Walking and Birding Tours in Kenya

The ultimate birding safari in Kenya including Lakes Naivasha, Nakuru, Baringo, Bogoria and Kakamega Forest, with opportunities to see vast flocks of flamingoes as well as hundreds of species of other birds at Kenya's top birding sites.

This will not only be a specialised birding safari, but will also offer you opportunities for sightseeing and watching and photographing other wildlife. You will be able to see the stunning countryside including a breath-taking view of the Rift Valley dropping thousands of feet. En route to several destinations, you will also have a chance to see the different local tribes and observe their way of living.

We will be staying in 5 star accommodation with comfortable transport between destinations by minibus.

The maximum number of guests is 4 per trip.This are window guranteed seats .At the various destinations we may split the group into smaller numbers for better viewing and here will use resident guides who have vast knowledge of the local areas. All selected destinations are Kenya’s IBAs (Important Bird Areas)

Itinerary

Day 1:
Arrive Nairobi airport (0635 from Heathrow).: Pickup at JKI Airport and transfer to Nairobi
0830hrs : Stop over in Nairobi for Breakfast
1000hrs: Set off to Naivasha with a stop over at the Rift Valley viewing point
1200hrs: Arrive in Naivasha (Country club)
1230hrs: Lunch at hotel and thereafter depart for the Lake for bird watching on boat
1630hrs: Return to hotel then depart for Nakuru and overnight at Hotel Merica

LAKE NAIVASHA
This Rift Valley lake is categorized in Kenya as an IBA 1 ( Important bird area) and boasts amazing aquatic birdlife including some globally threatened species like Grey Crested helmet shrike, Basra reed warbler(winter visitor). There are roughly 80 species to look for. In general about 20,000 water birds live here according to a census done 1991-1997. Apart from the birds there are also other animals to look for including hippos and buffalo.

Day 2
0630hrs: Early breakfast and set off to the lake with picnic lunch
1800hrs: Return to hotel and overnight

LAKE NAKURU
Undoubtedly, this park is a must-visit destination for birders. Flocks of both lesser and greater flamingoes sometimes numbering 1.5 million can be seen here together with almost 450 other species. The park was gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960. A species of fish (oreochromis alcalicus platensis) was introduced at that time to curb mosquitoes, but in turn supported a number of secondary consumers mostly birds. This lake is a transient home to a large number of Palearctic waders who use it on passage or winter.
The lake is not only for birders, because it is a national park, there are other larger animals including the black and the white rhinoceros, Rothschild giraffe, water bucks, leopard, lion, buffalo etc. This park therefore will serve all purpose for both birds and big game. There is no better place in Kenya to watch white rhinos.

Day 3
0630hrs: Early breakfast and off to the lake
1000hrs: Return to hotel and check out. Depart for lake Baringo
1300hrs: Arrive Lake Baringo country club + lunch
1500hrs: Set out birding on boats
1830hrs: Return to hotel

LAKE BARINGO
This is a well known destination for birdwatchers and over 500 species have been recorded. A colony of 20 Goliath herons have nested on one of the Islands in the lake. While the diversity of water birds is considerable, total numbers are usually in low thousands. Species of global conservation concern include lesser kestrel (a passage migrant in small flocks) lesser flamingo, Madagascar squacco heron, pallid harrier etc. This lake is also a home to the fish eagle. Watch and photograph them swooping down on fish. The lake also supports a large population of Nile crocodile and hippopotamus.

Day 4
0630hrs: All day birding around the lake and overnight stay.

Day 5
0630hrs: Drive to Lake Bogoria + Picnic Breakfast
1400hrs: Lunch at Lake Bogoria Hotel + birding around hotel + swim in warm pool
1600hrs: Drive back to the lake for birding.
1800hrs: Overnight stay at Lake Bogoria hotel

LAKE BOGORIA
This lake is spectacular. The extraordinary hot springs and geysers, the rugged faulted landscape, an enormous concentration of flamingoes and a chance of seeing a greater Kudu are great attractions. This is one of the reasons for designating this lake as a national reserve. A part from the above the lake is a home to some regionally threatened species such as great crested grebe, African darter, white backed duck, white headed vulture and martial eagle

Day 7
0630hrs: Early game drive to the lake before breakfast
1000hrs: Drive to Kakamega Forest (Rondo Retreat Centre) lunch en route
1500hrs: Arrive at Rondo Retreat Centre and check in
1600hrs: Birding around lodge + overnight

KAKAMEGA FOREST
This is the crown of any Kenya birding Safari. Kakamega forest is a mid-altitude tropical rainforest, the easternmost of the Congo basin forests. Its West African affinities are unique in Kenya, and the forest contains many species found nowhere else in the country. The avifauna is well known, rich, and unusual in its composition. Two globally threatened species occur, Chapin’s fly catcher and Turners Eremomela. The 194 forest dependent bird species (the highest total for any Kenyan forests) include 40 of Kenya’s 43 Guinea-Congo forests biome species, as well as 33 of Kenya’s 67 Afro tropical Highlands biome species. At least 16 bird species occur only in Kakamega but nowhere else in Kenya. The forest also holds large populations of Black and white colobus, Red tailed monkey and small numbers of de Brazza monkey.

Day 8
0615hrs: Full day birding activities

Day 9
0615hrs: Half day birding activities + lunch
1300hrs: Depart for Kisumu (Dunga Beach) for afternoon birding
1630hrs: Drive to kericho ( Kericho Tea Hotel) for overnight stay

DUNGA SWAMPS-KISUMU
This swamp is one of the most reliable IBA site in Kenya for the scarce and threatened Papyrus yellow warbler. It is also an important home for Papyrus gonolek, white winged warbler and Papyrus canary, all papyrus endemics. There are also a host of other aquatic birds.

Day 10
0630hrs: Birding around the arboretum

0900hrs: Breakfast and departure for Nairobi
1400hrs: Arrive Nairobi - lunch and visit to the museum
1600hrs: check to rooms change
1900hrs: Dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant
2030hrs: Depart for airport or overnight at Nairobi

JOSEPH KARIUKI our senior ornithological safari guide and his vast experience of 9 years in field guiding has been a great input in our company.Joseph emerging with a Geographical Club which he chaired as the chairman and later joined tourism college, these saw him grow gradually with the interest of birding and later joined Nature Kenya, a society that back here in Kenya deals with the matters pertaining with Birds, Flowers, Plants, Entomology and in general the conservation of Nature. He has also been a member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA) and holds a Bronze Medal.great volunteer with the department of ornithology.Joseph is always at the forefront during the annual African Water bird census that is conducted every January of the year and not to mention the Bi-annual World bird watch. Apart from that Joseph has been a tour leader with most of the leading tour operators and among the many prominent birders that he has gone safari with is Mr & Mrs Andre' Konter, a research scientist and a writer of the book THE GREBES OF OUR WORLD a lynx edition. His birding safaris have been commendable with the growing list of the clients who have done safari with him.

Travel Information

Visas: Required. Cost UK£30. For a visa application form from the UK send a stamped SAE to: Kenya High Commission, 45 Portland Place, LONDON, WIN 4AS or download via www.kenyahighcommission.com

Immunisations: Check with your health clinic and MASTA (www.masta.org) you can obtain a Health Brief by telephoning the Travellers Healthline on 0906 8 224100. Advised to be in date for; Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid Fever, Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A.

Malaria: Protection recommended - check with your health clinic
See Travelpharm.com for travellers' medication and health supplies

Insurance: You are legally required to arrange your own travel insurance - you may do this yourself or through Discovery Initiatives

Costs:
1,150£ per person (£150 single supplement)
or 1890US$ per person

excludes
international flights,Includes
full board accommodation at destinations, park fees, and excursion fees, guiding fees, transport,
Does not include items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, drinks.
To check availability contact:

If places are available you will be asked to pay a deposit to secure your booking.
Places are strictly limited so early booking is recommended.

This 2009 and 2010, prepare for Africa's greatest nature shows