What an 8 Day Birding Safari Would look like in Kenya
Summary
Bird watching tours are an ornithologist’s Holy Grail, and if they are guided, they definitely tug at true bird lover’s heartstrings. Kenya is one of the most visited countries in Africa when it comes to the birding safari opportunities provided. The country possesses a budding eco-tourism industry and birding list which is geared towards preserving and improving the environment for the birding industry. The duration of bird watching safaris ranges from just a few hours to week-long excursions due to the sensitivity of the activity. Kenya possesses the second highest bird species diversity in Africa and has over 1070 bird species within different areas spaced out around the country. The variety of birds found within the country is based on visibility. The kinds of birds that you would be able to view include the colourful sunbirds, the ingenious weavers, hornbills, barbets, woodpeckers and so many more. Our safari guides are both qualified and incredibly talented and will ensure that you get the opportunity to identify as many bird species as is possible. They shall also be sure to point out the rarest and the most indigenous species and you shall not miss out on the details. Bird watching is an experience reserved for the warm weather since this is when the migratory birds from Europe and Asia are present as well as endemic species. The itinerary presented can be fine-tuned to suit your budget and the destinations chosen present prime viewing locations for both resident and migratory species to be spotted as aforementioned. The adventure below shall cover Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara.
ITINERARY
DAY ONE
PICK UP FROM GUEST’S RESIDENCE
You shall be picked up from your residence at 0730hrs in the morning. You shall proceed to the park within the metropolitan city; Nairobi National Park. Despite its location just kilometres from the city, it is home to a surmountable amount of game. With its rocky escarpments and acacia woodland, it provides a perfect home for a wide variety of birdlife. Some of the main species that can be found here are inclusive of White-breasted White-eye, Shelley’s Francolin, and African Yellow Warbler, Long-Tailed Fiscal, Singing Cisticola, Northern Pied Babbler and a band of Brown Warblers. These species are inherent to this park specifically and can be found at opportune times if one is patient. Lunch shall be had at client’s own cost afterwards before going in search of these bird species some more. In the evening, your driver shall drop you off at your residence.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY TWO and THREE
LAKE NAIVASHA
The second day takes us on an adventure to Lake Naivasha where you shall also have the option of taking a boat ride on the lake besides just bird watching. Before we get to Naivasha though we shall pass through the Limuru Pond which is located along the highway, it is home to the Madagascar Pond-Heron, White-backed and Maccoa Ducks, Whistling ducks and the Intermediate Egret. The pond is flanked by a broad ridge which is a fortuitous location since it provided the perfect spot for viewing these beautiful creatures. After this first course, we shall move on to Lake Naivasha to find speciality birds such as the Southern Pochard, Purple Swamphen, Lesser Moorhen, Pink-backed Pelican, Lesser Swamp Warbler and the Three-banded Plover. Both days we shall linger and try our very best to catch a glimpse of the more elusive species that we did not get a chance of seeing. These birds include the Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Nyanza Swift, White-browed Robin-chat, Arrow-marked Babbler, Three Banded Plover and the Hammerkop Cape. If we’re lucky, we shall also spot the Greater Honeyguide and Hottentot Teals.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY THREE and FOUR
LAKE NAIVASHA to LAKE NAKURU
Rise early and head on to Lake Nakuru National Park for the third segment of your bird watching tour. The park is famed as a birdwatchers paradise and is home to an avian heaven so to speak. With an incredible variety of birdlife, this is not a destination to pass by. There are up to a million flamingos recorded within the park with the numbers depending upon their regional migration. They comprise of both the Greater and the Lesser flamingos. Other birds that you would be able to see within the park include Woolly-necked Stork, Arrow-marked Babbler, Little Rock-Thrush, Mocking Cliff Chat, White-browed Robin-Chat, Reed Cormorant, Pink-backed Pelican, Pied Avocet, Kittlitz’s Plover, Blacksmith Plover, Coqui Francolin, Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Black Cuckoo, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, African Cuckoo, Grey-crested Helmet shrike, Cape Teal, Brimstone Canary, Hottentots Teal, Red-billed Teal, Dusky Nightjar, Montane Nightjar, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Common Greenshank, Common Ringed Plover, African Fish Eagle, Abyssinian Wheatear, Northern Anteater Chat, Pied Kingfisher. You shall have both days to maximize on the bird watching within the park without interruption. Remember patience is key within this activity.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY FIVE, SIX and SEVEN
LAKE NAKURU TO MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Depart from your lodge upon daybreak and drive on towards Maasai Mara National Reserve which is the place to be if youre interested in viewing flora and fauna that is both awe-inspiring and magnificent. You would think that Maasai Mara is only proficient for watching game but little did you know that it is another birding corner synonymous with the Kenyan birding scene. Some of the species that you are sure to encounter include; Southern Ground Hornbill, Green-capped Eremomela, Black Coucal, Kori Bustard, Bush Pipit, White-tailed Lark, Flappet Lark, Athi Short-toed Lark, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Trilling Cisticola, Long-tailed Cisticola, Wattled Plover, Saddle-billed Stork, Familiar Chat, Sooty Chat, Rufous-bellied Heron, Magpie Shrike, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Square-tailed Nightjar, Dusky Nightjar, Schalow’s Turaco, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Red-necked Spurfowl, Red-winged Francolin, White-headed Vulture, Ruppell’s Vulture, Secretarybird, Temminck’s Courser, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Bare-faced Go-away-bird and Rufous-chested Swallow. You shall have three days within the reserve and your game drives shall be arranged in accordance with your specifications and in agreement with your guide.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY EIGHT
On your final day of your adventure you shall rise and head back to Nairobi with drop off being at your Nairobi Residence.
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