Horse riding safari in Tanzania

By: Virginia Imberti Posted: 28/08/2020

This time, we take you to Tanzania to see the great migration in the Serengeti on the back of a horse.

We’ll witness large herds of wildebeest and zebra moving across the plains in search of food, and explore the lands surrounding the impressive Kilimanjaro. The perfect destination if you are passionate about adventure in unexplored territories.

Why visit Tanzania on horseback?

Located in East Africa, Tanzania is a country crisscrossed with incredible equestrian trails and routes. It has a wide variety of wildlife, open landscapes and rocky massifs such as the Kilimanjaro, which will delight any rider.

Besides, almost 40% of Tanzania’s territory is set aside in protected areas for conservation purposes. Thus, the country boasts a large number of national parks, game reserves and native forests, which you can discover on horseback.

From Mount Kilimanjaro, on a safari organized by Makoa Farm, to the Serengeti plain, riding with Kaskazi Horse Safaris, the wild beauty of this country will leave you speechless.

Witness the Great Migration in Tanzania on horseback

The herbivore migration from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenia is one of the most incredible natural events on earth.

A repeating cycle that takes place every year and that depends on external conditions such as the rainy season. For 3 months, around 1.5 million animals, especially wildebeest, zebra and several antelope species, migrate seasonally across Kenia and Tanzania in search of new pastures.

To witness the Great Migration in the Serengeti plain on horseback is an exhilarating adventure you’ll never forget.

Makoa Farm

This is the home of Elisabeth Stegmaier and Laszlo Paizs, your hosts. Experienced veterinary practitioners who care for the needs of the domestic and ‘wild’ creatures of the area and provide a constant warm welcome to their riding guests.

They were both professional endurance riders in the past and draw on their many years’ experience to found MAKOA Farm and share with you their passion for horses and the African wilderness.

Their horseback safaris are highly personalized and very much ‘off the beaten track’. You will be accompanied on all safari rides by your hosts ensuring that your riding holiday will be a truly enjoyable experience.

With them, you can explore beautiful nature and African wilderness from horseback watching the many changing faces of the mountain, forests and savanna surrounding her.

Information about Makoa Farm rides

Please note that the itineraries only serve as a guide, all scenarios are dependent on the season and the migration of game. They reserve the right to alter the itineraries in any way.

Number of riders: riding groups will normally be no more than 6, maximum 8 guests.

Riding ability: they cater for ‘Intermediate +’ riders on safari rides. They will take beginners and novices for Farm Rides only.

For their safaris, remember that:

• The minimum riding requirement for safari rides is the ability to post to the trot for ten minutes at a time and be able to canter with a secure seat, controlling the horse’s speed and direction at all times.
• Safari rides require prior experience in riding over rough terrain as during the rides you may cross steep valleys, river with seasonally strong current and dry river beds.
• At some of these places, you will dismount and lead the horses, for this reason riders need to have a fair general physical condition and mount unassisted at any time.
• You need to be able to spend 4 to 6 hours per day in the saddle comfortably.

Horses at Makoa Farm: The horses are much loved, well-mannered and in excellent condition. A variety of reliable, for safari-purpose trained horses like Partbred- and Anglo-Arab, Thoroughbred, Trakehner, Bavarian Warmblood, Australian Brumby etc., ranging from 140 to 165 cm high. On the Farm, there is a horse to suit everyone and they will help you find the perfect match as soon as you arrive.

Riding terrain: The terrain can be uneven with areas of rocks, clumps of grass, thorns and holes. These obstacles can sometimes not be seen from far and therefore require a quick reaction of the horses, which riders must be able to control. The rider is expected to be balanced enough to follow the movement of the horse.

Riders’ weight limit: Maximum weight limit is 90 kg. Please note that the saddles available will fit riders of an average body mass index. Therefore the relationship of size and weight matters and in some cases they might not be able to offer a riding trip even if the rider’s weight is below the required weight limit.

Safety: Every ride will be accompanied by one of the owners as guide and a back-up rider and will be equipped with a GPS, first aid kit and mobile phone.

Horseback Safaris at Makoa Farm

These are some of their most exciting programs:

South-Amboseli Ride in Tanzania. Duration: 5 - 8 days

On this horseback adventure between Amboseli, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, you will meet elephants, giraffe and other large mammals of the African bush.

Ride along the wildlife corridor tracking animals that roam freely between Lake Amboseli, Kilimanjaro National Park and Arusha Park. The area is famous for elephants and old bulls can be met here amongst other game.

The colourful Masai tribe shares the same area and you often will see them and their herds mingling with zebra, wildebeest and antelope on the vast plains.

Meru-Kilimanjaro Big Game Safari in Africa. Duration: 5 - 8 days

Follow in Hemingway’s footsteps over the western game corridor of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Enjoy the diverse scenery and flora and fauna, from the montane rain forest of Arusha National Park and Mt. Meru. Ride through the western savannah, finally arriving at the border of Kilimanjaro National Park.

Wilderness Ride West-Kilimanjaro. Duration: 3 - 6 days

With the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro rising to your east and Mt. Meru to the west, Longido further north and the Rift Valley in the distance, this safari takes place in one of the most dramatically beautiful settings in East Africa.

Exploring your environment, bush and game area on horseback is the perfect way to experience the real African bush!

In addition to these safaris, there are rides of more than 3 days/2 night, to see BIG GAME (view these animals in their habitat).

You can find more information about them on their web site: https://makoa-farm.com

Kaskazi Horse Safaris

Of all the options they have for horseback safari lovers, we have selected two that are representative of the style and philosophy of their programs in Tanzania.

Serengeti Migration Horseback Safari in Arusha

On this horseback safari, you will explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti ecosystem in northern Tanzania during the wildebeest migration.

The natural settings of these wild plains will be dotted with huge herds of big game.

• Day 1: you will arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and be transferred to the Polo Club in the evening. This is a permanent camp combining large traditional safari tents with a permanent Polo Safari Club. The camp is very well located in a wildlife lodge with excellent views of Mount Meru. On a clear day, you can see Mount Kilimanjaro.

• Day 2: charter flight to Ndutu in the southern Serengeti. Visit to Serengeti National Park. At the new camp, you will meet the guides, who will help you select your horse for the journey.

• Day 3: depending on the weather and movement of game, you might head out for a full day ride, meeting the back-up team for lunch out in the bush. Either way you should have a good chance of seeing the gathering herds of wildebeest for which the area is famous, as well as giraffe browsing in the acacia scrub, zebra and perhaps predators such as hyena and jackal.

• Day 4: today you set off to a new camp, riding through areas that have rarely been visited on a horse. Along the way, you will see Masai herdsmen or their small settlements, where tribesmen live off the land as they have done for centuries. After about 4 hours riding, meet the back-up crew for an al- fresco lunch in the bush and time to rest in the shade.

• When temperatures go down, you head off again, aiming to reach the new camp. Tonight’s camp 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 mesmerizing grunts of wildebeest. A cup of tea or a cold beer when you arrive in camp, followed by hot showers and dinner, listening to the sounds of the bush.

• Days 5 – 8: four more days to explore, riding across the open plains, into grassy valleys dotted with picturesque granite outcrops, swathes of whistling thorn and typically East African flat toped acacia trees.

• Day 9: farewell to your horses before heading back through Serengeti National Park to Ndutu airstrip for your return charter flight to Arusha.

Kilimanjaro Elephant Ride

A 7-night/8-day safari following in the steps of the largest mammal on earth – the elephant. The highlights of this ride include interaction with Masai tribes and views of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro in the horizon.

There are many chances for fast rides in the open plains.

• Day 1: arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport. You can settle into the new surroundings and meet other riders on the safari. The lead guide will join the dinner party and briefly introduce the itinerary for the next upcoming days and clear all your doubts.

• Day 2: travel to Arusha National Park to see elephants, buffalo, leopards and other rare species like suni and red duiker. A short nap after lunch. Then, you will ride to your camp at the foot of Mount Meru just in time for a shower and to see the sunset before dinner.

• Day 3: after breakfast, you’ll ride to the area where the movie Hatari was filmed, starring John Wayne. You ride until lunch time, which takes place in a tropical jungle near a 200-metre waterfall. After lunch, you go back to your camp, passing by a 30-metre high waterfall.

• Day 4: today we ride out of Arusha National Park. The directions are eastbound heading towards Mount Kilimanjaro and leaving Mount Meru behind us. The day’s ride is long and amongst Tanzanian farmland and the Masai steppe. You will have a good 3- hour’s stop for lunch, with time for a siesta to regain some strength. In the afternoon, you continue through open plains up to your night camp where you will arrive before sunset.

• Day 5: the day will be spent tracking the biggest land living mammal, the elephants. The terrain differs from thick scrublands to the never-ending dessert flats. Today you go back to camp for lunch and after that, you can go for another ride in the afternoon. Before sunset, you return to camp to enjoy another night in this remote place.

• Day 6: the safari starts heading towards the Seven Sisters Mountains. After crossing the seven hills, we will ride through the village of Sinya and continue towards lunch. The terrain varies from opened grassland to beautiful canopy forests. The day offers good chance of seeing zebra, giraffe, wildebeests and Gerenuk antelope. The night is spent at an astonishing place where you will get the feeling of being watched by four powerful mountains – Mount Meru, Namanga, Longido and the most legendary of all, Kilimanjaro.

• Day 7: today you ride towards the Kenyan border in search of more elephants. Your last camp has an excellent location with views of the vast plains. The staff will be on constant alert for predators.

• Day 8: a more relaxed morning to enjoy a big breakfast before packing your luggage for your transfer back to the airport.

This itinerary is subject to changes, without prior notice, at the discretion of your hosts and guides.

You can find more information about this Horseback Riding Vacation direct outfitter in Tanzania, on their web site: https://www.kaskazihorsesafaris.com/

/ Photos: https://makoa-farm.com y www.kaskazihorsesafaris.com /

Are you also passionate about the idea of travelling Africa on horseback?

And if you are interested in knowing about the most beautiful and exciting horseback journeys on the African continent, discover them in our eBook on Equestrian Tourism in Africa..

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