris in Kenya and has ridden with Okavango Horse Safaris in Botswana, so he knows what it takes to give his guests the best riding safari experience. Simon’s sense of fun and passion for the bush is infectious and his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for Kenya provides a unique experience for his guests.

Megan Hodgson - Megan was born in South Africa and grew up on her family cattle farm near the Drakensburg. After school she worked in Holland for two years as a groom and rider for an eventing rider and show jumper. Megan then went to Australia to study Equine Science and worked for a show jumping rider after university. Megan first came to Offbeat in 2013 and has never looked back. Megan focuses mainly on the Offbeat horses, but is also very passionate about the wildlife, and has gained extensive knowledge after spending many safaris as back up guide to Tristan, Simon, Gareth and Joss.

Joss Craig - Born in Kenya and grew up on his family ranch Lewa Downs on the Northern slopes of Mount Kenya. The Craig family has lived on Lewa since his great grandfather moved there in 1920s. It is from here that Joss became involved in all forms of wildlife conservation and guiding from a young age. He has worked for Running for Rangers under the company 51 Degrees training conservation rangers in East Africa. Riding, playing polo and guiding have always been a part of his life.

Jakob Von Plessen - Born and raised in Argentina, Jakob is a highly proficient horseman. He has worked for Tristan for nearly 20 years and on any riding safari with Jakob you quickly appreciate he is an inspirational source of knowledge for Kenya's wildlife as well as being the perfect host. Jakob is fluent in German,Spanish, English and French. From July to October Jakob is in Kenya but when the rains come he heads back to Argentina to run his own riding safari company. He is rarely seen not wearing his traditional Argentinian 'boyna' hat.

Gareth Peake - Gareth grew up in Maun, Botswana, spending most of his childhood on a game-rich farm near the Tsau Hills in the Kalahari. Gareth has gained experience working on horseback, walking and vehicle safaris all over Africa He loves to his passion for wildlife and his innate sense of adventure with our guests.

Netty - A Mara safari would not be complete without its Maasai spotter/guide. Netty epitomises a young man brought up in the bush. His eyesight and spotting ability is second to none and he is an inspiration whilst walking in the bush. He has an uncanny perception for danger in thick bush and can always tell where the buffalo or elephant have passed or may be lurking. Maasai with their tradition of hunting lion are not particularly frightened when encountering them on foot. However, he has a very healthy respect for the larger mammals, especially buffalo, elephant and hippo. He also acts as a vital liaison between our guests and our Masai hosts and landlords in the Mara.

The Mara North Conservancy

Mara North Conservancy (MNC) is a beautiful private wilderness area of more than 25,000 hectares (~61,000 acres). It is a vital part of the Maasai Mara ecosystem as it forms the north-western zone, bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve in the south of Kenya. Mara North Conservancy is a not-for-profit company established in January 2009. The conservancy is a partnership between 13 Tourism Partner members (7 camps, 3 lodges and 3 riding outfits) and over 800 Maasai Landowners. The aim is to create a best practice, world-class conservancy with long-term commitments to the environment, wildlife, and local communities. MNC strongly believes in low bed density tourism and aspires to an ideal minimum ratio of 142 ha per bed (350 acres per bed) so as to guarantee an exclusive safari while minimizing the impact on the environment. Conservancy fees are collected by Tourism Partners and forwarded onto the conservancy to support the monthly Maasai Landowner’s lease payments and professional land management. Mara North Conservancy is led by a Board of Directors elected by the Tourism Partners and Landowners, with equal representation from both groups of stakeholders. The Board further works in partnership with the Maasai Landowner Committee to meet long and short term conservation objectives for the future. To form the Conservancy, Mara North leases land parcels from individual Maasai landowners. This marks the first time that these Maasai landowners have received substantial and direct income from wildlife. Together, MNC and the Maasai community are implementing sound land management policies including, controlled grazing, holistic management practices, low volume and low impact tourism, and community land-use plans.

The Tristan Voorspuy Conservation Trust

Tristan Voorspuy, who founded Offbeat Safaris, spent more than 30 years crossing Kenya’s savannah country by horseback, road and air, witnessing the habitat loss and deterioration taking place, which has led to a dramatic decrease in biodiversity and wildlife. Recent studies confirm this trend, with Kenya's wildlife thought to have fallen to one third or less since the 1970s. One of Tristan's main concerns was the threat that unsustainable human population growth posed on the country’s greatest natural heritage, its parks and conservancies. In a letter that Tristan wrote just before he died he said: ‘...in roughly 1900 a census put the population at 2 million in what was to become Kenya . At independence (1963) a survey revealed roughly 7 million. A census in 2010 produced 40+ million and it is safe to say there are now 50 million and will be 100 million in 20 years.... Sadly Laikipia in Kenya is one small example of the greatest challenge mankind has yet faced. What chance for the wildlife and tourism yet alone ourselves in the long run?’ A fast growing poverty-stricken human population in rural Kenya requires resources to live and grow food, which puts enormous pressure on the land. An agriculturalist as well as a naturalist, Tristan saw the need to help people living, often in marginal areas, save their biodiversity through education and support. Our mission, therefore, is to promote this message. We will fund recognised charities that share this mission to create a harmonious coexistence of animals and humans in the landscape. We believe that education, female empowerment and choice amongst local communities is key to sustainability. Wildlife has the best chance of survival when communities, who have been the wildlife custodians for millennia, can enjoy once more its value and benefits.

Charity Objectives:

The relief of poverty and protection of the environment in Kenya through training, awareness and education.

The provision of family planning and basic healthcare services to enhance the empowerment of women and wellbeing of their families.

The planting and management of trees and the protection and restoration of forests, other habitats and their species.

To Donate: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/thetristanvoorspuyconservationtrust