Our Destinations
Letter Randocheval
Why travelling with Randocheval ?
KENYA : UNIQUE HORSE RIDING SAFARI TO THE MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE...
Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking
The Masai Mara Game Reserve is the most
famous natural reserves of Kenya. It constitutes 7.5 % of all the 57 reserves
of Kenya. All the along the year, we can observe there a great diversity
of wild animals, and naturally : lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippopotamuses,
giraffes, zebras....
We offer a unique luxury mobile experience in one of the most beautiful
game reserve of the world.
This extreme safari in the heart of the African bush in the spectacular
scenaries of the reserve, guaranteed you subjugation and adrenalin!
Accommodations are very high quality camps and guesthouse.
A perfect combination for all lovers of Africa and strong sensations !
We don't accept beginners or intermediate riders. You need to be an advanced
rider to join this outstanding safari !
Special offer for 2008 departures : - 500 €
ITINERARY
Day 1
You will be collected from your Nairobi Hotel or directly from the
airport. Drive with a picnic lunch through the fertile Kikuyu Highlands
before dropping down 2000 ft into the Great Rift Valley. We cross
the volcano studded floor of the Rift before ascending the Mau Escarpment
on the far side and thence to the Masai capital of Narok. We reach
our camp in a grove of fever trees by a small stream at the foot of
the Loita Hills near the village of Barkitabu in time for tea. There
may be time for an evening ride. Overnight Barkitabu.
Day 2
Our first moving day with the horses and after breakfast we pack up
a picnic lunch to be carried in our saddle bags. Leaving the Loita
Hills behind us we cross the plains to the foot of the Bardamat Hills.
A ride of approximately 30 km's. As we ride we encounter an increasing
amount of game including giraffe, zebra, buffalo and a variety of
plains game. We arrive at our next camp set up beside the Olare Lamun
Springs. Overnight Olare Lamun.
Day 3
A full day to explore this remote area with abundant game. Drives,
rides and walks may be taken from camp. Overnight Olare Lamun.
Day 4
Another moving day and we break camp in good time as it is the longest
ride of the trip covering nearly 50km's. We ride across rolling
open plains and the game generally becomes more plentiful as we
approach the Mara ecosystem. We should see herds of zebra, topi,
giraffe, wildebeest, gazelle and there is a good chance of seeing
elephant and buffalo as well. We reach our camp on the edge of the
Masai Game Reserve on the Olare Orok lugga late afternoon. From
camp we are likely to hear lion and hyena at night and the abundance
of game is apparent everywhere. Overnight Olare Orok.
Day 5 & 6
Two full days of morning and evening rides from camp with the option
of driving into the game park for some good photographic opportunities.
From the land rovers we can get much closer to lion, elephant and
buffalo than we are able to do from the horses. Overnight Olare Orok.
Day 7
Another moving day and we follow the Olare Orok Lugga upstream before
heading our across the plains to the foot of the Siria Escarpment,
where we find our final campsite set up on the banks of the Mara
River. Close by there are some hippo pools and their grunting at
night is a special feature of this camp. Overnight Mara River.
Day 8
Once again we are able to go for a morning and evening rides from
camp as well as using the vehicles for our final day in the Mara.
Overnight Mara River.
Day 9
Leaving camp after breakfast with a picnic lunch we drive to Deloraine
via the impressive tea growing area of Kericho. We arrive in time
for tea and an evening walk around the beautiful garden. Overnight
Deloraine.
Day 10
An early morning ride before breakfast is optional. Also day trips
to either Lake Nakuru or Bogoria famous for their flamingoes can
be arranged with a picnic lunch. Overnight Deloraine.
Day 11
Transfer to Nairobi.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
Once your are in Kenya, take the time to visit some other parts of this unique country. We will be able to suggest you different trips : Nairobi or Mombasa stay, Lamu discovery, or Zanzibar excursion, please contact us for any quotation.
HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL
Horses
Our Horses are well schooled thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross. Many
are home bred out of our best mares. All are tried for polo and our best
polo ponies all go on safari. Therefore responsive, tough and fit. You
will be pleasantly surprised.
Tack
English. Various saddles, polo, wintec, French Trekking and Australian
stock. Mainly snaffle bridles.
Required riding experience
Good riding ability is important and you should be comfortable at all
paces and able to gallop out of trouble. We ride in big game country.
You should be fit enough to ride between 4 and 6 hours a day.
Picnic lunch carried in saddle bags on moving days. 1 1/2 - 2 hour lunch
stops. Some walking on foot necessary over rough terrain.
Most of the rides in Masailand and the Northern ranches are on fairly
open plaines (black cotton soil) interspersed with bush. They are short
grass plains ideal for riding. Care must be taken for holes but canters
and gallops are taken on open plains.
Maximum weight : 95 kg
YOUR GUIDES
All days on horseback are accompagnied by an experienced guide who knows
perfectly the reserve and the animals leaving there. However, the guide
always wear a radio and rifle on horseback, just in case...
On first day, we will ask you to follow our security briefing.
ACCOMMODATION
On Safari (8 nights)
Tents are 10ft x 9ft traditional safari style green canvas with wash
stands and a short drop loo adjacent. Showers are readily available. Bedding,
sheets, and towels are provided and twin safari cots are the norm though
we do have 2 doulbe beds available on request and of course for honeymoon
couples!
There is no electricity in camp and lighting is by gas and hurricaine
lamps. If people need to re charge video batteries this may be done with
a cigarette lighter adapter off the car battery (12 Volt).
At Deloraine there are 3 double rooms with their own bathrooms in the main house with 2 extra rooms for families that have to share bathrooms if we have more than 12 guests staying.
There are 3 double rooms with their own bathrooms in the cottage adjacent to the house.
All meals are taken in the dining room and guests are expected to be part of the family in a house party atmosphere. There are small children and dogs in the family too.
DATES AND RATES
Special offer for 2008 departures : - 500 €
| 2008 | ||
| September 12 to 24 |
available |
|
| October 10 to 22 |
available |
|
| October 22 to November 03 |
|
available |
Single supplement : 570 €
Supplement does not apply if you are prepared for sharing, even if we do not find another rider for sharing your accomodation. If you require a single room, please advise us at booking time.
RATE INCLUDING
- the trail as described in full board basis, drinks included (except
alcoolic drinks)
- the transfers from and to Nairobi airport by taxi flights,
- the financial guarantee of the deposits you send to Randocheval.
RATE NOT INCLUDING
- flights to Nairobi. Please contact us to check the best available rate
from your country.
- alcoolic drinks
- organization of any discover tour of Africa (Mombasa, Zanzibar...)
- any other service,
- tips,
- insurance : repatriation aid or multiple-risk (cancellation, luggage,
repatriation). More information.
BOOKING - INFORMATION
Contact Dorothee, the specialist for this destination !
PRATICAL INFORMATIONS
COUNTRY
Kenya
LENGTH
11 days / 10 nights / 8 days on horseback
LANGUAGE
English, german
GROUP SIZE
4 to 12 riders
ACCESS
Arrival in Nairobi.
CLIMATE
We have no winter or summer as we are so close to the equator. There are two rainy seasons November and April/May. The hottest months are February/March, September/October but there are no hard and fast rules on this. We ride at an Average of 5500ft. This makes for a cool climate and also means there are very few mosquitoes.
Formalities
Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.
Vaccines-Health
No specific vaccination, we recommend you to be up to date concerning
your usual vaccinations, in particular for the tetanus vaccine.
Remember that a repatriation travel insurrance is compulsory.
Contact your regular doctor for advice on a treatment against malaria.
REFERENCE :CH172-kenya-masaimara-en
