BEACH AND SAFARI HOLIDAYS PACKAGES & ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

Riding Safari, 8 days riding 2 nights at Deloraine (10 days)

Type : Horse Riding Duration: 9 nights 10 days
Locations Visited: Loita Hills, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Rongai
Description:Ride from the Loita Hills to the Masai Mara, with ample oportunity for game watching. 2 final nights spent at Deloraine. Please enquire about departure dates.
Day 1
You will be collected from your Nairobi Hotel or directly from the airport. Drive with a picnic lunch through the fertile Kikuyu Highlands before dropping down 2000 ft into the Great Rift Valley. We cross the volcano studded floor of the Rift before ascending the Mau Escarpment on the far side and then to the Masai capital of Narok. We reach our camp in a grove of acacia trees by a small stream at the southern edge of the Loita Plains at Olare Lamun (the rhino salt lick) in time for tea There may be time for an evening ride. Overnight Olare Lamun
Day 2
A full day to explore this remote area with abundant game. Drives, rides and walks may be taken from camp. Overnight Olare Lamun.
Day 3
Our first moving day and we break camp in good time as it is the longest ride of the trip covering nearly 50kms. We ride across rolling open plains and the game generally becomes more plentiful as we approach the Mara ecosystem. We should see herds of zebra, topi, giraffe, wildebeest, gazelle and there is a good chance of seeing elephant and buffalo as well. We reach our camp on the edge of the Masai Game Reserve on the Olare Orok lugga late afternoon. From camp we are likely to hear lion and hyena at night and the abundance of game is apparent everywhere. Overnight Olare Orok.
Day 4 & 5
Two full days of morning and evening rides from camp with the option of driving into the game park for some good photographic opportunities. From the landrovers we can get much closer to lion, elephant and buffalo than we are able to do from the horses. Overnight Olare Orok.
Days 6
Another moving day. We head west across the Mara plains and reach the mara River on the Park boundary. We hopefully ford the river (unless in complete flood) at one of the famous wildebeest crossings and then head south west across the Mara Triangle where we have our picnic lunch before ascending the Soit Olololol Escarpment to reach our camp in a forest glade overlooking the whole Mara ecosystem. Overnight Soit Olololol
Day 7
We ride South West along the top of the escarpment enjoying glorious views to the east on excellent going for the horses. We hopefully see the beautiful Mrs Ross and Schalows Turaco as well as much plains game. We descend the escarpment on foot along a rocky cattle track and have a picnic lunch under some acacias at the foot of the escarpment. After lunch we ride back through the Mara Triangle at the foot of the escarpment before ascending on a game trail. Many bachelor buffalo herds are a feature of the afternoon. Overnight Soit Olololol
Day 8
We descend the escarpment again and ride across to the same wildebeest crossing on the river. We head in a North Western direction and after lunch, we find our final campsite set up on the banks of the Mara River. Close by there are some hippo pools and their grunting at night is a special feature of this camp. Overnight Mara River.
Day 9
Leaving camp after breakfast with a picnic lunch we drive to Deloraine via the impressive tea growing area of Kericho. We arrive in time for tea and an evening walk around the beautiful garden. Overnight Deloraine.
Day 10
An early morning ride before breakfast is optional. Also day trips to either Lake Nakuru or Bogoria famous for their flamingoes can be arranged with a picnic lunch. Overnight Deloraine.
Day 11
Transfer to Nairobi.

Longonot Ranch House (4 days)

Type : Horse Riding Duration: 3 nights 4 days
Locations Visited: Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha
Description:Safari in the Great Rift Valley, based at Longonot Ranch house, over looking Lake Naivasha, with tours to highlights in the local area and a chance to explore on horse back.
DAY 1 -
Met in Nairobi and driven to Longonot Ranch House in time for lunch. Afternoon 1hr 30 min ride or walk, Bush sundowners. Night game drive. Dinner at the Ranch House. O/night: Longonot Ranch House full board
Day 2 -
Morning launch cruise on Lake Naivasha for 1hr 30 mins or hike up Mt Longonot. Afternoon ride or walk and visit Hells Gate National Park. Alternatively, visit Elsamere for tea. All meals at the Ranch House. O/night: Longonot Ranch House full board
Day 3 -
A full day safari by landrover with picnic lunch either to lake Nakuru or up on to the Aberdare Range, entering the National Park at Mutubio Gate. Return to Ranch House in late afternoon. Dinner at the Ranch House. O/night: Longonot Ranch House full board
Day 4 -
After breakfast drive to Nairobi or to Airspray airfield for onward journey. SAFARI ENDS

Laikipia Ranch Ride (11 days)

Type : Horse Riding Duration: 10 nights 11 days
Locations Visited: Lake Nakuru, Rongia, Laikipia
Description:Long distance riding safari through the ranch lands of Laikipia. With 2 nights at Deloraine. Please enquire about departure dates.
Days 1 & 2
Collected from the International Airport and drive to Deloraine (3 hrs) home of Tristan and Lucinda Voorspuy. Evening ride. Overnight Deloraine. Early morning ride . Optional afternoon visit to Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for flamingos. Or simply relax by the pool with croquet, tennis and riding as forms of exercise for the rest of the day. Overnight Deloraine.
Day 3
Drive 3 _ hours after breakfast to Sosian Ranch Rumuruti, the start of the riding safari. Camp is set up on the Ewaso Narok River below some lovely waterfalls and alongside secretive hippo pools. Lunch in camp followed by an evening ride. Overnight Sosian Ranch
DAY 4
A full day exploring this 24,000 acre ranch by horse and landrover. Game in Laikipia includes, Elephant, reticulated giraffe, hippo, Birchells zebra, Grevy’s zebra, Jacksons hartebeest, Eland, Impala, Grants gazelle, Thompson’s gazelle, warthog, hyaena and many more including all the big cats. Overnight Sosian ranch
DAY 5
A long ride heading due north through Sosian and crossing the old P& D ranch where you will see a big difference in the land use. P& D used to be a commercial ranch of 56,000 acres but has been bought by government and is now occupied by Samburu squatters and consequently overgrazed and degraded. However pretty and traditional Samburu villages abound and we will return on day 6 to see them, We enter Mugie ranch crossing one of the few fences we meet on the safari and find camp set up by a spring near ranch headquarters. Overnight Mugie Ranch
Day 6
A full day at Mugie with riding, game drives and a visit to a Samburu Manyatta all to fit in Mugie is a 50,000 acre ranch owned by Nicky Hahn from California and being developed for tourism, ranching and other farming activities such as irrigation. There is a tremendous amount of game and this is a truly stunning property. Overnight Mugie
Day 7
Today we move to the east on a 5 hr ride out of acacia woodland onto open plains and crossing the ranch boundary just to the south of the vast Kirimun Plains. At certain times of year these can be covered in game and you get the true feeling of the vastness of Africa. Hopefully we will lunch by the pool at Il Pinguin, home of Nick and Heather Day at this lovely oasis. After lunch we cross onto Loisaba and camp at a beautiful campsite set up in a grove of fever trees close to the Colcheccio dam. Overnight Loisaba camp
Day 8
A full day riding and game viewing on this spectacular 60,000 acre game ranch with a beautiful cross section of fabulous Laikipia scenery. We shall take a barbecue lunch down to the Ewaso Ngiro River and game is again plentiful. Overnight Loisaba Ranch
Day 9
Another long moving day in a south easterly direction across the southern plains of Loisaba, before crossing some rugged country and descending an escarpment on foot to cross the Ewaso Narok river and enter Mpala ranch. Another vast farm of 60,000 acres, with tracts of fairly thick wait-a-bit thorn, (Acacia Mellifera) and amazing views toward Mount Kenya. Mpala is bequeathed to the Smithsonian institute by George Small, its philanthropic American owner as a game reserve and research centre in perpetuity. This is our longest day and we reach camp on the Ewaso Ngiro River in late afternoon. Dinner and overnight Mpala
Day 10
A full day of rides and game drives on this beautiful ranch and a chance to climb Lukenya, a large granite Kopje commanding extensive views over the whole of Laikipia. We can swim and bird watch along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro. Dinner and overnight Mpala
Day 11
A chance of a last morning ride before onward transfers to Nairobi.

Great Rift Valley Safari (7 days)

Type : Horse Riding Duration: 6 nights 7 days
Locations Visited: Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Mt. Longonot, Aberdare National Park.
Description:Safari based at Longonot Ranch House in the Great Rift Valley, visiting Lake Nakuru, the Aberdare Mountains and Mt. Longonot, with the chance to explore the area on horse back.
DAY 1 -
Met at airport or Nairobi hotel and driven into the Great Rift Valley (1hr 30mins) arriving at Longonot Ranch House situated on Kedong Ranch for lunch. Afternoon ride or game walk. Dinner at the Ranch House. O/night: Longonot Ranch House (Lunch and dinner)
Day 2 -
Early morning ride or walk to picnic breakfast. Afternoon game rides on this 80,000 acre ranch to Bush sundowners in the early evening. Night game drive. All meals at the Ranch House. O/night: Longonot Ranch House
Day 3 -
Day safari to Lake Nakuru National Park with picnic lunch. Dinner at the Ranch House. O/night: Longonot Ranch House
DAY 5 -
Day safari to Aberdare National Park with picnic lunch on the moorlands at about 9,500ft above sea level. Amazing equatorial alpine vegetation and gorgeous scenery. Fly fishing for rainbow or brown trout. Dinner at the Ranch House. O/night: Longonot Ranch House
Day 6 -
Morning ride or drive to Hells Gate National Park with picnic lunch. Afternoon launch cruise on Lake Naivasha and tea at Elsamere. Dinner at the Ranch House. O/night: Longonot Ranch House
Day 7 -
Early morning ride before breakfast. Drive to Nairobi or onward before lunch. SAFARI ENDS

Drumbeat Horse Riding Safari (13 days)

Type : Horse Riding Duration: 12 nights 13 days
Locations Visited: Aberdare National Park,Lake Naivasha,National Park,Masai Mara,Samburu Game Reserve
Description:A 13 day (9 nights under canvas with 3 nights in lodges) combination saddle and photographic safari. (Actual riding days = 6.5 and/or 6 days in National Parks and Game Reserves.) /UC
General itinerary
This safari combines a luxury camping and photographic safari in different parts of Kenya visiting Meru and Aberdare National Parks, the Great Rift Valley, all by 4×4 safari vehicles, followed by a week on horseback in the Masai Mara. This itinerary is ideal if your partner or members of the group are non-riders.

Aloe Blossom Ride (9 days)

Type : Horse Riding Duration: 8 nights 9 days
Locations Visited: Masai Mara
Description:A nine-day exploration safari on horseback in the Masai Mara wilderness area.
Day 1
On arrival in Nairobi you will be met by Safaris Unlimited at the International airport and transferred to our small home and farm near the Ngong Hills. Alternatively we will meet you at your hotel at about 9.00am. While drinking Kenyan tea or coffee your professional guide will give you a briefing on your safari. We then drive for approximately 5 hours out through the fertile Kikuyu highlands to the edge of the Great Rift Valley, into which we descend 2,000 feet. The panorama of grassland studded with volcanic mountains is home to an animal kingdom unrivalled anywhere else in Africa. Our route takes us up over the Mau Escarpment and through the Masai trading town of Narok. We fork south onto rough roads, reaching our private camp at the foothills of the Loita Mountain Range in time for a late lunch. Camp is established beneath giant yellow-fever acacia trees and is a popular roost for olive baboons and vervet monkeys. The afternoon is spent settling-in, followed by a short ride to familiarise ourselves with the horses. (As an optional extra you may like to fly to the Mara on a scheduled charter). Meal Plan : Lunch and dinner in camp. Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Barkitabu, Masailand.
Day 2
The morning and afternoon will be spent on horseback exploring the beautiful Loita Hills and the surrounding countryside. We ride through acacia thickets and open plains in search of Burchell’s zebra, East African eland, warthog, Cape buffalo, Grant’s & Thomson’s gazelle and Masai giraffe. There is a variety of birdlife to enjoy, including the African Scops owl, superb starling, secretary bird and the white-backed vulture. Meal Plan : All meals in camp. Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Barkitabu, Masailand.
Day 3
Our first full day in the saddle takes us across the Loita Plains, past Kaitapini Hill and down onto the Shangalara lugga (dry river bed) for a picnic lunch. We enter Olare Lamun valley and find our camp situated near a spring used by the Masai to water their cattle, and which is a favourite haunt for both lion and leopard. Herds of impala, white-bearded wildebeest, Coke’s hartebeest and topi inhabit the neighbouring scrubland. Meal Plan : Breakfast and dinner in camp. Picnic lunch in the bush. Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Lamun, Masailand.
Day 4
After an early breakfast we saddle up and trek across the open savanna, interspersed with acacia, wait-a-bit brush and leleshwa (wild sage) woodland. We ride along the base of Oloiburmut Hill, before returning to camp for lunch. This area is home to a number of Masai manyattas (villages). Throughout the safari we have several opportunities to learn about and, most importantly, enjoy the company of the Masai, a tribe of semi-nomadic people to whom the land belongs. Those who are interested may visit a small and remote primary school for the Masai children and in the late afternoon we visit a nearby manyatta of the local Masai “chief”. His constant company is a highlight of the stay here - a great friend of Gordon’s, he loves to serenade guests with stories of Masai tradition and lore. Meal Plan : All meals in camp. Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Lamun, Masailand.
Day 5
A pre-dawn wake-up call prepares us for a long ride over vast rolling plains skirting the southern end of the Bardamat Hills. We canter across the Koiyaki Plains to a picnic site on a small escarpment overlooking the Masai Mara Game Reserve. We are now within the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and an increase in the abundance of wildlife is immediately apparent. We reach camp located in a glade of riverine forest on the Olare Orok River. A large campfire and extra vigilant syces (grooms) keep watch at night to make sure that nighttime predators remain at a safe distance! Meal Plan : Breakfast and dinner in camp. Picnic lunch in the bush. Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Orok, Masai Mara.
Day 6
A day of rest for the horses, we set off in our customised 4×4 safari vehicles to photograph the wildlife at close quarters. One can expect to see spotted hyena, cheetah and elephant. An afternoon walk with the Masai morran (warriors) is also an option. After dinner one may go out by safari vehicle with a spotlight, to search for illusive nocturnal animals. Meal Plan : All meals in camp. Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Orok, Masai Mara.
Day 7
We ride in a northerly direction through a spectacular secret valley, gently winding our way along the southern bank of the Mara River, looking out for the crocodiles and large pods of hippo that frequent this area. The riverine forest is home to a variety of tropical birds including the rare Ross’s turaco. The concentration of game, especially during the wildebeest migration (July to October) is breathtaking. We arrive in camp in the middle of the afternoon. There may be time for a short game drive or walk after tea. Meal Plan : Breakfast and dinner in camp. Picnic lunch in the bush. Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Kiboko Bend, Mara River, Masai Mara.
Day 8
We explore the Masai Mara by horse or vehicle to photograph wildlife including lion, leopard, silver-backed jackal, impala and waterbuck. Another sensational day amongst the game. Meal Plan : All meals in camp. Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Kiboko Bend, Mara River, Masai Mara.
Day 9
After saying “goodbye” to the horses and camp staff, we return by vehicle, approximately 6 hours, to the Nairobi Serena hotel, arriving in time for lunch. Day rooms are booked so that one may shower and relax before international flights home. (As an optional extra you may like to fly back to Nairobi on the scheduled charter). For those interested in shopping, a trip to find East African gemstones, bronze sculptures, Africana jewellery and other curios can be arranged. Meal Plan : Breakfast in camp. SAFARI ENDS.