A line of horse riders silhouetted against an orange sunset on the Masai Mara horizon

Adventure · Kenya

7-Night Masai Mara Riding Safari8 days · 7 nights

River to Lamun: seven nights in the saddle across the Mara, with a mobile tented camp that moves with you.

Enquire about this safari Day by day

Photo: Offbeat Safaris

At a glance

Duration: 8 days · 7 nights
Route: Nairobi → Mara North Conservancy → Mara Triangle → Siria Escarpment → Olare Orok Valley → Ol Kinyei & Naibosho Conservancies → Nairobi
Style: Mobile horseback safari · experienced riders only
Departures: 13 set departures in 2027 · closed April, May and November
Published 2027 rate: From US$12,550 per person sharing (7-night set departure, 2027)

Set departures: minimum 4, maximum 12 guests. Private rides available (minimum 5 nights).

The quest

For a rider there is no better way to see Kenya than from the back of a well-schooled, fit horse: riding close to elephant, lion and buffalo, or cantering alongside wildebeest and zebra. A traditional mobile tented camp, supported by a lorry and Land Rovers, moves with the ride from the Mara River to Olare Lamun.

First camp on the banks of the Mara River, beside a teeming hippo pool
Crossing the Mara River at one of the famous wildebeest crossings
A night on the escarpment above the Mara Triangle, overlooking the whole Mara ecosystem
The Olare Orok Valley: close encounters with buffalo, elephant, lion and maybe cheetah or leopard
The longest moving day covers nearly 50 km, with long canters
Game drives, sundowners, night drives and a walk up Oloiburmut hill

Nairobi → Mara North Conservancy → Mara Triangle → Siria Escarpment → Olare Orok Valley → Ol Kinyei & Naibosho Conservancies → Nairobi

The route, day by day

8 days, stop by stop.

Day 1: Nairobi to Mara North – first ride
Flight Wilson Airport to Mara North; gentle evening ride (about 2 hours)

This morning 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).

OvernightMara River Hippo Camp, Mara North ConservancyMealsLunch
Day 2: Mara River
Morning ride, optional game drive, afternoon ride

This morning we will begin the day with an early morning ride, crossing the Mara River for the first time and 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 return to camp in good time to shower and maybe set off in the vehicles once more for a sundowner and a short night game drive before supper.

OvernightMara River Hippo Camp, Mara North ConservancyMealsLight breakfast, Lunch, Supper
Day 3: River Camp to Escarpment Camp
Moving day – approx. 5 hours riding (ride 9am-12:30, picnic lunch + siesta, ride 16:00-17:30)

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 4pm and ride up the escarpment, reaching camp on its edge at about 5.30pm, to spend the night overlooking the whole Mara ecosystem.

OvernightEscarpment Soit Ololo Camp, Siria EscarpmentMealsBreakfast, Picnic lunch
Day 4: Escarpment Camp to Olare Orok Camp
Moving day – approx. 5 hours riding (ride 9am-12:30, picnic lunch + siesta, ride 16:00-17:30)

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 between 12:30 – 3.30pm. Reaching our camp that afternoon, in time for tea. There should also be time to do an evening game drive and sundowners, before supper under the stars.

OvernightOlare Orok Camp, Mara North ConservancyMealsBreakfast, Picnic lunch, Tea, Supper
Day 5: Olare Orok
Full day on horseback, by car and possibly on foot

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.

OvernightOlare Orok Camp, Mara North Conservancy
Day 6: Olare Orok to Olare Lamun
Moving day – approx. 7 hours riding, nearly 50 km (ride 7am-10am, picnic breakfast, ride 11am-13:00, picnic lunch + siesta, ride 16:00-18:00)

Our third moving day and we break camp in good time as it is the longest ride of the trip covering nearly 50kms. Setting off at 7am, we ride through the morning, stopping for a picnic breakfast along the way. We continue to cover ground with long canters before we break again for lunch and a siesta after reaching the Ol Kinyei Conservancy. That afternoon we reach our final camp.

OvernightOlare Lamun Camp, Ol Kinyei & Naibosho ConservanciesMealsSmall breakfast at camp, Picnic breakfast, Picnic lunch
Day 7: Olare Lamun
Morning ride, game drive and walk up Oloiburmut, Masai village visit

After an early wake up we will set off for a morning ride before returning to camp for breakfast. We will then set out for a game drive and beautiful walk up the nearby hill called Oloiburmut, returning to the camp for lunch and a siesta. At around 4pm we will drive or ride to visit the local Masai village.

OvernightOlare Lamun Camp, Ol Kinyei & Naibosho ConservanciesMealsBreakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Departure Day
Flight back to Nairobi at approximately 11am

Wake up in time to pack and enjoy a full English breakfast in camp before you game drive to the airstrip and fly back to Nairobi at approximately 11am. You will arrive back into Nairobi at midday, allowing plenty of time to reach your onward destination. End of Safari Seekers Riding Safari.

MealsFull English breakfast

Where you sleep

A camp that moves with you.

Four camps in seven nights

The mobile tented camp

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

All food is fresh. English breakfasts, light lunches and three-course dinners are provided, with picnics and dining in the open air when the weather is good. The team carries ice cubes and is self-sufficient for the whole safari. Bread is baked daily on open fires and the chefs are excellent. All house wines, beers and spirits are included, except champagne. Please advise any dietary requirements or preferences ahead of time so we can cater for you.

Laundry is washed by hand on non-moving days and dried in the sun. Laundry powder is provided for hand washing; ladies are asked to handwash their own underwear for cultural reasons.

Mara River Hippo Camp, Mara North Conservancy · 2 nights
Escarpment Soit Ololo Camp, Siria Escarpment, above the Mara Triangle · 1 night
Olare Orok Camp, Olare Orok Valley · 2 nights
Olare Lamun Camp, Ol Kinyei & Naibosho Conservancies · 2 nights

Riders and non-riders

Who comes along

Non-riders are warmly catered for when a spouse or friend rides. An excellent team of guides and spotters takes non-riders out by vehicle, meeting up with the rest of the group for meals, picnics and sundowners. All guests enjoy game drives, night drives and walking as well as riding, so non-riders are very much part of the group. Game drives are always available, even for riders who prefer a break from the saddle.

Before you ride

Experienced riders only.

Riding ability: Experienced riders only – these are advanced riding safaris. Riders must be comfortable and in control at all paces (walk, trot, canter, gallop) and able to get out of trouble calmly and at the necessary speed; balanced with an independent seat and able to stand up out of the saddle in the canter in a ’two-point’ position. All riders must be able to gallop out of trouble and keep up with the group at all times.
Fitness: Fit enough to ride 4-7 hours a day.
Weight limit: Strict maximum 210 lbs / 15 stone / 95 kg
Minimum age: 14 years.
Saddles and tack: Only English saddles are used, so riders must be comfortable and experienced with them. English General Purpose Wintec saddles and leather saddles; seat savers available; mainly snaffle bridles.
The horses: Thoroughbred and thoroughbred-cross, giving excellent stamina. Well schooled, some play polo and event: responsive, tough and fit. Trucked to each safari destination ahead of the guests.
Hours in the saddle: 4-7 hours per day with 1½-2 hour lunch stops; on the longest moving day guests stop for breakfast en route.
Terrain: Big game country, on open plains interspersed with bush. Short grass plains are ideal for riding (look out for holes) and long canters are taken. Walking on foot is sometimes necessary over rough terrain.
Altitude and climate: Average of 5,500 ft: warm days (up to 28°C), cool nights (down to 11°C), very few mosquitoes.
Riding hats: Strongly recommended to wear a hard riding hat. Hard hats and chaps are not provided – bring your own. Not wearing a hard riding hat is at your own risk; check whether your holiday / medical insurance covers you if not wearing one.
If the riding is too much: If a guest finds they are not up to the level of riding, vehicles and driver-guides are always available and the guest will be asked to take this option for the safety of themselves, the horses and the other guests.

The fine print

What is included, and what is not.

Included

Full board accommodation and laundry
All house drinks (wines, beers and spirits, except champagne) and food
All activities: riding, game drives, walks, night drives
All conservation, park and camping fees
Return domestic flights from Nairobi to the safari
Transfers associated with the safari (pick-up and drop-off in Nairobi)
Day room in Nairobi on the last day if required
Flying Doctors membership (air-evac to Nairobi)
Full safari team: guide, groom, cook and camp crew

Not included

Single supplement: $100 per night (if not willing to share)
Gratuities, other services, personal items, travel insurance

Dates & rates

Published 2027 rates, and the dates.

13 set departures in 2027 · closed April, May and November

20–27 February 2027
13–20 March 2027
12–19 June 2027
19–26 June 2027
10–17 July 2027
17–24 July 2027
7–14 August 2027
14–21 August 2027
11–18 September 2027
18–25 September 2027
9–16 October 2027
16–23 October 2027
4–11 December 2027

7-night set departures · 2027

From US$12,550 per person sharing

Single supplement: US$100 per night, if you prefer not to share. Valid for the 2027 set departures listed above.

Private riding safaris · 2027

Masai Mara and Laikipia, per person per night, minimum 5 nights.

1 rider	US$5,545
2 riders	US$4,160
3 - 4 riders	US$2,890
5 - 6 riders	US$2,250
7 - 8 riders	US$1,900
9+ riders	US$1,730

Experienced riders only: this is a fast-paced ride in big game country.
Minimum age 14 years.
Riding weight limit: 95 kg (210 lb / 15 stone), strictly applied.
Set departures run with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 guests.
Private rides: minimum 5 nights.
Closed seasons: April, May and November.
All guests must hold appropriate travel and medical insurance, and will be asked to sign indemnity forms.
Speak to us about combining your ride with the rest of your Kenya safari.

We also run 8-night riding safaris in Laikipia, with set departures on 22–30 January, 30 January–7 February and 7–15 February 2027. Ask us for details.

Deposit and cancellation terms

Provisional bookings expire automatically (normally 2 weeks) unless confirmed; extensions are available on request. A booking is confirmed on receipt of a 20% deposit, with the balance payable in full 45 days before arrival.

More than 120 days before arrival: deposit refunded less bank charges. 120 to 46 days: deposit forfeited. 45 to 31 days: 50% of the full amount forfeited. 30 to 0 days: 100% forfeited.

Rates and terms may be reviewed for currency changes or increases in taxes, levies and charges beyond our control. Bookings are governed by Kenyan law.

The photographs