“Follow the footsteps of Margarete Trappe”
4 Day Arusha National Park Horseback Riding Tour and Safari Holiday in Tanzania
Dolly Estate, Arusha, Tanzania
Tanzania Horse Riding Tour
Follow in the footsteps of the iron lady, Margarete Trappe. Off the beaten path, away from crowds and engines, explore Africa in the shadow of the snowy peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro, encounter wildlife, meet raw and genuine tribes, and experience the true and traditional mobile safari, where you'll cover great distances on the back of a horse.
Key information:
- Rider weight limit: 187 pounds / 85 kilograms
- Tack type: English tack
- Daily riding time: 4 to six hours in the saddle a day
Highlights
- Daily riding with a qualified private guide
- Enjoy a new and exhilarating adventure
- See plenty of plains game like zebras, wildebeests, and elands
- Ride over open grassland and rainforest
- Pass by Margarete Trappe’s old house
- Program caters to fit intermediate riders
- 3 nights accommodation
- All meals from arrival to departure included
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
4 days with instruction
Group size: 4-10 participants
Accommodation
You will spend one night at a permanent lodge (the night upon arrival) and two nights in the mobile camp.
Lodge in Dolly Estate
The first night will be spent at a lodge situated on a golf, polo, and wildlife estate, only 30 minutes' drive from the international airport. Each room has its own ensuite bathroom, flush toilet, and white fluffy towels. There is Wi-Fi and a swimming pool to be enjoyed. Spa treatments, yoga, golf, and polo can be arranged upon request.
Dolly Estate is situated on 4,000 acres of prime African bushland, nestled between Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. It is home to zebras, wildebeests, elands, kudu’s, several species of gazelles and antelopes, and the very shy and rare gerenuk (along with many other animals).
Over two hundred species of birds have also been recorded on the estate, including the protected African river duck.
Kili Golf is Tanzania’s most prestigious 18-hole championship golf course, designed by the former Irish national coach and European tour champion David Jones. The golf club has a spectacular clubhouse with restaurant and bar facilities.
The course cleverly follows the natural contours of the land, integrating into the design the indigenous plants and trees that continue to thrive on the estate. With four sets of tees at each hole, the course can be played at a championship length of approximately 6,500m down to a gentler 5,400m.
The greens are large, with subtle changes in elevation as the location demands. All are built to USGA specifications.
Bunkers have been strategically placed to allow all golfers a fair route to the fairways and greens. The spectacular stream and lake systems that flow through and around the golf course are simply an extension of the Usa River, with every drop of water used to enhance the beauty and challenge of the golf course, being returned to the river.
At the nearby driving range, players can enjoy the spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro whilst practicing their shots.
Founded by Jeroen Bruins in 1995, the Nduruma Polo Club was the first and continues to be the only polo club operational in Tanzania. The spectacular clubhouse, a hub for horse and polo enthusiasts, was built to resemble the Sultan of Zanzibar’s palace, providing the perfect place to enjoy the breathtaking views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru.
Polo chukkas are played every Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, whilst social field hockey is played on Wednesday afternoons before club night.
Mobile camp
Two nights will be spent under Kaskazi’s tailor-made mobile camp in a private canvas. The tents are of their own design, with ensuite bush toilets and hot bucket showers. Full board accommodation and locally sourced beverages will be provided, while other requirements can be arranged prior to arrival and will then be charged at cost price.
They are comfortable and spacious, being 4x4 meters with mosquito-netted doors and windows to allow for ventilation but still remain insect-proof. Each tent is provided with a carpet, towel rack, bedside table and water bottle, bed and cotton linen, and a solar light.
Outside each tent, there is a veranda with chairs and a washstand that you will share with your tent partner. Each tent also has its own bush toilet and bucket shower.
The toilet is a traditional short-drop style toilet with a nice wooden toilet seat over a metal box with open sides. The motto is "Rhinos cover it. please do the same." There is a small mound of dirt with a trowel next to the toilet seat for this purpose. The shower is a traditional stargazing canvas bucket.
Single supplement
If the guest is unwilling to share a tent, there will be an additional charge of 70 to 90 USD per person per night. (However, this can be discussed depending on the route and the number of people on safari).
Kaskazi Horse Safaris never mixes different sexes and if there are odd numbers out on safari, they do not charge the extra single supplement; this fee only applies upon request.
Program
Each horse riding safari will be led by qualified and professionally trained guides, always pushing for a new and exhilarating adventure.
A horse safari with Kaskazi Horse Safaris
The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable, and grace unlike any other, remains humble enough to carry a man upon his back. The journey will bring the essential joy of being in contact with rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and freedom - the horse and its nature.
On day one, you will be exhausted and full of amazement. On day two, you will arrive at camp unable to walk and nearly too exhausted to eat.
After a good night’s rest, you will wake up and the horse will lend you his strength, speed, and grace to continue, while you will give him guidance, intelligence, and understanding greater than his, and together, you can achieve a richness that neither can alone.
On day four, as companions, you will have the strength to carry on the day with triumph. The days will go by and suddenly, the sad day will come when the companionship has to end.
Drop off and pick up times:
Kaskazi’s set arrival times
On the set arrival date, Kaskazi will pick up guests at any time at any place between Arusha town and Kilimanjaro International Airport. In case of arrival a day or two earlier than the set arrival date, an additional transfer cost of 80 USD per vehicle (maximum of four pax) will apply. This transfer fee applies within the region of Arusha town and Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Kaskazi’s set departure times
On the set departure date, Kaskazi will drop off guests within Arusha town and Kilimanjaro International Airport. It is of the highest importance that no one has a flight departure before 15:00 on this day. For guests who will depart later (who prefer not to wait at the airport), a day room can be arranged prior to the safari for an extra cost.
Horses
The horses are all-purpose trained safari horses, with a mix of local breeds, crossbreeds, and thoroughbreds. Close to all of them, you can also play polo and therefore, they are used to be ridden with one hand (neck reigned). This will allow you to take photos and dig into your saddlebag while out on safari.
Only some of them are ridden English style. If this is the case, the guide will tell you before you mount your horse.
All horses are given lots of love, care, and attention, therefore resulting in their nice characters and strong personalities. They also all have their own heads with different temperaments, which allows for finding a perfect fit for each rider.
Tack
All the horses come with their own tack. Most of them are in all-around English saddles (without the kneepad) and each horse has its own bridle and bit. Each rider / saddle will carry a saddlebag with essentials out on safari.
Riding ability
Different routes require different riding skills. For beginners, the rider must be able to walk and trot with the horse under control. Intermediate riders must be able to post the trot for a longer distance, be comfortable at all paces, and be able to gallop out of trouble.
Experienced riders must be confident and comfortable at all paces over any terrain as well as have the ability to gallop for a longer distance, and if needed, out of trouble. A fit and proficient rider is of big advantage out on safari.
Weight limit
The maximum weight is 85 kilograms (13.5 stones). Other arrangements can be organized subject to availability and will have to be requested well in advance.
Safety
Out on safari, the lead guides will be armed with either a bullwhip or a rifle / revolver. They will communicate over radios and cell phones, with a mobile station in each vehicle, and a satellite phone that is always kept in camp.
Guiding
All guides are qualified and professionally trained, with good knowledge of Tanzania’s fauna and flora. A keen interest will be taken in the smaller creatures as well as bigger games. The cultural visits will also bring in knowledge of medicinal and traditional beliefs about Tanzania’s trees and plants.
Groups
Kaskazi has mobile, multiple-day horse safaris for a maximum of 10 guests, with exceptions for private bookings, wherein they can accommodate 15 riders maximum.
Time spent on the saddle
Kaskazi Horse Safaris aims to do between four to six hours on the saddle a day. During the rides, there will be stops for drinks and refreshments as well as a three-hour lunch break, with time for a siesta. The terrain will vary and some legs will have to be done by foot, which will also be a good opportunity to rest the horse’s back and loosen up the rider’s muscles.
Non-riders
For those who are not keen on horse riding or not confident enough, options for vehicle safaris and walking safaris can be arranged. Their itinerary will be tailored to individual needs and sample itineraries are available upon request.
Children
Kaskazi Horse Safaris does allow children, depending on their riding ability. They must be confident and strong enough to ride a full-sized horse.
Margarete Trappe: Africa’s greatest huntress - “Jeyo”... Mother of the Masai
On this ride with Kaskazi Horse Safaris, the ride will be in Arusha National Park, which is where Margerete lived until she passed away in 1957. On the ride, you will follow her old hidden pathways through the bush where this legendary lady rode on her two loyal thoroughbred mounts, always accompanied by her two Alsatians.
“If, as children, we were thrilled by Buffalo Bill, we should have been still more spellbound by Mrs. Trappe’s adventures, the adventures of the fearless woman with her two legendary horses, Comet and Diamond, and her two inseparable Alsatians.
Like a phantom she would suddenly appear, like a phantom she would vanish; as intimate with wild beasts as though they were tame, she was venerated and feared by the locals like a supernatural being.
The dark spirit of Africa, with its spells and witchcraft, its magic, symbolism, and ritual furnish a background against which such a figure almost assumes a mystic significance.
Margarete Trappe arrived on an ox wagon in 1906 from the coast. Her courage and pioneering spirit set the tone when she traveled the picturesque Meru Pass, at which her new home, Momella, was situated. A big farm was created and built by the Trappe family where they kept cattle, horses, and goats and enjoyed the surroundings and the abundant wildlife.
The start of the First World War brought a cat-and-mouse game between Margarete Trappe and the English soldiers and earned her the nickname Iron Lady for her stubbornness, strength, and courage as she scouted for Von Lettow Vorbeck in his “Ice Cream War” with Frederick Courtney Selous.
However, fate was not kind to Margarete. Disowned and bankrupt, she returned to Meru and started rebuilding a new farm called Ngongongare or Yejo’s - her Maasai name.
Financial survival was however finally secured by highly profitable trophy hunting after she became the first female professional hunter in East Africa. Fittingly, her last tribute was paid by her beloved elephant herd as they gathered around her house in 1957 when she passed away.
Margarete’s son Rolf leased the property to Paramount Pictures as the setting for the classic movie “Hatari,” starring John Wayne and Hardy Krüger.
Mrs. Trappe’s tales would fill an entire volume and this is not the place in which to tell them. All the same, I cannot resist mentioning one episode, the one which marks the end of her wartime activities; it is such a charming story.
At that time, the German defense forces had been compelled to withdraw into the interior. Under cover of darkness and forest, Mrs. Trappe had slipped through the British lines and delivered two large transports of cattle and provisions to General von Lettow.
But a large convoy of horses led by tired German farmers had been surrounded by the British; there was scarcely a hope of getting it through.
Then, Mrs. Trappe with her crew had taken over the whole operation. With the help of an alleged deserter, she had misled the British as to the direction she had taken, had driven the horses through forests and over mountains where no one had dreamed it possible to find a way, and, without losing a single one, had brought them through the British lines.
Now, she could do no more and was anxious to return to her farm where her three small children awaited her impatiently. She rode straight into the middle of the nearest British headquarters and gave herself up.
A British captain questioned her. A British General busy with his papers at a nearby table glanced across her now and again. The hearing dragged on. There was not much she would say. “You know, Mrs. Trappe, that you will have to be interned,” said the captain finally. “Mrs. Trappe will remain at liberty,” the General stated, looking up from his papers.
The hearing continued. “You will have to leave your horses here,” said the captain. Mrs. Trappe declared that she had promised General von Lettow to shoot the horses sooner than to surrender them to the British. “Mrs. Trappe will keep her horses,” said the General.
Then, they came to the arms. Here, certainly, there was nothing to be done. Mrs. Trappe was obliged to leave them and to undertake to bring along any ammunition in her possession.
She brought the ammunition on the following day. When the British officer opened the chest in which the cartridges were packed, he also found a little box of silver rupees which Mrs. Trappe had forgotten to take out.
The British officer picked up the coins; all of them had a hole through the center. “What is the meaning of this?” he enquired curiously. “I shot those in a pistol-shooting contest,” Mrs. Trappe replied. “You must show us how you could do that,” said the General, once again joining in.
Three coins were placed upright on a board. They were hardly visible. Mrs. Trappe raised her pistol, took a swift aim, and fired quickly once, twice, thrice. All three coins had been hit dead center. The General plunged his hand into the box of rupees.
“Send these coins home to your wives,” he said to the group of officers who were watching, “and tell them your experiences here with a German woman.”
Then, turning to Mrs. Trappe: “You are a good sport and a brave woman.” He shook hands. “You may keep your weapons.” He smiled and took his leave. Mrs. Trappe kept her weapons and her horses. She rode home and settled down to look after her children and her huge farm.“
-From “MLA an African game paradise” by Maximilian von Rogister
Day 1
Arrive at the lodge for lunch, settle into the new surroundings, and meet the other participants on the safari (unless for a private safari).
Over lunch, a briefing will take place and shortly thereafter, an afternoon introduction ride will take place. This will be a good opportunity for everyone to get to know their mount before heading into the national park the following day.
The afternoon ride will take place on a wildlife estate (fenced), home to plenty of plains game like zebras, wildebeests, elands, and if you're lucky, there will be a good chance of seeing one of the shyest and rarest antelopes in Africa, the gerenuk (also known as giraffe antelope). Go back to the lodge in time for showers and sundowners before dinner is served.
Day 2
After wake-up calls with tea and coffee, breakfast will be served anytime from the early hours. After breakfast, the drive will be about thirty minutes to Arusha National Park gate. There, the horses will be waiting, ready to be mounted, and shortly after, you will ride into one of the most beautiful parks in East Africa.
There, the vegetation will change dramatically, from open grassland to rainforest. You'll have good chances of seeing buffaloes, giraffes, all your plains game, elephants, and leopards. However, others are harder to spot, along with rare species such as suni, red duiker, the magnificent Hartlaub's turaco, colobus monkey, and the endless bird life.
The feeling will be magical as you enter into the big canopy forests. Lunch will be set en route, with time for a small siesta. After lunch, the ride will continue through the leopard country and as you head towards the night stop, you will pass by Margarete Trappe’s old house, the legendary lady known and remembered as the Iron Lady from the First World War.
There are some tales about Margarete, whose old riding paths this horse safari follows through the holy forests of the park.
Arrive at the camp, based on the foot of Mt. Meru, in time for showers and sundowners, then have dinner under the stars.
Day 3
This morning, you will hopefully wake up to the very talkative colobus monkeys. Breakfast will be served and shortly thereafter, you will mount and directions will be taken towards the area where Hatari was filmed, starring John Wayne.
Thereafter, halfway into the morning ride, you will start the climb (on horseback). Some will be done on the horse and some on foot, aiming to reach a viewpoint, which if clear has one of the best views of Mt Kilimanjaro. There, you will dismount the horse and instead mount a car and drive the last, steepest part in the vehicle.
You will drive past the massive “Fig Tree Arch,” which is big enough to fit five horses underneath it. The drive will continue until you reach the place for lunch, beautifully located next to a waterfall. You will be on about 2,000 meters above sea level by then.
After lunch, you will start heading back towards the horses, then ride back down to camp, and after returning to camp, there will be an option to jump into the vehicles (or relax at the camp) and go visit the Momella lakes, hoping to see some hippos and beautiful water birds. There will be sundowners at the lakes before heading back to camp for showers and dinner.
Day 4
Wake up to colobus monkeys chatting in the early hours of the morning. Breakfast will be served and everyone will mount and start heading back towards civilization. Enjoy the last morning with your mount in this magical place on earth full of wildlife, stories, and tales.
In the late morning, you will get back to the Arusha National Park gate, where you will dismount and say farewell to your four-legged friends. From there, there will be a few options: some will continue onto other safaris or stay another night or two at the lodge and practice and play polo for a few days.
Location
About Arusha National Park
The entrance gate leads into a shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys as well as colorful turacos and trogons - the only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily seen.
In the midst of the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog.
Further north, rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes, each one a different hue of green or blue. Their shallows are sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos. The lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl, and shaggy waterbucks display their large lyre-shaped horns on the watery fringes.
Giraffes glide across the grassy hills, between grazing zebra herds, while pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into scrubby bush like overgrown hares on spindly legs.
Although elephants are shy in Arusha National Park, and lions are absent altogether, leopards and spotted hyenas may be seen slinking around in the early morning and late afternoon. It is also at dusk and dawn that the veil of cloud on the eastern horizon is most likely to clear, revealing the majestic snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, only 50 kilometers (30 miles) distant.
But, it is Kilimanjaro’s unassuming cousin, Mount Meru - the fifth highest in Africa at 4,566 meters (14,990 feet) - that dominates the park’s horizon. Its peaks and eastern foot slopes protected within the national park, Meru offers unparalleled views of its famous neighbor, while also forming a rewarding hiking destination in its own right.
Passing first through wooded savannah where buffalos and giraffes are frequently encountered, the ascent of Meru leads into forests aflame with red-hot pokers and dripping with Spanish moss, before reaching high into open heath spiked with giant lobelias.
Everlasting flowers cling to the alpine desert, as delicately- hoofed klipspringers mark the hike’s progress. Astride the craggy summit, Kilimanjaro stands unveiled, blushing in the sunrise.
Routes and the terrain
The terrain varies from place to place - everything from open savannah, acacia woodland, and Doum Palm forests to really thick vegetation. Open savannah caters to long, adrenaline-thrilling gallops while in the thick bush, all ears and eyes must be alert for any game that you might encounter.
Depending on climate and rainfall, you will cross riverbeds and ride along the shores of beautiful lakes. Apart from game viewing, the landscape and the scenery mustn’t be forgotten. The rides will be in some of the most spectacular areas in Africa.
Climate
Tanzania lies just south of the equator and on the whole, enjoys a tropical climate. There are two rainy seasons, the short and the long rains. The long rains called Masika fall from mid-March to May, and the shorter rains called Mvuli fall from November to mid-January. The cooler climate is during the dry season and lasts from May to October.
Food
The food is of great standard, with professionally-trained bush chefs who will create delicious and highly entertaining dishes.
Breakfast will be of traditional cowboy style, served with juice and exotic African fruits. Lunch will be alfresco, enjoyed somewhere out in the wild under a nice shady tree. It may either be vehicle-supported or you may carry it in your saddlebags.
Dinner will be a three-course affair, with a mix of local and international cuisine, always served with newly baked bread and fresh salads and herbs.
Drinks
Drinks will be locally sourced and a large variety will be brought along on safari.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 4 days of riding
- Qualified private guide
- Use of horses
- 3 nights accommodation (one night at a permanent lodge on the night upon arrival and two nights in the mobile camp)
- All meals daily (lunch upon arrival to breakfast upon departure)
- Drinks
- WD (Wildlife Department) fees
- Arusha National Park fees
- Government fees: 550 USD per person (in the event of a change in government taxes, levies, concession / wildlife / community fees, Kaskazi Horse Safaris reserves the right to pass on any increase)
What's not included
- International flights
- Drinks at the lodge
- Transfers from and to the airport
- Gratuities for the camp team and guides (guideline of 25 to 35 USD per guest per day)
- Any personal purchases
- Visas and medical and travel insurance, which have to be arranged prior to arrival
How to get there
Recommended Airports
JRO
Kilimanjaro International Airport
43 km
Transfer not provided
NBO
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
231 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by plane
Please book your flight to arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Transfers from and to this airport are not included in the price.
Arusha is the start off point for most safaris. Kilimanjaro International Airport is the most convenient port of entry and exit, located just 45 minutes from Arusha town and only 35 minutes' drive from the lodge where your first night upon arrival will be spent. The airport is served from Europe by KLM / Northwest, which flies daily from Amsterdam.
If you are looking for something more budget-friendly, an option would be to fly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, where you will have to purchase a Kenyan transfer visa for 25 USD (US citizen: 50 USD).
Thereafter, depart from the airport with the so-called Impala Shuttle (Kaskazi Horse Safaris can book this for you prior to arrival). The shuttle will cross the border between Kenya and Tanzania, where you will have to purchase a Tanzanian visa for 50 USD (US citizen: 100 USD).
The drive altogether is about five hours, before you reach Impala Hotel, based in the middle of Arusha, where a vehicle from Kaskazi Horse Safaris will be arranged to pick you up.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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