Laikipia is a unique wildlife area and is home to an enormous variety of wildlife, from the Big Five downwards. It is famous as the last reserve of the Jacksons Hartebeest and is home to several rare species such as the Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Grevy's Zebra, Gerenuk and Somali Ostrich among others. In recent years, the various landowners have moved away from exclusive livestock farming and have become more tolerant of game. Even large predators such as lions and hyenas are now more common than they were 25 years ago.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Private Camp Borana
You can reach Borana either by private charter flight or after a 3 1/2-hour drive from Nairobi. Borana is a cattle farm that has been converted into a nature reserve, set in unspoiled countryside on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya with stunning views of the snow-capped peaks of the mountain to the south and the rugged mountains of the Mathews Range, Bodich, and even Marsabit on the way to the Ethiopian border. It is home to the Big Five and a variety of other animal species such as Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, and other rare species. We will have lunch at the camp in a grove of euphorbia trees.

Day 2 - Private Camp Borana
A full day exploring Borana on horseback and by vehicle, including a picnic lunch at the Ngare Ndare River. Borana is located on the top of a steep escarpment and the scenery is spectacular. There is a wide variety of wildlife to see. Borana is home to our hosts Nicky and Michael Dyer, who own and operate Borana Lodge.

Day 3 - Private Camp Loldaiga Hills
Our first day of trekking takes us west with a picnic lunch (in our saddlebags). We switch from Borana to the Ole Naishu Ranch and climb the first ridge of the spectacular Loldaiga Hills. These form a northern extension of the Mt. Kenya massif and consist of large rocky kopjes interspersed with cedar forests. We cross Ole Naishu and arrive at the Loldaiga Hills, a 55,000-hectare ranch owned by Robert Wells and probably one of the most beautiful farms in Africa. We reach our camp at the end of a beautiful valley surrounded by cedar forests, where we stay for another 2 nights.

Day 4 - Private Camp Loldaiga Hills
Some spectacular horseback rides and a picnic lunch in the Land Rover in the northern areas of the ranch fill today's program. At one point, we will be on the western edge of the Loldaiga Hills, with spectacular views of the Laikipia Plateau below, which we will cross over the next four days.

Day 5 - Private Camp El Karama Ranch
We leave the Loldaiga Hills and cross four ranches on our way to El Karama, home of the Grant family. Elephant and buffalo trails with small dams lead down a hidden valley before we cross the Enasoit Ranch and then arrive at the specialized cattle farm Mogwooni, home of the Kenyan family. This is one of the few days when we will see cattle fences, and we will have a picnic lunch here on the banks of the Nanyuki River. After lunch, we continue to El Karama Ranch, a 13,000-hectare unspoiled game reserve, where we set up camp on the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River.

Day 6 - Private Camp El Karama Ranch
A full day exploring the ranch on horseback and by vehicle, with a good chance of wildlife viewing along the river before lunch. There is a variety of wildlife, including Grevy's zebra, the rare endemic Jackson's hartebeest, elephants, giraffes, and hippos in the river.

Day 7 - Private Camp Sosian
A long day's ride to Sosian. We cross the Ewaso Narok River and traverse the Segera Ranch in a northwesterly direction. Our route takes us through the spectacular valley of the Sugoroi River before crossing the rather monotonous plains of black cottonwood trees covered with whistling thorn (Acacia drepanolobium). This is the home of the patas monkey, a chestnut-colored long-limbed primate that is widespread but rare in the northern savannahs of Africa. We reach the Mutara River and follow this pretty valley down before reaching the Sosian Ranch for a late lunch on the edge of the beautiful Suguta Swamp. A short ride after lunch takes us to our camp on the Ewaso Narok River, below the Sosian waterfalls.

Day 8 - Private Camp Sosian
A full day of riding, driving, and enjoying this rehabilitated cattle ranch, which is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including Jackson's antelope, Grevy's zebra, elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion, giraffe, and all the other species. From certain points, we can look back at the Loldaiga Hills we crossed, and Mt. Kenya now appears in the distance.
A final ride before breakfast in Sosian and our transfer back to Nairobi, in time for international return flights.

Accomodation
During Riding safari you will spend the night in mobile tent camps with large double tents in which you can comfortably stand up. The tents are equipped with comfortable camp beds and complete bedding for your comfort. All camp equipment and your luggage will be transported in the support vehicle. A team of helpers takes care of setting up the camp.

Saddle & Tack: English. Various comfortable saddles, e.g. Polo, Wintec.

Experience: Advanced riding skills and many years of trail riding experience are required for this sporting adventure Riding safari . As you will be riding innature reservations (wild animals), you must be able to ride in all gaits, control your horse safely in all gaits and react fast (e.g. gallop away from an emergency situation).

The terrain is very challenging, mostly wide open grassland and open savannah with scrubland (careful! (ware) holes!), swamps and lakes. There are always small jumps in the terrain, e.g. over tree trunks that have been knocked over by elephants, and holes. You should also be in very good physical condition, as you will spend approx. 4-7 hours a day at saddle (approx. 25-50 km). Rider weight: maximum 95 kg.

When changing camp, the picnic is transported in saddlebags. Lunch break: 1.5-2 hours. From time to time the horses have to be led for short distances due to the difficult terrain (on steep passages at mountain).

Horses: Well trained throughbred and thoroughbred mix, very sensitive, robust and fit. Many horses are home-bred, all are polo-trained and only the best horses go on safari. The horses are specially trained for riding safaris and are used to being close to wild animals.

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