Maasai Mara Horseback Safari – 8-Day Group Ride

Journey overview

A mobile horseback safari across the Maasai Mara with exceptional wildlife encounters, remote bush camps and over 250 km of riding.

Experience a Maasai Mara horseback safari on an immersive 8-day riding journey designed for experienced riders looking to explore Kenya’s wilderness in a more adventurous and intimate way. Travel through remote parts of the Mara ecosystem, combining long days in the saddle with mobile bush camps, scenic picnic stops, guided game viewing and memorable wildlife encounters. Ride across open plains, river country, escarpments and conservancy landscapes while looking out for lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, cheetah and other plains game. The journey also includes selected game drives, walking experiences, sundowners and a Maasai village visit, giving guests a varied safari experience beyond traditional vehicle-based game viewing. With set departures, professional riding guides and small group sizes, this specialist journey is ideal for travellers seeking an active and distinctive way to discover the Maasai Mara.

Route at a glance

Nairobi → Mara North → Mara River → Siria Escarpment → Olare Orok Valley → Olare Lamun → Nairobi

Duration 8 days · 7 nights

Journey Small-group journey

Pace Active

Minimum age Confirm with our team

Is this the right safari for you?

Explore this journey for 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 to Mara North, then to the Mara River	Flight from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara; first horseback ride along the Mara River; wildlife viewing from the saddle; sundowners at camp	Mara River Hippo Camp
2	Mara River	Early morning horseback ride, Mara River crossing, game drive, wildlife photography, afternoon ride, sundowners, short night game drive	Mara River Hippo Camp
3	Mara River → Mara Triangle → Siria Escarpment	Wildebeest crossing point, Mara River crossing, Mara Triangle, picnic lunch, escarpment ascent, sweeping Mara views	Escarpment Soit Olololo Camp
4	Siria Escarpment → Olare Orok Valley	Escarpment descent, open plains, wildlife encounters, picnic lunch, afternoon ride, Olare Orok Valley	Olare Orok Mobile Camp
5	Olare Orok Valley	Morning ride, wildlife viewing, game drive, guided walk, predators and plains game, relaxed afternoon in camp	Olare Orok Mobile Camp
6	Olare Orok → Ol Kinyei Conservancy → Olare Lamun	Longest riding day, nearly 50 km on horseback, picnic breakfast, long canters, Ol Kinyei Conservancy, final mobile camp	Olare Lamun Camp
7	Olare Lamun	Morning horseback ride, game drive, guided walk, scenic viewpoint, Maasai village visit, final evening in the bush	Olare Lamun Camp
8	Olare Lamun → Mara Airstrip → Wilson Airport → Nairobi	Final morning ride, farewell to the horses, scenic flight to Nairobi, Wilson Airport arrival, onward Nairobi transfer	Day room in Nairobi, where applicable

The essentials

What your journey includes

Included

Return scheduled flights between Nairobi and the Maasai Mara
Airport / hotel transfers in Nairobi as specified in the itinerary
7 nights’ accommodation in mobile tented camps
Full board meal plan & Laundry while on safari
Professional riding guides and safari support team
Horse allocation for the duration of the riding safari
Guided horseback riding throughout the itinerary
Game drives as indicated in the itinerary
Guided walking experience where included
Maasai village visit
Picnic breakfasts and lunches where scheduled
Sundowners where indicated
Drinking water during the safari
Park, conservancy and relevant riding-area fees where included by the operator
Flying Doctors / emergency evacuation cover where included by the operator
All applicable taxes

Not included

International flights
Kenya eTA / visa fees
Mandatory Kernya Travel insurance
Single Supplement: $100 per night (if not willing to share)
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless specifically included
Tips and gratuities
Additional hotel nights in Nairobi before or after the safari
Any service not specifically mentioned under the inclusions

Day by day

Your itinerary

8 days

Day 01

Arrival in the Maasai Mara – First Ride by the Mara River

Nairobi to Mara North, then to the Mara River

HighlightsFlight from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara; first horseback ride along the Mara River; wildlife viewing from the saddle; sundowners at camp

You will be collected from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your Nairobi hotel and transferred to Wilson Airport for the morning flight to Mara North in the Maasai Mara. On arrival, meet your riding guides and transfer by road to your first mobile camp, set along the banks of the Mara River near a lively hippo pool. After lunch, enjoy some time to settle in and relax before meeting your horse and receiving an introduction to the riding safari. Later in the afternoon, set out on a gentle introductory ride of approximately two hours. This first ride allows you to get comfortable with your horse, your guide and the terrain before the longer riding days ahead. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and your first night beside the Mara River.

MealsLunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Mara River Hippo Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 02

Mara River – Morning Ride, Game Drive & Sundowners

Mara River

HighlightsEarly morning horseback ride, Mara River crossing, game drive, wildlife photography, afternoon ride, sundowners, short night game drive

Start the day with an early morning horseback ride, crossing the Mara River for the first time before returning to camp for a light breakfast. After breakfast, head out on a game drive through the northern Mara. Travelling by vehicle provides excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and allows you to explore more of this remarkable landscape. Return to camp in time for lunch, followed by a relaxed siesta. Later in the afternoon, set out once again on horseback for another ride through the surrounding wilderness. Return to camp with time to freshen up before heading out, where possible, for sundowners followed by a short night game drive. Return to camp for supper and your second night beside the Mara River.

MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation

Mara River Hippo Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 03

Mara River to Siria Escarpment

Mara River → Mara Triangle → Siria Escarpment

HighlightsWildebeest crossing point, Mara River crossing, Mara Triangle, picnic lunch, escarpment ascent, sweeping Mara views

After breakfast, leave the Mara River camp at around 9:00 AM and ride south towards the park boundary, meeting the Mara River again at one of the well-known wildebeest crossing points. Cross the river and continue southwest across the Mara Triangle, enjoying wide-open riding country and excellent wildlife viewing along the way. Around 12:30 PM, meet the support vehicle for a picnic lunch followed by a relaxed siesta. At approximately 4:00 PM, continue the ride and begin the ascent towards the Siria, also known as the Soit Ololol Escarpment. Arrive at camp at around 5:30 PM and settle in for the evening. The camp is set on the edge of the escarpment, offering expansive views across the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem.

MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation

Escarpment Soit Olololo Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 04

Siria Escarpment to Olare Orok Valley

Siria Escarpment → Olare Orok Valley

HighlightsEscarpment descent, open plains, wildlife encounters, picnic lunch, afternoon ride, Olare Orok Valley

After breakfast, leave the Siria Escarpment camp and begin the descent from the escarpment into the open plains below. Continue riding through varied Mara landscapes towards the Olare Orok Valley, with excellent opportunities to encounter wildlife along the way. The route combines open riding country, scenic views and the sense of moving deeper into the wilderness. Around midday, stop for a picnic lunch in the bush, followed by time to relax and rest before continuing the journey. In the afternoon, mount up again and ride towards the next mobile camp in the Olare Orok area. Arrive later in the day and settle into camp. Depending on the conditions and timing, there may be an opportunity for a short evening game drive or sundowners before returning to camp for dinner.

MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation

Olare Orok Mobile Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 05

Exploring Olare Orok

Olare Orok Valley

HighlightsMorning ride, wildlife viewing, game drive, guided walk, predators and plains game, relaxed afternoon in camp

Spend the day exploring the Olare Orok area, combining horseback riding with other safari activities to experience the landscape from different perspectives. Begin with a morning ride through the surrounding plains, looking out for wildlife along the way. The area offers excellent chances to encounter elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and other plains game, while predators such as lion, cheetah and leopard may also be seen. Later in the day, enjoy a game drive and, where conditions allow, a guided walk for a closer appreciation of the landscape, tracks and smaller details of the Mara ecosystem. Return to camp for lunch and some time to relax before continuing with the afternoon activities. As the day cools, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the Olare Orok wilderness before returning to camp for dinner and overnight.

MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation

Olare Orok Mobile Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 06

Olare Orok to Olare Lamun – The Long Ride

Olare Orok → Ol Kinyei Conservancy → Olare Lamun

HighlightsLongest riding day, nearly 50 km on horseback, picnic breakfast, long canters, Ol Kinyei Conservancy, final mobile camp

Today is the longest riding day of the safari, covering nearly 50 km, so the day begins early with departure at around 7:00 AM. Ride through the morning across open country, stopping along the way for a picnic breakfast. Continue covering good ground with longer canters where the terrain allows, making this one of the most rewarding and adventurous days of the journey. By midday, reach the Ol Kinyei Conservancy area for lunch and a well-earned siesta before continuing the final section of the ride in the afternoon. Later in the day, arrive at Olare Lamun, also known as the rhino salt lick. Your final mobile camp is set in a grove of acacia trees beside a small stream on the southern edge of the Loita Plains. Settle into camp, relax after the long day in the saddle, and enjoy dinner in the peaceful surroundings.

MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation

Olare Lamun Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 07

Olare Lamun – Riding, Walking & Maasai Culture

Olare Lamun

HighlightsMorning horseback ride, game drive, guided walk, scenic viewpoint, Maasai village visit, final evening in the bush

Begin the day with an early morning horseback ride through the Olare Lamun area, enjoying the cool morning air and another opportunity to encounter wildlife from the saddle. Return to camp for breakfast before heading out on a game drive through the surrounding wilderness. Later, enjoy a guided walk to a nearby viewpoint, offering a different perspective of the landscape and a closer look at the smaller details of the ecosystem. Return to camp for lunch and some time to relax. In the late afternoon, visit a nearby Maasai village for an introduction to local traditions, culture and community life. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and your final night in the Mara wilderness.

MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation

Olare Lamun Camp

Full Board · Mobile tented camp

Day 08

Final Ride – Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Olare Lamun → Mara Airstrip → Wilson Airport → Nairobi

HighlightsFinal morning ride, farewell to the horses, scenic flight to Nairobi, Wilson Airport arrival, onward Nairobi transfer

Begin your final morning in the Maasai Mara with one last horseback ride through the Olare Lamun area, enjoying the quiet of the plains and a final opportunity to experience the wilderness from the saddle. Return to camp for breakfast, after which you will say farewell to your horse and the riding team before transferring to the airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Nairobi. On arrival at Wilson Airport, you will be met and transferred to your Nairobi day room or onward connection, depending on your travel arrangements. Later, transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure or continue with your next Kenya journey. This marks the end of your 8-day Maasai Mara horseback safari.

MealsBreakfast

Accommodation

Day room in Nairobi, where applicable

Breakfast · Day room subject to onward flight schedule

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.

Maasai Mara Horseback Safari – 8-Day Group Ride

A mobile horseback safari across the Maasai Mara with exceptional wildlife encounters, remote bush camps and over 250 km of riding.

Is this the right safari for you?

Your journey at a glance

What your journey includes

Included

Not included

Your itinerary

Arrival in the Maasai Mara – First Ride by the Mara River

Mara River – Morning Ride, Game Drive & Sundowners

Mara River to Siria Escarpment

Siria Escarpment to Olare Orok Valley

Exploring Olare Orok

Olare Orok to Olare Lamun – The Long Ride

Olare Lamun – Riding, Walking & Maasai Culture

Final Ride – Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Frequently asked questions

Make this journey entirely yours.

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