8-Day Walk, Canoe & Bike Safari
Usa River Arusha National Park Lake Manyara Mto wa Mbu Ngorongoro Serengeti
From, per person$2,798
Tanzania safari
8-Day Horseback Safari Below Kilimanjaro
Overview
Seen from the saddle, the bush feels very different. There is no engine noise, no roof hatch, just the sound of hooves and the animals around you: a line of zebra breaking into a canter alongside, giraffes looking down from the acacias, an elephant feeding a safe distance away. This riding safari spends eight days crossing the country between Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, following old elephant routes with the mountains as a backdrop.
Much of the riding takes place in the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area, a community-managed wilderness in Longido District close to the Kenya border. It forms part of a wildlife corridor between the two countries, used by elephants and many other animals. Terrain changes from open savannah to thick scrub and shaded forest, and part of the trip is ridden inside Arusha National Park.
Expect four to six hours in the saddle each day. Nights are spent in a mobile tented camp that moves with the ride, with sunsets, campfires and dinner under the stars. Because you share the land with big game, this trip is for experienced riders only. Tanzania Tourism Safaris can arrange a vehicle so that non-riding partners or friends follow a similar route and join every meal.
Tour highlights
- Four to six hours a day on well-schooled horses
- Cantering alongside zebra and wildebeest
- Elephant country in the Enduimet corridor
- Forest trails inside Arusha National Park
- Mobile tented camp with campfire evenings
- Non-riders can follow by vehicle
Day by day
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Day 1 Arrival and Meeting the Riding Team Stay Riding base lodge or mobile tented campMeals Dinner
A shared transfer collects you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and takes you to the base of the ride. Here you meet the guides who lead every day in the saddle and talk through how the trip works: riding order, safety around wildlife, and what to carry with you on the ride. Dinner is served on arrival. Use the evening to unpack, rest and look at the mountains you will ride beneath.
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Day 2 First Day in the Saddle Stay Mobile tented camp in the bushMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The first ride is a chance to get to know your horse, chosen to be fit and responsive, and to settle into the pace of the group. Your guides watch how everyone rides before stepping up the speed. Expect several hours across open grassland with Kilimanjaro on the horizon, a break in the shade at midday and your first evening at the mobile camp, with a fire lit as the sun goes down.
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Day 3 Along the Elephant Trails Stay Mobile tented camp in the bushMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enduimet is part of a corridor that elephants use to move between Tanzania and Kenya, and today the ride often follows their paths. On horseback, you can approach animals more quietly than in a vehicle, though your guide always decides how close is safe. Giraffes, zebras and antelope are common company. Between four and six hours of riding is typical, with lunch in the field and camp reached by late afternoon.
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Day 4 Open Plains at a Canter Stay Mobile tented camp in the bushMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Where the country opens up, the pace can rise. Experienced riders who enjoy speed will find long stretches suited to cantering, sometimes alongside running zebra or wildebeest. The guides judge each section by the ground underfoot and the animals nearby. Afterward, the pace eases on the way back to camp, and the evening ends with stories by the campfire before dinner.
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Day 5 Scrub, Forest and Hidden Paths Stay Mobile tented camp in the bushMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The terrain shifts again, from grassland into thicker scrub and patches of forest canopy, where narrow paths can only be followed on horseback or on foot. Riding here is slower and more watchful, with the guide in front reading the bush. You may hear more than you see: birds, monkeys, the snap of a branch. Lions and other big cats live in the area too, though sightings are never certain.
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Day 6 Riding Inside Arusha National Park Stay Mobile tented camp in the bushMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Part of the trip is ridden inside Arusha National Park, on the slopes of Mount Meru. Exactly when depends on how the ride is running, and your guides confirm the plan as you go. The park mixes forest and open glades, home to giraffes, buffalo, zebras and colobus monkeys. Game drives are part of the package too, giving a different view of the same wildlife.
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Day 7 A Final Full Day of Riding Stay Mobile tented camp in the bushMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The last full day is often a favorite, because horse and rider now know each other well. The route is set by the guides around wildlife movements and the weather, and on a clear day both Kilimanjaro and Meru may be in view. Spend the evening around the fire with your fellow riders and any non-riding companions who have followed the trip by vehicle.
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Day 8 Back to the Lodge and the Airport Meals Breakfast, Lunch
After a final breakfast in camp, say goodbye to your horse and transfer back to the lodge. There is time for a proper shower and lunch before you change for the journey home. A shared transfer then takes you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight, or on to another part of your Tanzania trip. Before leaving, take a moment to thank the guides and camp team who looked after you all week.
Tour price includes
- All accommodation, mostly in a mobile tented camp
- All meals and drinks while at the mobile camp
- Dinner at the lodge on arrival and lunch there on departure day
- Use of the lodge for a shower before you leave
- Shared airport transfers
- Professional riding guides
- All riding on well-schooled, responsive horses
- Game drives
- Wildlife department fees (may change) and village fees
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Souvenirs, tips and other personal spending
Questions about this safari
How much riding experience do I need?
A lot. This safari is for experienced riders only, because you ride among large wild animals and need to stay in control at every pace, including a canter on open ground. If you are unsure about your level, tell us honestly about your riding before booking and we will talk it through with the riding team.
Can a partner who doesn’t ride come along?
Yes. A non-riding partner, friend or family member can follow a similar route in a safari vehicle and join the riders for all meals and camp activities. Let us know when you enquire so the vehicle and guide can be planned around the ride.
How long are the riding days?
Usually four to six hours in the saddle, broken up with rest stops and a midday break. The exact distance changes from day to day, depending on terrain, heat, where the wildlife is and how the group is riding. You should be fit enough to ride for that long on consecutive days.
Why is the price the same all year?
The $7,550 per person rate is a single rate for this trip, whatever the season and however many riders join. It reflects the private, mobile nature of the setup, with horses, guides and a camp that moves with you. Ask us to confirm availability for your dates.
Before you go
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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