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From our menu of birding tours in Kenya this tour goes through Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. With minimal transfers in the Rift Valley, all of your day light hours are for quality bird watching. Naivasha with different habitats: fresh water lake, open savanna grasslands and acacia woodlands presents an opportunity to record a high number of Kenya birds species in a very relaxed way. Lake Nakuru is not only for flamingos but also for numerous species of water birds. Masai Mara the last section of this birding tour will not only be for birds but also for excellent game viewing. As always you can depend on our competent Kenya bird guides who will accompany you throughout the tour to be worth companions in finding, interpretation and appreciation of the many bird species you will find on this birding tour in Kenya. See the detailed itinerary below.
Contact Ontdek Kenya Safaris for a private departure or see our tours calendar for small group scheduled departures of similar birding tours.

Itinerary

Day 1. Kenya Birding tour: Nairobi
Arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the evening. Transfer to the La Mada or equivalent hotel.

Day 2. Kenya birding tour: Hell's Gate National Park
After breakfast we leave Nairobi via the Nakuru road to the Rift valley. The Nairobi - Nakuru road is on a contour along the rim of the Rift valley and on viewpoints we will be able to see our whole route for the next days. Our destination is Lake Naivasha: a fresh water lake in the Rift Valley.
On the way we stop at the Limuru Swamp where we do our first bird count: Little Grebe, Yellow-billed and Maccoa Duck, Pelicans, Coots, Egrets and Herons. Soaring are Black Kite, Augur Buzzard and Pied Crow.
After lunch we drive to Hell's Gate National Park. The first part is open grasslands bordered with steep rock cliffs in which the Rüppell's Griffon Vulture nests. Easy sightings here are the Verreaux's or Black Eagle, Common Ostrich, Black-shouldered Kite, White-fronted Bee-eater, Grassland and Long-billed Pipit, Northern and Schalow's Wheatear, Lilac-breasted Roller...
The narrow gorge has a completely different habitat and hence very different birds: Yellow, Grey and African Pied Wagtail, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Purple Grenadier, Common Drongo, Superb Starling, Brimstone Canary, Common Waxbill, White-browed Robin-Chat...
Accommodation is in the Lake Naivasha Sawela Lodge for 3 nights. The 55-acre property boasts green lawns shaded by mature acacias and spreading fever trees, that stretch down to the lake's shore.

Day 3. Crescent Island. O/N Lake Naivasha Sawela Lodge
We start our day with a boat ride on Lake Naivasha on the look out for a range of fish eaters: both the Long-tailed and Great Cormorant together with the Fish Eagle and the Pied, Malachite and Giant Kingfisher.
To have the best sightings of the Kenya birds species found in Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island is the place of choice. It is a lagoon from where we should be able to see Red-capped Lark, Spectacled and Baglafecht Weaver, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Brimstone Canary and Red-billed Firefinch.

Day 4+5. Kenya birding tour: Menengai Crater and Lake Nakuru. O/N Maili Saba Tented Camp
We transfer to the Menengai area which very beautiful with cliff walls and steam jets filling the crater with mist. It is only 10 km from the Nakuru National Park and has not been touched by tourism.
In the afternoon we will do a birding walk in the crater where we will enjoy the beautiful contrasts of nature. Rocks that have stood the test of time, natural springs with mirror clear water, lava that reminds us that this is the Rift Valley and baboons trooping around with their babies. Possible sightings here are the Common Stonechat, Yellow-rumped Seedeater, Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting, Yellow Bishop, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Northern Anteater chat, White-fronted Bee-eater and Shallow's Wheatear. (Alternative accommodation on this birding tour is Sunbird Lodge on the shores of lake Elementaita)
On day 5 your birding tour goes to Lake Nakuru, which is famous for its thousands of Lesser Flamingos - the Greater Flamingoes will be easily distinguishable by their height. The Great White and Pink-backed Pelican and Black-winged Stilt are also there.
The lake has a low concentration of salt, so it supports fish that of course attract other water birds.
It is a good place to look for Avocets, Storks, Ibises, Ducks, Cormorants, Herons, and Terns. In the wooded acacias there is a chance to see the White-browed Coucal, Broad-billed Roller, Arrow-marked Babbler and the Narina Trogon.
We go with a picnic lunch, so that we can take a full day for birding and game viewing in the park.

Day 6,7+8. Birding tour: Masai Mara. O/N Mara Simba / Sarova Mara / Keekorok / Mara Leisure
We head to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders Serengeti in Tanzania. Mara is the gem of birding and game viewing in Kenya with 450 species recorded. We will drive through Masai land, home to one of the most fascinating cultures in Africa.
In the vast grasslands we expect to see Elephants; the large Cats - Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah; the herd animals - Zebra, Wildebeest, Thompson's and Grant's Gazelles; and specialties like the Hartebeest and the Topi.
Expected Kenyan bird species are the highly conspicuous Common Ostrich, the small but still conspicuous Cardinal Quelea, Sooty Chat, Ground Hornbill, Open-billed Stork, Temminck's Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse and Denham's Bustard. Lilac-breasted Rollers are common. If we find a kill, we may see six species of vultures all dining together: Egyptian, Hooded, Griffon, Nubian, White-backed and White-headed. It will be a double reward should a Hyena or a Jackal join in the scramble for the kill.
In addition we will encounter numerous raptors such as Bateleur, Martial and Tawny Eagles, as well as Pale Chanting Goshawk, Augur Buzzards and Black-chested Snake Eagles. Along the Mara River we'll watch for African Finfoot, Schalow's and Ross' Turaco, Woodland Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Barbet, Black-billed Weaver, Violet-backed Starling, and perhaps with luck, Pel's Fishing Owl. Any tapping noise on the trees may be indicative of the relatively uncommon Woodpeckers (Golden-tailed, Green-backed and Fine-banded).
Hopefully we will be lucky enough to see some of the more difficult to see mammals such as Bat-eared Fox, Hunting Dog, Serval and the delightful Banded Mongoose.

Day 9. Back to Nairobi
Transfer back to Nairobi in time for lunch. Day rooms are at your disposal until 6 p.m. Evening transfer to the airport where we say goodbye.
Itinerary changes on this birding tour may be made due to local conditions beyond our control.

PRICE: Our attractive price based on the size of your party includes all accommodation as per itinerary, all meals from breakfast of day 2 through lunch of day 7, all transport Nairobi-Nairobi and airport transfers, bottled water during the walks, services of guides, a comprehensive bird checklist, the park entrance fees and a Flying Doctors Evacuation cover. The only extras on you are spendings on airfare to Kenya, airport taxes, visa, insurance, drinks, tips and expenditure of personal nature.

 

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From our menu of birding holidays in Kenya, this is a 2 weeks tour starting with the Swara Plains, a bird rich nature conservancy south of Nairobi, followed by the Rift Valley Lakes where we offer a mix of fresh water lakes (Naivasha and Baringo) and salt water lakes (Nakuru and Bogoria). Move further west and spend 2 full days birdwatching in the unique Kakamega Forest, a remaining patch of the tropical rain forest. The last 3 days of the tour are reserved for Masai Mara, the Africa of everyone's dream: rolling plains, great wildlife and a wide diversity of Kenya birds species. See the detailed itinerary below.
Contact Ontdek Kenya Safaris for a private departure or see our tours calendar for small group scheduled departures of similar tours.

Itinerary

Day 1. Swara Plains. O/N Acacia Camp
Arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the evening. 45 Min transfer to the Acacia Camp in the Swara Plains.
Acacia camp is a rustic safari resort with only 13 comfortable bandas, limiting the number of visitors in the conservancy. It is a place to switch-off from hectic life as you immerse yourself in unspoiled nature. Good food is a big part of the camp – expect healthy meals that will keep you energized for whatever activity you choose.

Day 2. Swara Plains. O/N Acacia Camp
A day to relax and wear off jet lag but not without an introduction of the Kenyan birds.
The 20,000 acres Swara Plains Conservancy is old wild Africa at its very best: wide open savanna grasslands, tall yellow fever trees, endless views, over 3000 resident population of easy to see game and +270 bird species. The Swara Plains are part of the Tsavo-Amboseli eco-system and with exception of elephants, rhinos and buffaloes all the other plains game found in Tsavo and Amboseli is found here. In this adventure resort you will see big herds of oryx, elands, wildebeests, giraffes, monkeys, hartebeests, zebras, impalas, Grant's and Thompson's gazelles, warthogs and the occasional gerenuk (= giraffe-neck gazelle) in total absence of mass tourism.
On our safari we will see Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Crowned Crane, Vulture, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Tawny Eagle and a herd of elands should provide Red-billed Oxpecker perched on their backs. Black Kite, Marabou Stork, Pied Crow and African Palm Swift are also available in the conservancy.

Day 3+4. Lake Elementaita & Lake Nakuru. O/N Sunbird Lodge
After breakfast we leave Nairobi via the Nakuru road to the Rift valley. The Nairobi - Nakuru road is on a contour along the rim of the Rift valley and on viewpoints we will be able to see our whole route for the next days. Our destination is the recently opened Sunbird Lodge, which is built on a cliff overlooking Lake Elementaita.
On the way we take a brief stop at the Limuru Swamp to see resident species such as the Little Grebe, Yellow-billed and Maccoa Duck, Pelicans, Coots, Egrets and Herons. Soaring are Black Kite, Augur Buzzard and Pied Crow.
Our birding safaris are designed to keep us from the crowded lodges in the Lake Nakuru National Park.
In the afternoon of day 3 we will descend from the lodge to the shore of Lake Elementaita. Obviously this place is great for numerous water birds (e.g. African Spoonbill, both species of Flamingos, Pied Kingfisher, Cape Teal...) but the acacia woods along the lake offer a wide range of new bird species e.g. Fish Eagle, Fisher's Lovebird, White-fronted Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, Klaas's and Red-chested Cuckoo, Grosbeak Weaver...
Lake Nakuru our venue for day 4 is always a favorite in our tours. There are thousands of Lesser Flamingos, Greater Flamingos, Great White and Pink-backed Pelican as well as other water species. The lake has a low concentration of salt, so it supports fish that of course attract more bird species.
It is a good place to look for Avocets, Storks, Ibises, Ducks, Cormorants, Herons, and Terns. In the wooded acacias there is a chance to see the White-browed Coucal, Broad-billed Roller, Arrow-marked Babbler and the Narina Trogon.
We go with a picnic lunch, so that we can take a full day in the park.

Day 5,6+7. Lake Baringo. O/N Lake Baringo Country Club
After breakfast we head further north to Lake Baringo which without doubt is a one of the most interesting places for bird watching in Kenya because of the different habitats that are found with-in a small radius. There is the fresh water lake with a slight degree of alkalinity, cliffs, open grasslands as well as scattered bushes.
Over 400 Kenyan birds species have been recorded in this area. The woodlands by the lake are alive with White-browed Sparrow-Weavers, Jackson's and Red-billed Hornbills, Bristle-crowned Starlings, and the rare Northern Masked Weavers, there are several Hamerkops along the lake shore and with luck we should be able to see their nest, which a pair of Grey Kestrels have adopted as a home. There will be time to relax, enjoy the pool, and walk around the grounds of the lodge on the look out for the resident Spotted Eagle-owls, and Sunbirds such as the Beautiful, Hunter's and the Violet-breasted. Nightjars are common on the lake shores at night and the Hippos graze freely on the lodge's lawn. Overnight is at the Lake Baringo Country Club.
While at Baringo our safari detours to Lake Bogoria on day 6. This is an alkaline lake famous for its thousands of Flamingos and beautiful hot springs. As this area is very hot, we go early and return to the Baringo Country Club in time for a late lunch. Afternoon is spent birding leisurely in the garden of the lodge.
Before breakfast on day 7 we will explore the escarpment and surrounding countryside for Hemprich's and Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, White-crested Turaco, Madagascar Bee-eater, Rufous-crowned Roller, Gabar Goshawk, Cliff Chat and Verreaux's Eagle which feeds on the Rock Hyrax.
Later on the day we make a boat ride over Lake Baringo, always on the lookout for new species. We will come close to the Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, plus swimming hippo and crocodiles.

Day 8+9. Kakamega Forest. O/N Rondo Retreat
A Kenyan birdwatching tour is nearly incomplete without a visit to the Kakamega rain forest. This forest, in the heart of an intensively cultivated agricultural area, is a superb remainder of virgin tropical rain forest and is of course the home to a wide range of specialty birds, many which are not found anywhere else in Kenya. The forest is not only home to the rare De Brazza's monkey (only found in Kakamega Forest), but also to the Hammer-headed Fruit Bat, Flying Squirrel, 400 species of butterflies and no less than 330 species of birds.

Yes, birding in a forest has its fair share of difficulties but this is easily forgotten when our count increases with hopeful sightings of the impressive Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Ross' and the Great Blue Turaco. Other notables are the Grey-headed Negro-finch, Red-headed Bluebill, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Mackinnon’s Shrike and many more. Overnight in the Rondo Retreat in the forest.

Day 10. To Lake Naivasha + Crescent Island. O/N Sawela Lodge
A scenic transfer through the Nandi Hills and the tea rich area of Kericho takes us back to Nakuru and further south to the Lake Naivasha area.
Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake without a known outlet. This is very strange considering that the rivers that feed it are salty. The lake has dense vegetation, which in turn supports a variety of Kenyan species. The area has a count of 350 bird species.
We reach the Sawela Lodge, built on the shore of Lake Naivasha, in time for a late lunch where we'll stay for the next two nights. In the afternoon we do a boat ride on the lake, which gives us not only the chance to see numerous Hippos but also a wide variety of fresh water species. We dock on Crescent Island, a peninsula in Lake Naivasha and a haven for both bird watchers and hikers.

Day 11. Crater Lake. O/N Sawela Lodge
An early rising will ensure that one gets another magical display of the various birds in the garden of the Sawela Lodge. After breakfast we do a 40 min transfer by car to the nearby Crater Lake nature conservancy. It is a lesser lake in the Rift Valley but a place where nature is at its best.
We do a walk in the nature conservancy, always on the look out for birds and game which is in abundance at Crater Lake. We spot e.g. the Wattled Starling, Shalow's Wheatear, Purple Grenadier, Black-lored Babbler, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher...
After the walk / game drive in the conservancy, we descend to the lake shore. Here you can spot birds from your seat of the bar of the Crater Lake Camp. Birding couldn't be easier here. The Crimson-rumped Waxbill, African Citril, Grey-headed Bush-shrike, White-browed Robin-chat, Red-fronted Barbet and Red-cheeked Cordonbleu are just a few of the species you can see here.

Day 12,13+14. Masai Mara. O/N Mara Leisure Tented Camp or Ashnil Mara Tented Camp
We head to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders Serengeti in Tanzania. With over 450 species recorded, excellent game viewing opportunities, the fascinating Masai culture, Mara is always a grand finale in our tours.
In the vast grasslands we expect to see Elephants; the large Cats - Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah; the herd animals - Zebra, Wildebeest, Thompson's and Grant's Gazelles; and specialties like the Hartebeest and the Topi.
Expected species are the highly conspicuous Common Ostrich, the small but still conspicuous Cardinal Quelea, Sooty Chat, Ground Hornbill, Open-billed Stork, Temminck's Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse and Denham's Bustard. Lilac-breasted Rollers are common. If we find a kill, we may see six species of vultures all dining together: Egyptian, Hooded, Griffon, Lappet-faced, White-backed and White-headed. It will be a double reward should a Hyena or a Jackal join in the scramble for the kill.
In addition we will encounter numerous raptors such as Bateleur, Martial and Tawny Eagles, as well as Pale Chanting Goshawk, Augur Buzzards and Black-chested Snake Eagles. Along the Mara River we'll watch for African Finfoot, Schalow's and Ross' Turaco, Crested Guineafowl, Woodland Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Barbet, Black-billed Weaver, Violet-backed Starling, and perhaps with luck, Pel's Fishing Owl. Any tapping noise on the trees may be indicative of the relatively uncommon Woodpeckers (Golden-tailed and Fine-banded). Hopefully we will be lucky enough to see some of the more difficult to see mammals such as Bat-eared Fox, Hunting Dog, Serval and the delightful Banded Mongoose.

Day 15. Kiambethu Tea Farm + to the airport for outbound flight
Our birding tour ends with a lunch at the Kiambethu Tea Farm. This is an old colonial home established by the early settlers and the pioneers of tea growing in Kenya. There will be a talk on tea: its arrival in Kenya, the growing, processing and up to when you put it into your cup. A short hike in the tea plantation and into a small remaining part of indigenous forest completes the tour. We might add to our list some Mannikins, Golden-winged, Double-collared and Amethyst Sunbirds, Grosbeak Weavers... We have a healthy farm lunch and thereafter transfer to Nairobi for the evening flight out.
Itinerary changes in our tours may be made due to local conditions beyond our control.

PRICE: Our attractive price based on the size of your party includes all accommodation as per itinerary, all meals from breakfast of day 2 through lunch of day 15, all transport Nairobi-Nairobi and airport transfers, bottled water during the walks, services of guides, a comprehensive bird checklist, the park entrance fees and a Flying Doctors Evacuation cover. The only extras on you are spendings on airfare to Kenya, airport taxes, visa, insurance, drinks, tips and expenditure of personal nature.

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