$4,413 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Arrivals at Jomo Kinyatta International Airport
Arrivals at Jomo Kinyatta International Airport
Arrivals at Jomo Kinyatta International Airport in Nairobi City. Pick up by your driver guide and transfer to your hotel for refreshments, check-in and overnight stay. Early arrivals will give a chance for an optional birding in the Karura forest in Nairobi City.
Karura Forest is an urban forest located north of central Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, gazetted in 1932 and is run by the Kenya Forest Service in partnership with the Friends of Karura Forest. It provides a quiet and tranquil environment that inhabits more than 200 bird species and several Monkey species, Bushbaby, Bushbuck, Bushpig, Porcupine, Duiker, Genet, and Suni. Possible bird encounters include Mountain Wagtail, Yellow Bishop, spectacled weaver, Singing Cisticola, African Goshawk, African Crowned Eagle, Brown-chested Alethe, Narina Trogon, White-backed Duck, Malachite Kingfisher, Hartlaub’s Turaco, White-headed Barbet, Slender-billed Greenbul, African Black Duck, African Emerald Cuckoo and Red-chested Flufftail.
- Main Destination:
- Nairobi (City)
- Accommodation:
- Fairview Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Birding to Mount Kenya
Birding to Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa with a snow-capped peak rising to 17,100ft above sea level. En-route we may stop near the Tana River to search for the elusive Hinde’s Babbler, Sombre Greenbul, White-headed Saw-wing and Giant Kingfisher. We shall also have a Quick stop for a hot lunch at Sagana Gateway Resort and look for Hinde’s Babbler at Camp Malta then Proceed to Castle Forest Lodge for evening birding around Castle Forest Lodge. Yellow-whiskered greenbul, Placid, Grey-olive and Slender-billed Greenbul, Moustached and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds as well as Northern Double-collared Sunbird. Brown-capped Weaver and Western Citril, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Black-throated, Chestnut-throated and Grey Apalis, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Lemon Dove, African Emerald Cuckoo, Crowned & Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, Red-fronted Parrot, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher and Yellow-bellied Waxbill, may also be seen here.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kenya
- Accommodation:
- Castle Forest Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Whole day birding in the lower slopes of the forest in Mount Kenya
Whole day birding in the lower slopes of the forest in Mount Kenya
We shall have the opportunity of birding rich highland forest and species we will look for include the Crowned Eagle Mountain Buzzard, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Narina and Bar-tailed Trogons, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Moustached and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds, Black-throated, Chestnut-throated and Grey Apalises, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Oriole, Olive-breasted, Yellow-whiskered and Slender-billed Greenbuls, Grey Cuckooshrike, Mountain Yellow Warbler, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Brown Woodland Warbler, Slender-billed and Waller’s Starlings, White-starred Robin, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Kikuyu White-eye, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Brown-capped Weaver, Thick-billed Seedeater, Kandt's Waxbill and Red-backed Mannikin, Oriole Finch, etc.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kenya
- Accommodation:
- Castle Forest Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Birding to Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves
Birding to Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves
Shaba is known as one of the most scenically attractive reserves in Kenya, and together with neighbouring Buffalo Springs boasts a unique collection of game only found in this region, including Reticulated Giraffe, the attractive Grevy’s Zebra, Lesser Kudu, giraffe-necked Gerenuk and Beisa Oryx. These reserves consist of rugged mountains, Acacia woodland and inhospitable lava plains dissected by strips of verdant riverine vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River, while isolated springs away from the river provide much needed water for the areas’ faunal inhabitants. We shall spend our afternoon here.
- Main Destination:
- Shaba National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Lion's Cave Camp
Wildlife in Shaba NR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Bird to Buffalo Springs or/and Samburu reserve
Bird to Buffalo Springs or/and Samburu reserve
Some special birds that we will search for through the desolate but beautiful semi-desert scrub and riverine vegetation include Somali Ostrich, Vulturine Guineafowl, Somali Courser, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, White-throated and Somali Bee-eaters, Grant’s Wood Hoopoe, Nyanza Swift, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Greater Honeyguide, Black-throated Barbet, Red-winged, Pink-breasted and Williams’s Larks, Ashy Cisticola, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Northern Crombec, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Grey Wren-Warbler, the strange scrub-dwelling Red-fronted Warbler, Rufous Chatterer, Pygmy Batis, Acacia Tit, Northern Puffback, Rosypatched Bushshrike, Golden-breasted and Bristle-crowned Starlings, Golden Pipit, Black-bellied and Hunter’s Sunbirds, Straw-tailed Whydah, Black-capped Social Weaver, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Donaldson Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver, Golden Palm Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, African Silverbill, Cut-throat Finch, Parrot-billed Sparrow and Somali Bunting.
- Main Destination:
- Buffalo Springs National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Lion's Cave Camp
Wildlife in Buffalo Springs NR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Birding to Nakuru National Park
Birding to Nakuru National Park
After an early breakfast, we will move onwards towards Lake Nakuru National Park in the Great Rift Valley. Originally declared a national park because of its vast flamingo population, Lake Nakuru is also known for supporting populations of both species of African rhinoceros. The levels of the blue-green alkaline waters of the lake vary annually and this, with other accompanying environmental changes, causes considerable variation in the flamingo population. However, when they are present in masses, the lake turns rosy pink and the Lesser Flamingos usually form a “pink wall” along the entire length of the lake. We arrive late in the afternoon here and bird the rest of the evening.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Accommodation:
- Lake Nakuru Flamingo Resort & Spa
Wildlife in Lake Nakuru NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Whole day birding in Lake Nakuru National Park
Whole day birding in Lake Nakuru National Park
African Buffalo, Common Zebra, glamorous Rothschild’s Giraffe, several antelope species and Lion and Leopard may be found. Besides the flamingos, other water birds include African Great White Perican, cormorants, egrets, herons, ibises, ducks, African Spoonbill, and African Fish Eagle. Other species we may encounter include Coqui and Hildebrandt’s Francolins, White-fronted Bee-eater, Green Wood Hoopoe, Red-throated Wryneck, Red-rumped and Mosque Swallows, Mocking Cliff Chat, Little Rock Thrush, Arrow-marked Babbler, the scarce Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Rüppell’s Starling and Speke’s Weaver.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Accommodation:
- Lake Nakuru Flamingo Resort & Spa
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Early Morning transfer to Lake Baringo for birding
Early Morning transfer to Lake Baringo for birding
We shall spend the whole afternoon birding the trachyte cliffs of Lake Baringo. Along the cliffs, there are chances of a species or two of the owls namely Northern White-faced Scops Owl, Greyish Eagle-Owl, African Scops Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Scops Owl.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Baringo
- Accommodation:
- Sandai Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Full day birding in Lake Baringo
Full day birding in Lake Baringo
We do an early morning boat ride along the Lake and thereafter spend the rest of the day on a birding drive / walk. Along the lake, we expect flamingos, other water birds include African Great White Pelican, cormorants, egrets, herons, ibises, ducks, African Spoonbill, the regal African Fish Eagle Pied Kingfisher plus many others. Some of the target species for this area include Hemprich’s Hornbill, Jackson Hornbill, Bristle-crowned Starling, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Fox Kestrel, Somali Fiscal, Mouse-coloured Penduline-tit, Somali Tit, Fan-tailed Raven, Brown Babbler, Parrot-billed Sparrow, and White-billed Buffalo Weaver. Little Weaver, Northern Masked Weaver, Northern Red Bishop, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Cut-throat Finch, Heuglin’s Courser, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Star-spotted Nightjar and Verreaux’s Eagle.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Baringo
- Accommodation:
- Sandai Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Birding to Kakamega Forest
Birding to Kakamega Forest
Chances of birding along the Lodge gardens in the evening/afternoon. Rondo Retreat Centre's gardens create a serene and tranquil environment for bird lovers mostly. The forested area around the lodge consists of over 35 species of birds of which can also be found in Kakamega forest. Look out for Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Great Blue Turaco, African Green Pigeon, White-spotted Flufftail, Black-throated Apalis, African Crowned Eagle plus many others.
- Main Destination:
- Kakamega Forest National Reserve
- Accommodation:
-
Rondo Retreat
Wildlife in Kakamega Forest
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 11
Full day birding in Kakamega Forest
Full day birding in Kakamega Forest
We look out for White-tailed Ant-thrush, Black-faced rufous Warbler, yellow-crested/golden-crowned woodpecker, Equatorial Akalat, Luhder's Bush-shrike, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Kakamega Greenbul, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Honeyguide Greenbul, Blac-billed Turaco, Least Honeyguide, Red-headed Bluebill, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, White-browed Crombec, Chapins Flycatcher etc.
- Main Destination:
- Kakamega Forest National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Rondo Retreat
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 12
Birding from Kakamega to Kisumu - Hippo point along Lake Victoria
Birding from Kakamega to Kisumu - Hippo point along Lake Victoria
Travel from Kakamega to Kisumu and go direct to Hippo Point, at the bridge. Look for Papyrus Gonolek, Double-toothed Barbet, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Greater Swamp warbler, Bank Swallow, Swamp Flycatcher, Golden Backed weaver, Papyrus Canary, Little weaver, etc. Later after here drive to Naivasha for late afternoon birding or Boat ride in Lake Naivasha.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Victoria
- Accommodation:
- Dove Nest Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 13
Birding to Kinangop grasslands and later transfer to the airport for departure
Birding to Kinangop grasslands and later transfer to the airport for departure
The Kinangop Plateau is home to the endemic Sharpe’s Longclaw and near-endemic Jackson’s widowbird. Some of the other highlights include Lesser Jacana, Long-tailed Widowbird, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Mountain Buzzard, Moorland Chat, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Northern Ant-eater Chat, Malachite Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, and Yellow-crowned Canary. African Snipe, African Stonechat, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Golden-winged Sunbird.
- Main Destination:
- Kinangop Grasslands
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
