Sosian Horseback Safaris
Exploring Sosian from horseback has to be one of the most magical experiences…
Exploring Sosian from horseback has to be one of the most magical experiences…
Althea Gifford, UK
Kenya is the birthplace of horseback safaris, offering some of Africa’s most outstanding riding. Sosian is no exception to this, and over the last 10 years has become one of Kenya’s top lodge based riding destinations. With over 24,000 acres of pure Laikipia wilderness, traversing this vast expanse of game filled land with Mt Kenya as a backdrop is an entirely private experience to only those staying at Sosian.
Sosian offers a great variety of riding, across open plains filled with zebra, oryx, giraffe, eland and gazelle, stretching down into thicker valleys harboring kudu, buffalo and elephant, plus a further 15km of river providing superb birding, as well as hosting large numbers of hippos and yet more elephant, plus the not-so-elusive leopard.
Riding is generally 2-3 hours in the mornings and/or afternoons and riders can spend up to 6 hours per day in the saddle. We often ride to bush breakfasts or sundowners, which seem to appear from nowhere as you turn a corner on a particularly beautiful stretch of the river or reach the top of a breathtaking escarpment.
For the keener riders we can offer a 1-night fly camp with the horses. Leaving the lodge after lunch we ride approximately three hours north, exploring the rivers and escarpments along the way, arriving at our fly camp that evening, in time for a sundowner. With simple tents, a long drop loo and a traditional hot safari shower, guests can settle in for the night with a bush dinner and then fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush. We have a 2nd stable block up on these northern plains where the horses spend the night. The following morning we get up early, have some tea and then head out across the plains on the horses. Riding back southwards towards the lodge, we stop for a bush breakfast before riding back into the lodge in time for lunch at the pool and a chance to cool off after the long morning’s ride.
With prior arrangement, we also offer longer riding safaris from Sosian. There are three other lodges and camps within a half day ride from Sosian and riding out to these properties is a fantastic way to see more of the area and sample some different lodges. Starting and ending at Sosian, our horses become our transport and together with our team of grooms and guides we can offer a really exhilarating riding safari experience, with plenty of wildlife and excellent riding.