Africa > Kenya

Horseback riding safaris in Kenya

Kenya is synonomous with horseback safaris - the wide open plains of the Maasai Mara and the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra are world-renowned events. Mobile riding safaris through the mara are luxurious and exhilarating for competent riders with strong chances of seeing the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo. Kenya also offers lodge based riding safaris for all abilities in five-star comfort in the shadow of Mount Kenya - a safari destination for the whole family.
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From the horse’s mouth

  • Borana Lodge
    October 2026 Jessamy Grace aged 31
    Thank you for organising such a memorable trip. From meeting you at Badminton Horse Trials, we immediately felt that you understood exactly the sort of holiday we were looking for. Iris did a wonderful job of taking things forward, suggesting options and organising everything from there. Thank you for all your help in... Read all
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  • Borana Lodge
    June 2024 Jenny aged 66
    Everything was above and beyond my wildest expectations! the horses were wonderful and very well cared for and the staff were efficient, warm and welcoming always going well beyond what was expected. Perfect for ant rider that wants to be pampered! My horse was Pipen and was perfect for me. well chosen. As beautiful... Read all
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  • Masai Mara ride
    July 2023 Joseph Gerald aged 60
    Stellar trip. Big thank you to the staff in Kenya. Wonderful people. I would go again.
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  • Sosian Lodge
    April 2023 Caryn aged 51
    All the horses were fantastic, bright, lively, fast and confident - just what we wanted.
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  • Borana Lodge
    May 2022 RACHEL aged 32
    Equus Journeys organized a riding holiday for my mom, myself, and my sister to Kenya. We had an absolute trip of a lifetime. We stayed at two different lodges (Borana and Sosian), both of which were five star accommodations. We had a wonderful time riding at both sites and loved the opportunity to ride quality horses... Read all
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  • A dazzle of giraffe seen from horseback on safari in Kenya
    Horse safari in the Maasai Mara, Kenya
  • Riders on horseback in the Maasai Mara during the Great Wildebeest migration
    Watch large herds of wildebeest on horseback, as they roam the great plains
  • Beautiful Meru safari tent pitched during a riding safari in Kenya with Safaris Unlimited
    The true essence of a traditional safari and a real "Out in Africa" experience
  • Riders watching a lion on a riding safari in the plains of the Mara in Kenya
    This is a Big Five horse safari - the Mara is home to impressive big cats!
  • Horseback safari in Kenya
    Approaching elephants in Kenya is a magical experience
  • Rider standing by a lake in Kenya, Borana Conservancy
    On horseback in Kenya

Visa & Health

Formalities

Please refer to your home country's Foreign Office website for up-to-date information. This section predominantly refers to UK citizens, and advice can vary depending on your nationality. Although we endeavour to keep this section updated, requirements can change quickly, and your home country's Foreign Office website takes precedence.

Visa requirements
You must apply online for electronic travel authorisation in advance of travel. The local authorities recommend applying at least 2 weeks before your departure: https://etakenya.go.ke/
Travellers who currently hold a visa can continue to travel using their visa until it expires.

Passport requirements
To enter Kenya, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least 2 blank pages.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Insurance requirement
From 5 October 2026, most travellers visiting Kenya for less than 12 months must have Kenyan Government-provided travel health insurance.
If you require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), you must buy this insurance as part of the application process. If you already hold a valid eTA, you must obtain the insurance through the Kenyan eCitizen insurance portal. Foreign travel insurance policies are not accepted in place of this requirement.
The insurance is valid for 90 days and can be used for multiple entries into Kenya during that period.
The requirement does not apply to Kenyan citizens, holders of valid Kenyan residence status, citizens of East African Community partner states, or transit passengers that are not passing through Kenyan immigration control.
You should also make sure you have travel insurance that covers your individual needs and covers you for riding holidays.

Please note: Travellers coming into Kenya with single use plastic shop bags will be required to leave them at the airport. Re-usable ziplock bags continue to be allowed.


Addresses of consulates

Health

There are no vaccinations legally required to travel to Kenya except that you need a yellow fever vaccination if you have travelled to a country (7 days or less before entering Kenya) where that disease is widely prevalent. A yellow fever vaccination is generally recommended anyway!
It's advisable to get your vaccinations in order before travelling to Kenya. The general vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) is recommended. Also Hepatitis A and Typhoid are usually recommended.
If you are staying longer than 3 months or have a particular risk (travelling by bike, handling of wild animals, visits to caves) you might consider a rabies vaccination. Vaccination against Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B are also sometimes recommended for stays longer than 3 months.
Like most African countries south of the Sahara, Malaria is prevalent in the country. Don't underestimate this tropical disease and take precautions. Buy repellent (preferably with 50% DEET), and sleep under a net.

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides will require your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.Vous devez absolument être assuré en assistance et rapatriement pour participer à nos voyages.

Voltage

220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-type square three-pin.

Budget and money

Kenyan Shilling (KES; symbol KSh) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of KSh1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of KSh20, 10 and 5.

MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted; American Express and Diners Club less so. Major hotels now also accept payment by credit card, as do major safari companies, travel agencies and restaurants. Almost every bank now has an ATM, and they are increasingly being installed at petrol stations.

Telephone and jetlag

The international dialling code for Kenya is +254
Kenya's time zone is GMT + 3 hours

Country information

Country ID

Capital: Nairobi
Area: 580,367 sq km (224,000 sq miles).
Population: 44 million (2013).
Population density:
75.9 per sq km.
Language: Swahili. English is widely spoken and there are over 42 ethnic languages spoken, including Kikuyu and Luo.
Religion: About 80% of Kenya’s population is Christian (mostly Catholic and Protestant) and the majority of people living along the coast are Muslim. A small number follow traditional religions and there are some Sikhs and Hindus.
Political regime: Republic
President: Uhuru Kenyatta since 2013

Socio-economical data

The Kenyan economy is largely agricultural and its biggest exports in this sector are tea, coffee and vegetables. Kenya is also one of the few African countries with a significant dairy industry.
The manufacturing sector produces cement, paper, textiles, rubber and metal products amongst other goods. The post-election crisis of 2008, coupled with the global recession, reduced Kenya’s GDP growth to 1.7%. Since then the economy has improved significantly and, by the end of 2012, GDP growth was 4.5%. Unemployment was estimated to be 40% in 2011.
Tourism is big business in Kenya, bringing in roughly US$1 billion annually. Visitor numbers reached a record high of 1.26 million in 2011, but have since slumped due to concerns about terrorism and wildlife poaching.

History

Archaeological excavations in northern Kenya suggest that the region was home to ape-like creatures from whom Homo sapiens descended at least six million years ago. Over the past few millennia, Kenya has been settled by a large number of migrants from all over Africa, among the most recent arrivals being the Maasai, who crossed from present-day South Sudan in the 17th century.
The mediaeval Kenyan coast was a prosperous maritime trade centre serving ships from Arabia and Asia. Many modern ports, including Lamu and Mombasa, date from this era. The Portuguese arrived on the coast in the early 16th century, followed by Omani Arabs in the 18th century, and the British in the mid-19th century.
It was only in the 1890s that outsiders penetrated far into the interior, resulting in the British construction of the 'lunatic line' from Mombasa to Kampala in Uganda. Nairobi, founded as a staging point along the railway, became the headquarters of the British colonial administration.
In the early 20th century, the fertile highlands around Nairobi attracted an influx of European settlers. This resulted in a liberation movement demanding greater territorial, economic and political rights for locals. Led by Jomo Kenyatta, the fight for independence gathered pace after World War II, culminating in the 1950s with a bloody three-year guerrilla war between the Mau Mau and the British colonial authorities.
Kenya was granted independence in 1963, and the Kenyan African National Union (KANU), led by Kenyatta, took power. Kenyatta died in 1978, and was succeeded by Daniel Arap Moi, an autocrat who banned opposition parties outright in 1982. A multi-party system was restored in the early 1990s, but Moi remained in power until the 2002 election, which was won by the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC), led by Mwai Kibaki, who became the country's third president.
Disputed 2007 elections resulted in widespread violence in which hundreds were killed. Following this violence, international mediators negotiated an agreement retaining Kibaki as President but installing his main rival Raila Odinga as Prime Minister. The more peaceful 2013 elections saw Uhuru Kenyatta (son of Jomo), leader of the National Alliance party, elected president.

Geography

Kenya sits astride the equator and shares borders with Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the northwest, Uganda in the west, Tanzania in the south and Somalia in the northeast. To the east lies the 300 mile Indian Ocean coastline. The country is divided into four regions: the arid deserts of the north; the savannah lands of the south; the fertile lowlands along the coast; and highlands in the west, where the capital Nairobi is situated.
Northwest of Nairobi runs the Rift Valley, dotted with lakes and containing the town of Nakuru, while further west the Aberdare National Park is overlooked by Kenya’s highest peak, and Africa’s second tallest mountain after Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya (5,200m/17,000ft), which also is a national park. In the far northwest is Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph), and in the southwest is Kenya's share of Lake Victoria. ). The Kakamega Forest in western Kenya is relic of an East African rainforest. Much larger is Mau Forest, the largest forest complex in East Africa.

People, culture and traditions

Area:
580,367 sq km (224,000 sq miles).
Population:
44 million (2013).
Population density:
75.9 per sq km.
Capital:
Nairobi.
Government:
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1963.
Head of state:
President Uhuru Kenyatta since 2013.
Head of government:
President Uhuru Kenyatta since 2013.
About 80% of Kenya’s population is Christian (mostly Catholic and Protestant) and the majority of people living along the coast are Muslim. A small number follow traditional religions and there are some Sikhs and Hindus.
Western European habits prevail throughout much of Kenya as a result of British influences in the country. Kenyans are generally very friendly. The standard greeting of 'hello' when addressing an individual is Jambo, to which the reply is also Jambo. People are delighted if visitors can greet them in Kiswahili. Kiswahili is the national language and English is the official language. The terms Swahili and Kiswahili are used interchangeably, though the term Swahili normally refers to the people while Kiswahili refers to the language. There are over 42 ethnic languages spoken, including Kikuyu and Luo.
Dress is informal and casual lightweight clothes are accepted for all but the smartest social occasions. Because of its Muslim influence, the coast is a little more conservative than the rest of the country. Away from the beach, women and men should dress respectably and cover up bare arms and legs. Alcohol is only available in the tourist areas on the coast.

Choosing the right riding holiday

Choosing the right riding holiday

The opportunity to see big game from horseback in this beautiful country began back in the early 1970's. Offering some of the best opportunities to see large herds of wildlife, sometimes as far as the eye can see in an area unspoiled natural beauty. At certain times of the year you get the chance to canter across the savannah in the company of the migrating zebra and wildebeest.


Whether you chose the traditional luxury mobile tented camp around the Maasai Mara (such as our relaxed Masai Mara ride, or high-octane adventure in the Mara) or a centre-based lodge ride (such as Sosian Lodge or Borana Lodge), great game viewing and superb accommodation awaits you. Ride beautiful horses across the plains in search of big game at the foothills of Mount Kenya or submerge yourself in the vastness of the Maasai Mara. There is no bigger thrill than the chance of seeing the Big Five from horseback and Kenya is a truly unspoilt country where you will be immersed in the local traditions.