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For nearly 30 years In The Saddle has promoted what is widely considered one of the finest mobile safaris in the world – the Maasai Mara with Safaris Unlimited. During this time, the equestrian travel industry may have undergone significant change and growth, but this safari has stuck firmly to its heritage – providing incredible experiences in wildest Kenya, unforgettable game encounters, mobile tented camps, top-quality horses and exemplary guiding.

History

During the 1970’s Tony Church, founder of Safaris Unlimited, set out to offer something unusual. The exploration of beautiful and inaccessible parts of Kenya on horseback, meeting the Maasai people, riding off the beaten path and using lightweight mobile camps to follow the movements of the wildlife.

The Second Generation

By the early 2000’s Tony’s son Gordie, who’d grown up on safari, was ready to step in. In the intervening years, Safaris Unlimited had flourished into a renowned luxury operation, offering highly tailored, personalised safaris. Excellent horses, professional guiding, a long-standing camp team and a customised experience have always been what sets this safari apart.

In The Saddle – From the Archives

In The Saddle began promoting this safari in the late 1990’s and by 2000, we had sent our first intrepid adventurers. I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at some of the earliest feedback from ITS clients. Here’s what our archives uncovered from the first big groups we sent:

“This is something I’ve dreamed of doing for years and I was worried it wouldn’t match up to my dreams. Well it didn’t, it far surpassed them. Quite unbelievable luxury considering we were in mobile camps. Gordie has an amazing operation and is great company.” – Kirsty M

“The riding was excellent, with the right mix of fast and slow work. Tents far more comfortable than expected, and the food the cooks conjured up was amazing” – Catherine M

“Horses were in excellent condition and obviously very well cared for. It was clear the horses were the priority on the trip, which is as it should be. Everything was amazing – the people, accommodation, food, horses, and of course the amazing landscape and animals.” – Lara W

“The horses were marvellous, trustworthy, safe, sound, fit and in good condition. The riding was not for the faint hearted, but well suited to the entire group. Gordie, and all of his crew, went out of their way to make sure every detail of the ride was superb. The accommodation was more than adequate and included hot water bottles! The meals were hearty and tasty, and the service excellent.” – Harriet R

“Fantastic game viewing on fit, well cared for horses. Spacious tents and an excellent team of staff. What is particularly valuable is the amount of time In The Saddle and Olwen in particular are prepared to spend discussing your choice of holiday before you book.” – Jenni W

Continuity

What’s fascinating is that when you compare these very first reviews for the Maasai Mara Safari with more recent feedback, the comments are incredibly alike – consistently focusing around the wonderful horses, professional guiding, high standards and amazing wildlife.

You can see that there is continuity in In The Saddle’s feedback too. All these years later, we’re still always ready to spend time with you, to help you narrow down the options, share our knowledge, and tell you about our experiences so you feel prepared and know what to expect.

A Dream Come True

In the (almost) 20 years I’ve worked for In The Saddle, I’ve been privileged to explore many places from horseback. I’ve rounded up cattle in Argentina and Brazil, had elephant encounters in Botswana, ridden highly-tuned Lusitanos in Portugal, crossed 300km of the Namib Desert, splashed through the Okavango Delta, cantered high in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Andes, wound my way through the vineyards of the Western Cape, and galloped beneath the snowy peaks of Torres del Paine.

But one place had so far eluded me – the vast open plains and outstanding wildlife of the Maasai Mara. I’d dreamt of Kenya from a young age, avidly reading novels about life in Africa, watching wildlife programmes and of course the film, Out of Africa. To be given the opportunity to actually go to ride in the Maasai Mara and experience it for myself really was a dream come true.

Being in the Maasai Mara was every bit as special as I had hoped, more so even. It’s difficult to put into words how incredible it is to live and breathe this part of Africa, even for a short time. Hearing hippos, lions and hyenas during the night. Waking up to birdsong. The adventure of moving through the wilderness. Cantering across the plains with huge herds of zebra and wildebeest on the horizon. Crossing the Mara River with hippos a short distance away. Feeling your heart thud as a warthog pops out of a hole, or that knee-weakening moment as you lock eyes with a lion. Absolutely incredible from start, to middle, to end. It was such a privilege to have felt and experienced all these things. I can’t wait to share stories from my trip, and help plan more dream African safaris for In The Saddle clients.

A Legacy of Excellence

An impressive fifty years on from their inception, it’s clear from guest feedback and our own experiences that Safaris Unlimited continue to deliver their initial goal of showing visitors wildest Kenya on horseback. As a guest of Gordie and Felicia, “you will experience Africa in the hands of people whose blood runs with the red earth of this incredible continent”, (Safaris Unlimited. Available at: https://safarisunlimited.com/history/).

Every safari is owner-guided, ensuring that guests ride with knowledgeable, professional and experienced guides. The activities each day are flexible, so if you wish to take a break from riding, there is always a guide and vehicle on hand to whisk you off on a game drive. The attention to detail is incredible, from your favourite drink at the bar, to your ideal safari horse. Everything has been thought of, and the result is a very personalised, custom experience.

We hope you have enjoyed reading about the Maasai Mara Safari in Kenya.

If you would like further details on this once in a lifetime safari, please contact Abbie on +44 (0) 1299 272 997. Alternatively you can email abigail@inthesaddle.com