FACTS AND INFO
Accommodation: Spacious 10ft x 9ft sleeping tents with camp beds (double on request), mattresses, sheets and blankets. Towels, soap and torches provided. Gas lamp and hurricane lamp in each tent. Loo tent for each double tent and showers always available.
Type of Horses: Well schooled thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross. Many are home bred out of our best mares. All are tried for polo and our best polo ponies all go on safari. Therefore responsive, tough and fit. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Riding Ability: You should be comfortable at all paces and able to gallop out of trouble. We ride in big game country. You should be fit enough to ride between 4 and 6 hours a day. Weight limit 210 1bs, 95 kgs.
Length of Rides: 4 – 6 hours in the saddle. Picnic lunch carried in saddle bags on moving days. 11/2 – 2 hour lunch stops. Some walking on foot necessary over rough terrain.
Size of Rides: Minimum of 4, maximum of 12 on set departures. Tailor made as name suggests.
Tack: English. Various saddles, polo, wintec, French Trekking and Australian stock. Mainly snaffle bridles.
Meals: All food is fresh. We carry dry ice and cubes and are self sufficient for one week. Bread is baked daily on open fires and our chefs are extremely good. You will again be pleasantly surprised.
Drinks: All wine, beer, spirits and sodas are included in the price. Champagne only provided on demand and charged at cost. However we do recommend that people should make full use of their Duty Free allowance for any special liquors, whisky or brandy.
Terrain: Most of the rides in Masai land and the Northern ranches are on fairly open plains (black cotton soil) interspersed with bush. They are short grass plains ideal for riding. Care must be taken for holes but canters and gallops are taken on open plains.
Other Activities: Game drives, night game drives and game walks are undertaken on every safari whether riding or not. There is no lack of activities on safari.
Clothing List: Click here. Laundry is done in camp on non-moving days.
Insurance: Whilst we carry public liability insurance and take all possible care we strongly advise you to have full medical and holiday insurance. These are adventure safaris. We also take out a 14 day membership with the Flying Doctors for all guests, included in price.
Game: Is plentiful everywhere we conduct riding safaris. We ride where dangerous game abounds. Your guide is knowledgeable and conversant with the habits and likely reactions of the game, in any situation you should do as he/she says.
How to get there: WE will meet in Atlanta and fly together to Nairobi where we will be met by the Offbeat Safari staff to begin our adventure.
Children: We will accept children on riding safaris but they must be competent riders. Children of 11 years and under at half price.
Weather/Season: We have no winter or summer as we are so close to the equator. There are two rainy seasons November and April/May. The hottest months are February/March, September/October but there are no hard and fast rules on this. We ride at an average of 5500ft. This makes for a cool climate and also means there are very few mosquitoes.
Information we require: Age, weight, height and riding experience. Special drink requirements and any dietary restrictions or allergies.
Medical: A medical kit is on hand in camp and in the saddle. We are in radio contact from camp with the Flying Doctor Service. Clients should take an anti malarial drug but we strongly warn from experience against the side effect of larium. There are no compulsory injections needed to come to Kenya.
Cash: We suggest people change US$100 on arrival and get $30 in small change Kshs.100 , Ksh 200 and Ksh 500 notes. There are no opportunities to change money once you have left Nairobi and small attractive items are on sale from the Masai.
Tips: This is a present from the heart and clients should only tip if they are happy for the service provided. There are no hard and fast rules but your guide will help you on this. Tips are collected by the guide in any denomination you wish and distributed evenly amongst the staff.
Itineraries: Whilst we try and stick to the advertised itinerary we fully reserve the right to change it to suit weather conditions and game movements. This will only be with the guest’s best interest at heart.
Photographs: Offbeat Safaris reserves the right to use any photographs taken on safari for promotional purposes.
Photography: Please be careful when photographing tribesmen and check with your guide first. Also video camera owners should bring a 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter to charge batteries. There are no generators in camp.