16 Days Central, Northern and Western Kenya Birding

Your safari starts immediately with an exciting morning exploration at Nairobi National Park, where you can frame wild animals against a dramatic city skyline. Spend 3 hours traversing the savannah to spot localized specialties. Look out for the Pangani Longclaw, and African Quailfinch. Scan the grasses for Jackson's Widowbird, Kori Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, Hartlaub's Bustard, Secretarybird, Capped Wheatear, Desert Cisticola, Speke's Weaver, Superb Starling, Hildebrandt's Starling, Croaking Cisticola, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Red-throated Wryneck, Singing Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, African Pipit, Long-billed Pipit, and White-tailed Lark. Mammals thrive here too; you will likely see the endangered Black Rhinoceros, Maasai Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Common Eland, Impala, Coke's Hartebeest, and if fortune favors you, a Pride of Lions. After an incredibly productive morning session, embark on a 3-to-4-hour drive north to the lush slopes of Mount Kenya. Arrive for dinner and check in at the forest-enclosed Castle Forest Lodge, ready for the montane specialties.

Dedicate the entire day to exploring the pristine montane rainforest canopy, dense bamboo zones, and lush undergrowth around Mount Kenya. Your primary photographic targets are the spectacular, bright-green Hartlaub's Turaco, the stunning Abbott's Starling, and the colorful Bar-tailed Trogon. Keep your camera ready for the fast-moving Olive Ibis. As you trek through the dense foliage, you can easily log at least 20 new forest species, including the Fine-banded Woodpecker, Waller's Starling, Sharpe's Starling, Slender-billed Starling, Rüppell's Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Mustached Tinkerbird, Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick-billed Seedeater, African Citril, Mountain Greenbul, Placid Greenbul, Shelley's Greenbul, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Mountain Yellow Warbler, White-browed Crombec, and Black-throated Apalis. The forest floor and canopy also host fascinating mammals and primates; look for the majestic Mount Kenya Guereza Colobus Monkey, Sykes's Monkey, the reclusive Bushbuck, and the vocal Southern Tree Hyrax. Return for a relaxing evening and overnight at Castle Forest Lodge, capturing forest edge species right from your veranda.

Wake up early for a crisp, 3-hour morning birding session along the Mount Kenya forest fringes, ticking off sub-montane birds before checking out. Afterward, depart on a scenic 3-to-4-hour drive into the arid northern frontier of Samburu County. The dry, whistling-thorn bush and riverine forests host an entirely new set of dry-country species. Spend your afternoon scanning Buffalo Springs and Shaba for the striking Somali Ostrich, Golden-breasted Starling, and the unique Vulturine Guinea-fowl, all offering incredible color contrasts for photography. The parched habitat allows you to document an array of unique northern endemics, including the Somali Courser, Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Masked Lark, Pink-breasted Lark, Foxy Lark, Friedmann's Lark, Red-winged Lark, Northern Crombec, Somali Bee-eater, Golden-pipit, Rosy-patched Bush-shrike, Taita Fiscal, Bristle-crowned Starling, and Magpie Starling. This region is world-renowned for its "Samburu Special Five" mammals; photograph the endangered Grevy's Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk, and Somali Bushbaby. As dusk approaches, check in for dinner at the riverfront Lion's Cave Camp.

Spend a full day exploring the rugged plains of Samburu. Focus your lenses on arid-country target birds like the rare, spectacular William's Lark – rare , the Northern Crombec, and the lovely Pink-breasted Lark. The iconic Ewaso Nyiro River provides excellent action shots of African Fish Eagles and striking kingfishers against red soils. To maximize your list, you will easily locate additional northern dry-country specialists like the White-bellied Go-away-bird, Buff-crested Bustard, White-headed Mousebird, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Purple-grenadier, Straw-tailed Whydah, Steel-blue Whydah, Eastern Paradise-Whydah, Black-capped Social-Weaver, Grey-headed Silverbill, Ashy Cisticola, Tiny Cisticola, Banded Parisoma, Pale Flycatcher, Northern Grey Tit, Pyre-breasted Sunbird, Hunter's Sunbird, Shining Sunbird, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, and Somali Sparrow. In between avian targets, photograph the region's famous specialized mammals and predators, such as the African Bush Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, and Olive Baboon. Dinner and overnight back at Lion's Cave Camp.

Enjoy an early breakfast before engaging in a 2-hour morning birding walk along the Ewaso Nyiro River to capture any missing riverside targets. Afterward, embark on a 5-to-6-hour drive down into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park. The alkaline lake and surrounding acacia woodlands are world-famous for photography. Spend the afternoon capturing the bright Greater Flamingo and Lesser Flamingo feeding along the shores. Scan the fever trees for the striking Long-crested Eagle, Rüppell's Robin-Chat, and terrestrial Schalow's Wheatear. The rich woodland and lake margins allow you to quickly log at least 20 new species, including the Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Arrow-marked Babbler, Black-cuckoo, Levaillant's Cuckoo, Klaas's Cuckoo, Diederik Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Green Wood-hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, White-fronted Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Lesser Honeyguide, Greater Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Nyanza Swift, Mottled Swift, Horus Swift, and White-headed Barbet. Nakuru is an excellent sanctuary for major mammals, providing easy viewing of the Southern White Rhinoceros, Black Rhinoceros, Rothschild's Giraffe, Defassa Waterbuck, African Buffalo, and troops of Olive Baboons. Retreat for dinner and overnight at Eagle’s Palace Nakuru

After a crisp, 3-hour morning birding session along Lake Nakuru’s shores targeting the elegant birds and grey-headed gulls, take lunch and drive 3 hours north to the freshwater oasis of Lake Baringo. The cliffs and volcanic debris here host highly specialized species. Head out for a late afternoon walk before dark to photograph the beautiful Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse and Hemprich's Hornbill against the warm Rift Valley rocks. The specialized, rocky micro-climate introduces an incredible array of new avian targets, such as the Verreaux's Eagle, Bristle-crowned Starling, Fox Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Jackson's Hornbill, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken's Hornbill, Northern White-faced Owl, African Scops-Owl, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Star-spotted Nightjar, Three-banded Courser, Heuglin's Courser, Spotted Thick-knee, Senegal Thick-knee, Somali Fiscal, Northern Masked Weaver, and Little Weaver. While birding the rocky terrain, keep an eye out for unique local mammals like the Rock Hyrax, Lesser Kudu, Desert Warthog, and Hippopotamus wading near the shores. Settle in for overnight at Sandai Resort.

An incredible full day of water and cliff birding at Baringo. Take a morning boat trip to get close-up photos of nesting Goliath Herons, African Skimmers, and diving visual sequences of African Fish Eagles. Later, explore the basalt cliffs to find and photograph the elusive Verreaux's Eagle, Bristle-crowned Starling, and beautifully camouflaged Northern White-faced Owls roosting in dense acacias. You will expand your photographic portfolio with over 20 specific lake and scrub species, including the Lesser Moorhen, Allen's Gallinule, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Squacco Heron, Black Heron, Striated Heron, Purple Heron, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, Northern Red Bishop, Yellow-crowned Bishop, and Fan-tailed Widowbird. The lake and shores are also sanctuary to a massive population of Nile Crocodiles, Hippopotamuses, Vervet Monkeys, and Greater Galagos (Bushbabies) calling from the lakeside trees at night. Enjoy a second peaceful evening and overnight at Sandai Resort.

Leave the Rift Valley behind after a final, rewarding 2-hour morning walk to capture early dawn bird activity in the area. Afterward, drive 4 to 5 hours west into Kenya’s only remaining equatorial rainforest patch, Kakamega Forest. This biological island holds dozens of West African forest species found nowhere else in the country. Spend the entire afternoon walking the lush trails to spot and photograph the massive Great Blue Turaco, the dazzling emerald African Emerald Cuckoo, and the noisy Turner's Eremomela. The lush environment immediately reveals unique Guinea-Congo forest species like the Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, White-thighed Hornbill, Yellow-billed Barbet, Grey-throated Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Joyful Greenbul, Ansorge's Greenbul, Kakamega Greenbul, Shelley's Greenbul, Toro Olive Greenbul, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Red-tailed Greenbul, Honeyguide Greenbul, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Equatorial Akalat, Chubb's Cisticola, and Black-faced Rufous Warbler. This rainforest is prime habitat for fascinating primates; photograph the stunning Guereza Colobus, gentle Blue Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, and the nocturnal Potto. Check in for a unique stay at the historic Rondo Retreat Camp.

Dedicate today to the deep, dense canopy and dark understory of Kakamega. This is a paradise for serious bird photography. Walk the quiet paths to target the rare Chapin's Flycatcher, the stunning Blue-headed Bee-eater, and various elusive greenbuls. The soft, filtered forest light creates dramatic backdrops for photographing nesting wattle-eyes and trogons. Your comprehensive trek will yield at least 20 new forest specialties, including the Pink-footed Puffback, Black-necked Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Vieillot's Black Weaver, Black-billed Weaver, Brown-capped Weaver, Red-headed Malimbe, Red-headed Bluebill, Black-crowned Waxbill, Red-headed Weaver, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Green-throated Sunbird, Superb Sunbird, Green Sunbird, Grey-chinned Sunbird, Olive-bellied Sunbird, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Jameson's Wattle-eye, and the rare Southern Hyliota. While walking, listen for the calls of forest mammals like the Giant Forest Squirrel, Red-legged Sun Squirrel, Hammer-headed Fruit Bat, and the tiny Blue Duiker. After an exhilarating, full-day forest trek, return to relax at Rondo Retreat Camp.

Before departing the rainforest, enjoy a quiet 2.5-hour morning walk around the Rondo grounds to photograph understory birds. Next, drive 1.5 to 2 hours southwest to Kisumu on the edge of massive Lake Victoria. Spend a rewarding afternoon exploring Dunga Swamp, a vital papyrus wetland. Board a traditional boat to seek out and photograph the localized papyrus endemics, including the beautiful Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, and Carruthers's Cisticola. Look for the massive Greater Swamp Warbler singing from the reeds. The Lake Victoria basin hosts a suite of unique avian species, so you can easily spot and photograph the Black-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird, Slender-billed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Golden-backed Weaver, Orange Weaver, Black-billed Barbet, Blue-headed Coucal, Senegal Coucal, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Swamp Flycatcher, Winding Cisticola, Greater Cormorant, Long-tailed Cormorant, African Darter, Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, African Openbill, and Gull-billed Tern. The papyrus fringe is also home to the rare, swamp-dwelling Sitatunga Antelope, Spotted-necked Otter, and Hippo. Wind down with a beautiful lake sunset at Sunset Hotel Kisumu.

Dedicate 2 hours of the early morning to birding the shoreline of Lake Victoria for missing waterbirds. Afterward, embark on a scenic 5-to-6-hour drive south into the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive across the sweeping, golden savannah plains. The Mara is a spectacular destination for massive birds of prey; focus your camera on the giant Martial Eagle, Secretarybird, and heavy Lappet-faced Vultures. The open grasslands allow you to easily find 20 incredible species, such as the Southern Ground-Hornbill, Jackson's Widowbird, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Swahili Sparrow, Grey-capped Social-Weaver, White-bellied Bustard, Denham's Bustard, Temminck's Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Black-bellied Bustard, Wattled Plover, Long-toed Lapwing, Senegal Lapwing, Black-winged Plover, Caspian Plover, Flappet Lark, Fischer's Sparrow-Lark, Red-capped Lark, Croaking Cisticola, and Athii Short-toed Lark. The Mara is unmatched for big mammals; photograph the African Bush Elephant, Maasai Giraffe, African Buffalo, Plains Zebra, Thomson's Gazelle, Topi, and Olive Baboons. Drive to Drunken Elephant or other depending on availability for your dinner and overnight stay.

Spend a classic, unforgettable day exploring the diverse habitats of the Masai Mara. Your morning and afternoon drives will target the beautiful, colorful Lilac-breasted Roller, the Usambiro Barbet, and the elegant Rufous-bellied Heron along the marsh edges. Keep an eye on the riverine thickets for the elusive African Finfoot. Over the course of the day, you will effortlessly record an incredible array of raptors and plains birds, including the Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Rüppell's Vulture, White-backed Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Brown Snake-Eagle, Banded Snake-Eagle, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Spotted Eagle-Owl, African Wood-Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, and Red-necked Spurfowl. Combine world-class avian photography with the Mara's legendary big cats like the Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah, alongside Spotted Hyenas and troops of Vervet Monkeys. Return at our for dinner and overnight.

Enjoy an early, 3-hour morning game drive and birding session in the outskirts of Mara to catch predators on the move and early rising grassland birds. Afterward, drive 4.5 to 5 hours back toward the central Rift Valley to Naivasha County. Spend your afternoon exploring the beautiful Crater Lake Game Sanctuary. Walk along the volcanic crater rim to spot and photograph the spectacular, bright-crimson Schalow's Turaco, Variable Sunbirds, and Grey-capped Warblers in the yellow fever tree woodlands. The green volcanic waters offer a stark, artistic contrast for your landscape images. This rich lake environment and surrounding scrub will grant you access to at least 20 new species, including the Saddle-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, African Spoonbill, Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Rüppell's Glossy Starling, Superb Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Cape Teal, Red-billed Teal, Hottentot Teal, Southern Pochard, Tufted Duck, White-backed Duck, African Pygmy-Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Egyptian Goose, and Knob-billed Duck. Mammals are highly visible on foot here; expect close encounters with the Defassa Waterbuck, Impala, Grant's Gazelle, Kirk's Dik-dik, Black-and-white Colobus Monkey, and Vervet Monkey. Check in at Eseriani The Resort.

Spend the day inside the dramatic gorges, towering red cliffs, and geothermal steam vents of Hell’s Gate National Park. The towering volcanic cliffs are prime nesting sites for majestic raptors; bring your telephoto lens to photograph Verreaux's Eagles, Augur Buzzards, and the rare Lanner Falcon soaring on thermal currents. The surrounding grasslands also offer great opportunities for scanning and filming the striking Common Ostrich and various pipits. As you explore the cliffs and grasslands, you can log an additional 20 species, such as the Egyptian Vulture, Rüppell's Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Fox Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Nyanza Swift, Mottled Swift, Alpine Swift, Horus Swift, White-rumped Swift, Rock Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Plain Martin, Schalow's Wheatear, Capped Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, Mocking Cliff-Chat, Familiar Chat, and Long-billed Pipit. The park offers a unique chance to walk or bicycle alongside large mammals; photograph the Common Eland, Plains Zebra, Maasai Giraffe, Coke's Hartebeest, Thomson's Gazelle, and Olive Baboon. Overnight at Eseriani The Resort.

Dedicate today to the high-altitude tussock grasslands of the Kinangop Plateau. This unique, threatened habitat is the global stronghold for the endangered, endemic Sharpe's Longclaw. Walk carefully through the fields to find and photograph this special target, along with the beautiful Long-tailed Widowbird and the localized Aberdare Cisticola. The cool montane air makes for great walking conditions. You will easily find an array of specialized high-altitude and grassland species, including the Jackson's Widowbird, Red-collared Widowbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Speke's Weaver, Baglafecht Weaver, Cape Rook, Pied Crow, White-necked Raven, African Pipit, Plain-backed Pipit, Long-billed Pipit, Rufous-naped Lark, Red-capped Lark, Capped Wheatear, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Desert Cisticola, Cloud-cisticola, Hunter's Cisticola, Streaky Seedeater, and Thick-billed Seedeater. The plateau is largely agricultural and pastoral grassland, but you can still find mammals such as the Mountain Reedbuck, Steinbuck, Cape Hare, and various small mongooses. Head back down to the lakeside for your final overnight at Eseriani The Resort.

On your final day, start with a 2-hour morning birding session around the Lake Naivasha shore to catch the early light on waterbirds. Afterward, drive 1.5 hours towards Nairobi, stopping along the highway at Manguo Swamp. This rich highland wetland provides excellent roadside photography. Focus on a variety of wintering waterfowl and resident waterbirds, including the Maccoa Duck, Hottentot Teal, and the elegant Red-knobbed Coot feeding in the open waters. This stop ensures you hit a grand finale of waterbirds, including the Fulvous Whistling-Duck, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Egyptian Goose, Comb Duck, African Black Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Cape Teal, Red-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler, Southern Pochard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Black-necked Grebe, African Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Sacred Ibis, and Hadada Ibis. While mammals are scarce right at the swamp roadside, you might catch a final glimpse of a Marsh Mongoose. After a highly productive birding stop, transfer directly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (1 hour away) for your flight home. Number of Pax 1pax 2Pax 3Pax 4Pax 5Pax 6Pax Cost Per Person 9031 5521 4725 4195 3999 3767 Extra Single Room 470