Enjoy your own migration with a 9-day expedition across the plains of the Masai Mara riding alongside the vast herds and seeing the famous grasslands from your vantage point on horseback. Traveling across three private conservancies, this is an exclusive journey amongst big-game landscapes, one that celebrates the wild authenticity of the Mara and gets you up-close with a complete cast of wildlife. Enchanting and evocative, horseback is a unique way to experience the scale and detail of the Masai...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Ol Kinyei Conservancy – First Mara Impressions
First Masai Mara rides can be baffling as here you are, riding onto the plains and cantering alongside a 100-strong herd of wildebeest. Zebra huddles together, a black and white mass that includes a few hundred individuals. As you canter, you will scatter the Thomson's gazelle with hundreds of them gracefully skipping away. On the open plains, the visibility is exceptional. Dotted across the horizon you will see elephant herds, giraffe tower, and big collections of buffalo. The Masai Mara is big-game country and you will be right at the heart of it, riding a horse across the world-famous grasslands. It seems like the only thing you will not encounter are other people or vehicles. This horseback safari uses three private Masai Mara conservancies that carefully limit public access, so it will feel as if it is just you, the grasslands, and your horse.
Earlier in the day, you will land at Nairobi International Airport and be met by a representative for your transfer to Nairobi Wilson Airport. From here, a short domestic flight will take off and then land at the Siana airstrip in Ol Kinyei Conservancy. After a short transfer to your mobile camp, you will enjoy a late lunch and get a comprehensive safety briefing. Move next to the paddock where you will familiarize yourself with the horses and choose one for your expedition. Your afternoon ride will be focused on getting used to the horse and the environment, including getting accustomed to riding in big-game territory. Expect responsive, forward-moving horses who are well suited to an expedition.
What's Included:
Day 2
Ol Kinyei Conservancy – Big Game of the Mara
Day 3
Naboisho Conservancy – Full Day Riding
Day 4
Naboisho Conservancy – Exclusive Riding Across the Mara Savanna
Day 5
Mara North Conservancy – Crossing the Rolling Plains
Day 6
Mara North Conservancy – Morning Game Drive
Day 7
Mara North Conservancy – Galloping Across a Secret Valley
Day 8
Mara North Conservancy – Exploring the Heart of the Mara
Day 9
Nairobi – Final Morning Ride
Trip Highlights
- Spend nine days in your saddle riding across three private conservancies in with Masai Mara
- Gallop alongside huge herds of zebra, wildebeest, and Thomson's gazelle
- Ride across landscapes that are rich with elephant, giraffe, buffalo, and hippos
- Journey alongside Masai trackers to ensure that your route stays clear of big cats, although there is a thrill that comes with riding into unfenced big-cat territory
- Explore around your camp to take in the unique natural features and hangouts for different animals and other days, enjoy exhilarating expeditions between conservancies
- Sleep in luxurious mobile camps on remote plains, where crackling fires ward off hyenas and you will be fully immersed in the sensual beauty of the Mara
- Complete your expedition in the Mara North Conservancy, where a couple of morning game drives will bring intimacy with the big cats, along with a final day-long ride that will have you galloping across a secret valley near the Mara River
- Ride with exceptional guides and choose from an exquisite paddock of well-groomed and responsive horses
Starting Price
$16,400 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.93 stars based on 241 reviews.
The trip was exhilarating and the job done by our Zicasso travel agent was second to none.
Our trip was 20 days, with multiple locations, flights, and activities. Our agent arranged things so well, we hardly had to do anything. Guides and contacts always arrived on time and led us through each location efficiently and safely.
The gorilla trek in Rwanda was amazing. On safari, we saw the Big Five by the end of day two and saw many, many unique animal encounters. We did a walking safari one day, which was also a highlight. Our agent recommended the Lewa Conservancy as a stop and this was wonderful for seeing many black and white rhinos.
I would give our travel company a 10/10 for personal care and attention. I highly recommended them for a high-quality, memorable African adventure!
Reviewed By Michael D.
We had a wonderful journey, with every step detailed and escorted from end to end. Our Zicasso travel experts did a great job and were always available for support.
Reviewed By Margarita M.
Without exaggeration, this was the most amazing trip of my life. Everything was perfect, from the itinerary to the lodging, food, and guides. We saw so much and so many varied topographies. We also got such a great flavor of the culture, people, and way of life in both countries. It truly was incredible from start to finish.
Reviewed By Stephanie L.
We had a fantastic trip. There were a few hiccups, but they were minor and were resolved very quickly.
This was pretty much the trip we had envisioned coming to life! Zicasso's travel agents on the ground, assisting us, were on top of things and made the trip go super-smooth. Thanks!
The camps we stayed at were amazing, the food was fabulous at both camps, the hotel in Nairobi was very nice; all in all, a great trip. Thank you so much for putting together my bucket list, including the experience with elephants in Tsavo East National Park!
Reviewed By Tracy C.
There aren't enough superlatives to describe our safari. Every single aspect exceeded expectations. The Zicasso trip designer, who handled the in-country arrangements, was terrific, and literally every arrangement went smoothly. A few last-minute changes on the front and back end were handled effectively.
Each of the camps was different, but wonderful in its own way. We liked the variation. The accommodations were great and the food was great. But the people – hosts, driver/guides, spotters, service personnel were really great – friendly, fun, helpful, enjoyable to be with, and really great. It's difficult to put into words how much we enjoyed being with them and with each other (me, my five adult children, and their spouses). And the wildlife and landscapes, again, quite different over the three camps, were spectacular. Every game drive was a much-anticipated adventure and the guides were, to a person, superb in helping us understand the animal behaviors we observed.
There is nothing we would have done differently and we were constantly amazed at how smoothly everything worked out (literally no hitches, even minor ones), how much fun we had with each other and our hosts, and how much the people we were with contributed to our experience. I'm not given to hyperbole, but I'm left without words to describe how great the experiences we had were and how seamless the arrangements seemed to be.
Reviewed By Jim K.
It was a unbelievable, fantastic trip. Working with Zicasso's travel agency was a pleasure. They set everything up, working with me closely to customize my trip. Everything went as planned and all the selections and partner companies were great.
Reviewed By Dave A.