May 2024 / 2025: Birds & Wildlife of Kenya

Areas covered:

Our Birds and Wildlife of Kenya Safari starts with a night in Nairobi. We then visit Samburu National Reserve, home to the ‘northern specials’. These include Reticulated Giraffe (arguably the most striking of all the Giraffes), Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx and the unique Vulturine Guineafowl. Moving on, we then explore the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, with Mount Kenya as the backdrop to the vast plains. From there we explore three of the Rift Valley lakes (Nakuru, Bogoria and Baringo). Next up is Kakamega, Kenya’s last tract of tropical rainforest, a bird and primate hot-spot. Then we spend a night at Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria before the highlight of the tour – 4 nights in the Masai Mara.

Accommodation:

Your accommodation is of a medium-plus to high standard. It includes safari lodges in the main, as well as a few inns and country lodges. Importantly, all accommodations have en-suite facilities, and are clean and comfortable.

The birding:

This Kenya tour has a split focus, with both birds and mammals as the areas of interest. On the birding side there’s a great range of species to be seen. These include some of the typically bold and easy-to-see African savanna species. In addition, there will be a plethora of water-associated species to see. It’s the forests of Kakamega however that will offer the more unusual species, at least in terms of scarcity and range-restriction. To summarize, there is something for every type of birder, from casual to the more serious. Some of our target birds include: Vulturine Guinefowl, Somali Ostrich, Somali Bee-eater, Von der Decken's Hornbill, Jackson's Hornbill, Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, Fan-tailed Raven, White-bellied Bustard, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Greyish Eagle Owl, Yellow-billed Barbet, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Red-bellied Parrot, Jameson's Wattle-eye, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, Rosy-patched Bush Shrike, Bocage's Bush Shrike, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, African Shrike Flycatcher, Mackinnon's Shrike, African Blue Flycatcher, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Chubb's Cisticola, Carruther's Cisticola, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Golden-breasted Starling, Bristle-crowned Starling, Fischer's Starling, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Golden-winged Sunbird, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Black-billed Weaver, Jackson's Widowbird, Red-headed Bluebill and many more.

The mammals:

Large mammals and the Kenya safari experience are synonymous! In this respect our Kenya tour has plenty to offer. Samburu, Ol Pejeta and the Masai Mara are the large mammal hot-spots. Kakamega offers an interesting range of primate species. Mammals we’ll be looking for include: Reticulated, Rosthchild's and Masai Giraffes, Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles, Defassa Waterbuck, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Plain’s Zebra, Bearded Gnu, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Serval, Elephant, African Buffalo, Black Rhino, Kirk’s Dik-Dik, Olive Baboon, Black-and-White Colobus, Red-tailed Monkey, Bat-eared Fox.

In conclusion, this Kenya tour is an experience not to be missed. From plains of Ol Pejeta in the shadow of Mount Kenya to the endless game-studded vistas of the Mara, this safari will enrich you well beyond just the 16 days spent in the country… 

See the 2023 trip report - Birds & Wildlife of Kenya 2023.

See the Trip Advisor review of this tour.

For something along similar lines in South Africa check out our new Incredible Kruger itinerary!