11 days Birding Safari
Itinerary
Day 1: JKIA / Nairobi
Day 2: Nairobi – Aberdares
Day 3: Aberdare – Lake Nakuru
Day 4: Lake Nakuru
Day 5: Lake Nakuru – Lake Baringo
Day 6: Lake Baringo
Day 7: Lake Baringo – Lake Naivasha
Day 8: Lake Naivasha
Day 9: Lake Naivasha – Maasai Mara
Day 10 Maasai Mara
Day 11: Maasai Mara – Nairobi /JKIA
Day 1
This park was the first to be established in Kenya in 1946, covering an area of 117sq km it is located 10km South-west of downtown Nairobi. With over 400 species of birds recorded within its perimeter, it makes Nairobi the birdiest city in the world. We make an early start into the park to look for, Curlew Sandpiper, Northern Hobby, Montagu’s Harrier, Yellow Wagtail, Northern wheatear, Tree Pipit, Spotted flycatcher, blackcap Warbler, and Red-throated Pipit. Among afrotropicals, we shall look for White Pelicans, Great Comorant, White-tailed Lark, Violet-backed Starling, Grosbeak and Parasitic Weaver, Teminck’s Stint, Common Snipe, Water Thicknee, Squacco Heron and Red-collared and White-winged Widowbirds.
Overnight in Nairobi
Day 2
Early morning leave Nairobi heading for the Highlands, brief stopover at the Blue-Post hotel Thika and Mwea rice paddies to look for specialities like Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Purple-crested Turaco and African Finfoot. Arrive at Castle forest Lodge, which offers some of the most amazing views of Mt Kenya and wonderful forest birding. On the afternoon birdwalk, we anticipate to see species like, Green Ibis, Long-crested Eagle, Mountain and Augur Buzzards, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Red-fronted Parrot, Red-throated Wryneck, Common Stone-chat, Chestnut-throated Apalises, Lemon, and Tambourine Doves, Moustached Green Tinkerbird, White-headed and White-eared Barbets, Scarce and Alpine Swifts.
Overnight at Mount Kenya
Day 3
After an early breakfast, we drive to Lake Nakuru and arrive their in time for lunch. In the afternoon we shall visit the shallow alkaline lake shore to have a close-up view of the greatest ornithological spectacles in the world, the over one million flamingoes and other shorebirds that cover 80% of the lake.
Overnight at Lake Nakuru.
Day 4
Today we shall have a pre-breakfast birding session, we shall visit the shoreline again to enjoy the morning light which usually cast a beautiful glow on the flamingoes, creating a spectacular pinkish glow. We head back for breakfast and afterwards continue with our birding in the yellow Acacia forest. The rare Grey-crowned Helmet-shrike is found here together with Arrow-marked Babbler, Bearded Woodpecker, Mottled Swift and White-shouldered Cliff Chat among others. In the afternoon we shall go on a game drive to see the white and black Rhino which are common in this park.
Overnight at Lake Nakuru
Day 5
After an early breakfast we shall drive northwards to Lake Baringo another fresh water lake in the rift valley, along the way we shall make a brief stop to find the Brown Parisoma. We shall arrive at our hotel in time for lunch the afternoon will be spend birding on foot around the hotel grounds. Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Bristle-crowned Starling, Beautiful Sunbird, Northern Masked Weaver are some of the birds easily seen near the hotel.
Overnight at Baringo
Day 6
After an early breakfast we have a bird walk to the nearby cliffs were we should see the Fan-tailed Raven, Lanner falcon, Three-banded Courser, Northern Grey Tit and Little Weaver among others. After lunch we shall have another bird walk and we should see many more species including Heuglin’s Courser, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse and Spotted Thicknee.
Day 7
Our drive today will take us to the second largest fresh water lake in Kenya also found in the Rift valley. The abundant fish population supports a variety of fish eating birds like Pied Kingfisher, Black Heron, African Fish Eagle, Long-tailed and Great Comorant.
Day 8
Today we have a pre-breakfast birding and afterwards we shall visit Hell’s Gate National Park to see the large population of Ruppell’s and White -backed Vultures on the cliffs which give this small park its name. We shall also locate the Wailing and Siffling Cisticolas, Schalow’s Wheatear, and Northern Anteater Chat among others. In the afternoon, we shall visit Kinangop plateau the stronghold of the endemic Sharpe’s Longclaw. Other species likely here are Hunter’s Wing-snapping and Levaillant’s Cisticolas.
Day 9
After an early morning breakfast we head for the world famous Maasai Mara. The birds will take a back seat for a while, as we admire the large concentrations of mammal which you can not help but notice. We shall have a game drive from the gate up to our hotel were we should arrive at lunch hour. In the afternoon on a game drive we should spot Black Coucal, Red-necked Spurfowl, Little Greenbul, Zitting and Rock-loving Cisticolas and Secretary bird among others.
Day 10
Today after an early Breakfast we pack a picnic lunch with us for a long day of game and birding watching. Apart from the mammals, birds we should see includes Lappet-faced Vulture, Lizard Buzzard, Black-chested Snake Eagle Southern Ground Hornbill, Red-necked Spurfowl, Athi-short toed Lark among many others.
Day 11
Today we have an early breakfast then we bird our way out of Maasai Mara and back to Nairobi. Arrive in Nairobi at Midday. Evening transfer to the airport.
Optional
Depending on flight plans we can bird around Nairobi until the evening in time for your drive to the airport for your onward flight.