Horse Riding Safari Kenya: 5 Days at Kedong Ranch with Kayaking, Cycling and Game Drives

Five days. Six ways to see the Rift Valley. This horse riding safari Kenya tour swaps the usual game drive for a slower, closer look at the same wildlife – on horseback, on foot, by kayak, by bike, by boat and yes, by 4×4 when it makes sense.

Base is Kedong Ranch House, about an hour and forty minutes from Nairobi off the Mai Mahiu road. It’s a private ranch, not a hotel. You won’t see another group all week.

What you actually do each day

The plan stays loose. Most guests do a morning ride through the plains, lunch back at the house then an afternoon activity. We’ll adjust based on weather, your fitness and what your group wants.

The horse riding safari Kenya experience is the main draw. Mornings start with a briefing at the stables where you meet your horse and the team walks you through the route. Rides run anywhere from 2 to 4 hours depending on the group with a mix of walking, trotting and the occasional canter across open ground where the terrain allows. You’ll cross plains with zebras, eland and giraffes carrying on around you. The horses are used to wildlife and the wildlife is used to horses which is why you can get closer on horseback than from any vehicle.

Tell us your riding level honestly when you book – never ridden, rusty or confident – and the stable team matches you to the right horse before you arrive. Helmets are provided. Riding boots help but aren’t essential, trainers with a small heel work fine for less experienced riders.

The other activities sit around the riding

• Sunrise kayak on Lake Naivasha – glass-flat water, hippos at a respectful distance, fish eagles overhead. The quietest morning you’ll have all year.
• Cycling in Hell’s Gate National Park – giraffes, zebras and antelope at eye level. Rocky in places. A solid morning’s effort, not a casual ride.
• Boat trip to Crescent Island – walk among giraffes and eland on foot, no fences. Possibly the only place in Kenya you can do this.
• Game drive across the ranch – usually evening, with Mount Longonot lit up behind you.
• Guided nature walk – for guests who want the slowest pace and the most explanation.
• Optional Mount Longonot crater rim hike – 7km loop, around 3-4 hours, panoramic views over the lake and ranch.

Where you sleep

Kedong Ranch House is a working ranch house, not a lodge. Bedrooms with verandas, a pool under the acacias, gardens, a big communal lounge and outdoor dinners under the stars when the weather’s right. The cook does a proper Kenyan breakfast and Kenyan-European dinners. The bar isn’t fancy but it’s well-stocked. Mount Longonot fills the view from the garden and giraffes wander past the veranda in the evenings.

Suits a wide range of guests

The mix of activities works whether you’ve ridden every weekend since you were five or have never sat on a horse. The stable team matches each guest to a horse before arrival based on what you tell us at booking. Kids are welcome, with under-12s on guided lead rides. Solo travellers, couples, friends, families – the ranch house has space for all of them and the activities scale from gentle to genuinely challenging depending on what your group’s after.

Pick your dates and book directly below. If you’d rather talk through options first or you’ve got specific questions about riding levels, fitness or family setup, contact us on Whatsapp or via email. Group and family discounts available on request.