Suggested Itinerary
HIGHLIGHTS
- Take in Kenya’s most beautiful wilderness areas
- Spot the classic safari wildlife from the unique viewpoint of horseback
- Stay in fine lodges with a lot of character
- Meet fascinating lodge owners with roles in the area’s history and conservation
- Bond with your horse over several days and even take a swim together
Day 1: Nairobi – Laikipia
Sosian Lodge
This morning you will either be collected from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your Nairobi hotel. You will be transferred to Wilson Domestic Airport in time for your scheduled flight with Safari Link, to Loisaba Airstrip. It is approximately a 60-minute flight, depending on aircraft routing. You will be met on arrival by a representative from Sosian and transferred by road to Sosian Lodge, just in time for lunch. The one-hour drive is very pretty, with a high chance of getting your first glimpse of giraffe, plains game and even elephant.
‘Sosian’, the Samburu word for ‘Wild Date Palm’, offers luxury in the wild. It’s 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 1940s farmhouse that has been beautifully renovated. The lodge sleeps 14 people with more space for children if needed. It has a swimming pool, tennis court, organic vegetable garden and stable yard of 30 safari horses.
Sosian offers a huge range of activities, including walking, camel safaris, game-drives, night- drives, fishing, tennis, cattle ranching, kayaking and swimming in the waterfalls behind the ranch house. However, exploring this area from horseback is an unbeatable way to experience this vast wilderness area, and this will be your main form of transport for the next 5 days!
After lunch by the pool and some time to relax and refresh, you will head to the stable yard to meet your horses and have an evening ride with your guide.
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. Riding with wild dog is a rare and exciting privilege for those lucky enough to experience it.
Day 2: Sosian to Suyian Suyian Soul
Suyian Soul
Leaving Sosian early, we will ride in a north-easterly direction, stopping for breakfast on the stunning Ewaso Narok River. Crossing the river with a couple more hours riding after breakfast, we will reach Suyian Soul, Laikipia’s ultimate ‘eco camp’. Suyian Soul is a simple, earthy camp set in a scenic paradise next to a natural spring and salt lick. The camp is owned and run by Anne Powys, whose family have been cattle ranchers in this area for nearly 100 years. Anne is also Kenya’s number one botanist and a fascinating raconteur.
The rooms are thatched open “bandas” with granite slab walls. The floors are also granite, covered with handmade pure wool rugs. Each room is carefully positioned for the best views and privacy, whilst being open and airy.
There are no windows, but large comfortable beds with mosquito nets. You will feel real Africa whilst staying in this camp but also enjoy the luxuries of en suite bathrooms with beautifully crafted traditional safari showers and long-drop loos.
After lunch we head out on foot with Anne and her guides, learning about the medicinal qualities of many plants and how they are used by the local tribes-people. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from the best and one that we highly recommend!
DAY 3: Suyian – Ol Donyo Lemboro
Laikipia Wilderness Camp
Leaving Suyian early in the morning, head off on the horses in a northerly direction. With dramatic escarpments, exclusive valleys and expansive grasslands, Suyian offers truly stunning riding country. Elephant, reticulated giraffe, ostrich, hippo, zebra, buffalo, lion and leopard, among other species are prevalent. Large herds of oryx, eland and gazelle can be seen on the plains.
With good opportunity for long canters across the plains and jumping any obstacles along the way, this is a super morning of riding. Stopping for a bush breakfast we will then start to head south towards Ol Donyo Lemboro, crossing the river and reaching Laikipia Wilderness Camp in time for lunch.
Laikipia Wilderness Camp is a small and personal bush camp, with just 5 tents for 10 guests. Each tent has its own veranda plus an en suite open-air bathroom with plumbed in hot and cold water. The camp has beautiful views of Mt Kenya and the surrounding wilderness, and blends seamlessly into this stunning area.
After lunch and an optional siesta, head out into the bush for a game drive and/or a walk with Steve Carey, owner and manager of Laikipia Wilderness Camp. Steve and his team are well known for tracking wild dog and such encounters on foot, are an exhilarating and thrilling experience not to be missed. Overnight Laikipia Wilderness Camp.
DAY 4: Ol Donyo Lemboro to Sosian
Sosian Lodge
This morning we head off early again, into the lush and beautiful Mutara Valley. Winding our way through this ‘Garden of Eden’, following the seasonal riverbed, we’re likely to come across giraffe, elephant, eland and buffalo amongst others. Under the shade of a large Acacia tree, with plenty of fresh water for the horses, we’ll stop for a bush breakfast.
After breakfast, this is our last leg of the journey riding back to Sosian in time for lunch by the pool and an afternoon to relax and refresh. You can then head out for an evening game drive or camel ride to sundowners and a bush dinner around the campfire. You may even be lucky enough to spot the not-so-elusive leopard on the way back to the lodge for the night! Overnight Sosian.
DAY 5: Sosian
Sosian Lodge
Today is entirely flexible to do as you wish. For those who wish to ride again, a morning out riding around the cross-country course is a lot of fun or if the dams are full enough, swimming with the horses is also great fun. Jumping off waterfalls, kayaking, cattle ranching, or simply taking it all in and relaxing by the pool, you can fill your day as much or as little as you want! Overnight Sosian.
DAY 6: Laikipia – Nairobi, departure
Today is your last day and after breakfast at the lodge you will be transferred back to Loisaba Airstrip in time for your scheduled flight to Nairobi. On arrival at Wilson Airport, a representative from will meet you and transfer you to the Fairview Hotel, where a dayroom has been booked for you (room only basis). Here you will have time for lunch and an afternoon to relax or go shopping in Nairobi. Later in the evening, a representative will pick you up from the Fairview Hotel and transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in time for your international flight home.
