14 Days Kenya Birding Safari Holiday

On your arrival in Nairobi, you will be met by our company representative and transfer you to your Hotel for Dinner and overnight.

During an early morning stroll through the hotel’s gardens, we make our first counts of Kenyan birds were we shall come across different bird species, including the Northern Pied Babbler, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Speckled Moosebird, Black Kite, Pied Crow, and Olive Thrush. After breakfast, we’ll head north in the direction of Mount Kenya, stopping at the Karatina Dam, a seasonal swamp partially covered in reeds and water hyacinth. Here, you can frequently see African Jacana gracefully trotting on the broad hyacinth leaves, Little Grebe, White-faced Whistling Duck, Black-headed Heron, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Black Cuckoo-shrike, and African Paradise Flycatcher. We’ll keep going and get there in time for lunch at the Lodge. Although the Naro Moru region is typically very dry, there is still a small portion of the Mt. Kenya Forest, and the lodge is located right on the edge of the forest. The afternoon hike will be along the river trail in search of the African Green Pigeon, several Sunbird species (we think of the Tacazze, Bronze, and Variable), Rufous Chatterer, Chin-spot Batis, and Giant Kingfish.

We will proceed to the Mount Kenya National Park to search for highland species after bird watching in the garden. Long-tailed and Red-collared Widow birds, as well as Pin-tailed Whydas, which are plentiful in the long grass, may cause disruptions during this journey. After parking the cars at the park entrance, we will stroll through the woodland and look for several species, such as Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, the Yellow-crowned Canary, Olive and Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Silvery-cheeked and Crowned Hornbill, and Hartlaub’s Turaco among others.

We will travel to Lake Nakuru in the west, which is well-known for having thousands of Lesser Flamingos; you can clearly tell the difference between the two by their height. There are also the Great White, Pink-backed Pelican, and Black-winged Stilt.

Because the lake has a low salt concentration, it supports fish, which attracts other water birds. .Avocets, Storks, Ibises, Ducks, Cormorants, Herons, and Terns can all be seen there. The White-browed Coucal, Broad-billed Roller, Arrow-marked Babbler, and Narina Trogon can all be seen among the forested acacias.

After breakfast, we’ll continue north to Lake Baringo. This lake is fresh water with a mild alkalinity. The environment is arid, and the surrounding cliffs are home to a diversity of bird species. Over 400 bird species have been identified. More than 400 different bird species have been identified there, including the rare Northern Masked Weavers, White-browed Sparrow-Weavers, Jackson’s and Red-billed Hornbills, Bristle-crowned Starlings, and Bristle-crowned Starlings. There are several Hamerkops along the lakeshore, and with any luck, we will be able to see their nest, which a pair of Grey Kestrels has made their home.

There will be time to unwind, enjoy the pool, and observe the lodge’s grounds for local sunbirds including the Beautiful, Hunter’s, and Violet-backed as well as Spotted Eagle-owls. Hippos graze freely on the lodge’s lawn, while nighttime lakeshores are frequented by nightjars. The Lake Baringo Country Club is open overnight.

Before breakfast, we will go birding in the area around the escarpment to look for Hemprich’s and Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbills, White-crested Turacos, Madagascar Bee-eaters, Rufous-crowned Rollers, Gabar Goshawks, Cliff Chats, and Verreaux’s Eagles, which devour Rock Hyraxes. We will take a boat ride across Lake Baringo later in the day in search of new bird species. The Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, as well as swimming hippos and crocodiles, will all be within striking distance of us.

We’ll try to get to Kakamega Forest before noon. This forest, in the middle of a heavily farmed area, is a magnificent example of virgin tropical rainforest, and it is naturally the habitat of a large variety of specialty birds, many of which are unique to Kenya. Along with 400 different species of butterflies and no less than 330 different species of birds, the forest is also home to the rare De Brazza’s monkey, which is only found in Kakamega Forest.

While there are challenges when birding in a forest, they are quickly forgotten as our count rises thanks to potential sightings of the impressive Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Ross’, and the Great Blue Turaco. The Red-headed Bluebill, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Grey-headed Negro-finch, Mackinnon’s Shrike, and many more are other noteworthy species.

Today’s journey takes us via the Nandi Hills and the tea-growing region of Kericho, returning us to Nakuru and farther south to the Lake Naivasha area. We’ll arrive in Crater Lake in time for a late lunch and spend the next two nights there. We will go on a bird walk in the Crater Lake wildlife sanctuary in the afternoon. Dinner and nights are spent in the Crater Lake tented camp.

To experience the finest bird viewing in Lake Naivasha today, Crescent Island is the preferred location. It is a lagoon from which we should be able to see Red-billed Fire finch, Brimstone Canary, Grey-capped Warbler, and Spectacled Weaver. Also prevalent are fish eaters. Here, the Fish Eagle, the Pied Kingfisher, the Long-tailed and Great Cormorants among other species.

We will travel to Tanzania’s Serengeti region’s renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. With 450 species reported, the Mara is Kenya’s crowning achievement for wildlife viewing and bird watching. We will go through Masai territory, which is home to one of Africa’s most intriguing cultures. We anticipate seeing Elephants, large cats like the Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah, herd animals like the Zebra, Wildebeest, Thompson’s and Grant’s Gazelles, as well as specialized species like the Hartebeest and the Topi, in the wide grasslands.

Numerous bird species are likely to be encountered, including the highly conspicuous Common Ostrich, the small but still noticeable Cardinal Quelea, the Sooty Chat, Ground Hornbill, Open-billed Stork, Temminck’s Courser, Yellow-throated Sand grouse, and Denham’s Bustard. It’s common to see Lilac-breasted Rollers. If we come across a kill, we might witness six different vulture species—the Egyptian, Hooded, Griffon, Lappet-faced, White-backed, and White-headed—eating together. Should a Jackal or a hyena join the race for the kill, the reward will be doubled.

Today will be spent bird-watching in the Masai Mara. We’ll keep an eye out for African Finfoot, Ross’ and Schalow’s Turaco, Crested Guineafowl, Woodland Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Barbet, Black-billed Weaver, Violet-backed Starling, and, with any luck, Pel’s Fishing Owl along the Mara River. Hopefully, we’ll have the good fortune to spot some of the more elusive mammals like the Bat-eared Fox, Hunting Dog.

Today, following an early game drive and breakfast, we’ll take a transport back to Nairobi in time for lunch. After that, transfer to the airport for your trip home.