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17 Days
Kenya Bird watching Safari
Day 1 : Arrival and Transfer to Nairobi. Over night
at the Boulevard Hotel. Depending on the time of
arrival, we may have chance for an excursion into
Nairobi National Park, returning to Hotel for Dinner
and Over night. (B) (L) (D)
Day 2: We begin our Safari from Nairobi into the
Rift Valley Lakes of Naivasha, there are several
bird species around Lake Naivasha. These include:
White Pelican, Long-tailed and Great Cormorants,
Black Crake, African Jacana, several duck species,
Long-toed Lapwing, Malachite Kingfisher, Green
Woodhoopoe, White-headed Barbet, Bearded and
Cardinal Woodpeckers, Grey-capped and Lesser Swamp
Warblers, White-fronted Bee-eater, Winding and
Rattling Cisticolas, Grey-headed Bush-shrike and
many more. Hirundines can be plentiful, and over
half of the species in Kenya can be seen. In the
evening, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl hunts along the
lakeshore acacias. Over night at Elsamere Centre.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 3: In addition to exploring the surroundings of
your cottage, there is also the possibility of
visiting Hell’s Gate NP. This is one of the few
parks where it is possible to walk, and the cliffs
have breeding Nyanza and Mottled Swifts, and a
colony of Rueppell’s Vultures. Lammergeier have been
recently reintroduced, and other species which are
regular include Schalow’s Wheatear and
Pectoral-patch Cisticolas may be sited. Over night
and Meals at Elsamere Centre (B) (L) (D)
Day 4: Today, you will head for Lake Victoria. On
the way, you may wish an option to spend three or
four hours passing through Lake Nakuru NP, which is
again excellent for waterbirds and acacia species,
and has additional specialities including
Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Arrow-marked Babbler,
Wailing Cisticola, and is one of the best places for
Lappet-faced Vulture. It also has both White and
Black Rhino, protected here from poachers, and
sometimes both Lion and Leopard may be seen. On the
way to Kisumu, you may wish to visit some
diminishing grasslands above Molo, where Sharpe’s
Longclaw is regular, along with Wing-snapping
Cisticola. When you reach Kisumu, if time permits,
you will be able to visit Hippo Point, where the
papyrus beds have specialties such as Black-headed
and Papyrus Gonoleks, Carruther’s Cisticola, Swamp
Flycatcher, Papyrus and Yellow-fronted Canaries,
Black-billed Barbet, White-browed and Blue-headed
Coucal, Greater Swamp Warbler and others. Over night
at Imperial Hotel Kisumu. (B) (L) (D)
Day 5: There are two possibilities on this day. The
journey to Kakamega is quite short, but can be
extended along the coast of the lake, where the area
around Sioport has further papyrus specialities, as
well as western species such as Copper Sunbird,
Black and Black-winged Bishops, Woodland Kingfisher,
Bar-breasted and Black-bellied Firefinches and Grey
Kestrel. Also, there are two river crossings where
Rock Pratincole is regular. Some grassland in the
west is also productive for species such as Uganda
Spotted Woodpecker, Red-headed Lovebird,
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird and Blue Swallow. These
sites could also be visited in a long morning from
Kakamega town, so are possible on a different day.
Overnight Golf Hotel Kakamega. (B) (L) (D)
Day 6: Today, it will be possible to spend all day
exploring Kakamega Forest. There are two excellent
areas, around Isecheno in the south and Kakamega in
the north. Visiting both parts provides the best
opportunities, and local guides will help
tremendously. In the northern part, Solomon is
recommended, and in the south Wilberforce. The
number of birds is incredible, and include Great
Blue and Black-billed Turacos, Grey Parrot,
Yellow-billed, Grey-throated, Yellow-spotted and
Hairy-breasted Barbets, several Woodpeckers,
Scaly-throated and Thick-billed Honeyguides,
Turner’s Eremomela, Banded and White-chinned Prinias,
Blue and Dusky Crested Flycatchers, Chapin’s
Flycatcher, several Greenbuls and Illadopsises,
Yellowbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, Equatorial Akalat,
Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, Snowy-headed and
Blue-shouldered Robin-chats and many more. Over
night Golf Hotel Kakamega (B) (L) (D)
Day 7: It is recommended to spend one day in the
north and stay at Udo’s Bandas, and the second night
at the Forest Resthouse in the south. Both are
fairly spartan, but you may purchase firewood to
cook with. Both are also in the heart of the forest.
Over night Rondo Retreat. (B) (L) (D)
Day 8: After some final forest birding, we will head
north to the market town of Kitale. Nearby are two
excellent birding localities, Kongolei and Saiwa
Swamp. At Kongolei, there are several dry country
birds scarce elsewhere, including Chestnut-crowned
Sparrow-weaver, Lesser Blue-eared Starling,
White-crested Turaco and Brown-rumped Bunting. Saiwa
is home to the Sitatunga antelope, as well as De
Brazza Monkey, and is a good site for Blue-headed
Coucal, Double-toothed Barbet, Hartlaub’s Marsh
Widowbird, Black-throated Wattle-eye and Splendid
and Purple Glossy Starlings. Overnight Alakara Hotel
(B) (L) (D)
Day 9: Today, we skirt the Cherangani Mountains, and
head through the spectacular Kerio Valley and Tugen
Hills. On the way, we can stop to seek out similar
birds to Kongolei, and in the valley, species such
as Little Weaver and D’Arnaud’s Barbet. When we
arrive at Lake Baringo, and we should see our first
special birds of the area. During the few days, we
should encounter Slender-tailed Nightjar, Heuglin’s
Courser, Spotted Thick-knee, Northern Masked,
Little, Jackson’s and Vitelline Masked Weavers,
Bristle-crowned Starling, Hemprich’s and Jackson’s
Hornbills, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit,
Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl,
White-faced Scops Owl, Beautiful Sunbird and much
more. Over night Lake Baringo Country Club. (B) (L)
(D)
Day 10: All day will be spent around Lake Baringo.
You may wish to use a local guide, who will help
find the difficult species. Over night at Lake
Baringo Country Club. (B) (L) (D)
Day 11: We head south from Baringo, and skirt the
Aberdares, stopping at Thompson’s Falls where we can
seek out Slender-billed Starling, African Snipe and
Tinkling Cisticola. We then pass across Solio
Plains, sometimes good for Bustards, which can
include the scarce Denham’s, as well as Capped
Wheatear, Long-tailed Widowbird and wintering Lesser
Kestrels and Montagues and Pallid Harriers. Finally,
we arrive at Naro Moru River Lodge, where a
self-catering two-bedroomed cottage is recommended.
Food can be bought en-route at Nyahururu, or meals
can be obtained at the lodge. Overnight Naro Moru
River Lodge (B) (L) (D)
Day 12: The lodge grounds are excellent for birding,
and can have such species as Giant Kingfisher, Black
Duck, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Red-fronted Parrot, Narina
Trogon, Grey Apalis, Rufous Chatterer,
Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Crowned Hornbill and up to
nine sunbird species. It is also a base for Mt
Kenya, and there are options to explore on a day
trip the lower slopes, where some mountain
specialties such as Mountain Greenbul, Grey
Cuckoo-shrike, Brown-chested Alethe, Brown Woodland
Warbler, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Hunter’s Cisticola
and White-tailed Crested Flycatcher can be seen. An
option is to take a 4WD up to the Meteorological
Station, where one night can be spent, and species
such as Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Alpine
Chat, Jackson’s Francolin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush
and rarely, Olive Ibis can be seen. Overnight
Naromoru River Lodge (B) (L) (D)
Day 13: After final birding around Naro Moru, we
head north, stopping to look for Dusky Turtle Dove
and the near-endemic Boran Cisticola. Once in
Samburu, birds are profuse, and include Somali and
White-throated Bee-eaters, Golden Pipit, Vulturine
Guineafowl, Somali Ostrich, White-headed Mousebird,
Kori and Buff-crested Bustards, Pale Chanting
Goshawk, Violet Woodhoopoe, Donaldson-Smith’s
Sparrow-weaver, Black-capped Social Weaver, Shining
and Black-bellied Sunbirds, Bare-eyed Thrush and
Palm-nut Vulture. In addition, dry-country mammals
are present, including Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa
Oryx and Reticulated Giraffe, and Elephant, Lion,
Cheetah and Leopard are all possible. Over night
Samburu Block lodge. (B) (L) (D)
Day 14: A further day will be spent in Samburu .
Samburu Block Hotels (B) (L) (D)
Day 15: Heading back slowly into the highlands, we
will stop at Wajee Camp, where the endemic Hinde’s
Babbler lives in the grounds. In addition, African
Wood Owl roosts, and there is a selection of other
highland birds around. Overnight Wajee Bungalows (B)
(L) (D)
Day 16: Often include Yellow-crowned Bishop and
White-winged Widowbird. We will stop at Thika Blue
Posts, and have the option of an afternoon at Kieni
Forest. This remnant patch seems very quiet at
first, but is home to many scarce highland birds,
including Chestnut-throated and Black-throated
Apalises, Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Bar-tailed
Trogon, Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Olive and Bronze-naped
Pigeons, White-headed Woodhoopoe and Tullberg’s
Woodpecker. The grounds of the New Blue Posts are
also good for birding, and have scarcities which can
include African Penduline Tit, Black Duck,
Grey-olive Greenbul, Giant Kingfisher, Trumpeter
Hornbill, Black-collared Apalis and Purple-crested
Turaco. Overnight New Blue Posts Thika. (B) (L) (D)
Day 17: The final day will still be bird-filled.
After breakfast, we will have an Option to head for
Nairobi NP or straight to the Airport or spend more
time reluxing at the Lodge grounds. The park is
excellent for many grassland species, including up
to 9 species of Cisticola! Hartlaub’s Bustard is
regular, and other birds can include Northern Pied
Babbler, African Darter, Red-throated Tit, Shelley’s
Francolin, Jackson’s Widowbird, and African Finfoot
at the Hippo Pools. And Transfer to airport for
Flight Home. (B) (L)
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