Kenya Derby and Safari April 2016

Transcription

1 Kenya Derby and Safari April 2016 with Laura King and Tristan Voorspuy In partnership with Dubai Equestrio Magazine Laikipia - Masai Mara - Nairobi Offbeat Safaris have been operating for over 25 years, leading guests into the wilderness on horseback for the ultimate front row seat in game viewing. With 3 nights in Laikipia, staying at the luxurious Sosian Lodge plus 4 nights in the Masai Mara with a mobile tented camp, you get to experience the very best riding country in Kenya. This bespoke safari also includes the rare chance to spend day in Nairobi for the Derby race day meeting at Ngong Racecourse.

2 Detailed Itinerary April Laikipia, Sosian Lodge (full board) On arrival into Nairobi you will be met and transferred to Wilson Domestic Airport for your flight to Laikipia. You will arrive at Sosian Lodge in time for lunch by the pool. Sosian, the Samburu word for Wild Date Palm, offers luxury in the wild; ideal for those looking for a unique and intimate bush experience. The 24,000-acre private, working ranch sits on the Laikipia plateau, 80kms west of Mt Kenya, offering pure wilderness. Guests are accommodated in an elegant 1940 s farmhouse that has been beautifully renovated. The lodge sleeps 14 people and has a swimming pool, tennis court, and stable yard of 30 safari horses. Sosian offers a huge range of activities including walking, horse-riding, camel safaris, game-drives, night-drives, fishing, archery, tennis, kayaking and swimming in the waterfalls behind the ranch house. Guests are also encouraged to participate in ranch life, such as dipping cattle.

3 Your days are tailored to you, making the most of seeing this beautiful area with its abundant wildlife that roams freely across Laikipia. Sosian is blessed with large numbers of elephant, as well as buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, many antelope, plus all of the big cats. Leopard and lion sightings are regular and Sosian has also become known for its healthy populations of the endangered wild dog with excellent viewing opportunities. With over 350 species of birds and permanent breeding grounds, Sosian is also an ornithologists heaven April Masai Mara, Offbeat Riding Safaris (full board) This morning you will take a direct flight straight to the Masai Mara. Landing on a bush airstrip in the Mara North Conservancy, you will be met and driven to your first camp on the Mara River. After lunch in camp and meeting your horses you will head out in the afternoon to explore this game rich area. Elephant, buffalo and plains game are abundant and we can get excitingly close to the big cats too. Returning to camp, close by there are some hippo pools, and their grunting at night is a special feature of this camp. Overnight Mara River.

4 On your 2 nd day we have a full day to explore this area from horseback. We hopefully ford the river (unless in complete flood) at one of the famous wildebeest crossings and spend time on the Soit Ololol escarpment before re crossing and drying our clothes while we have brunch. An evening ride or game drive will take place before sundowners. Overnight Mara River. Today is a moving day as we ride south towards the pretty Olare Orok valley, whilst the camp moves ahead of us. We should see herds of zebra, topi, giraffe, wildebeest, gazelle and there is a good chance of seeing more elephant and buffalo as well. From the Olare Orok camp we are likely to hear lion and hyena at night and the abundance of game is apparent everywhere. The Olare Orok is noted for its big lion pride and interesting interaction between horses and lion is a great feature of this camp. Overnight Olare Orok. With another full day to explore this game rich area, riding across rolling open plains offers wonderful riding in big game country, with plenty of opportunity for long fast canters with large numbers of plains game all around us. Overnight Olare Orok.

5 17 April Karen Blixen Cottages, Nairobi (bed & breakfast) This morning you will leave the Mara after breakfast and fly back to Nairobi in time for the first race at Ngong Racecourse. The highlight classic race being the Derby. We will have lunch in the famous Muthaiga Country Club tent which sets up on Derby Day. After a fun day of racing you will be taken to Karen Blixen Cottages, a small boutique hotel not far from the racecourse, for the night. We will go out for a final dinner for those with energy left! 18 April Nairobi This morning we will arrange to transfer you back to the international Airport for your flight home. END OF SAFARI RATES: US $5,950 per person sharing US $7,000 per single (if not willing to share) INCLUDES: All internal flights and transfers mentioned in the itinerary above Bed & breakfast accommodation in Nairobi A day s racing in Nairobi plus all meals Full board accommodation at Sosian including alcohol and all activities Full board accommodation with Offbeat Riding Safaris including alcohol and all activities All necessary conservation fees EXCLUDES: International flights Extra meals and drinks in Nairobi Tips Items of a personal nature riding@offbeatsafaris.com