Offbeat riding safaris are perhaps the most exciting in all of Africa, and participants need to be competent riders to maximise their enjoyment. Safaris can be tailored to the requirements of a small group, however the normal format is for guests to join a set departure safari on itineraries that extend to 7 days through either the Mara plains or the Laikipia platuea in northern Kenya. You can extend your safarai with an optional extension staying at Deloraine, the owner’s sumptuous colonial mansion near Rongai. The Mara offers wide open plains and quantities of plains game unrivalled anywhere else in the world – rides normally begin from a delightful campsite beneath the Loita Hills and finish on the banks of the Mara River over one hundred miles distant. Some days call for early starts and long rides, on others guests use the campsite as a base from which to explore the surrounding landscape. Nights are spent under canvas in comfortable tents, and guests are served exceptionally good food by uniformed waiters. Although riding with Offbeat is both challenging and strenuous, every concession to guest’s comfort is made at camp, including hot water bottles, piping hot bush showers, ice cold cocktails, and an efficient laundry and shoe cleaning service.
Please click on the play button below to watch the stunning film clip to get a feel for the amazing experience of an Offbeat riding safari:
Offbeat also organise rides of a similar nature through the vast and remote Laikipia plateau in the north, where the wildlife is equally diverse, if not evident in such numbers as the plains further south. In 2004 Offbeat Safaris and Wild and Exotic collaborated to pioneer a third and equally exciting destination through Amboseli National Park close to the border with Tanzania. All safaris are lead by an experienced and charismatic guide.
We offer four riding itineraries with Offbeat Safaris. The Mara ride is our most popular itinerary however there is also a Laikipia (Northern) ride and an exciting safari in the Amboseli National Park. We also offer a new seven or five day ride from and returning to Sosian Lodge in Laikpia. Please see the four separture itinerary tabs for more information including prices and departure dates.
Also, do contact us to discuss the detail of either Offbeat programme – we will be delighted to assist in the planning of your adventure, and having done several riding safaris in both locations, are eminently qualified to advise and help.
Sosian ride
Our Sosian rides are all lodge type accommodation and especially suitable for families or guests who don’t wish to spend all day riding. These rides are very flexible and need only 2 guests to run at the published price. We ride well-schooled horses from Sosian on a journey through a stunning landscape out to Suyian Soul and the fabulous Loisaba Star beds, on to Laikipia Wilderness and then back to Sosian, guided by manager, Simon Kenyon. Guests ride for the morning only with bush breakfasts each day and lodge arrival in time for lunch. Afternoons are available for walks, game drives or simply for rest and relaxation. Every unique property offers different experiences; at Suyian the owner , who is one of Kenya’s leading botanists, offers fascination bush walks. At Loisaba we tend to go out for an evening game drive and sun downer; at Laikipia Wilderness the speciality is tracking wild dogs with Steve Carey. The shorter 5 night itinerary does not include Loisaba star beds.
Please contact us for the current itineraries, fact sheet, price and availability for this ride
“The holiday was fantastic – the horses were wonderfully matched, Tristan was a very knowledgeable guide with a good sense of humour(!), the accommodation was perfect – not too OTT, but very comfortable and the food was delicious – Thanks to Wild and Exotic for organising the whole thing! We LOVED it!”
Jennifer Davenport, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“The trip was fabulous. Tristan is a wonderful, safe guide. I have told my friends about it all and hope some of them can join at a future date. Thank you so much for helping me with all the details.”
Jean Brooks, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“The logistics & planning left no stone unturned and the trip was simply epic, indeed having been home for ten days we are still slightly shell shocked as to what huge fun we had. On the edge at times, at times a little beyond it – so just the ticket for the bolder participant.”
Alex and Sarah Guthe, Offbeat riding safaris
“We had the most FANTASTIC trip. One of the most incredible experiences I have had the pleasure to enjoy! Daisy and Simon were nothing short of superb and at every turn we were spoilt with expert hospitality, flowing knowledge of the Mara and beautiful sights”
George Corbin-Greenall, Offbeat riding safaris
“We are all safely back but really wish we were still out in Kenya. We had the most amazing time, it was so much more than any of us could have hoped for. Tristan is clearly a legend and was so much fun, Piers who joined our trip was a great help and wonderful company, the horses were fabulous – we’d have loved to bring them home, the game was rife – we have our hearts in our mouths most of the time, the food beat of London’s finest, the hospitality and comfort both on camp and at the glorious Deloraine were incredible… We truly loved every single minute of it and were broken hearted to be leaving.Thank you & all there for giving us such a wonderful adventure – we’d go again in a flash.”
Beth Davenport, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“Well what a trip, certainly one we will never forget, it was magical. Everything was perfect, from the horses, the camps, food, tents, all the guys behind the scenes supplying us with hot water, washing clothes, making beds, cooking and cleaning boots etc. It was wonderful and yes one day I will definitely be going back. Thank you so much for organising the trip of a life time.”
Anna Sloan, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“Thank you for organising such a fantastic holiday. We had been hoping for a great experience and this was delivered in spades!! – fun, thrills (!) and great company. A big ‘Thank you’ to Tristan and his team for looking after us all so well – this really was a truly memorable experience of a lifetime.”
Jeremy and Sarah Billinge, Offbeat riding safaris
“Such good horses, company and we were treated like royalty. I Please feel free to use me for a recommendation in the future. I’m happy to babble on about what great fun this trip was!”
Ellen Jackson, Offbeat riding safaris
“The holiday was fantastic and all the organization ran like clockwork.”
Lavinia Taylor, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“We had the most fantastic holiday ever with Offbeat. Tristan was great and all the children had a wonderful time and we loved the camps, especially Meru camp, which was very beautiful and completely unspoilt and we swam in rivers and fished a bit as well as going on game drives. Thank you for arranging everything.”
Louise Guinness, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
‘I can’t say enough good about Tristan and his “gang”. Such good horses, company and we were treated like royalty. I really appreciated his laid back attitude so we didn’t have to feel like children in boarding school. Accompanied, of course by his years of experience reading the animals. Please feel free to use me for a recommendation in the future. Thanks again for your help putting this trip together’
Ellen Jackson, Offbeat Safaris
“I had a wonderful holiday – it was such a pleasure to be somewhere where we could just have fun.”
Anne Ballard, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“I think we all had a great time & Tristan was on v. good form as always. The problem is how can you improve on his Mara ride? Many thanks for all your help.”
Daniel Jessel, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“We had the most amazing holiday thank you, the trip of a lifetime. Tristan was the most wonderful host. “
Rowan Lovegrove-Fielden, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“So it was that we began what will probably remain, for us, the great adventure of our lives. We galloped through herds of Wildebeests, dodged Aardvark holes right and left, fended off lionesses in our camp, endured Hippos in the night and rivers full of crocks by day. It was wonderful! Best of all, we never encountered anyone but the graceful Masai in all that time. We would see them walking along the horizon, red and black robes wrapping their bodies and the ever present staff in their hands. These were the tribesmen who kept our camps, cooked our food, washed our boots at the end of each day, and did our laundry any time we were in one place for more than one night.”
Mrs Lorig, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“As you can see it is unlikely that I shall be able to resist a future invitation. Kind regards and many thanks for all the arrangements.”
Mark Winstanley, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“It was a magnificent holiday and one which has had a profound effect on me. I had some idea of what it would be like from Ralph and from seeing photos of previous safaris, but it never really tells you what it is like. We loved our weekend at Deloraine and the safari was wonderfully organised.”
Mrs Edwards, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“Your staff were superb working under extremely difficult conditions, the chef’s amazing ability to turn out meals that would be the pride of the best hotels and Timothy’s knack of always having the Mess tent up and ready to feed and water your tired clients. The two horses we ha were sure footed, comfortable and never gave us cause to worry. They were a joy to ride.”
Mr and Mrs Royle, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“Tristan was even better than I had been led to believe.”
Jonathan Lovegrove-Fielden, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“We had a great time, though the riding safari was really beyond our already high expectations! Tristan, Isi and Simon were really wonderful, they were up to every detail that could make us feel even better.”
Amelia Miller, Offbeat Safaris
“We had the most incredible time and it was the best holiday ever. Thank you for all your hard work and help in making it so special.”
Lord Daresbury, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“Amazing trip all the team were fantastic. We had a very memorable trip. Simon, Daisy, Grace and all the team could not have been more helpful. We had so many laughs and definitely a holiday I will never forget. The horses were a joy to ride and never put a foot wrong”
Oliver Greenall, Offbeat riding safaris
“The holiday was amazing from start to finish. Could not fault it, loved every minute. Thank you for all your patience sorting us lot out, couldn’t have been an easy task! Thank you once again.”
Patricia Cornes, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“We are still coming back down to earth from our trip….but suffice to say for now it was just incredible!!!! Offbeat were brilliant and the whole experience was one we will never forget. We have already recommended the trip to some friends. It exceeded our expectations which were already high so thanks to all involved in a truly unforgettable safari. An experience of a lifetime!”
Mr and Mrs Roberts, Offbeat riding safaris, Kenya
“Our safari in Africa exceeded our wildest expectations! Tristan was the best guide and host that we could have ever asked for. The entire staff worked endlessly to keep everyone happy. I would recommend this trip to anyone who has a love of horses and nature at its finest. I can’t thank you enough. I will take these memories to my grave and if I can ever do it again, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment.”
