Trips

25 DAYS ENDEMIC AND NEAR-ENDEMIC BIRDING IN KENYA

DAY 1
Arrival and night in Nairobi at Tamarind Tree Hotel

Day 2
After breakfast with packed lugvisit Nairobi National park for chances of Northern pied babbler, Red throated tit, Jackson’s widow bird among others like Shelley’s francolin, we will then exit and have lunch then proceed to Kinangop for a night at Emer Hotel.

Day 3
Early breakfast and depart to Kinangop grassland to find Sharpe’s pipit along with Red Cowled widowbird, Jackson’s widowbird, Sentinel lark among others before we leave for Lake Naivasha for check in at Sopa lodge. After lunch and some rest we will explore the compound for some common birds and later depart for a game drive in Hell’s gate national park for chances of Grey crested shrike, Lyne’s cisticola , Red-throated tit and many other birds as well as mammals.

Day 4
Early breakfast and depart to Masai Mara where we expect to get for lunch after some brief birding along the way. We will check in at Mara Simba lodge and then an afternoon birding in the Mara plains for Sentinel lark, Usambiro barbet various other birds and many mammls. Night at Simba Lodge.

Day 5
After breakfast we will embark on game drive for chances of Swahili sparrow along with Red-necked spurfowl, Schalow’s turaco and many more. After lunch we will rest and later do yet another drive in the park for chances of more mammals and birds.

Day 6
Early breakfast and depart to Lake Victoria where we will check in at Imperial hotel and after lunch we will rest and later visit the Lake shores for chances of Blue headed coucal, Papyrus canary, Blue spotted wood dove and more before retiring to the hotel.

Day 7
Early breakfast and depart to Kakamega forest where upon arrival we will bird for Turner’s eremomela, hairy breasted barbet, Great blue Turaco, Yellow-billed barbet and more. After check in and lunch we will rest and later drive along the road to a spot for Chapin’s flycatcher,various other birds will include Red headed Malimbe, African Shrike flycatcher and more before coming back. Night at Rondo Retreat.

Day 8
Early breakfast and bird in the forest for chnaces of various birds while still focusing on the Chapin’s flycatcher if missed it. Night at Rondo reteat.

Day 9
Early breakfast and some birding before we come for lunch and later depart for Kitale where we will check in at Aturkan Hotel for the night.

Day 10
Early breakfast with packed lunch we will drive to Mt Elgon to look for Elgon francolin which is quite difficult but on a lucky day you may see it, the also be Moorland chats in the moorland area, our way up may elicit Crested guienefowl and various other birds.We will later descent in the afternoon to the hotel.Night at Aturkan hotel

Day 11
Early breakfast and depart for Nakuru where our arrival will be around midday, after lunch at Lake Nakuru lodge we will rest and later explore the park for Grey-crested helmet shrike, the park also has a good number of Rhinos, buffalos as well as Greater and Lesser flamiingos.

Day 12
Early breakfast and depart to Samburu, expecting to get there for lunch. After some rest we will embark on a drive in a drive around the reserve for Somali courser, Somali Ostrich, Vulturine guineafowl and more before dusk sets in. Night at Samburu Simba.

Day 13
With packed breakfast depart the lodge for Shaba game reserve to look for Williams lark and perhaps Masked lark. We will be back for lunch and later rest and another session of a game drive in the late afternoon. Night at Simba lodge

Day 14
Early breakfast and depart for Marsabit where we will explore the Marsabit National park for Boran Cisticola, Swainson sparrow and few other good birds before checking in at Big Tusks hotel. After rest we will drive further North for Heuglin’s bustard, Egyptian vulture, Abyssinian grosbeak canary, White crowned starling and more then back to rest.

Day 15
Early breakfast and with packed lunch depart for Mt Kulal to look for Kulal white eye along

this way, Scissor-tailed kites can be seen as well. If time allows we will turn back or else spend a night here though very basic accommodation. You will also be able to see Lake Turkana from the mountain. Night at Big tusks hotel.

Day 16
Early breakfast and depart to Nanyuki for lunch and then proceed for some rest at Naromoru river lodge. We will bird the compound for common birds including Tacazze sunbird,Hartlaub’s turaco, Mountain wagtail and more before dusk sets in. Night at Naromoru river lodge.

Day 17
Early breakfast with packed luggage explore western section of the mountain through Naromoru gate. We will have chances of Abbott’s starling, Kenrick starling, Red fronted parrot among others. After this we will drive to Aberdare country club for lunch and later check in to the Ark lodge inside Aberdare national park for rest and night. Various animals will come at night to the waterhole and you can be woken up if interested.

Day 18
Early breakfast with packed lunch drive through the park for Jackson’s spurfowl, Aberdare cisticola, Moorand chat and more as we exit and depart to Nairobi for a night at Swara Acacia camp.

Day 19
Early breakfast and morning birding around the camp for Red throated tit, Kenya Rufous sparrow plus many other birds like Grey capped social weaver, Pangani long-claw etc. After this we will drive down to Amboseli, where we expect to be for lunch and some rest before we embark on a drive in the park for Taveta weaver and various other birds.
Night at Amboseli Serena.

Day 20
After breakfast depart to Tsavo West, expecting to be there for lunch, after some rest we will explore the park for Red-naped bush shrike, Tsavo sunbird and more other birds. Night at Kilaguni lodge.

Day 21
Early breakfast and drive through Tsavo West looking out for Southern grosbeak canary and various other birds. We will exit the park and head to Salt-lick lodge for lunch after which we will take rest and later drive around. The pond in the conservancy may elicit Malagasy pond heron and more. Night at Salt-lick lodge. After dinner you can embark on a bight game drive for mammals and nocturnal birds. Afterwards you can retire to bed.

Day 22
Early breakfast with packed luggage and packed breakfast drive to Taita Hills for Taita Apalis, Taita thrush, Taita White eye and others like Striped pipit and more before descending and heading to Tsavo East for check in and lunch at Aruba camp. Night at Aruba Ashnil

Day 23
Early breakfast with packed lunch drive through Tsavo East as we head to the Coast. We will arrive late in the afternoon for rest at Turtlebay resort. The hotel ponds will provide good comparison for African Golden weaver and Golden palm weaver.

Day 24
Early breakfast and embark on a drive in Arabuko/Sokoke forest for Short-tailed batis, Sokoke Pipit, Amani sunbird and more others. We will come for lunch and rest and later visit the forest for Sokoke scops owl. Night at Turtlebay resort

Day 25
Early breakfast and drive to the forest for Eastern crested guineafowl, Malindi pipit, Kilifi weaver and more before coming for lunch and prepare to drive to Mombas

a for a late afternoon flight to Nairobi.