Horse holidays abroad · Kenya
Horseback Safari in Kenya: Laikipia, the Mara and the Chyulu Hills
Riding safaris in Kenya take place mainly on the Laikipia plateau and in the Masai Mara, on mobile trips of seven to eight nights, riding through open plains and among large herds of game.
- Best monthsJun-Oct, Jan-Feb
- Level
Experienced to expert - Typical trip7 or 8 nights
- Price guide
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At a glance
What does a riding holiday in Kenya involve?
- Best monthsJune to October, and January to February
- Riding level
Strong; gallop under control, in company - Hours in the saddle4 to 6 hours a day
- Typical trip7 or 8 nights, mobile between camps
- Weight limitAbout 90 to 95kg in riding clothes
- Group sizeSmall, mobile safari groups
- HorsesThoroughbred and Somali crosses, safari trained
- TackEnglish or endurance saddles
- AccommodationMobile tented camps, moved ahead of the ride
- Price guide
Premium for this kind of holiday, per person, before flights
The riding
What is horse riding in Kenya like?
Horse riding in Kenya splits between two areas. Laikipia is a high, dry plateau north of Mount Kenya, with conservancies, working ranches and open ground that lets you ride fast. The Masai Mara is lower and greener, with far larger numbers of plains game.
Most trips are mobile or semi-mobile, with the camps moved ahead of the ride and early starts to use the cool hours.
Some weeks add the Chyulu Hills, riding through acacia forest and savannah below Kilimanjaro, or finish with beach riding on the coast.
Laikipia
Masai Mara
Chyulu Hills
When to go
When is the best time to ride in Kenya?
The main season is June to October, when the ground is firm and the game gathers around the remaining water.
Riding in the Mara is limited and controlled, and a week during the migration, broadly July to October, needs booking a year or more ahead.
January and February bring a second, shorter dry season, quieter and often better value, with good riding conditions.
The long rains from March to May and the short rains around November close most camps and make the tracks unrideable.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Your level
What riding level do you need for Kenya?
You need to be a strong rider, able to gallop under control in company and stop when the guide calls it. Laikipia is fast country, and the group moves at a pace that assumes everyone can hold a line.
Novice
Intermediate
Experienced
It suits you if
- You ride regularly and are fit for six hours a day
- You are comfortable riding at altitude and in heat
- You weigh under about 95kg in riding clothes
It is not for you if
- You are new to cantering
- You need several days to acclimatise before riding hard
- You would rather keep a fixed schedule than follow a mobile camp
Much of Laikipia sits above 1,500 metres, and six hours a day at pace across a full week is tiring even if you are fit.
Weight limits of around 90 to 95kg in riding clothes are enforced, and operators ask about weight at booking.
The horses
What are the horses and tack like in Kenya?
Safari horses in Kenya are usually Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbred crosses, often with Somali pony blood for hardiness and sure feet.
They are chosen and schooled for calm behaviour near game, and should stand quietly while a herd passes close by.
You ride in an English or endurance saddle, for four to six hours a day at a working pace.
Where you stay
Where do you stay on a riding safari in Kenya?
Most weeks use mobile tented camps, moved ahead by road so the camp is already set up when you arrive.
Laikipia also has a lodge-based week, with fixed rooms and riding out from the same base each day.
Nights at altitude are cold, even after hot days.
The cost
How much does a riding safari in Kenya cost?
A riding safari in Kenya is a premium price, as safaris are, for seven nights in low season, rising further for an eight night Laikipia trip in high season.
Laikipia lodge ride
Price guide
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Masai Mara mobile safari
Price guide
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Chyulu Hills ride
Price guide
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Masai Mara trips generally cost more than Laikipia trips of a similar length, because of the migration season.
Rides we can arrange
Which rides do we recommend in Kenya?
We know horses, and we know the people who run these rides. Tell us how you ride and where you want to go, and we will put you with the right one.
Masai Mara and Laikipia safari
Mobile riding safaris in the Masai Mara over seven nights or on the Laikipia plateau over eight, on Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbred crosses, some of them polo and event horses.
Laikipia lodge ride
A lodge on the Laikipia plateau below Mount Kenya, next to the Lewa conservancy, riding Thoroughbreds, former polo ponies and Somali crosses. It takes a wider range of riders than most Kenyan rides.
Mara mobile safari
Eight nights across the Mara on a mobile safari, with shorter weeks also available in Laikipia and the north.
Chyulu Hills ride
Riding across savannah and acacia forest in the Chyulu Hills, with Kilimanjaro on the skyline, at the pace of the least experienced rider.
Common questions
Kenya riding questions
Is Kenya or Botswana better for a riding safari?
Both ask a similar standard of rider. Botswana means riding through water in the Okavango Delta. Kenya gives you distance, speed and altitude on Laikipia, and in the Masai Mara the largest concentration of animals on either route.
How fit do you need to be to ride in Laikipia?
Fit enough for six hours a day at pace, above 1,500 metres, on consecutive days. Riding regularly for two months before the trip makes a large difference.
Can beginners go on a riding safari in Kenya?
Not on the safari weeks among big game. One Laikipia lodge takes a wider range of ability, and some ranches offer centre-based riding well away from buffalo and elephant.
What is the Mara migration and does it affect riding?
It is the seasonal movement of wildebeest and zebra through the Masai Mara, broadly July to October. It fills the plains with animals and the camps with visitors, so migration weeks book up a year or more ahead.
What is the weight limit for a riding safari in Kenya?
Usually about 90 to 95kg in riding clothes. Operators ask at booking, because the limit protects the horses across a demanding season.
What should you pack for a Kenyan riding safari?
Neutral colours, long sleeves, half chaps or boots, a hat, and warm layers for the cold early mornings on Laikipia.
Where to go next
Nearby, and next
Tell us how you ride
Tell us your level, your dates and the country you have in mind, and we will point you to the ride that fits.