‘Magical Kenya’ Birding Tour

Starting strong, your first days of the trip will be at the wildlife spectacle, the Masai Mara. Widely acclaimed not just within Kenya but globally, this park offers an abundance of attractions. From meeting the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo) and seeing the awe-inspiring Wildebeest Migration to the fascinating array of birdlife, it is undeniably a paradise for nature enthusiasts and nature photographers.

Expect vibrant birding activities traversing this expansive savannah with species such as Lilac-breasted Roller, Secretarybird, Kori Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Martial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Rosy- breasted Longclaw, Bare-faced Go- away-bird, Red-necked Spurfowl, being a highlight. Over the next two days, we will journey through diverse habitats within the park, including the Musiara Marsh, the Tanzania border, the reserve’s major rivers, and the scenic Oloololo Escarpment area. Each distinct habitat presents a unique opportunity to seek out different bird species across various sections of the reserve.

Where you will be staying: Eagle View

As Africa’s largest freshwater body and the world’s second-largest lake, it spans Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Known as the Nile River’s source, this lake hosts well-sought-after bird species like the Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, and Carruthers’s Cisticola, which will be our primary targets. We will also be taking a leisurely boat ride to see the ever-present African Fish Eagles hunting, along with dashes of colour from Malachite Kingfishers – lookout for hippos!

Where you will be staying: Acacia Premier

Kakamega Forest stands as one of the few remaining ancient rainforests in Kenya, boasting an exceptional diversity of birdlife. Formerly a part of the expansive Guineo-Congolian forest that once blanketed Central Africa, Kakamega Forest retains its magnificence, offering a glimpse into the past. The most sought-after species here are the Blue-headed Bee-eater, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, and Turner’s Eremomela, but of course, we will be targeting many other species along the way.

Where you will be staying: Rondo Retreat

From Kakamega, we will travel east to the exceptional Lake Baringo. Our focus will be seeing birds around the lakeshore of Lake Baringo. We will also get to venture onto the lake by boat to seek out elusive species, keeping an out for African Fish Eagles while they hunt and vocalize their territorial calls. Additionally, we will be exploring the scrubland and dramatic cliffs encircling the lake, aiming to see raptors like the Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Spotted Eagle-Owl, African Scops Owl, Northern White-faced Scops Owl, Shikra, and Verreaux’s Eagle. Other species to look forward to are the Slender- tailed Nightjar, Heuglin’s Courser, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Black-throated Barbet, Brubru, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Jackson’s Golden-backed Weaver, Northern Masked Weaver, to name a few.

Where you will be staying: Tumbili Cliff Lodge

In the morning, we will be visiting Lake Bogoria National Reserve, renowned for its breathtaking volcanic hot springs and an astonishing population of flamingos—often surpassing a million at once! A perfect morning seeing this spectacular mass congregation.

In the afternoon, we will drive to the Lake Nakuru National Park, only a short drive away where we will venture into the park for some exceptional birding.

Where you will be staying: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

Acclaimed as the ‘Birdwatcher’s Paradise,’ this is an unparalleled birding location and a highlight of the trip. With over 300+ species found around this magnificent alkaline lake, we will take our time capturing photographs of target bird species such as White-backed Duck, Saddle-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, African Spoonbill, Great Crested Grebe, African Jacana, Black-headed Oriole, Red-chested Cuckoo, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Grey-backed Fiscal, along with numerous amounts of big game found here.

Where you will be staying: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

In the morning, we drive to the Kinangop Plateau grasslands, an Important Bird Area (IBA) nestled on the slopes of the Aberdare Range. Our primary focus here will be Kenya’s esteemed grassland endemic, the Endangered (IUCN) Sharpe’s Longclaw. Amidst this habitat, expect sightings of several other prevalent African bird species, such as the Black-winged Lapwing, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Long-tailed and Jackson’s Widowbirds, along with the rare Nyanza Swift.

In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful Lake Naivasha. Ranking as the most productive among the Great Rift Valley lakes, Lake Naivasha spans 139 km² and serves as a vital lifeline for wildlife and people. Its productivity nurtures a thriving bird population of over 300 bird species! Expect a high count and a large grin on your face. A handful of species to look out for: Great White Pelican, Saddle-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, Giant Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Hilderbrandt’s Francolin, Arrow-marked Babbler, Verreaux’s Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Osprey, Hybrid Lovebird, Grey Crowned Crane, African Cuckoo, and Grey-crested Helmetshrike.

Where you will be staying: Sopa Lodge

Aberdare National Park, nestled in the central highlands of Kenya, is a testament to nature’s diversity and beauty. Spanning across moorland, bamboo forests, and dense rainforest, this park offers a rich variety of ecosystems. Its diverse landscapes are enhanced by towering peaks, plunging waterfalls, and serene rivers. The park is famed for its remarkable wildlife, housing endangered species like the bongo – an exceedingly rare sighting these days. Over 250 bird species documented, including the near-endemic Jackson’s Francolin and endemic Aberdare Cisticola, which will be the main targets on our short stay here.

Where you will be staying: The Ark

Mount Kenya National Park is a sanctuary for some of Kenya’s most cherished bird species, with the Violet-backed Starling, Green Pigeon, Meyer’s Parrot being a highlight, among the substantial number of endemics and near-endemics, with the Hinde’s Babbler being the main target.

Where you will be staying: Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

Our next destination is the semi-arid wilds of Shaba National Reserve, where we’ll find specialist game such as the Grevy Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, and the Beisa Oryx. It’s also home to the endemic William’s Lark, which will be our main target as we enjoy this extremely beautiful region.

The next day we’ll be travelling to Shaba’s sister park, the rugged but exceptionally handsome Samburu National Reserve. Samburu stands renowned as one of Kenya’s premier reserves, celebrated for its impressive array of big mammals and diverse bird species, promising an unforgettable experience. In the ensuing days, we will leisurely immerse ourselves in the surroundings, taking our time to capture exceptional photographs.

Our primary focus will be on seeing regional bird species, such as Somali Ostrich, Somali Courser, White-headed Mousebird, Hunter’s Sunbird, Shining Sunbird, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Somali Bee-eater, Stone Partridge, Red-billed Hornbill, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, African, Orange-bellied Parrot and Vulturine Guineafowl, among many more.

Where you will be staying: Elephant’s Bedroom Camp

After an early breakfast, we travel to the award-winning and world-recognised Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The lush rolling landscapes scatted with large herds of elephants here are such a joy to see. The birdlife is also terrific, and we will be on the lookout for species such as Red-billed and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Meyer’s Parrot, and Augur Buzzard. The beautiful Long-tailed and Red-collared Widowbirds in their full breeding plumage are such a pleasure to observe and we hope to see some outstanding displays.

We intend to take our time transecting the conservancy, which will be a short but rewarding stay.

Where you will be staying: Sweetwaters Serena Camp

Located on the southern outskirts of the city, Nairobi National Park may be one of Africa’s smallest national parks (117 sq. km), yet it offers so much. With expansive open plains set against the backdrop of the city’s impressive skyline, it stands as the sole national park bordering a metropolis. This park boasts a diverse array of wildlife, including the endangered black rhino—a testament to the park’s conservation success—alongside lions, leopards, hyenas, buffaloes, and giraffes

Particularly noteworthy is the park’s remarkable diversity of birdlife, with over 520 species. We will spend a short afternoon here, where you can expect a high count of 80+ species.

Species highlights: Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Superb Starling, Lilac-breasted Roller, Martial Eagle, Saddle-billed Stork, Grey Crowned Crane, Southern Ground-hornbill, Corncrake, Madagascar Pond-Heron, Lesser Kestrel, Jackson’s Widowbird, Red-throated Tit, and Pin-tailed Whydah.

Where you will be staying: The Fairview Hotel

Over the next two days, we’ll explore Amboseli National Park, renowned for its stunning vistas of elephants and the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy lunch before venturing into the park, keeping a keen eye out for remarkable bird species such as the Common Redshank, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Eurasian Thick-knee, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Long-toed Lapwing, Pangani Longclaw, Purple Swamphen, Rufous Chatterer, Rufous-bellied Heron, Spike-heeled Lark, Steel-blue Whydah, Taveta Weaver, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Yellow-necked Spurfowl and many others.

Amboseli is a fantastic big game viewing park with elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and an array of other big game which will be a nice addition.

Where you will be staying: Kibo Safari Camp

Our upcoming destination is the renowned Tsavo East National Park, Kenya’s largest, celebrated for its splendid wildlife and the distinct reddish semi-desert terrain, famously associated with its historic man-eating lions. Upon arrival, a satisfying lunch awaits before we embark on an exploration deep into the park.

Our focus will be traversing this captivating landscape, dedicated to discovering as many bird species as possible amidst this picturesque setting. Species highlights: Two-banded Courser, Somali Courser, Somali Sparrow, Red-winged Lark, Chestnut-headed Sparrow Lark, Chestnut-backed Sparrow Lark, Spotted Thick-knee, Golden-breasted Starling, Shelley’s Starling, Fischer’s Starling, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Somali Ostrich, Eastern Paradise Whydah, Golden Pipit, Rosy patched Bushshrike, Three-streaked Tchagra, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Golden Palm Weaver, Kori Bustard, Buff-crested Bustard, Tsavo Sunbird, and Grey-headed Kingfisher to name a few.

Where you will be staying: Voi Wildlife Lodge

The terrain of Taita Hills comprises diverse landscapes, featuring lush forests, rocky outcrops, and verdant slopes and is an area renowned for its endemic bird species and abundant birdlife unique to the hills. Among the notable species we’ll be looking for are the Taita White-eye, Taita Thrush, and Taita Apalis, which will be our main targets.

Where you will be staying: Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Over the next few days, we’ll be staying at the stunning coastal town of Watamu, which is just a short journey away from East Africa’s largest remaining tropical coastal forest, Arabuko Sokoke Forest. We will spend a day here looking for near-endemic species, Sokoke Scops Owl and Sokoke Pipit.

Spanning a staggering 420 km², this forest stands as the largest and most intact coastal forest in East Africa. It holds 20% of all Kenya’s bird species, and 30% of butterfly species, and hosts at least 24 rare and endemic bird, mammal, and butterfly species. This site’s significance is truly remarkable.

Where you will be staying: Hemingways Watamu

Stretching inland from the sea into Arabuko Sokoke Forest is one of Watamu’s true hidden treasures: Mida Creek, which we will be exploring for the day. It is an extensive intertidal inlet surrounded by mangroves situated between Malindi and Kilifi. This area holds significance for passage and wintering waders and serves as a habitat for several interesting herons and raptors. It stands as one of the most productive mangrove ecosystems globally. This distinction has earned Mida Creek recognition as an International Bird Area for its exceptional ecological value. Paired with the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, it collectively forms a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Where you will be staying: Hemingways Watamu

In the morning, we will be visiting one final birding location, before catching a flight back to Nairobi, in time for your international flight back home.

The Sabaki River mouth boasts a diverse array of bird species, including rare finds and impressive gatherings of gulls and terns. These birds forage in the sea before returning to roost on the Sandbanks. Sabaki is the final stretch of the Athi-Galana-Sabaki, one of Kenya’s longest rivers, draining into the Indian Ocean. The estuary features dunes, beaches, and both seasonal and permanent wetlands on either side. Mangrove forests thrive along parts of the riverbank. Birdwatching here is primarily done on foot and is notably the best location in Kenya to see the threatened Madagascar Pratincole and the Broad-billed Sandpiper. Additionally, Lesser Flamingos visit when river waters recede. Sabaki hosts a significant bird species count and offers a serene and picturesque setting and will be a lovely way to end this incredible birding adventure.