12 Days Kenya Bird Watching Safari

12 Days Kenya Bird Watching Safari

12 Days Kenya Bird Watching Safari

Day 1: Nairobi Arrival

Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by our representative who will give you a brief welcoming note after which you will be transferred to your hotel. After checking in, you will enjoy a day at leisure. Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi Hotel orSimilar (BB).

Day 2: Nairobi-Masai Mara

After Breakfast depart for Masai Mara, The Masai Mara Game Reserve, is regarded as the most magnificent natural theatre in the world. Set in the heart of Africa’s Great Plains, it is home to the highest concentration of animals and birds anywhere on the continent. Dinner and Overnight stay will be at Sarova Mara Camp or similar.

Day 3 & 4: Masai Mara

Two full days in the Masai, the extensive grasslands are a strong hold to the threatened, migratory Corncrake and the near threatened Jackson’s widowbird. The bush and woodlands around the reserve also hold some unique bird species, more than 450 bird species have been recorded in the Mara, including 12 species of cisticola and birds of prey. Large numbers of palaerctic migrants’ winter in the area including Caspian plovers and white storks. Other local and unusual birds in the Mara include Rock Cisticola, Rufous Bellied Heron, Denham’s Bustard, Black Coucal, Red Tailed chat, Pale Wren Warbler, Tabora Cisticola, Yellow Bellied Hyliota, Green-capped Eremomela and Magpie Shrike. All meals, dinner and Overnight stay will be at Sarova Mara Camp.

Day 5:Masai Mara-Naivasha

Depart for Lake Naivasha morning bird walk or boat ride (Optional), the only fresh water rift valley lake in Kenya. It’s unique in that its’ freshness is maintained by a combination of underground out flow and sedimentation of salts. The lake supports a diverse water-bird community, with more than 80 species recorded regularly. It is a significant site for Red knobbed coots, African spoonbill, African jacana and little grebes depending on water levels. All meals will be served at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge (BLD) or similar.

Day 6: Full Day Naivasha

Full day at the lake Naivasha Region with bird walks around the Club grounds and a visit to the Elsa Mere field study center. Notable birds unique to this area include, Gadwall, Spotted Red Shank, Black Tailed Godwit, Great white egret, Black Headed Gull, Purple Swamp Hen and Mottled swift. Dinner and Overnight stay will be at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge or similar.

Day 7.Lake Naivasha to Lake Bogoria National Reserve

After an early breakfast, we will check out and depart towards the wonderful Lake Bogoria National Reserve, planning to arrive at Lake Bogoria Spa Lodge in time for lunch. After lunch, we will drive to the Lake Bogoria National Reserve. there are possibilities of sighting Chestnut- Winged Starlings, Slender billed starling, Rock Martin, Grey cuckoo shrike around the waterfalls. Proceed on by road into the Great Rift Valley and onto Lake Bogoria National Park. The Reserve’s herd of the rare Greater Kudu makes it unique and other game to view. The south shore of Lake Bogoria has acacia-ficus woodland and to the north is a papyrus swamp. Birds unique to this area include, Congregatory of Lesser and Greater flamingo, Steppe eagle, Curlew Sand piper, Black necked grebe and Black headed Plover. Dinner and Overnight Lake Bogoria Spa Resort(FB)

Day 8. Lake Baringo National Reserve

After breakfast we head to Lake Baringo early in the morning. We arrive and meet our coxswain ready to take us birding by motor boat. Unlike Lake Bogoria, just a few miles away, Lake Baringo is a freshwater lake which means a different mix of waterbirds. Some of the birds we expect to see here include Goliath Heron, Hamerkop, Senegal Thick-knee, Gull-billed Tern, Grey-headed Kingfisher, dazzling Northern Carmine Bee-eater, and Golden-backed Weaver, among others. After a two-hour boat ride, we have an hour or so to search for terrestrial beauties here like Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Spotted Palm Thrush and Abyssinian Roller among others,
before we break for lunch. In the late afternoon we resume birding, now along the cliffs, looking for Hemprich’s Hornbill, Bristle-crowned Starling, Verreaux’s Eagle, and Rock Hyrax, the eagle’s main prey. With the help of a local naturalist, we’ll walk along the famous Tugen Hills, known for their great diversity of raptors and owls, as well as interesting passerines. Here we hope to find Three-banded Courser, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, White-bellied Canary, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Jackson’s Hornbill, Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-billed and White-headed Buffalo Weavers, Dark Chanting Goshawk, African Grey and Nubian Woodpeckers, Red-and-yellow and D’Arnaud’s Barbets, and Purple Roller, and many others. Overnight: Soi Safari Lodge(FB)

Day 9: Baringo – L.Nakuru

We leave this morning drive to Lake Nakuru National Park coloured with a shimmering flamingo pink from thousands of the beautiful birds lining its shores. Nakuru National Park, a shallow and strongly alkaline lake, with surrounding acacia woodland & grassland. Firstly gazetted as a bird sanctuary is, known for its bird life for the thousands of Lesser and Greater flamingos make this lake their home, among hundreds of other Species unique to this area which include, White winged Black Tern, Hilderbrants Francolin, African fish eagle, Steppe
eagle, Grey crested Helmet Shrike, Red-capped lark, Spotted Crake. Wildlife is also in abundance here. Lake Nakuru National Park has been made into one of Kenya’s rhino sanctuary. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay tonight will be at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge (BLD).

Day 10: Nakuru-L.Elementaita

Breakfast and depart for Lake Elementaita, this destination has many species of Birds The Conservancy plays host to 450 bird species, and birding experts report up to 60 species of birds a day – a birder’s paradise including the flamingos and also home to great white pelicans, great crested grebe and is an important stopover for over 350 migratory bird species

Day 11: Full Day Lake Elemantaita

On this day you will have guided bird walks along the lake, conducted by the resident naturalist, with tools such as the binoculars and a birding list provided. The Conservancy plays host to 450 bird species, and birding experts report up to 60 species of birds a day – a birder’s paradise including the flamingos and also home to great white pelicans, great crested grebe and is an important stopover for over 350 migratory bird species. Overnight at Pelican Lodge(FB)

Day 12: Nairobi for departure

Depart after breakfast for Nairobi arriving by afternoon. Drop off at the airport as per your
schedule.

End of our 12 Days Kenya Bird Watching Safari

COST INCLUDES

• Full board accommodation on safari
• Meals as stipulated within the itinerary
• All park entry fees.
• Scheduled game drive
• Vehicle park entry fees
• Safari van with popup roof
• Service of a tour guide
• Bottles of water during safari
• Government Taxes
• Emergency air evacuation cover