Kenya - Laikipia Ride

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Day 1
Arrive via private charter flight or the 3 1/2 hour road trip from Nairobi. Borana is a cattle ranch turned conservation area in pristine countryside on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya. Take in the sweeping views of the snow-capped mountains to the south, and the rugged Mathew's Range, Bodich, and the distant Marsabit on the the way the Ethiopian Border. This is home to the Big 5 along with other species such as Grevy's Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe among others. Settle into the camp before having lunch in a grove of Euphorbia trees.

Day 2
A full day of exploring Boarna on horseback and by game drive vehicle. Borana is on top of an escarpment, and the scenery is spectacular. Relax over a picnic lunch on the Ngare Ndare River. Overnight at Borana.

Day 3
Head west today with a saddle-bag picnic toward the beautiful Loldaiga Hills. The route crosses Borana, onto the Ole Nisu Ranch to climb the first ridge of the hills. Loldaiga is a part of the northern extension of the Mt Kenya massive and consists of large Kopjes (hills) and Cedar forest. Reach the Loldaiga Hills Ranch, 55,000 acres owned by Robert Wells, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful farms in Africa. Reach camp at the head of a beautiful valley for the first of the 2-night stay.

Day 4
Today is filled with spectacular rides and a picnic lunch by Land Rover to the northern areas of the ranch. The view from the western ridge of the hills overlooks the Laikipia Plateau, the route over the next four days. Overnight Loldaiga Hills

Day 5
After leaving Lolgaiga Hills the route crosses four ranches on the way to El Karama ranch, to camp for the next two nights. Descend into a hidden valley, following elephant and buffalo tracks. Relax over a picnic on the banks of the Nanyuki. Arrive at El Karama Ranch in the afternoon, 13,000 acres of pristine game country. Overnight at the camo on the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River.

Day 6
Spend a full day exploring the ranch on horseback and in the game-drive vehicle, and maybe a game walk along the river in the morning before lunch (depending on conditions). The river is a favourite gathering place for the Grevy's Zebra, Elephant, giraffe, hippo, and the rare endemic Jackson's Hartebeest. Overnight El Karama Ranch

Day 7
Leave El Karama Ranch for a long ride to Soisan, crossing the Ewaso Marok River and Segera Ranch toward the Northwest. The route follows the Sugoroi River valley before reaching the black cotton plains, covered with Acacia thorn trees, home to the Patas monkey. These monkeys are widespread, but rare in these northern savannahs. Reach the Mutara River to follow a pretty valley toward Soisan, and a late lunch on the edge of the Suguta wetland. The camp for the night is a short ride away at the edge of the Ewaso Narok River, below Soisan's waterfalls. Overnight Soisan Private Camp

Day 8
Enjoy a day of horse riding and game drives around this rehabilitated cattle ranch, home to a wide variety of game. From some vantage points, the distant Loldaiga Hills and Mt Kenya remind riders of the route they have travelled. Overnight Soisan Private Camp

Day 9
A  last ride and a fond farewell to the horses before breakfast and the transfers back to Nairobi.

NB Transfers are included when clients arrive on the first and last day of the ride. (ie not included if clients take an extra day before and/or after the scheduled trip)

Non Riders:
We often have non-riders join our safaris, when their spouse or friends are riders but they are not. We can cater very well for anyone who does not wish to ride and have an excellent team of guides and spotters who take them out by vehicle, meeting up with the rest of the group for meals, picnics and sundowners. All our guests enjoy game drives, night drives and walking, as well as riding, so the non-riders are still very much part of the group. Game drives are always available, even for the riders, if they prefer a break from the saddle every so often.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

Our horses are based at the stables, and are trucked to each safari destination ahead of guests. All our horses are thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross and have excellent stamina as a result. They are well schooled and some play polo and event. They are therefore responsive, tough and fit. English General Purpose synthetic and leather saddles are used plus Australian stock saddles are available on request. Seat savers are available. We mainly use snaffle bridles. We ride in big game country, on open plains interspersed with bush. The short grass plains are ideal for riding (although you must look out for holes) and long canters are taken. We ride for 4 – 7 hours per day with 1 1⁄2 - 2 hours lunch stops, and on the longest moving day we stop for breakfast en route. Walking on foot is sometimes necessary over rough terrain. It is strongly recommended that you wear a hard riding hat, please bring your own as non are available on the safari. If you choose not to wear a hard riding hat this is at your own risk. Please check your holiday/medical insurance covers you in an accident if you are not wearing a riding hat.

In order to enjoy the safari and for the safety of all the riders and horses, guests should be experienced riders, comfortable at all paces (walk, trot, canter, gallop) and able to get out of trouble calmly and You should be balanced with an independent seat and fit enough to ride 4 – 7 hours per day. On booking, we will require details of your riding experience, plus your age, weight and height, so that we can match you to suitable horses. at the necessary speed.
Minimum rider age 15yrs. We have a strict maximum weight limit of 210lbs/15 stone/95kg

The weight limit for this ride is 209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

Our traditional mobile tented safari camp includes a canvas mess tent for meals and spacious 9ft x 10ft canvas sleeping tents with camp beds, mattresses, sheets & blankets. There is a small veranda to the tent with two directors chairs and a table. There is a solar lamp in each tent, with hurricane lamps outside at night time. There is a short drop loo tent for every tent and hot safari bucket showers are always available in the shower tent. Towels, soap, shampoo, conditioner, drinking water and torches are provided. Hot water in a safari basin is bought to the tent first thing in the morning and after every ride. There is a hot water bottle put into the beds during dinner.

All our food is fresh and we provide English breakfasts, light lunches and 3-course dinners. We often have picnics and eat in the open air if the weather is good. We carry ice cubes and are self sufficient for the whole safari. Bread is baked daily on open fires and our chefs are extremely good.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. You must carry a form of ID with you at all times. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but recently some police officers have been insisting on the original document. Your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive and you should have at least two blank pages in your passport on arrival. You need a visa to enter Kenya. Kenyan entry visas are exclusively issued electronically, with passengers required to obtain their e-visas before departure. You can apply for single entry and transit visas on the e-visas website. Passport and Visa requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Kenya.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/kenya

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

Due to the altitude (Nairobi is at 6500 feet) Kenya has a pleasant temperate climate year round despite being on the equator. There are rains in April/May and again in November/early December. June/July/August can be a little colder particularly at night and July can herald some cloud cover which is not unpleasant for riding. March is the warmest month although temperatures are still good for riding.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

Please take along sun cream and anti-allergy medicine for possible insect bites.

It is advisable to only drink bottled water whilst in Kenya. As it can get hot during the days and you will spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun it is recommended that you keep well hydrated. The most common cause of stomach upsets and diarrhoea is dehydration; increasing your fluid intake should prevent this illness. Some people may also have some stomach trouble due to different foods etc. If you suffer from a sensitive stomach then one option is to take travel probiotics during your trip – these build up the good bacteria in your stomach and can help fight bouts of ‘tummy trouble’.

If wearing contact lenses, please remember that it will be dusty and you will need extra cleaning fluid, and glasses may be a preferred option.

If required, anti-malaria precautions should be commenced prior to arrival in Kenya.

There are no compulsory vaccinations for entering Kenya. However, please ask your doctor for advice on what vaccinations and malaria medication are required before travelling. We do not recommend Larium

In Kenya the supply voltage is 240V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 240V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly.

There is no wifi available, however there is intermittent ‘Safaricom’ 3G signal across the Masai Mara. Nairobi hotels mostly have wifi and signal.

Pack as you usually would for a holiday, for e.g. sunglasses, toiletries and then these are your Horse Riding holiday essentials. If you are unsure, please speak with your Travel Consultant:
ESSENTIALS FOR ALL RIDING HOLIDAYS
Riding helmet – complying with current EU & British standards – (some locations, mostly in the EU, can provide them but if possible bring your own for comfort and correct fit)
Riding boots designed for riding and walking
Chaps
At least 2 pairs of riding trousers – jodhpur’s/breeches are best for anything, except western riding (Jeans)
Long sleeved shirts
Lightweight waterproof jacket
Water bottle
Mobile phone
Layers of clothing - this is the best option as mornings and evenings can be chilly but the middle of the day can be very hot.
Muted colour clothing – khaki, green or brown (white can startle wildlife and black attracts bugs)
Anti-malarial medication (in high risk areas)
Insect repellent
Fleece for cold mornings
Suncream/Insect repellent
Buff/Scarf/Bandana
Torch
Wet wipes
Portable/solar charger
Copy of your passport/visa/travel insurance

Kindly note that there is a 15kg weight limit for the light aircraft transfers and luggage should be packed in soft bags - not hard suitcases.

9d / 8n programme with 7 riding days on fixed departure dates. Shorter private safaris can be arranged throughout the year by arrangement.

Private safaris can be arranged for 4+ riders on request throughout the year (min 3 nights recommended)
2025: Confirmed 9-day / 8-night departure: 8 - 16 February
2026: Confirmed 9-day / 8-night departure: 19 - 27 January (Full), 18 - 26 March* (Confirmed)

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Going Down the River Road - Meja Mwangi. This is a good introduction to East African Literature.  

The Safari Companion - Richard E. Estes (Chelsea Green, UK) This book aims to explain not only what animals you're looking at, but also what they're doing, and its illustrated explanations make fascinating reading.

The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals - Jonathan Kingdon (Natural World, UK) A detailed and comprehensive catalogue of African land mammals, illustrated with photographs and distribution maps for each species.

Kenya from the Air - Anne Arthus-Bertrand and Anne Spoerry (Thames and Hudson, UK/Vendome, US) Superb images of the country from the eagle's viewpoint.

Marsh Lions - Brian Jackman and Jonathan Scott (o/p). Beautifully produced and painstakingly researched study of the lions and other animals around the Musiara Marsh in Maasai Mara.

For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback, visit www.thelongridersguild.com. 

A fantastic source of equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com

We often have non-riders join our safaris, when their spouse or friends are riders but they are not. We can cater very well for anyone who does not wish to ride and have an excellent team of guides and spotters who take them out by vehicle, meeting up with the rest of the group for meals, picnics and sundowners. All our guests enjoy game drives, night drives and walking, as well as riding, so the non-riders are still very much part of the group. Game drives are always available, even for the riders, if they prefer a break from the saddle every so often.

Laikipia is a unique wildlife area and contains an enormous diversity of wildlife from the Big Five downward. It is famous as the last reserve of the Jacksons Hartebeest and is home of several rare species such as the Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Grevy's Zebra, Gerenuk and Somali Ostrich amongst others.

Kenya's history dates back to many centuries from the internal diaspora or the early settlements and migrations. Then came the formation of the various language groups who developed their own religions, traditions, governments and ruling systems. Then came the white settlers, which was followed by the fight for liberation, which gave birth to the Mau Mau freedom fighters and the rise of the Kenyan heroes.

English is the official language while Swahili is the national language. That means that government and education are in English, while everything else tends to be in Swahili. And, in actuality, most of government is in Swahili also. In addition to these two languages, most of the people in Kenya also speak their "mother tongue" - their tribal languages.

In Kenya it is possible to leave Nairobi, a city with a thriving business heart powered by the latest information technology, and drive in just a few hours to a place where life is lived in accordance to tradition and custom, where warriors armed with spears drive cattle into thorn brush enclosures to protect them from lions at night.

Kenya is three hours ahead of GMT and they use the metric weights and measures system, so kilometres and kilograms instead of miles and pounds. There is approximately 1.6 kilometres in a mile and 2.2 pounds in a kilogram.

The international dialling code is +254.