Horseback Safari
A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
A HORSEBACK SAFARI like no other
A Horseback Safari is a once in a lifetime experience.
So when I was giving the opportunity to go on one of Offbeat Safaris Masai Mara tours for ten days, I didn’t need to be asked twice.
A little background to why I went for them. I had visited Deloraine House back in 2016 when I was running across the country.
They had very kindly offered me a place to stay when I was passing through and on one of my rest days took me riding around the grounds.
The place is incredible, a beautiful country house that wouldn’t look out of place in the Scottish highland and stunning landscaped grounds.
I remember while I was there hearing the stories of their Safaris, stuff of legends and stories which people find hard to believe, so I wanted to see for myself.
I am not much of a rider, so I flew in a couple of days before we head to the Masai Mara to try and get me up to a level where I would slow the other riders down on tour.
A quick history of Offbeat
http://www.offbeatsafaris.com/
Offbeat Safaris was founded by Tristan Voorspuy in 1990, beginning purely as a riding safari outfitter, based out of Deloraine House.
The Offbeat Safaris collection remains small and personal and authentic to its traditional safari roots.
The other horse riding safaris in Kenya are:
KENYA – OL DONYO LODGE
Combining excellent guides and horses with the comfort of staying at Ol Donyo Lodge.
Perfect for those who wish for a riding safari with Mount Kilimanjaro as the backdrop with a luxurious lodge, swimming pools, massages and unbeatable views.
KENYA- BORANA
See a wide diversity of wildlife and stay in a genuinely luxurious lodge with stunning panoramic views of Mt Kenya.
A fabulous lodge-based safari run by the Dyer family, situated in the foothills of Mt Kenya and adjacent to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
The Riding Wild mobile Safari is for experienced riders, with dates on request for private groups.
https://www.borana.co.ke/activities
So a quick history about the Masai Mara Conservancy where we went
The community conservancy concept was set up and is part of a new model of safari-tourism designed to create a mutually beneficial partnership between the Maasai and the tour operators.
Instead of buying the land of the Maasai, the area is leased for wildlife conservation.
This is preferable for the Maasai as they have a guaranteed annual income (the amount paid is per acre not per guest) and they retain ownership of the land.
