Horse riding holidays in Kenya, Africa are truly thrilling and utterly luxurious. Most are for the daring, confident rider who relishes the element of perceived danger. Of course to most people Kenya is synonymous with incredible game and jeep safaris. But what could be more amazing than experiencing all this from the back of a horse, avoiding all those mini vans full of tourists. Just you, the wildlife and your horse.

Unicorn's range of Kenyan horseback safari holidays make perfect winter sun escapes and are great for single riders and sometimes even for accompanying non-riders. They are luxurious and fall within our premier range   of riding holidays. The pace is sometimes fast and furious so advanced riders are well catered for. Every evening there's always a hot shower to wash away the African dust, a delicious sundowner and an amazing view to provide a perfect end to a perfect day.
 
Kenya lies in central west Africa and straddles the equator. To the north is The Sudan and Ethiopia, to the east is the Indian Ocean and Somalia, to the west is Uganda and Lake Victoria and to the south is Tanzania. Unicorn has several fabulous horseback adventures in Kenya to offer you. Firstly here's an overview of the national parks we visit.

Horse Riding Safaris in The Masai Mara
This is probably the best known national park in Kenya and is named after its inhabitants - the Masai tribe - and its river - the Mara. It lies to the south-west of the country and is virtually a continuation of the Serengeti in Tanzania.  It is famous for both its game and also for its people. These tall elegant folk, with extraordinary bouncing skills, wear colourful robes and are the ultimate trackers. They are totally in tune with their surroundings. The game and safaris here are superb. Of course there's the Big 5 - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino - plus giraffe, cheetah, hippopotami, hyena, antelopes etc. There's also a fantastic array of birds here including long crested eagles, vultures, hornbills, marabou storks, secretary birds, cranes & pygmy-falcons. However the Masia Mara's biggest attraction is the the Great Migration. Every year from July to October almost two million wildebeest, Thomson's gazelle and zebra leave the Serengeti heading to the pastures of the Masai Mara. These are keenly pursued by various preditors such as lions. The migration is one of the world's greatest natural spectacles.

Horse Riding Safaris in Tsavo
Tsavo is huge, bigger than Wales, and is one of the world's largest game parks. It lies between Mombasa and Nairobi. For administration purposes the park was split into two - Tsavo East and Tsavo West. There are only 2 rivers in the park but luckily the underground springs at Mzima provide a beautiful oasis - a haven for elephants, hippos, crocodiles and endless other wildlife. Close to Mzima are the Ngulia Hills. Mists tend to form in the hills around September to November and thousands of migrant birds fly through the mists into netts allowing them to be ringed and released. Thus much data on migrantory paths etc can be collected and analysed. Tsavo though is elephant country - in 2008 there were more than 11,500. Of course there's plenty of other game in the park - lion, buffalo, leopard, monkey, eland, hippos, rhinos, giraffe hartebeest, zebra, dik-dik, cheetah, oryx, kudu and many more. 

Horse Riding Safaris in Amboseli
The Amboseli National Park is at the centre of an ecosystem that extends over the Kenyan border into Tanzania. The park has low rainfall and 5 main swamps, two of them protected, which results in the superlative wildlife viewing. You can get closer here to free ranging elephants than anywhere else in the whole of Africa. Other wildlife incudes buffalo, hyena, hippo, lion, cheetah, zebra and wildebeest. Another plus point is that amazing view of Mount Kilimanjaro - just waiting to be climbed. Why not extend your trip?  

Horse Riding Safaris in the Chyulu Hills
The Chuylu Hills National Park adjoins Tsavo West. The hills are one of the world's most recent mountain ranges. The scenery of volcanic peaks, ash cones and craters is awesome, with great views of Mount Kilmanjaro. Rain filters through the porous rock and is the source of the Mzima Springs in Tsavo. This is a great park for the serious bird watcher. As for mammals you may see buffalo, elephant, eland, leopard, steinbok etc 

Below is a list of our horse riding holidays in Kenya. 

Classic Tented Safari
This fantastic horseback safari holiday takes in both Amboseli and Chyulu Hills National Parks with views across Tsavo. In Amboseli you can gallop across a dried lake bed and ride close to Kilimanjaro. Then in the Chyulus you climb the hills and take in the spectacle before you. Remember to have your camera ready at all times on this riding safari as photo opportunities abound. You start and end your horseback vacation in a luxurious eco-lodge. In between you camp - but remember this is Out of Africa country and you'll camp in the same style and in the same location as Earnest Hemmingway did!       

Game Tracking in the Chyulus
What a priviledge to offer a riding safari that explores the Chyulu Hills. Ride in a landscape from another world - a recent volcanic outcrop. Amongst the lava flows you may see Kenya's last population of black rhinos. Take a night game drive and catch sight of lion, cheetah and leopard if you're lucky. Ride to the top of the hills for a vista of over 90 miles on a clear day. Climb into a volcanic crater to see where eagles nest in the rim. Non-riders  can take parallel jeep safaris. As with the previous safari this is a camping riding vacation but in great style and luxury. Why not come for a very special Christmas and New Year? 

Masai Mara on Horseback
The ultimate horseback safari for a genuine once in a lifetime experience. Ride in 'Out of Africa' country with extremely professional and experienced bush guides. Advanced riders can expect long days in the saddle amongst the most diverse and numerous species of game in the world. This is a serious exploration of Masai land but in style! Your walk-in tents have beds, you'll have a hot shower every night, and your back-up support team of Masai chef, grooms, waiters and camp staff will move camp every day and cater for your and your horse's every need.  

Ol Donya Wuas & Borana Lodges
If it's hard to choose a horse riding holiday in Kenya from the riding holidays above, then here's a chance to combine two locations in two very different parts of Kenya in one horseback adventure. Accommodation is in a luxurious eco lodge, sympathetically built from local stone, volcanic rock, olive wood and thatch, set at the base of the Chyulu hills with panoramic views of Mount Kilimanjaro. There is an opportunity to spend 2 nights out under canvas in a fully staffed classic mobile tented safari in the style of Hemmingway. Then fly via Nairobi to Borana Lodge near snow capped Mount Kenya and Lew Downs. Here the countryside is steep and rocky with wonderful views. A very luxurious lodge is the base for your horseback exploration of the game and scenery in the north. You choose how long you wish to spend in the saddle each day. Experienced riders can try their hand at polo. Cattle ranching in lion country is challenging and Borana is are proving that they can continue successfully by building secure bomas (enclosures) for the cattle at night. They have four lions on the ranch that are fitted with radio collars so that they can monitor their movements.

Unicorn's staff will be more than happy to arrange extensions to your safari  riding holiday. We suggest a relaxing break on the Indian Ocean after your exhiloration ride. Take in a visit to Mombasa. Perhaps you fancy a few nights in Nairobi. We can make all the arrangements for a hassle free trip. 

At Unicorn we group our holidays into several categories to help you find the rides that best suit your riding level and your requirements. Below we have listed the ride categories that you find on at least one horse riding holiday in Kenya:

  winter sun riding holidays
  horse back safaris
  trail riding holidays
  mountain riding holidays
  desert horse riding holidays 
  riding holiday with camping
  faster horse riding holidays
  advanced rider holidays
  singles horse back holidays
  premier range horse riding holidays
  riding holiday for non rider 
  horse riding holiday suitable for families
  Christmas and New Year horse riding holidays
  
  
Below is a list of African countries where we have rides. Just click on a link to view the relevant web pages:

horse riding holidays, horseback safaris, Africa:
   horse riding holidays, horseback safaris - Botswana
   horse riding holidays Ethiopia 
   horse riding holidays, horseback safaris -Kenya
   horse riding holidays, horseback safaris - South Africa
   horse riding holidays Morocco
   horse riding holiday Mozambique
   horse riding holidays, horseback safaris - Namibia
   horse riding holidays, horseback safaris Tanzania
   horse riding holidays Tunisia
   horse riding holiday Madagascar