Arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the morning. Transfer to a city hotel. A morning to relax and wear off jet lag but not without an introduction of the Kenyan birds. A walk in the garden of our hotel will give our first count of African birds: Northern Pied Babbler, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Speckled Mousebird, Dusky Turtle Doves and numerous Sunbirds. After lunch we visit the Nairobi National Park, which despite being only a few kilometers from the city, is a home to big game. In its open grasslands scattered with acacia trees we will see the first game like Gazelles, Zebras, Giraffes and maybe some of the Cats. We also see Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Crowned Crane, Vulture, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Tawny Eagle and a herd of Buffaloes should provide Red-billed Oxpecker perched on their backs. Black Kite, Marabou Stork, Pied Crow and African Palm Swift are also available in the park. Overnight at the city hotel in Nairobi.
Depart from Nairobi and drive southeast with a short stop over at Hunters Lodge to view the bustling colony of African Golden Weavers and have a chance to look for the Resident Giant Kingfishers before proceeding to Saltlick Safari Lodge, famous for the large number of elephants that visit its floodlit waterhole each night to arrive for late lunch. Afternoon spend birdwatching in a remnant patch of forest at the top of the Taita Hills. Dinner and over night at Salt Lick Lodge or similar.
Early Morning bird watching at Taita Hills. Return to the Lodge for breakfast and there after we depart and drive to the bird-rich Lake Jipe, where we’ll search for waterbirds. After a picnic lunch on the lakeshore we’ll drive to Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp where we will arrive late afternoon. By the way in some dry scrub close to Ziwani Camp we’ll look for White-headed Mousebird, Scaly Chatterer and White-throated Robin. Dinner and overnight at Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp or similar.
An early breakfast at Voyager Ziwani Camp, then drive to Kitovu Forest close to the border with Tanzania for bird viewing then return to Voyager Ziwani Camp for lunch lunch. Then drive through Tsavo West National Park to Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge arriving late afternoon. After check in do a late afternoon game drive with a visit Mzima Springs. Dinner and overnight at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge or similar.
Early morning game around Chaimu Crater and Roaring Rocks to view falcons, eagles and buzzards whirling over the plains. Breakfast then depart thereafter and drive to Amboseli National Park arriving in time for Lunch at Ol Tukai Lodge. Afternoon spend looking for species typical of this area especially on the marshlands.
Dinner and overnight at Ol Tukai Lodge or similar.
Full day game and bird watching in this park. Overnight at Ol Tukai Lodge .
Depart after an early breakfast, we’ll drive north toward Mt. Kenya stopping en route at the Blue Posts Hotel where we’ll look for Brown-hooded Kingfisher and Trumpeter Hornbill in the well-wooded gardens. We’ll continue to Mountain Lodge arriving in time for a late lunch. Birdwatching from the open roof is excellent as the forest presses in on three sides and we’ll see many species. The waterhole in front of the lodge attracts a variety of mammals. Afternoon spend around the lodge bird watching Dinner and overnight at Senera Mountain Lodge or similar.
After breakfast we’ll leave the lodge, driving slowly down through a forest rich in birds. We’ll arrive at Naro Moru River Lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon we’ll walk a shaded riverside trail in search of Black Duck, Crowned Hornbill, Mountain Wagtail and up to eight species of sunbirds including the stunning Tacazze. Night at Naro Moru River Lodge or similar.
After a early breakfast we’ll drive north to the spectacular Thomson’s Falls, taking a short walk to look for Slender-billed Starling, then we’ll climb high into the mountains where flowering roadside Leonotis bushes attract brilliant Golden-winged and the occasional Malachite Sunbirds. We’ll drop down through the eastern Escarpment of The Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru. We may arrive in time for lunch at Lionhill Lodge. Afternoon game and bird viewing at Lake Nakuru national Park. We will be looking to see millions of greater and lesser flamingoes and other bird species such as Narina Trogon. Red-throated Wryneck, Greater and scaly throated Honey guides, Arrow Marked Babbler and African Fire finch. Dinner and overnight at Lion hill Lodge or similar.
After breakfast birding around the lake. About 0930 drive to Lake Bogoria National Reserve. Lunch at Lake Bogoria Hotel. Afternoon game and bird viewing. Also visit the Hot Springs. Afterwards drive north to Lake Baringo Country Club. We’ll spend time in the garden and along the lakeshore. Dinner and overnight at Lake Baringo Country Club or similar.
We’ll visit the nearby cliffs at sunrise scanning for Fan-tailed Raven, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Cliff Chat, Brown-tailed Rock-Chat and Bristle-crowned Starling. After breakfast we’ll venture out into the nearby scrub. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Lake Baringo Country Club or similar.
After breakfast we’ll travel up the west side of the Rift to Kabarnet and descend into the spectacular Kerio valley. On rocky hillsides amongst large scattered trees we’ll search for Green-backed Eremomela and Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, before stopping for picnic in the wooded valley bottom where Brown Parrot, White-crested Turaco, Pearl-spotted Owlet and Black-headed Gonolek may well liven up our picnic. At a spectacular viewpoint halfway up the western escarpment of the valley may offer as well the very local Boran Cisticola. Afternoon we’ll reach Kakamega Forest. Birding around Rondo Retreat Center. Dinner and overnight in Rondo Retreat Center or similar.
Full day spend viewing birds at this once extensive woodland forest. Dinner and overnight at Rondo Retreat Center or similar.
Morning we’ll drive west toward the Ugandan border. Just after dawn we’ll reach a major river where a pair of delightful Rock Pratincoles normally reside on some isolated boulders A nearby area of streamside bushes and cultivated fields which holds a number of western species birds with small or localized Kenyan populations . Dinner and overnight at Rondo Retreat Center or similar.
Early morning birding at the grounds of your hotel then depart after breakfast and After breakfast, drive South East through the Western Escarpment of The Great Rift Valley and down on its floor viewing the beautiful landscape to arrive to Lake Naivasha arriving in time for LUNCH at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge or Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge. Afternoon free to do bird viewing on the grounds of the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge or Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge or similar.
Morning spend birding at the grounds of your hotel and surrounding areas then take a boat ride to the Lake looking for Goliath Heron and Giant Kingfisher among the masses of other water birds. After lunch drive to Hells Gate National Park well known for its colonies of Rupell’s Vultures and hordes of Mottled and Nyanza Swifts and Lanners hunting the swifts along the cliffs. With Luck we may see the Spooted Eagle Owl. Dinner and overnight Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge or Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge or similar.
Morning spend birding at the grounds of lodge. Breakfast and drive back to Nairobi arriving at around 1300 hrs.