August 31st, 2009 | 
Author: Kenya Bird Watching Safaris Tours
Kenya has one of the richest avifaunas in Africa. With around 170 species of Kenya’s birds being Palearctic migrants mainly from Eastern EuropeRussia the Middle East and Serbia you are sure to get your dream birding holiday. 60 species migrating regularly within the Afrotropics or from Madagascar. 335 Species are found in the forest 230 species are entirely forest dependent.
A bird watching safari can be combined with a beach holiday safari for those who would like to experience a bit of jungle and the comfort of the white sand beaches of the Kenyan coast making it a paradise treat holiday.Inthe coastal region we havevarious birding spots such as the Mida Creek. It has an area of 26100ha. and streches for almost 40 km along the seashores and its a fascinating world of cultures to discover lying at 010 m above the sea level. The area comprises of a complex of marine and tidal habitats on Kenya’s north coast streching from just south of Malindi town southwards to beyond the entrance of Mida creek. Habitats include intertidal rock sand and mud fringing reefs and coral gardens; beds of sea grass; coral cliffs platforms and islets; sandbeaches; and mangrove forests. The sand dunes are great workout to build leg muscles and the tiny sand granules are fantastic as they massage every nerve of your foot it’s natural reflexology. The species of focus will include among others the Crab plover Terek sandpiper Mangrove kingfisher Greater Sandplover Eurasian Oystercatcher among others. It is a perfect place photographing the humbling and magnificent Mangrove forest the magical trees of Mida creek.
There is also the Arabuko Sokoke forest with an area of 41600 ha at an altitude of 021m above sea level. It has tree types of habitats namely mixed forest Brachystegia and Cynometra forest.Here we find species like Sokoke scopes owl Clarke’s Weaver Amani sunbird Anteater thrush Eastern Nicator Mombasa woodpecker among other globally threaten species that only occurs in this forest.
Away from the coast there is the Lake Nakuru an alkaline pink dotted lake at the floor of the Great Rift Valley. It is a host to a wide variety of bird species and even one of the worlds most gregarious birds the flamingo. You also get to encounter the great white pelican pink backed pelican all water birds that breed in alkaline waters the white stork marabou stork it hosts over four hundred species. The tropical rain forest known as the Kakamega forestwhich isin the heart of an intensively cultivated agricultural area is a superb remainder of virgin tropical rainforest and is of course the home to a wide range of specialty birds many which are not found anywhere else in Kenya. The forest is not only home to the rare De Brazza’s monkey only found in Kakamega Forest but also to the Hammerheaded Fruit Bat Flying Squirrel 400 species of butterflies and no less than 330 species of birds.
Yes birding in a forest has its fair share of difficulties but this is easily forgotten when our count increases with hopeful sightings of the impressive Blackandwhitecasqued Hornbill Ross’ and the Great Blue Turaco. Other notables are the Greyheaded Negrofinch Redheaded Bluebill Chestnut Wattleeye Mackinnon’s Shrike and many more.
There are many birding spots in Kenya to be covered in just one articleand below is a sample itinerary just to give a clue of a safari flow however a tailor made
The Kenya birding safari starts in Nairobi National Park followed by the Rift Valley Lakes which is a mixture of fresh water lakes Naivasha and Baringo and salt water lakes Nakuru and Bogoria. Further west we find the unique Kakamega Forest a remaining patch of the tropical rain forest . We end the tour birding in Masai Mara the Africa of everyone’s dream: rolling plains great wildlife and a wide diversity of birds species.
DAY 1: NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast we drive to 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.
On our birding venture we will see Ostrich Secretary Bird Crowned Crane Vulture Cattle Egret Great Egret Tawny Eagle and a herd of Buffaloes should provide Redbilled Oxpecker perched on their backs. Black Kite Marabou Stork Pied Crow and African Palm Swift are also available in the park.
A walk around the Hippo pools should give us our first sighting of the Nile Crocodiles and the Helmeted Guineafowl. In the Yellowbacked Acacia look out for Grey Crowned Crane Redthroated Tit and Chestnutbanded Plover.
Overnight at a hotel in Nairobi.
DAY 2amp;3: MENENGAI CRATER And LAKE NAKURU
After breakfast we leave Nairobi via the Nakuru road to the Rift valley. The Nairobi Nakuru road is on a contour along the rim of the Rift valley and on viewpoints we will be able to see our whole route for the next days.
On the way we take a brief birding stop at the Limuru Swamp to see resident birds species such as Little Grebe Yellowbilled and Maccoa Duck Pelicans Coots Egrets and Herons. Soaring are Black Kite Augur Buzzard and Pied Crow.
The Menengai area is very beautiful with cliff walls and steam jets filling the crater with mist. It is only 10 km from the Nakuru National Park and has not been touched by tourism. This is an easy to explain situation as safari evolves around wildlife with other geographical features being relegated to viewpoints that is if they happen to be visible from a highway. Fortunately Menengai Crater is off the highway so it is spared the viewpoint ritual of convoys of tour buses stopping for the mandatory 10 minutes break of photo taking.
In the afternoon of day 3 we will do a birding walk in the crater where we will enjoy the beautiful contrasts of nature. Rocks that have stood the test of time natural springs with mirror clear water lava that reminds us that this is the Rift Valley and baboons trooping around with their babies. Possible sightings here are the Common Stonechat Yellowrumped Seedeater Cinnamonbreasted Rock Bunting Yellow Bishop Yellowmantled Widowbird Northern Anteater chat Whitefronted Beeeater and Shallow’s Wheatear.
On day 4 Lake Nakuru
We go bird watching in Lake Nakuru which is famous for its thousands of Lesser Flamingos the Greater Flamingoes will be easily distinguishable by their height. The Great White and Pinkbacked Pelican and Blackwinged Stilt are also there.
The lake has a low concentration of salt so it supports fish that of course attract other water birds.
It is a good place to look for Avocets Storks Ibises Ducks Cormorants Herons and Terns. In the wooded acacias there is a chance to see the Whitebrowed Coucal Broadbilled Roller Arrowmarked Babbler and the Narina Trogon.
We go with a picnic lunch so that we can take a full day for birding and game viewing in the park.
DAY 5 6 amp; 7: LAKE BARINGO
After breakfast we head further north to Lake Baringo which without doubt is a one of the most interesting places for bird watching in Kenya because of the different habitats that are found within a small radius. There is the fresh water lake with a slight degree of alkalinity cliffs open grasslands as well as scattered bushes.
Over 400 species of birds have been recorded. The woodlands by the lake are alive with Whitebrowed SparrowWeavers Jackson’s and Redbilled Hornbills Bristlecrowned Starlings and the rare Northern Masked Weavers there are several Hamerkops along the lakeshore and with luck we should be able to see their nest which a pair of Grey Kestrels have adopted as a home. There will be time to relax enjoy the pool and bird the grounds of the lodge for the resident Spotted Eagleowls and Sunbirds such as the Beautiful Hunter’s and the Violetbreasted. Nightjars are common on the lakeshores at night and the Hippos graze freely on the lodge’s lawn. Overnight is at lodge.
On day 6 Lake Bogoria
we go birding to the nearby alkaline lake of Bogoria famous for its thousands of flamingos and beautiful hot springs. As this area is very hot we go early and return to the Baringo Country Club in time for a late lunch. Afternoon is spent birding leasurely in the garden of the lodge.
Before breakfast on day 7 we will bird the escarpment and surrounding countryside for Hemprich’s and Eastern Yellowbilled Hornbill Whitecrested Turaco Madagascar Beeeater Rufouscrowned Roller Gabar Goshawk Cliff Chat and Verreaux’s Eagle which feeds on the Rock Hyrax.
Later on the day we make a boat ride over Lake Baringo always on the lookout for new bird species. We will come close to the Goliath Heron African Fish Eagle Malachite Kingfisher plus swimming hippo and crocodiles.
DAY 8 amp; 9: KAKAMEGA FOREST
Kakamega forest in the heart of an intensively cultivated agricultural area is a superb remainder of virgin tropical rainforest and is of course the home to a wide range of specialty birds many which are not found anywhere else in Kenya. The forest is not only home to the rare De Brazza’s monkey only found in Kakamega Forest but also to the Hammerheaded Fruit Bat Flying Squirrel 400 species of butterflies and no less than 330 species of birds.
Yes birding in a forest has its fair share of difficulties but this is easily forgotten when our count increases with hopeful sightings of the impressive Blackandwhitecasqued Hornbill Ross’ and the Great Blue Turaco. Other notables are the Greyheaded Negrofinch Redheaded Bluebill Chestnut Wattleeye Mackinnon’s Shrike and many more.
DAY 10: LAKE NAIVASHA
A scenic transfer through the Nandi Hills and the tea rich area of Kericho takes us back to Nakuru and further south to the Lake Naivasha area.
Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake without a known outlet. This is very strange considering that the rivers that feed it are salty. The lake has dense vegetation which in turn supports a variety of birds. The area has a bird count of 350 species.
We reach Lake Naivasha in time for a late lunch where we’ll stay for the next two nights. In the afternoon we do a bird walk in the garden of the hotel which borders the lake. A late afternoon boat ride gives us not only the chance to see numerous Hippos but also a wide variety of fresh water birds. A nocturnal visitor in this lodge is the hippo whose deep munching we will easily identify from the comfort of our rooms.
DAY 11: HELL’S GATE NATIONAL PARK
Hell’s Gate is only a short drive away from the lodge. The first part is open grasslands bordered with steep rock cliffs in which the Rppell’s Griffon Vulture nests. Easy sightings here are the Verreaux’s or Black Eagle Common Ostrich Blackshouldered Kite Whitefronted Beeeater Grassland and Longbilled Pipit Northern and Schalow’s Wheatear Lilacbreasted Roller…
The narrow gorge has a completely different habitat and hence very different birds: Yellow Grey and African Pied Wagtail Redcheeked Cordonbleu Purple Grenadier Common Drongo Superb Starling Brimstone Canary Common Waxbill Whitebrowed RobinChat…
DAY 12 13 amp; 14: MASAI MARA
We head to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve which borders Serengeti in Tanzania. Mara is the gem of birding and game viewing in Kenya with 450 species recorded. We will drive through Masai land home to one of the most fascinating cultures in Africa.
In the vast grasslands we expect to see Elephants; the large Cats Lion Leopard and Cheetah; the herd animals Zebra Wildebeest Thompson’s and Grant’s Gazelles; and specialties like the Hartebeest and the Topi.
Expected bird species are the highly conspicuous Common Ostrich the small but still conspicuous Cardinal Quelea Sooty Chat Ground Hornbill Openbilled Stork Temminck’s Courser Yellowthroated Sandgrouse and Denham’s Bustard. Lilacbreasted Rollers are common. If we find a kill we may see six species of vultures all dining together: Egyptian Hooded Griffon Lappetfaced Whitebacked and Whiteheaded.
In addition we will encounter numerous raptors such as Bateleur Martial and Tawny Eagles as well as Pale Chanting Goshawk Augur Buzzards and Blackchested Snake Eagles. Along the Mara River we’ll watch for African Finfoot Schalow’s and Ross’ Turaco Crested Guineafowl Woodland Kingfisher Yellowbilled Barbet Blackbilled Weaver Violetbacked Starling and perhaps with luck Pel’s Fishing Owl. Any tapping noise on the trees may be indicative of the relatively uncommon Woodpeckers Goldentailed and Finebanded. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to see some of the more difficult to see mammals such as Bateared Fox Hunting Dog Serval and the delightful Banded Mongoose.
DAY 15: Maasai Mara Nairobi
Heading north to Narok we stop to browse in the bustling vibrant Maasai markets to buy curios and handicrafts before continuing to Nairobi where our safari end
For your tailor made birding safari you can always contactBeaverline safaris for your tailor made birding safarias well as a wide range of safari products to East Africa
About the writer: Muchina is a tour consultant with Beaverline Safaris a Nairobi based tour operator commited to giving its clients the best of services through its highly effient and dedicated stuff. For all your East Africa Travel needs kindly contact Beaverline safaris at infobeaverlinesafaris.com or visit our Website at http://www.beaverlinesafaris.com
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