Horseback Safari in Kenya

Let the adventure begin. Feel the adrenaline rise as you board the helicopter that will drop you in a remote location, inaccessible to vehicles in Laikipia. Laikipia is lesser-visited region in Kenya, but is touted as a premier safari destination for the plethora of plains game. Wild dogs are also partial to the area. This is no average safari. Your point of disembarkation will mark the start of a 3-day trek by horseback through the bush. You will be met at the drop-site by expert guides and nomad camp, carried on the backs of camels. Be ready. The trek will challenge you.

The best way to feel alive in the bush is to be a part of it. Your horse will allow you to shake the title of onlooker and become an active part of the safari experience. Over the next two days you will continue to ride through Samburu land. Swaths of green and yellow grass land evolve into rocky outcrops with the outline of the acacia trees dotting the landscape. The longer you ride, the more attuned you will become to the intricacies of this ecosystem. You will begin to notice traces of wildlife there before you and become acquainted with the myriad of plains game you approach. In no other experience will you get closer to Grevy’s zebra, buffalo, impala, and other species without interrupting them. People and nature are inextricably linked in Laikipia. As you navigate through Samburu territory, you will discover that the Samburu way of life echoes that of the wildlife. This vibrant and nomadic tribe roam in search of water and have forged strong ties with what seems to be a land of little resource, even working with elephants to identify underground water sources. With shared experience comes kinship; the nature of this journey will connect you with the local guides and members of the Samburu tribe in a way regular tourists simply cannot.

On your fifth day you will arrive at your final trek destination: Ol Malo Lodge. The lodge’s amenities are a welcome relief after the demanding journey you have just completed. Co-run by Samburu, Ol Malo’s longstanding commitment to co-existing with nature blends the lines between opulence and ethics. Take a moment to luxuriate. You’ve earned it. For those that are still feeling active, embark on a 4×4 game drive or a guided bush walk to track wildlife you may not have spotted on your ride. Alternatively, take to the air for a helicopter trip to the Suguta Valley and Lake Turkana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also known as the Jade Sea, this saline water body is the world’s largest permanent desert lake. The area is also a hotbed for unique fossil finds.