-The Nairobi National Park

KENYAN BEST ITINERARIES
› 7 Days Best Of Kenya Overland Tour
› 21 Days Best Of Kenya & Tanzania Safari
› 14 Days Best Of Kenya

COASTAL TOURS

› Mombasa 1/2 Day City Tour
› Mamba Village afternoon visit
› Tamarind Evening Dhow
› Ngomongo Cultural Tour
› Shimba National Reserve
› Tsavo East National Park
› Nature Trail Park
› . .

BIRDS OF KENYA

Eastern Africa is famous for its bird life which is incomparable for their visibility. The diversity of the bird life comes about because of the variety of habitats: from desert to wet forests, from sea level to snow-capped mountains. This diversity is also enhanced by the phenomenon of migration. Kenya boasts of one of the richest avifauna in Africa with around 1090 bird species recorded. At least eight of these are national endemics. Around 170 species of Kenya's birds species are Palearctic migrants (11 species of them with a local breeding population too), mainly from Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Siberia. Another 60 species migrate regularly within the Afro tropics or from Madagascar. Some 335 species are found in forest; 230 species are entirely forest dependent and 110 species are "forest specialists" requiring intact, undisturbed habitat and forty species of global conservation concern are known to occur in Kenya. Four of these are critically endangered, two Endangered and 16 species are Vulnerable. Take an exotic safari through nature, and experience the privilege of being a part of it.

12 Days: Nairobi /Aberdare /Samburu /Mt Kenya/Lake Nakuru/ L.Baringo/ Maasai Mara/ Lake Naivasha.

Birds can be seen in the following habitats: forest, grassland, wetland, barren land, rocks and cliffs, human sites.

Day 1: Nairobi National Park.
Pick up from your Nairobi Hotel and transfer to Nairobi National Park, which lies within the shadows of the large capital city. With highland forest, Acacia woodland, rocky escarpments, open grassland, large ponds, and small streams, this park is home to a wide variety of birds and mammals. Some of the key species we will search for here are Shelley's Francolin, Hartlaub's Bustard, Spotted Thick-knee, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Singing Cisticola, Banded and Brown Warblers, African Yellow Warbler, Northern Pied Babbler, White-breasted White-eye, Long-tailed Fiscal, and White-winged Widowbird. Nairobi National Park is without a doubt the best place in Kenya to see the endangered Black Rhino, and we have a very good chance of locating this very impressive species together with many of the other mammals we have seen before. Return to your hotel for overnight dinner and overnight.

Day 2:Aberdares:Mountain Lodge.
Breakfast at your Hotel and depart for the Aberdares with short stops en route. Our first destination is the Blue Post Hotel in Thika, where we will bird the hotel grounds and woodlands along the Chania River. Here we will start seeing our first exciting African species, which may include Hadada Ibis, Red-eyed Dove, African Green-pigeon, Speckled Mousebird, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-headed and Spot-flanked Barbets, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Mountain Wagtail, Grey-olive Greenbul, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Grey-capped Warbler, Variable, Collared and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Holub's Golden-weaver, Baglafecht Weaver and African Citril. Our second stop will be at the large Tana River, where we should find Moustached Grass-warbler, African Golden-weaver, Yellow Bishop, and Brown-backed and Bronze Mannikins.
We will make another stop at Wajee Camp, a noted site for the endemic Hinde's Pied-babbler. While birding the steep forested slopes of the camp, we stand a chance of locating Ayre's Hawk-eagle, African Wood-owl, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, and Green-headed Sunbird. Serena Mountain Lodge is located on the lower slopes of Mt Kenya, Africa's second tallest mountain, and is an excellent place to locate many highland forest species. Along the entrance road we may encounter Augur Buzzard, Crowned Hawk-eagle, Hartlaub's Turaco, Moustached Tinkerbird, Mosque Swallow, Black Saw-wing, Sharpe's Starling, Black-tailed Oriole, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, African Paradise-flycatcher, Cape Robin-chat, African Stonechat, Broad-ringed White-eye, and Eastern Double-collared Sunbird. The large waterhole and salt lick at the lodge is host to many mammals and we can expect Blue Sykes Monkey, White-tailed and Marsh Mongooses, Common Genet, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Giant Forest Hog, and the tiny Suni. At an elevation of almost 8,000ft nights can be quite chilly. One night stay at the Serena Mountain Lodge.

Days 3-4: Samburu.
Early-morning birding from the lodge balcony is always productive and may include Marabou Stork, Black Goshawk, Delegourge's Pigeon, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Cape Wagtail, Slender-billed and Mountain Greenbuls, Rüppell's Robin-chat, Hunter's Cisticola, Grey and Black-throated Apalis, Grey-headed Negrofinch and Yellow-crowned Canary. We will also take a short walk from the lodge along the entrance road in search of the more secretive species of the area such as Scaly Francolin, African Hill Babbler, White-starred Robin, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Mountain Yellow Warbler, White-browed Crombec, Yellow-bellied Waxbill and Oriole Finch. Mid-morning we will leave the cool climate of Mt Kenya for more arid country in the north, specifically the Samburu Game Reserve. The drive will offer spectacular scenery, and the grasslands along the roadside are a great place for Black-winged Plover, Black-shouldered Kite, Dusky Turtle-dove, Angola Swallow, Greater Blue-eared Glossy-starling, Cape Rook, Boran Cisticola, Tacazze Sunbird, Red-collared and Long-tailed Widowbirds (seasonal) and Speke's Weaver. Samburu is one of the most exciting reserves in East Africa. The semi-desert habitat and the rich woodlands along the Ewaso Nyiro River are teeming with wildlife. Exploration of the fantastic reserve will produce an almost overwhelming array of bird species: Palm-nut and Hooded Vultures, Bateleur, Martial Eagle, African Hawk-eagle, Crested and Yellow-necked Francolins, Vulturine Guineafowl, Buff-crested and White-bellied Bustards, Black-faced and Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Red-bellied Parrot, African Scops-owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Somali Bee-eater, Rufous-crowned Roller, Von der Decken's Hornbill, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Bearded Woodpecker, Pink-breasted Lark, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Rosy-patched Bush-shrike, Hunter's and Black-bellied Sunbirds, Golden-breasted and Fischer's Starlings, Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-weaver, Cut-throat and the stunning Somali Bunting. Mammal life is also prolific, with many species not seen elsewhere on our tour. Just a few of the many possibilities are Olive Baboon, Black-faced Vervet Monkey, Dwarf Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Grevy's Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Kirk's Dikdik, Common Waterbuck, Gerenuk and the magnificent Beisa Oryx. Dinner and overnight at the Samburu Serena Lodge or similar.

Day 5:Mt. Kenya/Naro Moru River.
Breakfast from your lodge and depart Samburu for Mt.Kenya region arriving at the Naro-Moru River lodge early afternoon for lunch, spend the rest of the day birding at this montane forest. Rare species likely to be seen include; Green Ibis, Lesser Spotted Eagle,Harrier Hawk, Rufous Sparrow hawk, Ayre's Hawk Eagle.Black stork, Red Fronted Parrots, Green Ibis Common snipe, Mountain Buzzard, Bronze napped pigeon Mountain white-eye, Abbots Starling, Sharpe's Starling, Mountain Oriole and Thick-billed seedeater. Dinner and Overnight stay will be at Naro Moru River Lodge .

Day 6:Lake Nakuru.
Morning depart for Lake Nakuru National Park allowing time to search for several key species along the way. A large rocky escarpment en route is a favorite roosting spot for the Mackinder's Eagle-owl and with some luck we should be able to locate this highly sought-after species. The Acacia scrub by a nearby lake is a favourite haunt for Little Grebe, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-winged Starling, Little Rock-thrush, Pale Flycatcher, and Purple Grenadier. In the early afternoon we will arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park, the greatest birding spectacle on earth! Huge numbers of Lesser Flamingos feed in the shallow alkaline water, sometimes up to a million, with smaller numbers of Greater Flamingos. Exploring the Acacia woodland and the lakeside marshes we will no doubt encounter many wonderful avian delights: Great White Pelican, Great Cormorant, African Spoonbill, African Fish-eagle, African Harrier-hawk, Hildebrandt's Francolin, Grey-headed Gull, Broad-billed Roller, Levaillant's Cuckoo, White-browed Coucal, Green Wood-hoopoe, Rufous-necked Wryneck, Grey Woodpecker, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Northern Anteater-chat, Grey-backed Fiscal, Brown-crowned Tchagra and African Firefinch. Mammals are also quite common in the park and it is one of the few places in East Africa where the endangered White Rhino can be found. Some of the other mammals we hope to find include Rothchild's Giraffe and Reedbuck. Dinner and overnight stay at the Sarova Lion Hill/Similar.

Day 7:Lake Baringo.
Full day at Baringo, well known by many avid Ornithologist as mecca for Birds, with 500 species of birds having been recorded. There are possibilities to see rare species like, Cape Eagle Owl, White-faced Scops Owl, Jackson's Hornbill, Hemprich's Hornbill, Brown-Tailed Rock Chat, Northern Red Bishop, Northern Masked Weaver and White Billed Buffalo Weaver, Olivaceous Warbler, Northern brownbul, Jackson's golden backed weaver, Little weaver, Brown Tailed Rock Chat, Goliath heron, Northern Shoveller, Verreauxs eagle owl, Bristle crowned starling, Senegal Thicknee, Pygmy falcon, Blue cheeked bee-eater. Dinner and Overnight at the Lake Baringo Country Club or similar.

Days 8, 9 & 10: Maasai Mara.
Depart early morning for Masai Mara Game Reserve in south-western Kenya. The Mara is the northern extension of the famous Serengeti plains. Here we will find a wide variety of bird life, as well as some of the most spectacular mammals on the continent. Complimenting the wildlife is the dramatic scenery of endless grasslands, lush river valleys, and steep rock strewn escarpments. Birds we can expect in this area of the Mara are Rufous-bellied Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Wahlberg's Eagle, Coqui and Red-necked Francolins, Grey Crowned-crane, Temminck's Courser, Wattled Lapwing, Ross' and Schalow's Turaco, Malachite and Woodland Kingfishers, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Rufous-chested Swallow, White-tailed Lark, Familiar Chat, Silverbird, Red-faced, Trilling and Tabora Cisticolas, Green-capped Eremomela, Black-crowned Tchagra, Hildebrandt's and Violet-backed Starlings, Yellow-fronted Canary and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. This is the best area in the Mara to see big game up close and some of the many mammals to be seen here include Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Banded Mongoose, Spotted Hyena, Serval Cat, African Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Bush Hyrax, African Elephant, Common Zebra, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Masai Giraffe, African Buffalo, Eland, Steinbuck, Bohor Reedbuck, Thomson's and Grant's Gazelles, Impala, Topi, Coke's Hartebeest, and thousands of Wildebeest. You will have a chance to see the Crocodiles at the Mara River. Dinner and overnight at Keekorok Lodge or similar.

Day 11.Lake Naivasha.
After Breakfast depart for Lake Naivasha traveling through the Great Rift Valley. While en route we may come across Egyptian Vulture, Greater Kestrel, Kori Bustard, Grey-rumped Swallow, Schalow's and Capped Wheatears and Red-billed Quelea. An afternoon arrival will allow us to bird the tall Acacia woodland on the beautiful hotel grounds. Expected here are Gabar Goshawk, Dideric and Black Cuckoos, Barn Owl, Verreaux's Eagle-owl, White-fronted Bee-eater, Lesser and Wahlberg's Honeyguide, Black-lored Babbler, Amethyst Sunbird, Grey-headed Bush-shrike and Spectacled Weaver. Dinner and overnight at the Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge/Similar.

Day 12: Nairobi

Leisurely breakfast. Mid morning depart for Nairobi arriving for lunch at the famous Carnivore restaurant.

EXCURSIONS
› Nairobi City - walking Excursion (5hrs)
› Nairobi drivingNairobi drivingNairobi driving - City Tour Excursion (3 hrs)
› Karen blixen .Karen blixen .Karen blixen .
› Dalphine Sheldrick Orphanage Animals Giraffe Manor
› Bomas of Kenya (4 hours )
› Nairobi National Park Day excursion (4 hours)
› The Carnivore Gourmet Experience 'Meat Eaters Paradise'
› Lake Nakuru day trip excursion outside Nairobi


KENYA WILDLIFE SAFARIS
› 2 Days Amboseli
› 3 Days Maasai Mara
› 3 Days Amboseli
› 4 Days Northern Rare Species Exploration
› 4 Days Flamingo And Wild Game Tour
› 7 Days Samburu, The Ark, Great Rift Valley &Maasai Mara

CAMPING
› 3 Days Maasai Mara Budget Camping Safari
› 3 Days Samburu Budget Camping Tour
› 3 Days Amboseli Kenya Camping Safari
› 8 Days Lake Turkana Via Chalbi Desert

LUXURY TENTED SAFARIS
› 11 Days Best Tented Safari

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
› Mt Kenya
› Sirimon out Chogoria(5 Days/4 nights
› Naromoru Out Chogoria (6 Days/5 Nights)
› 5 Days Sirimon Down Naro Moru
› Mt Kilimanjaro
› Machame Route (8 Days/7 Nights)
› Trekking Marangu Route (7 Days/6 Nights)

WALKING SAFARIS
› 5 Days Masai Mara/Nakuru Walking Safari
› 5 Days Mt. Kenya/L.Nakuru/Hell's Gate Walking safari / Cultural tour

BIRD WATCHING
› 12 Days:Nairobi /Aberdare /Samburu /Mt Kenya/Lake Nakuru/ L.Baringo/ Maasai Mara/ Lake Naivasha.
› 12 Days:Nairobi/L. Nakuru/ Kakamega Forest/ Lake Baringo/ Watamu/Arabuko Sokoke