Safari ya Farasi

 

Before Joseph went off on leave, he took part in a week’s tuition and refresher course with experienced Safari Guide, John. John used to work for the world-renowned safari riding company, Offbeat Safaris founded by the legendary Tristan Voorspuy – himself a fearless and adventurous rider. John’s knowledge of horses, horse care, and safari craft are second to none.

Credit: Joseph Ndirangu Neymar

“He reminded us that the safety of the guests is paramount and the best way to look after them is to have one guide at the front and one at the back. It’s also important to have a horse that is trained to work independently from the others so that there is no risk of the horse refusing to move away from the line if necessary. The horses need to be physically and mentally fit for their work – capable of coping with the terrain, the weight of the rider, and any equipment that is needed.”

“It was important that we got the horses – especially the new ones – used to seeing the big animals like lions, elephant, and giraffe, but they must not be frightened of small, scuttling animals either. For protection, John always carries a bull-whip and was able to show us how it could be used in an emergency and how to get the horses used to its presence.”

 
“As the lodges open up again, we are looking forward to being able to take more rides out. It’s an amazing way to see the animals and the beauty of the Laikipian landscape. We had some wonderful rides, coming across a nursery herd of elephants where the matriarch kept a close eye on us. John gave us some tips on reading their body language and making sure we were both in the best position to see them and to avoid annoying them.”