More than almost any other destination, Tanzania is THE land of safaris. Think: wildebeest stampeding across the plains, hippos jostling for space in muddy waterholes, elephants meandering along their seasonal migration routes, and lions padding around in search of prey. So it’s with great excitement (seriously, the tingles running down my spine are real) that we’ll arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport today where we’ll be met by our ride hosts and driven approximately 35 minutes to their safari polo club where we’ll be spending the first night. There will be time to settle into our surroundings (there’s a pool – yay!), before enjoying the first of many ‘sundowners’ before dinner at the clubhouse, where our host will deliver a short briefing about the week ahead. Then it will be time for our heads to hit the pillow to get a good amount of shut-eye before our epic adventure begins tomorrow for real.

We’ll be woken with a call for tea and coffee (yes please!) and breakfast will be served anytime from the early hours. At around 11am we’ll bundle into a safari vehicle and drive about twenty minutes down the road to Arusha National Park where we’ll meet our safari horses and ride into one of the most beautiful protected parks in East Africa. We’ll wander through the soul-stirring scenery which has an almost lost-world feel, marvelling as the vegetation changes dramatically, from open grassland to rainforest. Keep your eyes peeled globetrotters, as this will be the first chance we have to encounter elephants, buffalo, all your plains game, leopards (if our good games-viewing juju is on point) and other rare species such as Suni, Red Duiker, the magnificent Hartlaub’s turaco, and so much more!

After lunch en route and a small siesta, we’ll continue riding through leopard country and pass by Margarete Trappe’s old house. This legendary lady is 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, and like a phantom she would vanish; as intimate with wild beasts as though they were tame.” We’ll hear these tales about Margarete and more as we follow her old riding paths through the holy forests of the park.  Our first night’s campsite is based at the foot of Mt Meru, an almost perfect volcanic cone with a spectacular crater. We’ll enjoy sundowners followed by dinner under the stars and when we’re ready, head to bed and fall asleep to the musical accompaniment of the sounds of wild Africa.

If we’re lucky, our wake up call this morning will be the very talkative Colobus monkeys who are sometimes referred to by the locals as ‘messengers of God’ because of the time they spend travelling back and forth between the tree tops. After a hearty breakfast we’ll mount up and head in the direction of the film location for Hatari, starring John Wayne. The plan for this morning’s ride is to reach ‘Fig Tree Arch’, a massive arch large enough to fit five horses underneath! Along the way we’ll no doubt encounter a wealth of wildlife, perhaps some giraffes silhouetted against ancient baobab trees, or a herd of elephants meandering along. Lunch will be enjoyed next to a waterfall in the rainforest at a location about 2000 metres above sea level.

After lunch we’ll begin the route back to camp, passing by another 30m high waterfall. After returning to camp, there will be an opportunity to change our mode of transportation and jump into the safari vehicles to go visit the Momella Lakes, where we’ll be hoping to see some hippos wallowing in the shallows along with some beautiful water birds. Sundowners will be enjoyed at the lakes before we head back to camp for another sumptuous dinner under the stars.

We’ll wake up with the sun and enjoy a big breakfast before mounting up for another day exploring the African wilderness. Today we’ll leave Arusha Park behind and head east towards the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s the tallest mountain on the African continent and the world’s highest free-standing volcano (it’s dormant for now but not extinct so let’s hope it doesn’t decide to blow its top off while we’re there) and we’ll marvel in all its glory as we make our way towards its snow-capped summit on the horizon.

Today’s ride is long and amongst Tanzanian farmland and the Maasai steppe. We’ll enjoy many cultural interactions with the locals as the ride goes along – this is my favourite part! We’ll also try to make use of the cooler hours in the morning and try to cover as much ground as possible before stopping for lunch under the canopy of an acacia tree, ideally next to a dam where the Maasai water their cattle and our horses. We’ll enjoy a good 3-hour rest with enough time for a leisurely siesta in the cool of the shade, before we mount up and continue through wildlife areas and across open plains, to reach camp before the sun hits the horizon.

Today will be a special day as it will be spent tracking the biggest land-living mammal, the elephants, in the shadow of the impressive Mount Kilimanjaro. The terrain differs to what we’ve been riding through over the past few days, from thick scrublands to acacia woodland. Today we’ll return to camp for lunch, before heading out for another ride in the afternoon. Before sunset, we’ll return to camp to enjoy another night in this remote and remarkable place on earth.

We’re moving camp again today globetrotters, so after an early breakfast we’ll make a start on the horses, heading in the direction of the so-called Seven Sisters (seven hills). Once we’ve crossed the hills, we’ll continue through Sinya Village before stopping for lunch under a shady tree. Today’s terrain varies from open grassland to beautiful canopy forests, and the day offers a good chance of seeing plains game such as zebras, giraffes and wildebeests. However we’ll be keeping a close watch out for the presence of a shy antelope, the Gerenuk, also known as the giraffe gazelle as we ride along.

Tonight’s campsite will be spent at the most picturesque and astonishing of places, and you’ll be wanting to keep your fingers (and toes) crossed for a clear night sky as you’ll be able to get the feeling you’re being watched by four powerful mountains – Mt Meru, Namanga, Longido, and the most legendary of all, Mt Kilimanjaro.

Wake up with the sun across the Kenyan border. Today we’ll again be tracking the elephant and hopefully get to observe these giants from the back of our safari horses. The night will be spent overlooking the pans with its plains game on constant alert for predators. Hopefully we get a clear night again, because not only is the view of the mountains an impressive sight to behold, but the starry African sky is a mind-blowing site.

It’s our last morning on safari – BOO HISS! We’ll enjoy one final hearty breakfast before we jump into the safari vehicles and head back towards civilisation. Depending on road and traffic conditions, it will be about a 3-hour drive back to the airport. Should you wish to depart today, please don’t book departing flights until after 3pm.

Round trip transfers from Kilimanjaro International Airport or the township of Arusha are included in the ride price on the first and last days of the itinerary only. Pick up is anytime on day 1 of the ride, and you’ll be transferred approximately 30mins to the Polo Safari Club. Should you arrive a day or two early, it is recommended you stay in the town of Arusha and you’ll be picked up from here on day one.

On the last day of the ride, departing flights can be booked anytime after 3pm.

*Please take note of the luggage restrictions on your flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, as some airlines have a maximum 15 or 20kgs luggage limit. All luggage should be packed in a soft bag.