“Ride through the land that runs forever”
9 Day Serengeti Migration Horse Riding Safari in Tanzania
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti Ecosystem, North Tanzania
Tanzania Horseback Riding Safari
Kaskazi Horse Safaris is established in the Northern circuit of Tanzania. While not on safari, the horse base, called Kilo Bravo is on the outskirts of Arusha. The stables have a magnificent view of Mount Meru, with Mount Kilimanjaro emerging itself in the north on a clear day. Kaskazi’s establishment was formed by their great love for horses, and a passion for Africa and its people. After years within the safari industry, the next step is to explore the remote African bush from the back of a horse, or by foot, combined with visits to the many unexplored areas of Tanzania, away from the crowded destinations and running engines.
Key information
- Rider weight limit: 187 pounds / 85 kilograms
- Horse height range: 15 hands
- Tack type: English suede saddles
- Horse breed: a mix of local breeds and thoroughbreds
Highlights
- 7 days of horse riding
- Approximate daily riding time: 4 - 6 hours
- WD, WMA, village, and national park fees are included
- Qualified private guide, horses, and riding
- Includes internal flights to Serengeti / NCAA and back
- Transfers from and to the airport are provided
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- 8 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
7 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 10 participants
Airport transfer included:
Kilimanjaro International Airport
Accommodation
Polo club - permanent camp
The first night is spent at Kaskazi Horse Safaris' permanent camp, where they have combined spacious traditional safari tents with their permanent Polo Safari Club. The camp is beautifully located on a wildlife estate with great views of Mt. Meru and, on a clear day, Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The camp overlooks the polo clubhouse and two polo fields where often zebras and wildebeests are seen grazing. They have 10 fully equipped tents, each with its own en suite bathroom, flush toilet, and white fluffy towels. There is Wi-Fi in the clubhouse and a swimming pool, gym, and spa treatments to be enjoyed. All beverages and delicious homecooked meals are prepared for you at the spectacular clubhouse (a replica of the Sultan of Zanzibar’s very own palace).
Mobile camp - under Kaskazi Horse Safaris' private canvas
Seven nights are spent under Kaskazi’s custom-made mobile camp. The tents are of their own design with en suite bush toilets and hot bucket showers. Full board accommodation and locally sourced beverages are offered (other requirements can be arranged prior to arrival and will then be charged at cost price).
Polo club - day room
The last day of the safari is a day room at the permanent camp, available before flight departure.
Program
Please be aware that the ride below is for strong intermediate riders only and that each itinerary is subject to change due to the movement of the game and weather conditions. The routes are designed for the best possibilities of viewing wildlife and following suitable terrain for horses. If the itinerary would change prior to the safari, this would only be for the safety and the benefit of the journey on horseback.
Day 1
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where you will be met and transferred around 30 minutes to the lodge for the first night, a comfortable lodge situated beautifully on a golf, polo, and wildlife estate. Meet up with the rest of the group, followed by sundowner and dinner. If there is a polo game on, the sundowner will be at the polo clubhouse.
Day 2
An early start to catch a morning charter flight to Ndutu airstrip in the southern Serengeti. After the flight, depending on where you fly in, anything between 2-4 hours drive, depending on routing (you may be flown over the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, or Tarangire National Park, a wonderful opportunity to see these iconic sites from the air), you will be met by a safari vehicle at Ndutu.
A short wait whilst you are checked in at the Ngorongoro Conservation area registration post, then set off driving, past impressive rocky outcrops known as “kopjes", river courses, and across the Serengeti’s famous ‘short grass plains’. Prime grazing area for migrating wildebeest during the early months of the year, with luck (always dependant on the weather!) the plains may be thick with wildebeest which arrive in their thousands after the rains to make the most of the fresh grass.
The plains are also the wildebeests’ favored birthing spot - it is one of nature’s miracles that females delay giving birth until the rains and grass arrive in an effort to ensure their newly born young get the best start in life, a chance to build their strength on lush new grass before setting off on the long march north to Kenya’s Mara plains.
About 2- 4 hours in all, you eventually arrive at the spot chosen for the first camp in the shade of a lovely flat-topped acacia. Meet the team of support staff, settle into your tents, and have a welcome lunch in the shade of the mess tent. Then, a short siesta, before meeting the horses and their grooms, and time allowing, an evening ride to try them.
Return to camp at sunset for hot showers, drinks by the campfire, and your first dinner together in the bush, before tomorrow when the adventure really starts!
Day 3
Woken at about 7 a.m. with tea or coffee brought to your tent, then breakfast in the mess tent before heading to the horses to mount up at around 8 a.m. Depending on the weather and movement of the game, you might ride out for a long morning today returning to camp for lunch and another ride or a game drive in the late afternoon - or you might head out for a full day ride, meeting the back-up team for lunch out in the bush.
Either way, you should have a good chance of seeing the gathering herds of wildebeest for which the area is famous, as well as giraffes browsing in the acacia scrub, zebra, and perhaps predators such as hyena and jackal. Dinner and night in camp.
Days 4 - 7
Four more days to explore, riding across the open plains, into grassy valleys dotted with picturesque granite outcrops, swathes of whistling thorn, and typically East African flat-topped acacia trees. The route and arrangements each day will vary with the weather and movement of game but your guide will aim to ride to at least one or two more camps so you can discover new areas.
On one of the afternoons or mornings the horses will be given a rest and you jump into the vehicles to visit Olduvai Museum, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. The museum includes fossils and artifacts of human ancestors and skeletons of many extinct animals who shared their world.
Throughout the safari, you will most definitely cross this gorge ‘Cradle of Humankind” on one or more occasions on horseback. The following day another early start with tea or coffee served at your tent, ride out for 3-4 hours of riding, meet the backup crew for an al-fresco lunch in the bush and time to rest in the heat of the day, before heading off again, aiming to reach the new camp by tea time.
Set up ahead by the backup, tonight’s camp might be spectacularly situated in the middle of the vast open plains, where, at peak migration time, the air will be filled with the braying and mesmerizing grunts of wildebeest. A cup of tea or a cold beer when you arrive at camp, followed by hot showers and dinner, listening to the sounds of the bush.
Day 8
At one point during the safari (weather allowing) you will spend the night in a lightweight fly camp, sleeping under mosquito nets. This morning you jump into the vehicles (there will be a game drive with a picnic lunch on route, crossing the short grass plains and looking out for cats such as cheetah, lion, and leopard which thrive here, as well as elephants and the flamingo which gather on the area’s soda lakes. Later in the afternoon, you will reach the fly camp in time for sundowners followed by dinner under the stars.
Day 9
An early wake-up call to say farewell to the horses and crew. The drive this morning will be up the Ngorongoro highlands and breakfast will be on route overlooking the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater. After checking out at the gate you head to the African Galleria, a great place to buy anything from arts, tanzanite, or just a small Tanzanian gift.
Shortly after you head to the Manyara Airstrip followed by a 40-minute flight back to the estate where lunch will be served. There will be showers available to share however if you like your own dayroom please let them know and they will book this in advance. Thereafter vehicle transfer back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for onward flights. The adventure has come to its end and reality is waiting around the corner. Safari ends...for this time.
Kaskazi horses
The horses are all-purpose trained safari horses, with a mix of local breeds and thoroughbreds. Close to all of them are ridden in Western style, with one hand. This allows 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 all have their own heads with different temperaments, which allows them to find a perfect fit for each rider.
Note
Please note that this is an example of the itinerary planned. Day-by-day arrangements, camp locations, and routes will be varied by your guide in absolute discretion according to the weather, game movements, or other local conditions required. This is left to the experience and discretion of your guide.
Location
Food
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
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
- 7 days of horse riding
- 8 nights accommodation (1 night at a permanent lodge on the night upon arrival and 7 nights in the mobile camp)
- All meals and beverages
- Transfer back and forth from the airport (at set times)
- Qualified private guide, horses
- Flying doctor membership for each client (fly-out insurance)
- One-day park fees into Ngorongoro Conservation Area or Serengeti National Park
- WD (Wildlife Department) fees
- WMA (Wildlife Management Area) fees
- Village fees
- Internal flights to Serengeti / NCAA and back
- Conservancy fees
What's not included
- International flights
- Gratuities for the camp team and guides (guideline of 20 - 35 USD per guest per day)
- Any personal purchases
- Visas, medical, and travel insurance, which has to be arranged prior to arrival
How to get there
Recommended Airports
JRO
Kilimanjaro International Airport
21 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Transfer from and to the airport is included. The organizer will pick you up from the airport.
Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport
Airport transfer included: Kilimanjaro International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% 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.
73928
Similar Horse Riding Holidays you might like
Why choose BookHorseRidingHolidays.com
Largest Selection
Friendly Customer Service
Offers for every budget
Best Price