BIRDING ESCAPE
Featuring previous bird watching sites combined with unique campsites and comfortable lodging. Several groups of birds are particularly well represented such as birds of prey (80 species) larks (24) cist colas (31), sunbirds (53) weavers (74) and startling (32) in Kenya

Birding hot spots in Kenya

1.Coastal lowlands forest (Arabuko-Sokoke Forest

2.High grasslands (Nairobi National Park and Maasai Mara)

3Alphine habitat (Mt.Kenya)

4.Rainforest (Kaka mega Forest)

5.Semi-desert (Samburu National reserve or Lake Baringo)

6.Marsh birds (Saiwa swamp)

Lake Baringo, Bogoria, Amboseli, Tsavo West are also some high profile birding areas.

Birding escapes 14 days Kenya.

Day 1. Depart Nairobi for Samburu game reserve, 335km North of Nairobi. Lunch en route. Arrive at 2.pm in the afternoon for late bird watching. Dinner and overnight at the campsite

Day .FULL DAY IN SAMBURU

6.30 AM Bird watching Good pickings among 395 bird species, includes 47 birds of prey, Somali Ostriches, vulture guinea fowl sardgrouse and hornbills. Healthy numbers of predators with lions, Leopard and cheetah frequently seen. All meals at the campsite.

Day 3: Pre-breakfast birding. Depart for the majestic Mt. Kenya. Expect alpine habitat species. Excellent guide with superb eyesight and an ear for the calls. Common birds include Hartlaubs turracos, white headed wood hopes and red fronted parrots. All are high altitude birds.

Day 4: Depart for the scenic drive to the famous Great Rift Valley Lakes of Baringo and Bogoria. The drive passes via Thompson falls in Nyahururu, a major waterfall in the country. Lunch in Baringo. Drowned trees fringing the western shore make ideal perches for water birds such as long tailed cormorants plus occasional giant Kingfisher. African Jacanas pick their way over Lily pads, Flamingos sweep their bills through the shallows joined by yellow – billed storks and African spoonbills.

Day 5: Early bird watching. Abundant water birds and African fish eagles are resident species in this large freshwater lake. Over 450 species recorded. Proceed to the nearby Lake Bogoria in the afternoon, only 30 minutes drive. Bogoria is famous for the hot springs supernaturally hot to boil an egg for breakfast. Watch out!. The lakes high salinity offers limited feeding opportunities for water birds but a few cape teal, Egyptian geese, and black necked grebes are usually present. Hamerkorps and storks loiter at the water edge. Otherwise it’s Flamingos all the way. Upto 375 species have been clocked up.

Day 6: Depart early for for the long drive to Cherengani hills via the Kerio valley escarpment. The landscape is panoramic with undulating hills. The atmosphere is cool. Picnic lunches will be provided. Arrive in Saiwa swamp in time for evening birding.

Day 7: FULL DAY IN SAIWA SWAMP. Covering only 3 sqkms, Saiwa is the smallest national park in Kenya. Walking trails shirt the swamp, which is home to selection of marsh birds through riverine and savannah woodlands inhabited by monkeys. Look out for the Sitatungas, shy Antelope that remains submerged in the water better part of the day. Observation towers along the banks make ideal platforms from which to scan the reed beds of sitatungas and birds. Throughout the swamp, ibises, ducks, and herons feed in open patches of water.

Day 8: After breakfast, break camp and depart for Kaka mega forest, the climax of birds in Kenya. Largest surviving stand of rainforest in Kenya, Kaka mega is bird watchers paradise.

Day 9: FULL DAY IN KAKAMEGA. First-rate rainforest birding includes turracos, bee-eaters, and hornbills among a list of 330 species. Marked walking trails leads to great blue turracos, white casqued hornbills and other resident noisy canopy dwellers. Excellent guides available on hire.

Day 10: Depart for lake Victoria, Kisumu city, and the homeland of the proud Luo people. Visit the Kibuye market, a complete immersion into an African market. Optional fishing expeditions available on request. Enjoy your catch this day as your lunch.

Day 11: After early breakfast, leave Victoria for lake Naivasha, another Great Rift Valley lake. Highlights are water birds, African fish, eagles, pied kingfishers, yellow-billed storks flamingos and waterfowls. Optional visit to the nearby Hells gate national park or boat ride to crescent highland. Nesting birds are a highlight.

Day 12: After early breakfast, depart for Maasai Mara game reserve. Arrive in time for lunch. Full afternoon game viewing. Mara is by all accounts the best park in Kenya. All the big five roam lazily in the plains.

Day 13: FULL DAY IN MAASAI MARA. The Mara boast of 540 species including 57 raptors. Birds of prey range from the snappy little grey Kestrels and other species hovering above the grasslands to large eagles and six species of Vultures scrambling at kills.

Day 14: After breakfast, enjoy your last game run as we depart for the return journey back to Nairobi. A stop-over will be provided to view the Great Rift Valley Picnic lunches on the way. Safari ends in Nairobi in the late afternoon hours.