​Birds – Amboseli NP

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Amboseli National Park is a good birding destination with around 500 species recorded. The swamps are great for egrets, herons, pelicans, lapwings, cranes and other waterbirds. In recent years, Enkongo Narok Swamp has filled to become a lake and it often hosts impressive flocks of greater and lesser flamingo. These are best seen from the causeway between junctions 25 and 26. Grassland specials include the localized Pangani longclaw, as well as the kori, Hartlaub’s and white-bellied bustard. Acacia woodland holds dry-country specials, such as steel-blue whydah, white-bellied go-away bird and Von der Decken’s hornbill.

Notable Birds in Amboseli NP
African jacana
Common
Grey crowned crane
Common
Lesser flamingo
Common
Long-toed lapwing
Common
White-headed buffalo-weaver
Common

Birding Rating

Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders

(NE) near-endemic = also lives in neighboring countries

Facts & Figures

Birds in Amboseli NP
Bird Species
500
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr

Best Time for Bird Watching

Amboseli is a year-round bird-watcher’s paradise, with most of its more alluring species resident and visible throughout the year. In recent times, large flocks of flamingo have usually been present year-round, with numbers peaking in the two rainy periods (March to May and November to December). Migratory birds visit from November to April. The best months for birding are from December to March. Rain is more likely to disrupt your activities in November and April.

Want To Visit Amboseli NP?

958 Amboseli Safaris

Birding Rating

Facts & Figures

Birds in Amboseli NP
Bird Species
500
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr