Kenya Specialist Birding and Wildlife Safari

7 Days / 6 Nights Birding Safaris Lake Naivasha Private Safari 5.0 Rating
Kenya Specialist Birding and Wildlife Safari

Overview

The Kenya Specialist Birding and Wildlife Safari is crafted for passionate birders and wildlife enthusiasts who wish to explore the extraordinary avian diversity that makes Kenya one of the premier bird watching destinations in the world. With over 1,100 recorded bird species, Kenya hosts more bird species than all of Europe combined, distributed across an exceptional range of habitats from coastal forests and freshwater lakes to semi arid scrubland and Afromontane woodland. This seven day itinerary visits the most important bird watching sites in the country in a logical geographic sequence, beginning at Lake Naivasha with its extraordinary waterbird diversity, continuing to the Rift Valley soda lakes of Nakuru, Bogoria and Baringo, and concluding in Samburu where the endemic and range restricted birds of the Northern Frontier add a specialist dimension to what is already an outstanding safari experience. Each destination is accompanied by a professional bird guide who complements the general wildlife expertise of the safari guide, ensuring that all bird identifications are accurate and that specialist species information is available for every sighting. Species target lists tailored to individual guest interests are prepared in advance and the itinerary flexibility allows extended stays at productive sites when target species are proving elusive. This safari is equally rewarding for non birding companions as the wildlife and scenery at each destination are outstanding independently of the birding focus.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1
Nairobi to Lake Naivasha
The birding safari begins with a morning drive northwest from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha, passing through the highland forest around Limuru where the first bird list additions including African emerald cuckoo, Hartlaub turaco and various sunbird species are frequently noted from the vehicle. Arrival at Lake Naivasha delivers the full impact of the freshwater lake birdlife, with a two hour afternoon boat safari across the lake surface providing close encounters with African fish eagle, goliath heron, African darter, white winged black tern, malachite kingfisher and the dozens of duck, heron, ibis and egret species that populate the lake margins.
Nairobi to Naivasha road transfer with en route highland forest birding, afternoon lake boat safari, African fish eagle, goliath heron, malachite kingfisher, water bird diversity session, specialist guide introduction
Lunch and Dinner
Day 2
Lake Naivasha and Hells Gate Birding
A dawn walk through the yellow fever woodland surrounding the lake begins before the day visitors arrive, allowing unhurried observation of the forest and woodland species including Verreaux eagle owl, black and white casqued hornbill, grey crowned crane at the papyrus margins and the spectacular crowned hawk eagle in the canopy overhead. The afternoon is spent in Hells Gate National Park where the cliff faces host the largest Lammergeier breeding colony in East Africa and Augur buzzard, long crested eagle and various falcon species patrol the volcanic gorge walls.
Dawn woodland bird walk, Verreaux eagle owl, hornbills, crowned crane, afternoon Hells Gate gorge birding, Lammergeier colony, Augur buzzard, various raptors on cliff faces, geothermal area birding
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3
Lake Naivasha to Lake Bogoria National Reserve
A morning departure northwest along the Rift Valley floor reaches Lake Bogoria in approximately two hours. Lake Bogoria is the single most spectacular flamingo site in the world, with concentrations of lesser flamingo regularly exceeding one million birds along the alkaline shore. The geothermal geysers along the western shore add a surreal quality to the experience as clouds of steam rise above the dense pink mass of flamingos. Greater kudu are also frequently observed on the forested slopes above the lake and the reserve consistently produces Goliath heron, African spoonbill and various tern species.
Naivasha to Bogoria road transfer, Lake Bogoria lesser flamingo spectacle, one million plus flamingo concentration, geothermal geyser birding, greater kudu on lake slopes, goliath heron and spoonbill
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4
Lake Bogoria to Lake Baringo
The short road north from Bogoria to Lake Baringo takes under an hour and the transition from the alkaline flamingo lake to the warm freshwater of Baringo is an immediate birding revelation. Lake Baringo has recorded over 450 species in its immediate surrounds, and the morning boat trip on the lake provides close approach to nesting colonies of African skimmer, great white pelican, yellow billed stork and the pink backed pelican. Afternoon birding on the Baringo islands includes Bristle crowned starling, Hemprichs hornbill, Bruce owlet and the rare Jackson widowbird in the tall grass around the lake margins.
Road transfer Bogoria to Baringo, morning boat safari, African skimmer, pelican colonies, yellow billed stork, afternoon island birding, Hemprichs hornbill, Bristle crowned starling, Jackson widowbird search
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5
Lake Baringo to Samburu National Reserve
An early morning birding session at Baringo before the road north to Samburu through the semi arid Northern Frontier. The transition zone between the Rift Valley lakes and the Samburu semi arid scrubland is itself excellent for birding with Vulturine guineafowl, White bellied go away bird, D Arnauds barbet and various sandgrouse species noted along the road. Arrival at Samburu in the afternoon introduces the specialised northern Kenya birds that make this reserve unique.
Dawn Baringo birding session, road transfer to Samburu, Northern Frontier transition zone birding, Vulturine guineafowl, White bellied go away bird, afternoon Samburu arrival game drive, first northern specials
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6
Full Day Samburu Specialist Northern Kenya Birding
Samburu harbours an exceptional list of range restricted and near endemic bird species that are found nowhere else in Kenya. The Donaldson Smith sparrow weaver, Somali bee eater, Magpie starling, Purple grenadier, Golden pipit, Star spotted nightjar and the extraordinary Northern carmine bee eater in season are among the highlights of the full day birding safari. The Ewaso Nyiro River provides additional species including African fin foot, Giant kingfisher and the spectacular Secretary bird hunting through the riverside grass.
Full day Samburu specialist birding, Donaldson Smith sparrow weaver, Somali bee eater, Magpie starling, Secretary bird hunting, Northern carmine bee eater, Ewaso Nyiro river specials, raptor count session
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7
Samburu Morning Birding and Return to Nairobi
A final dawn birding session in Samburu targets any species missed during the previous day, including the nocturnal species that are best sought at first light such as the Star spotted nightjar and Donaldson Smith nightjar. A light aircraft flight returns to Nairobi at midday with the total safari bird list expected to exceed 300 species for the most productive itineraries.
Dawn target species session, nightjar and owl search, morning river circuit final birding, light aircraft flight to Nairobi, species list finalisation, private transfer to hotel or airport
Breakfast

What's Included

Included

  • Return airport transfers in a private safari vehicle
  • All game drives in a customised 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop up roof
  • Full board accommodation throughout (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • Professional English speaking Kenya Wildlife Service certified safari guide
  • All national park and conservation area entry fees
  • Bottled mineral water throughout the safari
  • Flight between destinations where indicated in the itinerary
  • Complimentary airport meet and greet service
  • All government taxes and levies
  • Specialist bird guide services throughout
  • Bird species checklist and field guide on arrival

Not Included

  • International flights to and from Nairobi
  • Visa fees (available on arrival for most nationalities at USD 51 per adult)
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Optional hot air balloon safari at the Maasai Mara (USD 480 per adult)
  • Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages beyond water
  • Personal shopping and laundry
  • Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers and lodge staff
  • Any activities not specified in the itinerary
  • Single supplement surcharge where applicable
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