A Luxury 9-Day Serengeti Great Migration Horse Riding Safari

What to Expect: 9-Day Serengeti Great Migration Horse Riding

The next ride is only suitable for riders with a high level of intermediate experience, and please be advised that the exact route may be altered based on game play and weather circumstances. The trails are horse-friendly and laid out so that riders have the best chance of seeing animals. Any last-minute changes to the safari schedule would only be made to ensure everyone’s safety and the smoothest possible equestrian ride.

The day-to-day arrangements, camp sites, and routes will be changed at your guide’s complete discretion based on weather, game movements, or other local conditions; this is only a sample of the planned itinerary. The knowledge and judgement of your guide will be required for this.

Please note that the ride described below is intended only for STRONG INTERMEDIATE RIDERS and that itineraries are subject to change based on the location and behavior of game and weather. The trails were developed with horse riders’ comfort and the best possible wildlife observation in mind. The equestrian safari’s itinerary may be adjusted before departure for reasons of safety and convenience.

Please keep in mind that this is just a sample of the planned itinerary and that your guide has complete discretion to change the specifics of your trip based on factors such as the weather, the location of the game, and the needs of the group. This decision is up to your guide’s expertise and judgment.

A Detailed 9-Day Serengeti Great Migration Horse Riding Safari

Day 1: Arrival and introductory ride in the dolly estate

After touching down at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be whisked away to your first overnight stop. Situated on a wildlife estate, the lodge offers breathtaking views of Mount Meru and, on clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro, making it an ideal spot to familiarise oneself with Africa. You can kick back and get to know your fellow explorers during your free time here! The head guide will join you for supper and provide a brief introduction and itinerary summary of your safari.

Day 2: flight to the Southern Serengeti

In order to board a morning charter flight to an airstrip in the southern Serengeti, one must rise early. You might get a bird’s-eye view of famous landmarks including Tarangire National Park, Lake Manayara, and the Ngorongoro Crater while in the air. Upon landing, a safari vehicle will be waiting to take you on a game drive to the campsite. The driving time could be anything from two to four hours, depending on your airport.

In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will drive past stunning rocky outcrops called “kopjes,” river courses, and the world-famous short grass plains of the Serengeti. After a brief wait at the National Park registration office, you will be on your way. During the early months of the year, the plains serve as a prime grazing location for migratory wildebeest. Depending on the weather, the plains may be dense with these animals, as they arrive in the thousands after the rains to feed on the fresh grass. Additionally, the plains are the preferred location for wildebeest births. It is truly remarkable how these magnificent creatures wait for the rains and grass to arrive before giving birth. This gives the young animals the best possible start in life, as they can feed on fresh, green grass and gain strength before embarking on the long journey north to the Mara plains in Kenya.

After you leave the National Park and NCA, it will take around two hours of driving to reach the designated area for the first camp, which is shaded by a beautiful flat-topped acacia tree. Enjoy a welcome lunch under the mess tent’s shade after meeting the support staff and settling into your tents. Meeting the horses and their grooms is the next step, followed by a little nap. If time permits, an evening ride can be arranged. Before embarking on your trip, head back to camp at sunset for a hot shower, some beverages by the fire, and your first bush meal as a group.

Day 3 – 8: Riding in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Upon waking up, you will be served tea or coffee in your tent. Afterwards, you will have breakfast in the mess tent. At approximately 8 in the morning, you will be led to the horses to mount up. We still have five days of riding across the plains and into the grassy valleys, where we can see classic East African flat-topped acacia trees, patches of whistling thorn, and beautiful granite outcrops. Your guide will do their best to ride to multiple camps each day so you may explore fresh locations, but the exact route and arrangements will depend on the weather and the movement of the game.

After a short break for the horses, you’ll board the vehicles to explore Olduvai, one of the world’s most significant paleoanthropological sites. Among the relics on display at the museum are the skeletons of numerous long-gone creatures that once roamed the Earth alongside our own hominin ancestors. ‘Cradle of humanity’ gorge is a must-cross for us on horseback at least once throughout the safari.

Your alarm will go off at the crack of dawn the next day, allowing you plenty of time to gather your belongings before breakfast. After that, get back on your horses and head to a new camp, maybe passing some Masai herders or their tiny villages where the indigenous people continue to live off the land as they have for generations.

Once you’ve ridden for around four hours, stop for an outdoor lunch in the bush with the backup crew. Then, take a break from the heat and get back on the road, hoping to reach your new camp by teatime. The tent, which is set up ahead of the backup, can be magnificently located in the center of the wide plains. During the height of the migration, the air would be filled with the enchanting grunts and braying of wildebeest. As soon as you reach camp, have a cool beer or tea, then have a nice shower and eat dinner while listening to nature.

Fly Camping

You will have the opportunity to sleep behind mosquito nets in a lightweight fly camp during your safari, provided the weather permits. Set out on a game drive this morning, complete with a picnic lunch, as you travel across the short grass plains in search of the flamingos, elephants, and predatory cats like cheetah, lion, and leopard that call this area home. Arriving at the fly camp in time for sundowners and dinner under the stars is your goal for later in the afternoon.

Day 9: Departure

The horses and men must be roused from their slumber by an early alarm. We will have breakfast en route today as we drive up the Ngorongoro highlands, which provide breathtaking views of the renowned Ngorongoro Crater. The African Galleria is the place to go when you check out at the gate if you’re looking to purchase art, tanzanite or even a little Tanzanian gift. Your next stop will be at the Manyara Airstrip, where you’ll board a 40-minute plane to return to the estate for lunch. Showers will be available in a common dayroom, but if you would prefer your own dayroom, please inform us so that we may reserve it in advance (at an additional cost; the latest departure is 18h00). The next step is a ride back to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your departure.

End of the 9-Day Serengeti Great Migration Horse Riding Safari