Kaskazi Horse Safaris

Tanzania

Overview Description Horses & Riding Food & Accommodation Other Activities Travel Testimonials Itineraries

Overview

Kaskazi Horse Safaris is based in Northern Tanzania and offers fantastic horse riding safaris in the wilderness, founded on a love for horses, Africa and its people. The owner has many years of experience working within the industry and has decided to focus on her privately guided riding company he… read more

Highlights

Ride in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro
Fun riding in big game country, with elephant etc
Discover the culture of the Masai tribespeople
Different itineraries in the Serengeti or Lake Natron
Mobile camps moved every few nights to new locations

Essential Facts

2 itineraries available
Max 10 riders per group
Average of 4 - 6 hours riding per day
Weight limit: 85kg / 187 lbs / 13 stone 5 lbs

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Description

Kaskazi Horse Safaris is based in Northern Tanzania and offers fantastic horse riding safaris in the wilderness, founded on a love for horses, Africa and its people. The owner has many years of experience working within the industry and has decided to focus on her privately guided riding company here in Tanzania where game is rife, there is beautiful scenery and where the local tribes can still be found. The riding base is situated in an area called Kilo Bravo, just on the outskirts of Arusha, at an altitude of 1400m above sea level. This offers an excellent climate for riding. From the stables there is an incredible view of Mount Meru and on a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen emerging from the skyline. During mobile safaris the horses are trucked from here to the required location.

These safaris are led by qualified, professional guides who seek to provide guests with an exciting adventure whilst keeping you informed about the country's rich fauna and flora. You will travel deep into the bush together and experience some of the best that Africa has to offer from horseback. The horses are all trained specifically for the safaris and are primarily a mix of local breeds and Thoroughbreds. They are provided with lots of care and attention which results in them having nice natures. They each have their own personality and temperament which means that there is generally a perfect fit for each different rider.

There are several different rides available here so please take a look at the itineraries below and see which one appeals the most. Regardless of which one you choose, you will be housed in luxurious camps and extremely well fed by professionally-trained bush chefs.

Horses & Riding

Tack

English GP style saddles or Australian stock saddles, all with saddles bags. Most of the horses play polo and respond to neck-reining. A few are ridden 'English style' but in this case your guide will inform you.

Horses

The horses are all purpose trained safari horses, with a mix of local breeds and thoroughbreds. Ages ranging from 6 - 15 years.

Riding

There are 2 itineraries:

Serengeti Ride is a trail ride
Kilimanjaro Elephant Ride is a trail ride

Ages

12+. Children must be competent riders, able to ride a full-sized horse.

Health

Generally good health required. Good fitness is a real advantage on these rides.

Weight

85kg / 187 lbs / 13 stone 5 lbs

Food & Accommodation

Food

Meals are served in the mess tent which is spacious and fully equipped. The food is of a great standard, prepared by professionally-trained bush chefs. The team create delicious dishes with a mix of local and international cuisine, based around wholesome good cooking.

Breakfast is a traditional cowboy style meal, accompanied by fresh juice and exotic local fruits. Lunch is eaten outside at a scenic location in the wilderness, such as under a shady tree - it will either be carried by the support vehicle or in saddle bags. Dinner is a three course meal and is always served with freshly baked bread, fresh salad and herbs.

Drinks are locally sourced and a good variety is provided. If you require something special, please let us know and it can be organised with prior arrangement (at cost price).

Accommodation

The mobile safaris begin with one night at a lodge hotel not far from the airport.*

Once your safari begins, you will stay in tented camps in canvas sleeping tents which have been custom-made for your hosts. These are 3x3m with a mosquito-netted door and windows, allowing ventilation but ensuring insects don't get in. The tents are furnished with scissor beds (fold-out beds), cotton linen and solar lighting. On each tent's 'veranda' there are chairs with a wash stand which you share with your tent partner.

Each tent has its own bush toilet and hot bucket shower. The toilets are long-drop style featuring a wooden seat over a metal box with open sides. The KHS motto is 'rhinos cover it, please do the same'. The shower is a traditional star-gazing 'open air' enclosure with a canvas bucket which is suspended from a frame.

*All listed lodge accommodation is subject to availability and occasionally it may be necessary to use an alternative lodge of the same standard on the same or nearby estate however all riders will still dine together.

Itineraries

Serengeti Ride Tented accommodation.

Kilimanjaro Elephant Ride Tented accommodation.

Other Activities

For those who are not keen horse riders 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.

Travel

On the set arrival day, Kaskazi will pick guests up at any time and any place between Arusha Town and Kilimanjaro International Airport. These are included in the safari prices.

If you arrive a day or two early or choose to depart later, then a private transfer can be organised for you at an additional cost. This applies to pickups and drop-offs in the region of Arusha Towns and Kilimanjaro International Airport.

On the set departure day, Kaskazi will drop guests off within Arusha Town and Kilimanjaro International Airport but it is VITAL that nobody has a departure flight before 15:00 (3pm) this day. For guests who depart later and prefer not to wait at the airport, a day room can be organised at an additional cost.

Testimonials

Susan C., Feb. 26, 2024

Fantastic! Horses were terrific, staff were helpful and friendly, scenery was amazing, guides were the best ever. Favourite memory? Riding across the Serengeti with thousands of wildebeest and zebras. Horses? This was the best "tourist" horse I have ridden - very responsive, all horses well loved and cared for. Guides? The best!! Tara and Jo were professional, SOOO much fun, very responsive to guests needs and full of information. They made the entire camp moving process seem utterly seamless.

Itinerary & Pricing

Day 1

Riding: No riding.

You will be met on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred c. 40 mins to your lodge hotel for the night. Here you will meet the rest of the group and your guide over dinner before getting a restful nights sleep ahead of your adventure. If there is a polo game on then sundowners will be served at the polo clubhouse before dinner.

Day 2

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

An early morning start to catch a charter flight to Ndutu airstrip in the southern Serengeti. Depending on where you are flown in (your route may take you over the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara or Tarangire National Park!), you will have anything from a 2 - 4 hour drive on the other side. On landing at Ndutu you will be met by a safari vehicle and there is a short wait whilst you are checked-in at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area registration post, then you will set off. Along the journey you will pass impressive rocky outcrops known as kopjes, river courses and the famous 'short grass plains' which are prime grazing areas for the migrating wildebeest during the early months of the year. With luck (always dependent on weather!) the plains will be thick with wildebeest, which arrive in their thousands after the rains, to make the most of the fresh grass. The plains are the wildebeest's favoured birthing spot and it is one of nature's miracles that the females can delay giving birth until after the rains and grass arrive, so as to give their young the best start in life before setting off on the long march north to Kenya's Mara plains.

The drive ends when you arrive at your first camp, which will be situated in the shade of a flat-topped acacia tree. Meet the support team, settle into your tent and enjoy a welcome lunch in the shade of the mess tent. After a short siesta, meet the horses and grooms, and time allowing, set out on a first evening ride. Return to camp for hot showers, drinks around the campfire and your first dinner in the bush.

Days 3 to 8

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

Five days of riding to explore the open plains and 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 that you can discover new areas.

One of the afternoons or mornings the horses will be given a rest and you will jump into vehicles to visit Olduvai Museum, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. This museum houses fossils and artefacts of our human ancestors, as well as skeletons of many extinct animals who shared their world. During your safari you will most definitely cross this gorge 'Cradle of Human Kind' on one or more occasions on horseback.

Each day will start early with tea or coffee served at your tent, followed by 3 - 4 hours of riding. Some days you'll return to camp for lunch and ride again in the afternoon, whilst on other days you'll meet the back-up crew for an al-fresco lunch in the bush, rest in the heat of the day, and then head off again to reach a new camp by tea time. Camp is always set up in advance by the back-up team and 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 mesmerising grunts of wildebeest. A cup of tea or a cold beer always awaits when you arrive in camp, followed by hot showers and dinner, listening to the sounds of the bush.

At one point during the safari (weather permitting) you will spend the night in a lightweight fly camp, sleeping under mosquito nets. This is essentially a prolonged game drive (not a ride) so you will jump into your vehicles and start your adventure. The game drive includes a picnic lunch en-route and takes you into the short grass plains where you can look out for cats such as cheetah, lion and leopard which all thrive here. You may also spot elephant and flamingo who 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

Riding: No riding.

An early wake-up call for breakfast and a farewell to your horses and the crew. This morning's drive will be up into the Ngorongoro highlands and breakfast will be served en-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 perhaps just a small Tanzanian gift to take home.

Shortly after you will head to the Manyara airstrip for a 40 minute flight back to the estate and a road transfer to the airport. If your flight is late then we can organise a day room at a lodge for you (additional cost, please enquire).

Accommodation	1 night at a lodge hotel and 7 nights camping on safari (usually 6 in the standard canvas tents and 1 night fly camping). *All listed lodge accommodation is subject to availability and occasionally it may be necessary to use an alternative lodge of the same standard on the same or nearby estate however all riders will still dine together.
Experience	Experienced You need to be a capable rider who is confident riding in open spaces at all paces. This is a big game area and so you need to be able to stay on your horse and remain in control.
Minimum group size	4
Maximum group size	10
Departure windows	Jan. 17, 2025 - Jan. 25, 2025 Jan. 31, 2025 - Feb. 8, 2025 Feb. 14, 2025 - Feb. 22, 2025 Feb. 28, 2025 - March 8, 2025 March 14, 2025 - March 22, 2025 March 26, 2025 - April 3, 2025 Jan. 14, 2026 - Jan. 22, 2026 Jan. 24, 2026 - Feb. 1, 2026 Feb. 7, 2026 - Feb. 15, 2026 Feb. 21, 2026 - March 1, 2026 March 7, 2026 - March 15, 2026 March 21, 2026 - March 29, 2026 Jan. 13, 2027 - Jan. 21, 2027 Jan. 23, 2027 - Jan. 31, 2027 Feb. 3, 2027 - Feb. 11, 2027 Feb. 13, 2027 - Feb. 21, 2027 Feb. 24, 2027 - March 4, 2027 March 6, 2027 - March 14, 2027 March 17, 2027 - March 25, 2025

Pricing

£ $ €

2025 Per person, Sharing	£6970 $8585 €8245
2026/2027 Per person, sharing	£7360 $9065 €8710
Included	8 nights shared accommodation, all meals from dinner on arrival day to lunch on departure day, all drinks whilst mobile camping, transfers at set times, charter flight to Serengeti/NCAA return, visit to Olduvai Gorge museum, riding, flying doctor membership, local taxes and wildlife fees.
Not included	Flights, lunch on arrival day, drinks at the lodge, day room if required, visas, insurance, tips & other personal expenses.

Extras

£ $ €

2025 - Private Transfer	£81 $100 €96 Paid to Far and Ride Cost is per vehicle (max 4 passengers) and applies to transfers organised on any other day except the designated arrival and departure days (applicable to those arriving earlier or departing later).
2025 - Single Supplement	£57 $70 €67 per night Paid to Far and Ride Payable by anyone not willing to share a room.

Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.

Day 1

Riding: No riding.

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be collected and driven c. 40mins to your lodge hotel where you will be accommodated for the night. You will have a chance to settle into your new surroundings and meet the other guests that are participating in the safari. The lead guide will join you for dinner and briefly introduce the itinerary for the next few days as well as answering any questions you may have.

Day 2

Riding: 4 - 5 hours

After a big breakfast, you will set off at around 11am for the 20 minute drive to Arusha National Park's gate. Here the horses will be waiting for you and you set off riding into one of the most beautiful parks in East Africa. The vegetation will change dramatically from open grassland to rainforest. There are good opportunities to see elephant, buffalo, plains game, leopard and rarer species such as Suni, Red Duiker and the magnificent Hartlaub's turaco.

There is a magical feeling as you enter into the big canopy forests. Lunch will be taken along the route and there is time for a short siesta, after which your ride continues through leopard country and on towards your night stop, passing by Margarete Trappe's old house. This legendary lady is known and remembered as the 'Iron Lady' from the First World War: "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." These are some of the tales about Margarete whose old riding paths your horse safari follows through the park's holy forests.

You will arrive at camp, situated at the foot of Mt Meru, in time for showers, sundowners and dinner under the stars.

Day 3

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

After being woken by the talkative Colobus monkey, you have breakfast and set out riding towards the area where the film Hatari, staring John Wayne, was filmed. Halfway through your morning ride you start ascending to a viewpoint - sometimes on horseback and sometimes on foot - if the weather is clear, you should be able to see Mount Kilimanjaro. The last, steepest part of the climb is done in a vehicle and you'll drive past Fig Tree Arch - a massive arch of fig trees which is large enough to stand underneath. Continue to lunch which is beautifully located in the rainforest next to a waterfall at 2,000m.

After lunch, you head back to the horses remount and ride towards camp. At camp there is the option to jump into the vehicles to go and visit Momella lakes where you may see hippo and water birds or relax in camp. Have sundowners beside the lake and head back to camp for dinner.

Day 4

Riding: 4 - 5 hours

Today you will wake with the sun and enjoy a tasty breakfast in camp. Today you head out of Arusha in a vehicle - the drive takes about 2-3 hours and leaves Mt Meru behind you as you head eastwards towards Mt Kilimanjaro. Late morning you are reunited with your horses in the bush and set off riding through typical Tanzanian farmland in the famed Maasai steppe. There will be many cultural interactions along the way. Your lunch will be served under the shade of a large acacia tree, sometimes near the dam where the Maasai herdsmen water their cattle - also an opportunity for the horses to have a drink. You will have a good 3 hour stop for lunch, with time to enjoy a siesta and regain some strength. The afternoon continues across open plains, ensuring you reach your overnight stop before the sun hits the horizon.

Day 5

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

An early wake up call will be followed by a tasty English breakfast which will set you up well for the day ahead. The safari will begin by heading out towards the Seven Sisters hill range, so called because of the seven prominent peaks. Riding over the seven hills, you continue to reach your lunch spot, under the shade of another delightful, large tree. The terrain in this area varies dramatically from open green grassland to beautiful canopy forests. This day of riding offers great chances of spotting plains game such as zebras, giraffes and wildebeests, but most importantly the shy antelope - the "Gerenuk". Tonight is spent at an astonishing location which, on a clear night, will allow you to experience the feeling of being watched over by the four powerful mountains, Mt Meru, Namanga, Longido and the most legendary of all, Mt Kilimanjaro.

Day 6

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

Another early wake up with coffee and tea before a delicious bush breakfast is served. Today will be spent tracking the largest land-living mammal in Africa - the elephant! The terrain differs significantly from that of the previous day, with thick scrublands and acacia woodland. Today you will return to camp for lunch and then head out for another ride in the afternoon. Before sunset you return to camp to enjoy another night in this remote and remarkable place.

Day 7

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

You will wake with the sun and enjoy another early start to your riding day, in order to make the most of the cooler early hours. Hopefully you'll have good luck tracking and get the chance to see lions, elephants or the very shy lesser kudu. Your camp will be the same as the previous night, overlooking the pans with its plains game on constant alert for predators. Hopefully the night will be clear, as apart from the view of the beautiful mountains in this area, the African night sky is a breath-taking sight.

Day 8

Riding: No riding.

A more leisurely morning as you enjoy a large breakfast and then pack your belongings for the transfer back to the airport (c. 3 hours drive). If your departure flight is late, then we can arrange a day room at a lodge for you at extra cost - please enquire.

Note: The itinerary is subject to change, without prior notification, at the discretion of your hosts and guides.

Accommodation	1 night at a lodge hotel and 6 nights camping on safari. All listed lodge accommodation is subject to availability and occasionally it may be necessary to use an alternative lodge of the same standard on the same or nearby estate however all riders will still dine together.
Experience	Experienced Strong intermediate riders and above. The ride is in areas with dangerous game and you need to be capable of galloping out of danger if the need arises. There are also opportunities for gallops on the open pans and so you should be a confident and capable rider.
Minimum group size	4
Maximum group size	10
Departure windows	June 4, 2025 - June 11, 2025 June 18, 2025 - June 25, 2025 July 2, 2025 - July 9, 2025 July 16, 2025 - July 23, 2025 July 30, 2025 - Aug. 6, 2025 Aug. 13, 2025 - Aug. 20, 2025 Aug. 30, 2025 - Sept. 6, 2025 Sept. 20, 2025 - Sept. 27, 2025 June 3, 2026 - June 10, 2026 June 13, 2026 - June 20, 2026 June 24, 2026 - July 1, 2026 July 4, 2026 - July 11, 2026 July 15, 2026 - July 22, 2026 July 25, 2026 - Aug. 1, 2026 Aug. 8, 2026 - Aug. 15, 2026 Aug. 19, 2026 - Aug. 26, 2026 Aug. 29, 2026 - Sept. 5, 2026 Sept. 9, 2026 - Sept. 16, 2026 Sept. 19, 2026 - Sept. 26, 2026 June 2, 2027 - June 9, 2027 June 12, 2027 - June 19, 2027 June 23, 2027 - June 30, 2027 July 3, 2027 - July 10, 2027 July 14, 2027 - July 21, 2027 July 24, 2027 - July 31, 2027 Aug. 4, 2027 - Aug. 11, 2027 Aug. 14, 2027 - Aug. 21, 2027 Sept. 1, 2027 - Sept. 8, 2027 Sept. 11, 2027 - Sept. 18, 2027

Pricing

£ $ €

2025 Sharing	£5315 $6550 €6290
2026/2027 Per person, sharing	£5635 $6940 €6665
Included	7 nights shared accommodation, all meals from dinner on arrival day to lunch on departure day, all drinks whilst mobile camping, transfers at set times, riding, flying doctor membership, local taxes and wildlife fees
Not included	Flights, lunch on arrival day, drinks at the lodge, day room if required, visas, insurance, tips & other personal expenses.

Extras

£ $ €

2025 - Private Transfer	£81 $100 €96 Paid to Far and Ride Cost is per vehicle (max 4 passengers) and applies to transfers organised on any other day except the designated arrival and departure days (applicable for those arriving earlier or departing later).
2025 - Single Supplement	£57 $70 €67 per night Paid to Far and Ride Payable by anyone who is not willing to share a room.

Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.

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Kaskazi Horse Safaris