NAS 120S - 7 Days - Kenya Bird Watchers Paradise

Nairobi - Baringo - Kakamega - Nakuru - Naivasha - Nairobi

This tour takes the bird watching enthusiast to the IBA's (Important Birding Areas) of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya ensuring that we check out the birding species that are endemic to the areas mentioned above which have a proliferation of avifauna. Our Ornithologist guides you through the various species of birds found and their status.

Day 1 Nairobi - Lake Baringo
Pick up from your hotel or JKI Airport and drive through Limuru tea farms, gradually descending to the floor of the Great Rift Valley, passing Mt. Longonot en-route to Lake Baringo. This is one of the two freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley and a bird watcher's paradise - it has over 460 recorded bird species. Check in at Lake Baringo Club where you will find plenty of information on the area's bird life in your room. A resident Ornithologist leads walks before breakfast and in the evenings. Your driver / guide will gladly assist with any queries. Dinner and overnight at Lake Baringo Club.

Day 2: Baringo
Full day in Baringo with a visit to Lake Bogoria. The lake is host to thousands of shocking-pink Flamingoes as well as other water birds such as the Pelican and Grebe. After picnic lunch visit the steaming geysers found in the area. These are spectacular displays of superheated water sprays which shot out of natural underground rocks. Dinner and overnight at Lake Baringo Club.

Birds of Lake Baringo
The species in these environs include Hemprich's and Jackson's Hornbills, Heuglin's Courser, Nubian Nightjar, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Northern Grey Tit, Gambaga flycatcher, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit, Beautiful Sunbird, Bristle-crowned Starling, Jackson's Golden-backed, Little and Northern Masked Weavers. In the evening we might be able to spot Verreaux's and Spotted-Eagle Owls, as well as the White-faced Scops Owl.

Day 3: Baringo - Kakamega
Drive to Kakamega National Reserve after breakfast. This is the country's only tropical rain forest and formed part of the dense rain forest that stretched from West Africa, across Central Africa and into the highland areas East and West of the Great Rift Valley. The forest is world-renowned as home to several hundred species of birds including rare snake-eating birds, insects, monkeys and other mammals, as well as countless, exotic tree species. Dinner and overnight at Kakamega Golf Club.

Birds of Kakamega Forest
In this Western part of Kenya, the remnant Congolese rainforest has species which are found nowhere else in Kenya. This includes Blue-headed Bee-eater, African Broadbill Toro Olive, and Shelley's Greenbuls, Grey-throated Barbet, Chapin's flycatcher, Black-faced Rofous Warbler, Veillot's Black Weaver, Uganda Woodland Warbler Mackinnon's Fiscal, Chubb's Cisticola, Brown-throated Wattle-eye among others. We will venture further afield outside the forest for some more western specialties like Rock Pratincole, White-chinned Prinia, Marsh Widowbird, Black Bishop, Red-headed Lovebird, Green Crombec, Red-chested Sunbird, Purple Starling, Locust Finch, Zebra Waxbill, Brown Twinspot Bar-breasted Firefinch and be on the lookout for rare Speckled-breasted Woodpecker and Bedouin Snake-eagle.

Day 4 Kakamega
Full day in the Kakamega National Reserve with bird walks accompanied by game wardens and our driver/guides. Full board and overnight at Kakamega Golf Club.

Day 5 Kakamega - Nakuru
Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park after an early breakfast arriving at Lake Nakuru Lodge for lunch. After lunch bird spotting drive in the Park, home to stunning flocks of Lesser Flamingoes, which literally turn the lakeshores into a magnificent pink stretch. The bird life here is world-renowned, with the Park being a beacon for leading ornithologists, scientists and wildlife filmmakers. Full board and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Birds of Lake Nakuru
At Lake Nakuru we will see the spectacular gathering of lesser Flamingoes in their hundreds of thousand together with an abundance of other water birds like the Western Reef Heron, Lesser Jacana, and black-headed Gull. We will also look for Acacia forest species, including Green-wood Hoopoe, Hildebrandt's and Coqui Francolins, Rufous-naped and Fawn-colored Larks, scarce Grey-crowned Helmet-shrike, Arrow-marked Babbler, Bearded Woodpecker, Mottled swift and White-shouldered Cliff Chat. On the baboon cliff that overlooks this Great Rift Valley lake are fox Kestrels and other species of falcons.

Day 6 Nakuru - Naivasha
Early morning bird-spotting drive in the park and around the lake before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Drive to Lake Naivasha thereafter, entering via Hell's Gate, famous for its natural streaming geysers and a haven for bird watchers. The cliffs are breeding grounds for vultures, Verreaux's Eagles, Augur Buzzards and thousands of Swifts. Over 130 bird species have been recorded here. Lunch at Lake Naivasha Country Club. Afternoon at leisure to explore the rich, bird-filled gardens or an optional boat ride to Crescent Island. Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Country Club.

Birds of Lake Naivasha
The beautiful Lake Naivasha and its environs is home to the African Skimmer Black headed Gulls, White-winged Black Terns, Black-tailed Godwits, Gull-billed Terns Black Heron, Ringed Plovers, Common Pratincole, Black Swift, Walberg's Honeybird, Plain Backed Pipits, Black, African, Red-chested, Diedrik, and Klaas Cuckoos.

Day 7 Naivasha - Nairobi
After a leisurely breakfast drive back to Nairobi and drop off at your hotel or JKI Airport.

Package Cost Shall Be Provided According To Group Numbers and Period of Travel

Includes:

• Free airport pickup by our courtesy team
• Services of local birding guide
• All park entrance fees
• Full board accommodation on safari
• Service of an English speaking driver guide
• Transport based on a safari minibus with pop up roof for game viewing
• Driver allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
• Game drives as per the Itinerary
• Government taxes

Excludes:

• Extras at the lodges i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
• International flight
• Departure tax
• Tips to porters and drivers