13 Days Kenya Birding Safari

Your 13 Days Kenya Birding Safari begins upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. A representative from Safari Trips to Kenya will welcome you and arrange your transfer to the selected hotel. Depending on your arrival time, the afternoon may be spent resting or enjoying an introductory birdwatching excursion in a suitable location.

Nairobi offers interesting birding opportunities because its gardens, woodlands, wetlands and nearby protected areas support a surprisingly varied bird community. Common urban and suburban species may include sunbirds, weavers, bulbuls, doves and several raptors. Your guide can help you become familiar with some of the species likely to be encountered during the journey.

In the evening, discuss the birding itinerary, target habitats, equipment and daily routines with your guide. Birdwatching generally begins early, when birds are more active and vocal, so it is useful to prepare binoculars, cameras, notebooks and field guides before departure.

Meals: According to the selected hotel arrangement

After an early breakfast, begin your first full birdwatching day in the Nairobi region. Depending on access arrangements and the selected route, your guide may organise visits to suitable forest, woodland or wetland habitats around the city.

The Nairobi highlands support species associated with montane forest and woodland environments. Birders may search for turacos, greenbuls, sunbirds, woodpeckers, flycatchers and various forest-edge species. The precise species encountered will depend on the chosen site, season and prevailing conditions.

A specialist guide can help identify birds through their calls, behaviour and preferred habitats. This is particularly valuable in wooded environments where birds may remain hidden among leaves and branches. Rather than moving quickly between sites, the day can be organised around productive areas where several species may be observed.

Return to the hotel in the afternoon or evening. Review the day's sightings and prepare for the journey into the Great Rift Valley.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner where included

After breakfast, depart Nairobi and travel towards Lake Naivasha, descending into the Great Rift Valley. The journey passes escarpments, cultivated highlands and areas of woodland that may provide opportunities for roadside bird observations at safe, authorised stopping points.

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake supporting an impressive variety of aquatic birds. Depending on water levels and habitat conditions, visitors may encounter African fish eagles, pelicans, cormorants, herons, egrets, kingfishers and jacanas.

After arriving at your lodge, enjoy lunch before heading out for an afternoon birdwatching excursion. A guided boat trip can provide opportunities to observe birds along the shoreline, where different species feed, nest or rest among vegetation.

Your guide will explain how freshwater habitats differ from the alkaline lakes elsewhere in the Rift Valley. Hippos are also commonly encountered around Lake Naivasha, although boat excursions must follow appropriate safety procedures.

Accommodation: Lake Naivasha lodge

Spend the day exploring the birdlife of Lake Naivasha and suitable surrounding habitats. Early morning is particularly rewarding because many birds become active soon after sunrise.

Wetland birdwatching may reveal African fish eagles, purple herons, grey herons, great egrets, African jacanas and several kingfisher species. Woodland and garden habitats around the lake can support sunbirds, weavers, barbets and other smaller birds.

Depending on access and your interests, a guided visit to Crescent Island or another appropriate birdwatching location may be arranged. These excursions can also provide opportunities to observe giraffes, zebras and antelopes.

The afternoon may be spent exploring additional lakeside habitats or reviewing photographs and field notes. The slower pace allows birders to concentrate on identification rather than travelling long distances.

Accommodation: Lake Naivasha lodge

After breakfast, travel to Lake Nakuru National Park, one of Kenya's best-known Rift Valley wildlife destinations. The park includes alkaline lake habitats, grasslands, woodland and rocky escarpments, providing opportunities to encounter a broad range of bird species.

Lake Nakuru is historically associated with spectacular flamingo gatherings, although flamingo numbers fluctuate considerably with water levels, food availability and conditions across the Rift Valley lake system. Both lesser and greater flamingos may occur, but large concentrations cannot be guaranteed.

Birders may also search for pelicans, cormorants, storks, herons, raptors and woodland species. The park's varied habitats make it possible to combine wetland birdwatching with observations of terrestrial birds.

Lake Nakuru is also an important rhinoceros conservation area. During game drives, you may encounter black or white rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and other wildlife.

Accommodation: Lake Nakuru safari lodge

After breakfast, travel north towards Lake Baringo, passing through landscapes that become progressively drier. This change in environment is one of the most interesting aspects of the itinerary because it introduces bird species adapted to semi-arid woodland, scrubland and lakeshore habitats.

Lake Baringo is a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley and is widely recognised as a rewarding birdwatching destination. The surrounding area supports a variety of kingfishers, hornbills, starlings, weavers, raptors and other species.

Depending on arrival time, enjoy an afternoon birdwatching excursion around accessible lakeshore or woodland habitats. Your guide will select locations according to current conditions, safety considerations and local access arrangements.

The evening may provide opportunities to listen for nocturnal birds, although night excursions must be organised with appropriate guides and permissions.

Accommodation: Lake Baringo lodge or camp

Begin before sunrise for a full day of Lake Baringo birdwatching. The combination of freshwater habitats, rocky terrain and dry woodland supports a distinctive bird community.

Depending on the season and locations visited, birders may search for kingfishers, hornbills, bee-eaters, starlings, barbets and various birds of prey. The region is particularly interesting for species associated with drier environments that may be less common around Lake Naivasha.

A local bird guide can provide valuable knowledge of productive sites and help locate species by recognising calls and behaviour. Birdwatching should be conducted patiently, avoiding disturbance to nesting birds and sensitive habitats.

Return to your accommodation for lunch or carry a packed meal, depending on the excursion. Continue birdwatching during the afternoon before returning to the lodge.

Accommodation: Lake Baringo lodge or camp

After breakfast, depart Lake Baringo and travel west towards Kakamega Forest, passing through changing landscapes and agricultural areas. This is a substantial transfer day, and the journey should be planned with suitable breaks.

Kakamega Forest is one of Kenya's most important forest birdwatching destinations. It contains tropical rainforest habitats associated with the western part of the country and supports species that are uncommon or absent from Kenya's more open savannah environments.

Upon arrival, check into your accommodation and enjoy an introductory forest walk if time permits. Birdwatching in dense forest requires a different approach from open-country birding. Many species are identified first by their calls, and patience is essential when observing birds moving through the canopy.

Spend the evening preparing for the following day's forest excursions.

Accommodation: Kakamega Forest lodge or guesthouse

Begin early for a guided birdwatching walk in Kakamega Forest. The forest is particularly important for bird species associated with tropical woodland and rainforest environments.

Depending on the route and conditions, birders may search for turacos, hornbills, barbets, greenbuls, flycatchers, sunbirds and other forest specialists. Some species are difficult to observe because they remain high in the canopy or move through dense vegetation.

Your guide will use bird calls and knowledge of feeding behaviour to identify productive areas. Forest birdwatching often rewards patience, with several species appearing suddenly in mixed feeding groups.

Return to your accommodation for lunch and rest before another afternoon excursion. The forest also supports butterflies, primates and interesting plant communities, adding variety to the experience.

Accommodation: Kakamega Forest lodge or guesthouse

After breakfast, depart Kakamega and travel towards the Masai Mara ecosystem. The route introduces another dramatic change in habitat, moving from tropical forest towards open grasslands and savannah landscapes.

This journey can take much of the day, depending on the chosen route and accommodation location. Birdwatching stops may be made where safe and practical, but the main priority is reaching the Masai Mara with sufficient time to settle into the lodge.

The Masai Mara supports a very different bird community from Kakamega Forest. Open-country species include bustards, secretarybirds, ostriches, raptors and various grassland birds.

If arrival time permits, enjoy an introductory game drive with opportunities to observe both birds and larger mammals.

Accommodation: Masai Mara lodge or tented camp

Spend the day exploring the Masai Mara National Reserve, concentrating on grassland birds, raptors and species associated with riverine habitats.

Birdwatchers may search for secretarybirds, kori bustards, ostriches, vultures, eagles, rollers and various smaller savannah species. The reserve's open landscapes can provide excellent opportunities to observe birds of prey hunting or soaring above the plains.

Your guide will also look for lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and other mammals. Combining birdwatching with wildlife viewing makes this day particularly rewarding for travellers with varied interests.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at an authorised location before continuing the afternoon excursion. The route can be adapted according to recent sightings and the habitats you wish to explore.

Accommodation: Masai Mara lodge or tented camp

Your final full day in the Masai Mara provides an opportunity to explore habitats not previously visited. Depending on accessibility and the lodge location, your guide may concentrate on riverine woodland, open grasslands or areas where raptors are frequently observed.

The Mara River and associated habitats support waterbirds, kingfishers, herons and birds of prey. The surrounding grasslands provide opportunities to search for bustards, secretarybirds and other open-country species.

During the migration season, large herds of wildebeest and zebras may also be present. However, herd movements and river crossings are unpredictable and should be treated as additional wildlife opportunities rather than guaranteed events.

Spend the afternoon enjoying a final birdwatching excursion and reviewing the species recorded during the journey.

Accommodation: Masai Mara lodge or tented camp

After breakfast, depart the Masai Mara and travel back to Nairobi. The road journey generally takes several hours, depending on traffic, road conditions and the accommodation location.

Upon arrival, transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or another agreed drop-off point. Travellers should allow sufficient time for international flight check-in and possible road delays.

Your 13 Days Kenya Birding Safari concludes with a broad introduction to Kenya's forest, wetland, lake and savannah birdlife.