Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Arrive at the lodge for lunch, settle into the new surroundings, and meet the other participants on the safari (unless private safari). Over lunch, a briefing will take place and shortly after that, an afternoon introduction ride will take place. This is a good opportunity for everyone to know their mount before heading into the National Park the following day. The afternoon ride takes place on a wildlife estate (fenced), home to plenty of plains game like zebras, wildebeests, and elands and if lucky there is a good chance of seeing one of the shyest and rarest antelopes in Africa, the Gerenuk (also known as giraffe antelope). Back to the lodge in time for showers and sundowners before dinner is served.

Accommodation: Nduruma Polo Club

Meals Planned: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Arusha National Park

Wake-up calls with tea and coffee and breakfast is served anytime from early hours. After breakfast, the drive is about thirty minutes to Arusha National Park gate. Here the horses will be waiting, ready to be mounted, and shortly after you ride into one of the most beautiful parks in East Africa. Here the vegetation will change dramatically, from open grassland to rainforest. With good chances of seeing, buffaloes, and giraffes, all your plains game, elephants, and leopards are present however harder to spot along with rare species such as Suni, Red Duiker, the magnificent Hartlaub's turaco, colobus monkey, and the endless bird life. The feeling is magical as you enter into the big canopy forests. Lunch will be set en route, with time for a small siesta. After lunch, the ride continues through Leopard Country and as we head towards our night stop, we will pass by Margarete Trappe’s old house. The legendary lady is known and remembered as the Iron Lady from the First World War. “If, as children, we were thrilled by Buffalo Bill we should have been still more spellbound by Mrs. Trappe’s adventures, the adventures of the fearless woman with her two legendary horses, Comet and Diamond, and her two inseparable Alsatians. Like a phantom she would suddenly appear, she would vanish; as intimate with wild beasts as though they were tame.”

These are some of the tales about Margarete whose old riding paths this horse safari follows through the holy forests of the park. Arrive at camp, based on the foot of Mt Meru in time for showers and sundowners then dinner under the stars.

Accommodation: Hatari Lodge

Meals Planned: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Arusha National Park

This morning you will hopefully wake up to the very talkative Colobus monkeys. Breakfast is served and shortly thereafter we mount and directions are taken towards the area where the film Hatari was filmed, starring John Wayne. Thereafter halfway into the morning ride, we start the climb (on horseback), some will be done on horse and some on foot, aiming to reach a viewpoint, that if clear has one of the best views of Mt Kilimanjaro, here we will dismount our horses and instead mount a car and drive the last, steepest part in the vehicle. You drive passed the “Fig Tree Arch”, a massive fig tree arch, big enough to fit five horses underneath it. The drive continues until we reach lunch, beautifully located next to a waterfall. We are now about 2000 meters above sea level. 

After lunch we start heading back towards the horses, we then ride back down to camp and after returning to camp, there will be an option to jump into the vehicles (or relax in camp) and go visit the Momella lakes, hoping to see some hippos and beautiful water birds. Sundowners at the lakes before heading back to camp for showers and dinner.

Accommodation: Hatari Lodge

Meals Planned: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Back to Arusha

Wake up to Colobus monkeys chatting in the early hours of the morning. Breakfast is served and everyone mounts and starts heading back towards civilization. Enjoy the last morning with your mount in this magical place on earth, full of wildlife, stories, and tales. Late morning, we will get back to the Arusha National Park gate where we dismount and say farewell to our four-legged friends. From here there are a few options, some will continue onto other safaris or stay another night or two at the lodge and practice and play polo for a few days.

Accommodation: None / On Request

Meals Planned: Breakfast & Lunch