Journey alongside the Pilcher family
Join Globetrotting owners Kate and Steven Pilcher, along with their three daughters, on this exclusive exploratory departure through the breathtaking wilderness of northern Kenya. Each day will be different depending on the game encounters we ride across. Highlights will include riding amongst giraffe, zebra and other iconic African wildlife, cantering across endless open plains, tackling natural cross-country obstacles and spending two magical nights fly camping beneath a curtain of African stars. Along the way, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of Kenya’s rich culture through authentic experiences with the local Samburu people and discover why northern Kenya is considered one of Africa’s greatest wilderness destinations.
Yet the magic doesn’t stop when you dismount. You’ll stay in a luxurious safari lodge renowned for its warm hospitality and exceptional cuisine, enjoy game drives, walking safaris and a range of experiences for non-riders and children, and share this extraordinary adventure with the Pilcher family. This lodge ride is a one-size-fits-all, where families, non-riding partners, beginner riders to advanced riders are welcomed with open arms. Each day there will be two riding groups split according to your riding ability, and as a group we’ll share breakfast, lunch and dinner together.
Exploratory Ride
Join us as we road test new destinations
Meet your host
Globetrotting’s founder and has been roaming the world on horseback for most of her life.
Steven began his Globetrotting career in Kenya and has since notched up countless rides from Iceland to Morocco.
Details
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Riding levels
To safely enjoy riding in the African bush, riders must be of an intermediate to advanced standard with several years of regular riding experience. You should be confident riding in an English saddle at walk, rising trot and canter, including maintaining a balanced two-point position over varied terrain. Riders must also be comfortable handling a forward-going, well-schooled Thoroughbred-type horse in open country and around wildlife.
Our beginner guests who are not yet at this level are still very welcome. We can arrange guided garden rides and arena sessions, allowing beginner and less experienced riders to enjoy time in the saddle while taking advantage of the many other exceptional experiences available at the lodge. Our beginner riders will be transferred via vehicle to the fly camps on December 9 and 10.
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
English general purpose saddles.
- Horse breed
The safari horses include a mixed herd of thoroughbreds, former polo ponies, percheron crosses and Boerperd crosses.
- Accommodation
Guests stay in beautifully restored private cottages surrounding an elegant colonial ranch house in the heart of Kenya’s Laikipia wilderness. Accommodation combines understated luxury with authentic safari charm.
During the itinerary, guests also spend two magical nights fly camping in safari tents beneath the stars.
- Pace
A relaxed safari pace with exciting canters and gallops whenever terrain and wildlife allow.
Beginner riders will be able to ride at a pace they feel comfortable with on garden rides and during arena sessions. Please refer to Riding Levels description above.
- Weight limit
A strict maximum of 90kg / 198lbs.
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
For this special exploratory ride we have exclusive use of the lodge. There will be 18 guests in total consisting of riders and non-riders. Riding group size will be no more than ten guests. Our group will be split into two groups each day.
- Minimum age
12 years of age
- Time in Saddle
On average, between 2 to 5 hours per day.
- When to go
Available year round
- Weather
Although Kenya lies along the equator, the climate and temperatures vary according to the altitude and the distance from the sea. Along the coast, the climate is tropical (hot and humid), except in the months of July and August, which are cold and less humid. Inland, the days are generally hot and sunny, with limited humidity. On the higher plateau, the nights can be quite cold, especially during the cloudy months of July and August. The long rains are from the end of March to the end of May, and the short ones from mid-November to mid-December. Sunny periods alternate with short rainy ones during the rainy seasons.
- Languages
Instructions spoken in English.
Guides speak English and Swahili.
Departure dates and prices
Instalment plans available
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Per person
2026
December 7 to 14, 2026
We'll email you — you'll be among the first to hear when new departure dates are released.
Things to know
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of $165 USD
- All bookings and associated fees are charged in the currency of the ride.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- Full board accommodation
- All food and drinks including alcohol (except champagne)
- All riding activities
- Two nights in fly camp accomodation
- Game drives (day & night) and game walks
- Camel activities
- Bush breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Additional activities including: cycling, fishing and archery
- Airport and airstrip transfers (where included in the final package)
- Regional return flights from Nairobi to Loisaba Airstrip
Excluded
- International and regional flights flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Kenyan ETA
- Staff gratuities
- Any accommodation/activities outside the itinerary
- Premium beverages
- Personal purchases
Itinerary
Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other influencing factors.
Guests should aim to spend their first night (or two) in Nairobi to rest and recover from jet lag before it comes time to swing a leg over the saddle.
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Day Before: December 6
Non-riding dayWe recommend you arrive in Nairobi one to two nights prior to the ride beginning. We’re happy to recommend hotels in Nairobi.
Please note: Accommodation whilst in Nairobi, meals, transfers and entrance fees are not included in the ride price and are at your own expense.
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Day 1: December 7 - Arrival & Intro Ride
2 to 3 hours in the saddleAfter an early breakfast, you’ll transfer to Wilson Airport for your scenic scheduled flight north into Kenya’s spectacular Laikipia wilderness. Keep your camera close—the views over the Great Rift Valley, Mount Kenya and the vast patchwork of conservancies below are simply breathtaking.
On arrival at Loisaba Airstrip, your African adventure truly begins. Meet your lodge hosts before setting off on a game drive to the lodge, where there’s every chance your first wildlife sightings will include giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, antelope and perhaps even elephant.
After settling into your beautiful safari accommodation and enjoying a leisurely lunch, you’ll meet the horses that will be your trusted companions for the week ahead. Your guides will carefully match you with a horse before heading out on an introductory ride through the conservancy. It’s the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with your mount, soak up the extraordinary landscape and, if you’re lucky, share your very first ride alongside Africa’s iconic wildlife.
Return to the lodge as the afternoon light turns golden, with time to freshen up before gathering for sundowners, a delicious dinner and an exciting briefing on the adventures that await over the coming days.
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Day 2: December 8 - Typical Lodge Day
2 to 5 hours in the saddleA typical day begins in the cool, golden light of early morning, when the conservancy is coming to life and the wildlife is at its most active. Between 6am and 9.30am, guests head out on their chosen adventure, whether that is an exhilarating ride across the plains, a game drive, guided walk, camel outing, fishing trip or bike ride. Breakfast follows at around 9.30am, either back at the lodge or in a beautiful bush setting surrounded by nature. The late morning is wonderfully relaxed, with time to unwind by the pool, enjoy a massage, go fishing or simply soak up the atmosphere of the lodge before lunch at approximately 1.30pm.
At 4pm, tea and homemade cake are served on the veranda, setting the scene for the afternoon activity at 4.30pm. As the day cools, guests venture back into the wilderness before pausing for sundowners at around 6pm, watching the African sky change colour over the conservancy. Dinner is served at approximately 8pm, either at the lodge or in a magical bush setting beneath the stars.
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Day 3: December 9 - Fly Camp
2 to 5 hours in the saddleThe fly camp experience begins at approximately 2.30pm, when riders leave the comfort of the lodge and set out across the conservancy towards their first remote campsite. After an afternoon in the saddle, the group arrives in time for sundowners, a hot shower and a memorable bush dinner before settling in beneath Kenya’s spectacular night sky.
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Day 4: December 10 - Fly Camp
2 to 5 hours in the saddleRiders leave camp at around 7.30am and continue towards Pingone, stopping for a packed bush breakfast before riding on to the Acacia Treehouse. Arriving at around 11.30am, there is time for lunch and a long, peaceful siesta during the heat of the day. At approximately 3.30pm, the adventure continues as the group rides towards the final campsite, arriving at around 5.30pm for another evening of hot showers, sundowners and dinner in the wilderness.
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Day 5: December 11 - Return to the Lodge
2 to 5 hours in the saddleReturning to our home away from home, we’ll relax and enjoy on and off-the-horse activities.
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Day 6: December 12 - Typical Lodge Day
2 to 5 hours in the saddleAnother day enjoying a plethora of activities available at the lodge, whether that be riding, game drives, fishing, bike rides etc. Please refer to the description in Day 2 above.
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Day 7: December 13 - Typical Lodge Day
2 to 5 hours in the saddleAnother day enjoying a plethora of activities available at the lodge, whether that be riding, game drives, fishing, bike rides etc. Please refer to the description in Day 2 above.
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Day 8: December 14 - Departure
Non-riding dayAfter one final morning immersed in Kenya’s extraordinary wilderness, you’ll make your way to Loisaba Airstrip for your scheduled domestic flight, departing at approximately 11.25am and arriving at Wilson Airport in Nairobi around 1.15pm.
For guests with evening international departures, a day room (at your expense) can be arranged at a nearby airport hotel, providing a comfortable place to relax, freshen up and reflect on the unforgettable memories of your safari before a hotel shuttle transfers you to the international terminal for your onward journey home.
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Non-riders
Non-riders are warmly welcomed on the Northern Kenya Lodge Ride and enjoy their own tailor-made safari experience, complete with a dedicated driver and safari vehicle. You can head out on game drives and guided game walks each day, soaking up the same wildlife encounters and breathtaking landscapes the riders enjoy — just from the comfort of a 4×4 rather than from the saddle. You’ll reunite with the riding group at scenic lunch spots throughout the week, sharing the safari magic together. As a non-rider you’ll be joining the group on our fly camp adventure.
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Travelling with the Pilcher Family
Throughout the week, you’ll be travelling alongside Globetrotting founders, Kate and Steven Pilcher, and their three daughters, sharing meals, swapping stories and experiencing this remarkable destination together. While Kate and Steven are hosting the departure, you’ll be in the expert hands of our lodge’s guiding team whenever you’re in the saddle.
To ensure every guest enjoys the very best experience, riders will be split into groups according to ability. Whether you’re looking for exhilarating canters across open plains or a more relaxed safari pace, your days in the saddle will be tailored to suit your confidence and riding experience, allowing everyone to make the most of this extraordinary African adventure.
Transfer information
We encourage guests to arrive in Nairobi at least two nights prior to the start of your ride so you can enjoy one full day of sightseeing in this city.
On the final day, the domestic flight is scheduled to depart Loisaba Airstrip at 11.25 am and arrive at Wilson Airport at 1.15 pm. A day room may be booked at an airport hotel, allowing guests to remain there until approximately 6 pm.
Please note
Please note, regional flights have a luggage allowance of 15kg / 33lbs maximum.
Accommodation
Guests stay in beautifully restored private cottages surrounding an elegant colonial ranch house in the heart of Kenya’s Laikipia wilderness. Accommodation combines understated luxury with authentic safari charm. During the itinerary guests also spend two magical nights fly camping beneath the stars.
Food
Food is a real highlight of the experience, with generous, homemade meals served in a variety of beautiful settings. Days may begin with a full English breakfast, fresh fruit, cereals, yoghurt, tea, coffee and juices, followed by relaxed lunches featuring colourful salads, meats, quiches, homemade breads and pizzas cooked in the lodge’s custom-built oven. Afternoon tea and homemade cake are served before the evening activity, while dinner is typically a three-course affair, enjoyed in the dining room or beneath the African sky. The chefs can cater for all dietary requirements with advance notice, and much of the produce is wonderfully fresh, including ingredients from the lodge’s own kitchen garden and home-produced eggs.
Meals are generally communal, contributing to the convivial safari atmosphere, although separate dining can be arranged.
What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
Stories from the saddle
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