Africa > Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, this seven-night horseback safari is a true wilderness experience through northern Tanzania. Combining thrilling riding with unforgettable wildlife encounters, the journey takes you across the open plains of the Masai Steppe, through acacia woodlands, volcanic landscapes, and the lush foothills surrounding Arusha National Park. Expect exhilarating gallops across dried-out pans, close encounters with giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, and antelope, and the chance to spot elephants and even big cats! Evenings are spent in comfortable mobile camps beneath star-filled skies, enjoying sundowners around the fire and listening to the sounds of the wilderness. From the misty forests and flamingo-filled lakes of Arusha National Park to the vast savannah below Kilimanjaro, this horseback safari is an immersive and unforgettable African adventure.
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Horseback Safari
9 days / 6 days riding
From £5,667
  • Enduimet wildlife corridor ride
    Enduimet wildlife corridor ride
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari

Itinerary

Highlights

- Mobile safari staying in dome tents with bucket showers and bush toilets - leaving no trace.
- Big game area offering the chance to ride with elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra etc
- Opportunties for fast riding on the dried out pans of Lake Amboseli (weather permitting)
- Ride through traditional Maasai villages
- Experience the wonder of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mt Meru, Longido and Namanga
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  • Day 1 1: ARRIVE IN ARUSHA - No riding

    Depart on a day flight to Kilimanjaro airport. Please note that, depending on flight schedules it may be necessary to depart a day earlier and spend a night either in Kenya or Tanzania.

    You will be met on arrival at Kilimanjaro airport (Arusha) and transferred c. 30-40 minutes to your accommodation for the night at the Lodge. Depending on your arrival time, you will have the chance to rest before dinner with your group. We generally use the Wildife residence but other lodges may be used depending on availability.

    NB. Please note that this itinerary is a guide - the actual route will depend on game movements and local conditions but always with your best interests at heart.

  • Day 2 2: MOUNT MERU - 1-2 hours riding

    Safari camp Tanzania
    After breakfast you are driven for about thirty minutes to Arusha National park gate. After being shown to your tent, time for refreshments before a short introductory ride to get to know your horse. The vegetation will change dramatically from open grassland to rain forest, with the possibility of seeing elephants, buffaloes, leopards and plains games. The big canopy forests are stunning and the atmosphere is quite eerie. After lunch you will also ride by Margarete Trappe's old house.

    Camp is set at the foot of Mt Meru. The day ends around the campfire with a drink in your hand, and before dinner the safari briefing takes place to prepare everyone for the next day’s adventure.

  • Day 3 3: NGAREJANI - MOMELLA LAKES - 4-6 hours

    Safari camp Tanzania
    Wake up to the distinctive calls of colobus monkeys echoing through the trees. After breakfast, ride out into the scenic landscape where the classic film Hatari!, starring John Wayne, was shot.

    Follow the trails first traveled by the legendary Margaret Trappe, the Iron Lady of Africa. She spent years exploring these wilds, and her footsteps still guide many today. Ride through habitats rich with wildlife - giraffes gliding across the glades, bushbucks and waterbucks grazing in the undergrowth, and tiny dik-diks darting through the brush. Later in the morning, return to camp for a leisurely lunch and some time to relax.

    In the afternoon, climb into safari jeeps for an exciting drive to Lake Momella. Keep an eye out for hippos lazing in the water, flamingoes painting the shoreline pink, and a variety of water birds skimming the surface. Enjoy a beautiful sundowner by the lake before heading back to camp at dusk. After dinner, drift off to sleep with the sounds of the wilderness around you, and if you’re lucky, the elusive call of a leopard in the night.

  • Day 4 4: MASAI STEPPE - 4-6 hours riding

    Safari camp Tanzania
    After breakfast, it’s time to move on. Jump into safari cars for a drive of approximately an hour and fifteen minutes. This part of the journey isn’t suited for riding, so you’ll relax and absorb the Tanzanian countryside until you meet the horses at your new destination.

    The ride begins across the dry and harsh Masai Steppe, a land filled with new wildlife sightings. You’ll hopefully encounter Grant’s gazelles, Thompson’s gazelles, zebras, and wildebeests scattered across the open plains. As you ride, the landscape transitions into acacia shrubland and woodlands. The early hours of riding can be tough, as the ground is rocky and unsuitable for fast riding. However, by later in the morning, the terrain softens and allows for a faster pace. You’ll ride through Masai country, a land that feels both timeless and wild, although the game becomes less abundant here.

    By midday, it’s time for a lunch break under the shade to escape the heat of the day. This gives both riders and horses a much-needed recharge, a full 3 hours to relax and rest. After lunch, ride on into the cooler afternoon hours, making your way to your night stop. Your destination is a beautiful spot overlooking the magnificent mountains: Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, and Mount Longido. A stunning view to end the day.

  • Day 5 5: MASAI LAND - 4-6 hours riding

    Safari camp Tanzania
    After breakfast, it’s time to move on once again. Find your horse and set off in a northeastern direction toward the mysterious formations known as the Seven Sisters. Although elephants may have eluded you so far, this afternoon you enter prime elephant territory: you’ve been riding along their migration routes for days, and while nothing is guaranteed in the wild, today brings your best chance yet to encounter these majestic giants.

    The morning ride feels like a journey back in time, crossing dried-out floodplains and passing near traditional Masai bomas. You may even cross paths with Masai warriors moving through the landscape as they have for centuries. If luck is on your side, you might catch a glimpse of the very rare and endangered antelope called a gerenuk, a treasured sight in these parts. Lunch is enjoyed somewhere along the route, followed by a peaceful break to escape the heat of the day.

    In the afternoon, ride into dried-out lakebeds, perfect terrain for exhilarating, fast-paced gallops. The land opens up into vast wilderness, and you finally reach your camp, now set in a new location under a canopy of trees, out in the open. Settle in for the evening with views that stir the soul: majestic Kilimanjaro to the north, Longido to the west, Meru to the south, and the hazy outline of Namanga in the distance.

  • Day 6 6: AMBOSELI PANS - 4-6 hours riding

    Safari camp Tanzania
    At first light, your tent steward arrives quietly, pouring hot water into your basin as birdsong begins to filter through the canvas walls. Outside, the world is waking, and the air is filled with the gentle promise of a new adventure. Enjoy a warm breakfast as the early sun spills gold across the landscape. Today’s ride takes you deeper into the wilderness (a place where the chances of seeing elephants, cheetahs, and hyenas are high, and the rolling terrain invites you to pick up the pace). By midday, return to camp, where shade, comfort, and a freshly prepared lunch await. Indulge in a siesta as the heat of the day settles, listening to the soft whispers of nature around you.

    In the late afternoon, ride out, bathe in the golden light of the African sunset, and let the land speak to you in silence and shadow. As night falls, gather around the fire with a gin and tonic in hand. Then, dine under a ceiling of stars, a three-course feast shared in the heart of the wild. The air is filled with stories, laughter, and the magic of Africa!

  • Day 7 7: AMBOSELI - 4-6 hours riding

    Safari camp Tanzania
    After breakfast, you mount up once more for a morning ride through the soft light of early day. Today’s journey takes you to a traditional, genuine Masai boma. A chance to step into a culture as rich and enduring as the land it calls home. Ride through the grasslands to find the circle of mud huts, hand-shaped from earth and time. Here, you’re welcomed by the Masai, known for their dignity, warmth, and brightly coloured shukas. Watch the warriors as they go about their day, and if you dare, sample the traditional mix of goat milk and blood, a rite of strength and survival. Browse handmade jewellery, each piece carrying stories woven from generations. Return to camp for a leisurely lunch and a moment of rest, knowing that the final ride still awaits.

    In the cool of the afternoon, saddle up for one last time. This ride isn’t about distance. The land rushes past, batiked in golden light. Back at camp, the evening unfolds with a farewell feast beneath the stars. Laughter and stories are shared around the fire. And as night deepens, you tuck into bed, hoping to fall asleep to the most primal song of Africa... the low, distant roar of a lion!

  • Day 8 8: AMBOSELI - ARUSHA - No riding

    After a final breakfast in camp, it’s time to say goodbye to the bush. This morning, you’ll climb into safari vehicles instead of the saddle, leaving the horses behind as you begin the journey back.

    The three-hour drive takes you out of the wilderness and toward modern life once more. You’ll arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport around 11 a.m., in time for your onward flight.

    Please note that this itinerary serves as a guideline. Changes may occur due to the movement of game, weather conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Any adjustments made will always be with the safety and best interests of thesafari experience in mind.

  • Day 9 9: EUROPE

    Arrive back in Europe

Dates & prices

Price details

- Flights to your destination are not included, but can be booked on request - please contact us for rates.     

- The above rates are per person, based on sharing a twin or double room and tent.

- There is no single supplement if you are willing to share a room/tent with another guest of the same sex. To guarantee your own room/tent there is a single supplement of $490/€440/£400 for the duration of the safari.

- Groups are usually a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 10 riders, plus guides.

- Wildlife Management Area (Park) fees are included. Although we try to keep this website updated to reflect recent changes on taxes and levies, they are subject to change without prior notice.

- Road transfers are included to/from Kilimanjaro airport or Arusha town. On the way back, your flight must depart after 2:00pm to allow time for the transfer. Private transfers can be organised at the cost of around $70/£60 per car if arriving a day early.

- Other departures are possible and can be planned on request throughout the year, except during April and May which correspond with the long rainy season in Tanzania.

- If guests are travelling with an extra bag that is not needed on the riding portion of their trip (as space is limited in the tents). Arrangements can be made to store extra bags for a fee of $20 per person.

- Please note that there is a rider weight limit of 85kgs/187lbs/13st3

- For those who are not keen horseriders 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  
Please Note
The itinerary may be modified at anytime for security reasons, meteorological or events beyond our control such as blocked roads, rivers in flood, drought, strikes and local holidays. Equus Journeys, our local partners and their local guides will always strive to find the best solution and will alter the itinerary as needed.
The names of the hotels and accommodation are given for information only and depending on availability, they may be modified without notice and replaced by another of a similar standard.

Price includes

Support Team

Safari guide and back up guide
1 additional guide for groups of 6+ riders

Logistic

1 cook
1 support vehicle
1 assistant cook
1 horse equipped with saddle and bridle

Inland transports

Private 4X4 vehicle
Airport transfers at set times

Accommodation

2 person deluxe safari tents
Bedding

Meals

Full board from first dinner to last lunch

Additional equipment

Flying Doctor membership (fly out insurance)

Extras

Wildlife Department fees; Wildlife Management Area fees

Price doesn't include

Meals

Beverage and personal extra

Transports

Visa fees
International flights

Extra

Tips to local team

Insurance

Cancellation and travel insurance are not included in the above listed price. Please note that insurance is mandatory. We recommend taking out an insurance policy as soon as your trip is booked to cover you in case of cancellation

Optional

Accommodation

Single tent supplement
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Equestrian info

Horses

Jo has a good selection of horses and polo ponies, a mixture of Thoroughbreds and local breeds. The horses are all purpose trained safari horses. Close to all of them play polo so are western or neck-rein trained (one hand). This allows you to take photos and dig into your saddlebag while out on safari. 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 Jo and her team to find a perfect fit for each rider.

Guide & local team

All guides are qualified and professionally trained, with good knowledge about Tanzania’s fauna and flora. A keen interest is taken in the smaller creatures as well as bigger game. The cultural visits bring in knowledge of medicinal and traditional beliefs about Tanzania’s trees and plants.

Out on safari the lead guide is either armed or carries a bullwhip and communicate over radios and cellphones, with a mobile station in each vehicle.


Minimum riding ability

Minimum riding ability

As this is an area of potentially dangerous game you need to be an experienced rider. You must be confident and able to control their horse (most thoroughbred crosses) at varying speeds on diverse terrain, ride one handed, rise at the trot, and maintain a secure, balanced raised seat out of the saddle while cantering / galloping for a
longer distance. A fit and proficient rider is of big advantage out on safari. There may be requirements to gallop out of danger and opportunities to jump (although these are optional).

Please note that there is a rider weight limit of 85kgs/187lbs/13st3

Pace

There will be long spells of walking whilst viewing game, but there are plenty of opportunities for long trots and canters across open grasslands. Weather permitting there may also be good gallops across the pans of Lake Amboseli.

Tacking ability and participation

Your horse will be groomed and tacked up for you but you may be asked to assist with untacking at lunch spots and on arrival into camp in the evenings.

Trip conditions and Requested experience

You need to be physically fit for the long hours in the saddle in the African sun. The terrain can be varied to include holes, branches and ascents/descents of river banks so you need to be balanced and secure in the saddle. Sometimes, you may be asked to dismount and lead your horse on foot. 

Riders who do not ride regularly must get riding fit before joining this safari.

Please check with us before booking if you have any medical conditions as you will be far from medical help. A must to disclose any medical conditions, allergies, or medications that might affect your ability to ride safely.

You will meet different cultures and mentalities which requires acceptance of these differences and respect for others.

Equestrian equipment

Saddle bags are provided so that you can keep essentials with you during the day.

We use English/polo saddles on this safari.

We recommend our riders to wear a helmet to the correct standard and you should bring your own to ensure a proper fit. Helmets are not available to borrow. 

Travel info

Comfort

Permanent Camp/Lodge (1 night): The first night is spent at a lodge situated on a golf, polo, and wildlife estate (availability dependent), only 40 minutes’ drive from Kilimanjaro international airport. Each room has its own on suite bathroom, flush toilet, and white fluffy towels. There is WIFI, a swimming pool to be enjoyed and SPA treatments, yoga, golf, polo can be arranged prior to arrival.

Mobile camp (6 nights): They are comfortable and spacious, being 4 X 4 meters with mosquito netted doors and windows to allow for ventilation but remain insect proof. Each tent is provided with a carpet, towel rack, bedside table and water bottle, bed and cotton linen and a solar light. Outside each tent there is a veranda with chairs and a washstand that you share with your tent partner. Each tent has its own bush toilet and bucket shower. The toilet is a traditional short drop style toilet with a nice wooden toilet seat over a metal box with open sides. Our motto is "Rhinos cover it please do the same". There is a small mound of dirt with a trowel next to the toilet seat for this purpose. The shower is a traditional star gazing canvas bucket.

Note - in case of very wet weather, those large tents can be replaced by smaller dome tents.

Meals

Meals are prepared by a professionally trained bush chef.
Breakfast is traditional and includes fresh fruit juice
Lunch is either a picnic from the saddle bags or a selection of light dishes produced from the support vehicle in a shady spot.
Dinner is three courses and a mixture of local and international dishes with fresh salads and freshly baked bread.

Drinks are included whilst on safari but payable locally at lodges added on at the beginning/end.

Climate

Tanzania has two main seasons - the dry season and the wet season. The dry season is from May to October, when it is unlikely to rain and the daytime temperatures are warm.
There are two rainy seasons: the long rains extend from mid-February to early May, with the majority of the rain in April. Evenings can be cool or even cold.
The short rains are from early November to mid December - during this period the rain is not constant but falls in heavy showers during the day.

The hottest months are December to February.

Around Mount Kilimanjaro there is often snowfall overnight in January and February, and freezing cold nights in July and August.

Tips

The guideline from the local team is 30 USD per guest per night for the shared /communal tip, total of 240 USD per person for the entire safari. If one wishes to give any specific crew member something extra, please feel free to do so yourself at any time during the safari. Your lead guides are not included in the shared tip and if one wish to tip please do so directly to the guides, a suggested guideline of 500 USD per guest per safari.

Packing list

Please don't take a hard sided suitcase. Your luggage should be soft sided. There is a strict weight limit of 20 kg per person, on this ride.

Head
- Equus Journeys strongly recommend that you wear a riding helmet and that you take your own to ensure a correct fit.
-Sunhat for when not riding
- Sunglasses - with a cord attached so they don't fly off when riding
- Buff or bandana

Upper body
- Long sleeved shirts provide protection from the sun and thorns
- T-shirts
- Fleece, jumper or jacket - the evenings can be cold
- Waterproof jacket - the rains can be difficult to foresee and it's better to be prepared
- Casual clothes for the evening

Legs
- Lightweight, comfortable riding trousers or jodhpurs - we recommend riding in them at home before taking them on holiday to ensure they don't rub
- Shorts for lazy lunchtimes
- Casual clothes for the evening

Hands and Feet
- Comfortable riding boots. We recommend short boots with half chaps but you may wish to take long chaps to protect against thorns. We don't recommend taking your favourite long leather boots in case they get damaged
- Sandals, flip-flops or trainers for moving around the lodge and camp
- Gloves - your hands are particularly exposed to the sun whilst riding

Nightwear

Our Recommendations
- Please don't take a hard sided suitcase. Your luggage should be soft sided for easy transportation between camps.
- Wherever possible you should wear neutral colours, such as beige, brown or natural bush colours for riding as bright colours, such as red, yellow or white can startle the wildlife and they will see you long before you've seen them
- We recommend travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes in your hand luggage - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride!

Other useful items
- Waterbottle to keep in the saddlebags
- Swimsuit - for the Lake Natron ride
- Towel. A camping towel will both dry quicker and pack lighter
- Binoculars for viewing game
- Camera and high capacity memory card. Spare battery
- Bumbag for carrying your camera and small items whilst riding
- Headtorch or small torch for moving around camp at night

In your luggage
- Any liquids, such as shampoo, moisturiser, deodorant unless they are less than 100ml and all bottles can fit in a small, clear, plastic ziplock bag

In your hand luggage
- Any valuables, such as your camera, ipod, ipad etc.
- Your riding hat

Medical kit - A First Aid Kit is always carried in the back up vehicle on safaris, although we ask guests to bring any required medics as well as malarial prophylaxis.
- Sunscreen and lip balm - must be high factor
- Insect repellent, preferably containing deet
- Any medication you regularly take
- Blister plasters in case of any rubs
- Antiseptic cream, plasters, aspirin, anti-histamine, insect-bite salve etc...
- Spare prescription glasses/contact lenses
- Ear plugs, particularly if you are a light sleeper
- Anti malarial tablets and Yellow Fever Certificate (check with your doctor)

Sustainable tourism

Through a partnership with Mwandamo, a women-run Tanzanian organisation, Kaskazi (our local operator) continues to support transformative work in women’s health. Every safari booked includes a donation that directly helps provide education and compassionate care across Northern Tanzania. For guests wanting a deeper understanding, visits before or after safari will now be possible — a chance to witness the impact firsthand.

Sustainable tourism recommendations: 

  1. Travel light. It's a little known fact, but the lighter you pack, the better for the environment as heavy bags will produce higher emissions (when flying a plane or driving a car!).
  2. Reduce plastic waste. Take your favorite reusable bottle with you. Avoid single-use bags, cups, or straws.
  3. Preserve nature. Always take your rubbish with you during the ride and recycle them. Leave all the flowers or plants as you found them, and never get too close when observing wildlife. Make sure to use eco-friendly products such as body wash or laundry detergent (if camping) to protect both your skin and the environment.
  4. Choose your experiences carefully. Respect animal life by not participating in any activities that abuse wild animals (shows, elephant rides, etc.).
  5. Support local populations. Buy local handicrafts, be respectful of customs, and learn about the culture of local communities.
  6. Share! Raise awareness among your family and friends about sustainable tourism.

For more information please see this page.

Did you know?

Did you know?

On this horseback safari you ride through the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area (EWMA) which lies in the Longido district of Tanzania, near the border with Kenya. Situated between the national parks of Amboseli and Kilimanjaro, the EWMA serves as an important trans-national migratory route and dispersal area for many species of wildlife, in particular the elephant. It remains the only corridor that connects to the Kilimanjaro ecosystem. The Enduimet area is also home to 17,000 people with the dominant ethnic group being Ilkisongo Masai, who cultivate the land for agriculture and cattle.

The EWMA has rangers which frequently patrol the corridor to provide access for wildlife to move from Kilimanjaro to Amboseli. These rangers help to prevent poaching, and the Enduimet corridor lost no elephant to poachers in 2013 - proof that community based conservation can work.


On the blog

A riding safari in Africa is an unforgettable experience. Really, nothing quite compares to watching giraffe on horseback, race with a herd of zebra or coming face to face with elephant. Horseback safaris are amongst our most exciting riding holidays and we are pleased to have a fantastic selection of options to suit novice and experienced riders alike. We have written the following guide to help you select your safari based on what wildlife you want to see. Read more on the blog.