Laikipia Horseback Safari – 9-Day Kenya Riding Adventure

Journey overview

A specialist riding safari through Laikipia’s private conservancies, combining remote camps, big-game encounters, dramatic landscapes and exceptional horseback riding.

A Laikipia horseback safari offers an unforgettable ride through northern Kenya's private conservancies and working ranches. This 9-day adventure begins at El Karama, then traverses Mogwooni and the Lolldaiga Hills before reaching Borana Conservancy. You'll ride across open plains, hidden valleys and cedar forest, all beneath the dramatic backdrop of Mount Kenya. Laikipia is celebrated for its biodiversity and rare northern species, including Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Jackson's hartebeest, alongside elephant, buffalo, hippo, rhino and big cats. The journey blends long days in the saddle with vehicle game viewing, picnic lunches, optional walks and private mobile camps in remote wilderness. The finale explores Borana Conservancy, renowned for rhino encounters and spectacular scenery.

Route at a glance

Nairobi → El Karama → Mogwooni → Lolldaiga South → Lolldaiga North → Borana Conservancy → Nairobi

Duration 9 days · 8 nights

Journey Small-group journey

Pace Active

Minimum age 14+ years

Is this the right safari for you?

Explore this journey for The East Africa Collection, The Family & Friends Collection, The Signature Collection.

Tell us your interests, travelling party and preferred pace. We will check driving times, accessibility, activity age limits and room arrangements with you before recommending this route.

Programme summary

Your journey at a glance

Day	Place / route	Highlights	Stay
1	Nairobi → El Karama Ranch	Scenic flight to Laikipia, El Karama Ranch, first horseback ride, wildlife and cattle ranch landscapes	El Karama Camp
2	El Karama Ranch	Horseback riding, vehicle game viewing, optional river walk, Murray Grant studio, rare northern wildlife	El Karama Camp
3	l Karama → Mogwooni → Enasoit → Lolldaiga Hills	First moving day, Mogwooni Ranch, Nanyuki River picnic lunch, hidden valley, elephant and buffalo tracks, Lolldaiga Hills	Private Lolldaiga South Camp
4	Lolldaiga South	Lolldaiga Hills, cedar forest, remote camp setting, Laikipia wilderness	Private Lolldaiga South Camp
5	Lolldaiga South → Northern Lolldaiga Hills	Spectacular riding country, northern Lolldaiga, picnic lunch, Laikipia Plateau views, second mobile camp	Private Lolldaiga North Camp
6	Lolldaiga North	Remote riding country, northern Lolldaiga landscapes, private wilderness camp	Private Lolldaiga North Camp
7	Lolldaiga → Ole Naishu → Borana Conservancy	Final moving day, granite kopjes, cedar forest, picnic lunch, Mount Kenya views, rhino country, sundowners	Private Borana Camp
8	Borana Conservancy	Horseback riding, game viewing by vehicle, big cats, rhino, picnic lunch, Ngare Ndare River, escarpment scenery	Private Borana Camp
9	orana Conservancy → Airstrip → Nairobi	Full English breakfast, game drive to the airstrip, scenic flight to Nairobi, onward connections	—

The essentials

What your journey includes

Included

8 nights’ accommodation in private safari and mobile tented camps
Full board meals & laundry throughout the riding safari
Professional riding guides and safari support team
Horse allocation for the duration of the riding safari
Guided horseback riding as outlined in the itinerary
Safari game drives where specified
Guided game walk at El Karama, where taken
Visit to Murray Grant’s wildlife sculpture studio
Picnic lunches on moving days
Sundowners where indicated
Ground transfers between camps and airstrips as outlined in the itinerary
Scheduled or charter flight into El Karama on Day 1
Return flight from Laikipia to Nairobi on Day 9
Park, conservancy and relevant riding-area fees where included by the operator
All activities specifically mentioned in the itinerary

Not included

International flights
Kenya eTA / visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal riding equipment unless specifically provided
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless specifically included
Tips and gratuities
Laundry and other personal expenses
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Additional hotel nights in Nairobi before or after the safari
Any service not specifically mentioned under the inclusions

Day by day

Your itinerary

9 days

Day 01

Arrival at El Karama – First Ride in Laikipia

Nairobi → El Karama Ranch

HighlightsScenic flight to Laikipia, El Karama Ranch, first horseback ride, wildlife and cattle ranch landscapes

Arrive at El Karama by scheduled flight or private charter in time for lunch at camp. After settling in, meet your riding team and horses before heading out in the afternoon for your first ride across El Karama. This introductory ride offers your first experience of Laikipia’s open landscapes, wildlife and working ranch environment while allowing you to become comfortable with your horse. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.

MealsLunch, Dinner

Accommodation

El Karama Camp

Full Board · Private safari camp

Day 02

Exploring El Karama Ranch

El Karama Ranch

HighlightsHorseback riding, vehicle game viewing, optional river walk, Murray Grant studio, rare northern wildlife

Spend a full day exploring El Karama, a 13,000-acre wildlife conservancy, by horseback and safari vehicle. There is also the option of a guided game walk along the river before lunch. During the day, visit the studio of renowned wildlife sculptor Murray Grant for an interesting insight into his work and connection to the Laikipia landscape. Wildlife in the area may include Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, elephant, giraffe and hippo along the river. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.

MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

El Karama Camp

Full Board · Private safari camp

Day 03

El Karama to Lolldaiga South

l Karama → Mogwooni → Enasoit → Lolldaiga Hills

HighlightsFirst moving day, Mogwooni Ranch, Nanyuki River picnic lunch, hidden valley, elephant and buffalo tracks, Lolldaiga Hills

Today marks the first moving day of the safari. Ride across to Mogwooni Ranch, where you will stop for lunch beside the Nanyuki River. After lunch, continue towards Enasoit, following a hidden valley shaped by elephant and buffalo trails and dotted with small dams. The ride then continues into the Lolldaiga Hills, a vast 55,000-acre ranch known for its striking scenery. Arrive at your private mobile camp, positioned at the head of a beautiful valley surrounded by cedar forest, where you will spend the next two nights.

MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

Private Lolldaiga South Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 04

Lolldaiga South – Second Day in the Hills

Lolldaiga South

HighlightsLolldaiga Hills, cedar forest, remote camp setting, Laikipia wilderness

Spend a second night at Lolldaiga South Camp, surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the Lolldaiga Hills and cedar forest. The operator’s published itinerary does not specify a separate Day 4 programme, allowing the day’s riding and activities to be determined by the riding team according to local conditions, wildlife movements and the group’s pace.

MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

Private Lolldaiga South Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 05

Lolldaiga South to Lolldaiga North

Lolldaiga South → Northern Lolldaiga Hills

HighlightsSpectacular riding country, northern Lolldaiga, picnic lunch, Laikipia Plateau views, second mobile camp

Set out in the morning on a scenic ride towards the northern reaches of Lolldaiga Ranch. A picnic lunch is arranged en route, supported by the safari vehicle, before continuing towards your next mobile camp. At one point along the route, ride along the western edge of the Lolldaiga Hills, where expansive views stretch across the Laikipia Plateau and the landscapes travelled during the previous days. Arrive at the second Lolldaiga camp for dinner and overnight.

MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

Private Lolldaiga North Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 06

Lolldaiga North – A Day in the Wild

Lolldaiga North

HighlightsRemote riding country, northern Lolldaiga landscapes, private wilderness camp

Enjoy a second day based at Lolldaiga North Camp in one of Laikipia’s most scenic and remote riding areas. The operator’s published itinerary does not list a separate Day 6 programme, so the riding and safari activities for the day are arranged according to conditions on the ground and the group’s progress. Return to camp for your second night in northern Lolldaiga.

MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

Private Lolldaiga North Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 07

Lolldaiga to Borana Conservancy

Lolldaiga → Ole Naishu → Borana Conservancy

HighlightsFinal moving day, granite kopjes, cedar forest, picnic lunch, Mount Kenya views, rhino country, sundowners

Begin the final moving day of the safari, riding eastwards from Lolldaiga towards Borana Conservancy. The route passes through Ole Naishu, weaving between impressive rocky kopjes and areas of cedar forest, with a picnic lunch enjoyed along the way. Continue into Borana Conservancy on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, where the scenery opens to magnificent views of Mount Kenya to the south and the rugged Mathews Range to the north. Borana is particularly well known for its rhino population, and encountering these remarkable animals from horseback can be one of the standout moments of the journey. Arrive at camp in time for sundowners before dinner.

MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

Private Borana Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 08

Exploring Borana Conservancy

Borana Conservancy

HighlightsHorseback riding, game viewing by vehicle, big cats, rhino, picnic lunch, Ngare Ndare River, escarpment scenery

Spend a full day exploring wildlife-rich Borana Conservancy by horseback and safari vehicle. The day includes a picnic lunch beside the Ngare Ndare River and opportunities to explore Borana’s dramatic escarpment landscapes. The conservancy supports a high concentration of wildlife, including rhino and big cats, and there is always the possibility of encountering predators while riding through the area. Return to your private camp for your final evening in Laikipia.

MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

Private Borana Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 09

Borana Conservancy to Nairobi – Departure

orana Conservancy → Airstrip → Nairobi

HighlightsFull English breakfast, game drive to the airstrip, scenic flight to Nairobi, onward connections

Wake up for your final morning in Laikipia and enjoy a full English breakfast at camp. After breakfast, depart on a game drive transfer to the airstrip for the flight back to Nairobi at approximately 11:00 AM. Arrive in Nairobi around midday, allowing sufficient time to connect with your onward travel arrangements. This marks the end of your 9-day Laikipia horseback safari.

MealsBreakfast

Starting prices are a guide. Travel dates, number of travellers, room arrangements, accommodation, flights and optional activities can change the final cost. Your quotation confirms the price and exactly what it covers.

Laikipia Horseback Safari – 9-Day Kenya Riding Adventure

A specialist riding safari through Laikipia’s private conservancies, combining remote camps, big-game encounters, dramatic landscapes and exceptional horseback riding.

Is this the right safari for you?

Your journey at a glance

What your journey includes

Included

Not included

Your itinerary

Arrival at El Karama – First Ride in Laikipia

Exploring El Karama Ranch

El Karama to Lolldaiga South

Lolldaiga South – Second Day in the Hills

Lolldaiga South to Lolldaiga North

Lolldaiga North – A Day in the Wild

Lolldaiga to Borana Conservancy

Exploring Borana Conservancy

Borana Conservancy to Nairobi – Departure

Frequently asked questions

Make this journey entirely yours.

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