11 Days 10 Nights Kenya Birding Safari

After breakfast, depart Nairobi and drive towards Mount Kenya. Enjoy scenic views of the Kenyan countryside along the way. Stop for roadside birding and search for Hinde’s Babbler, a Kenyan endemic. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring forest edges and nearby birding trails.

Target birds: Olive Ibis, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Red-fronted Parrot, Brown Woodland Warbler, African Hill Babbler, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Kandt’s Waxbill, Mountain Oriole, Scaly Spurfowl, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Slender-billed Greenbul, Waller’s Starling, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Grey-headed Nigrita, Olive Sunbird, Tacazze Sunbird, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher, Mountain Wagtail, Red-backed Wagtail, Moustached Tinkerbird, and Hunter’s Cisticola.

Begin the morning with a guided birding walk through Mount Kenya’s montane forests. Search for highland specialists and listen for distinctive forest bird calls. After breakfast, explore additional trails and suitable habitats. You can also visit nearby waterfalls, depending on trail conditions. Keep watch for mammals moving through the forest.

Target birds: Olive Ibis, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Red-fronted Parrot, Brown Woodland Warbler, African Hill Babbler, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Kandt’s Waxbill, Mountain Oriole, Scaly Spurfowl, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Slender-billed Greenbul, Waller’s Starling, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Grey-headed Nigrita, Olive Sunbird, Tacazze Sunbird, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher, Mountain Wagtail, Red-backed Wagtail, Moustached Tinkerbird, and Hunter’s Cisticola.

Mammals: Kolb’s Mountain Squirrel, Mount Kenya Guereza Monkey, Ochre Bush-Squirrel, and Bushbuck.

After breakfast, depart Mount Kenya and travel north to Samburu National Reserve. The scenery changes from lush highland vegetation to dry bushland and acacia woodland. Enjoy roadside birding opportunities before arriving at your lodge. After lunch, explore the surrounding habitats and search for northern Kenya’s specialised bird species.

Target birds: Somali Bee-eater, Somali Ostrich, Somali Sparrow, Somali Courser, Somali Bunting, Somali Tit, Buff-crested Bustard, Kori Bustard, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Donaldson-Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Vulturine Guineafowl, Black-throated Barbet, Grey Wren-Warbler, Banded Parisoma, Brubru, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Red-fronted Prinia, Violet Woodhoopoe, Namaqua Dove, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, and Yellow-vented Eremomela.

Mammals: Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Desert Warthog, Striped Hyena, and Olive Baboon.

Spend the day exploring Samburu’s dry riverbeds, open plains, and acacia scrub. Start early when birds are most active. Search for Somali Courser, Somali Bee-eater, Vulturine Guineafowl, and the region’s specialised sandgrouse. Your guide will select suitable habitats based on recent sightings. Enjoy excellent opportunities to photograph birds and Samburu’s unique wildlife.

Target birds: Somali Bee-eater, Somali Ostrich, Somali Sparrow, Somali Courser, Somali Bunting, Somali Tit, Buff-crested Bustard, Kori Bustard, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Donaldson-Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Vulturine Guineafowl, Black-throated Barbet, Grey Wren-Warbler, Banded Parisoma, Brubru, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Red-fronted Prinia, Violet Woodhoopoe, Namaqua Dove, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, and Yellow-vented Eremomela.

Mammals: Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Desert Warthog, Striped Hyena, and Olive Baboon.

After breakfast, leave Samburu and drive south towards Lake Nakuru National Park. Enjoy scenic views as you travel through Kenya’s changing landscapes. Descend the Great Rift Valley escarpment and stop for roadside birding where conditions allow. Look for Mackinder’s Eagle-Owl in suitable highland habitats. Carry a packed lunch because the journey is long. Arrive at your lodge in the evening and prepare for a full day of birding tomorrow.

Target birds: Mackinder’s Eagle-Owl, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Western Osprey, African Fish Eagle, Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl, African Thrush, and African Black-headed Oriole.

Mammals: Rothschild’s Giraffe, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Common Zebra, African Cape Buffalo, and Rock Hyrax.

Enjoy a full day exploring Lake Nakuru’s shoreline, woodland, grasslands, and rocky hills. Begin early to find active forest and woodland birds. Later, visit suitable lakeshore habitats to search for waterbirds. Flamingo numbers vary with water levels and food availability. Explore different sections of the park for raptors, bee-eaters, sunbirds, and other specialised species. You may also encounter rhinos, Rothschild’s Giraffes, buffalo, and predators.

Target birds: Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Western Osprey, African Fish Eagle, Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl, African Thrush, African Black-headed Oriole, African Skimmer, Whiskered Tern, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Rock Thrush, Green-headed Sunbird, Little Sparrowhawk, Kittlitz’s Plover, Yellow-billed Duck, Narina Trogon, White-fronted Bee-eater, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Brimstone Canary, Black-backed Puffback, Abyssinian Wheatear, Chinspot Batis, Village Indigobird, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, White-headed Barbet, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-lored Babbler, Long-crested Eagle, White Helmetshrike, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, and Grey-headed Bushshrike.

After breakfast, enjoy a short birding session around your lodge. Depart Lake Nakuru and travel towards the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy views of the Rift Valley countryside and surrounding farmlands. Arrive in the Mara area in time for lunch, depending on road conditions. Spend the afternoon exploring the savanna and riverine habitats. Search for grassland specialists, raptors, and colourful savanna birds.

Target birds: Schalow’s Turaco, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Sooty Chat, Red-necked Spurfowl, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Winding Cisticola, Temminck’s Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Magpie Shrike, Rufous-bellied Heron, Tabora Cisticola, Stout Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Grey-capped Social-Weaver, Capped Wheatear, Secretarybird, Senegal Lapwing, Black-winged Lapwing, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Banded Martin, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Melodious Lark, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Usambiro Barbet, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Violet-backed Starling, and Black-bellied Bustard.

Rise early for a full day of birding and wildlife viewing. Explore the Mara’s open grasslands, acacia woodland, and riverine habitats. Search for grassland specialists, raptors, vultures, and smaller birds around seasonal water sources. Your guide will adapt the route to recent sightings and suitable habitats. Enjoy a picnic lunch in a designated area before continuing your afternoon exploration. The reserve also offers excellent opportunities to observe Africa’s iconic mammals.

Target birds: Schalow’s Turaco, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Sooty Chat, Red-necked Spurfowl, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Winding Cisticola, Temminck’s Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Magpie Shrike, Rufous-bellied Heron, Tabora Cisticola, Stout Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Grey-capped Social-Weaver, Capped Wheatear, Secretarybird, Senegal Lapwing, Black-winged Lapwing, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Banded Martin, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Melodious Lark, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Usambiro Barbet, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Violet-backed Starling, and Black-bellied Bustard.

Mammals: Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Bohor Reedbuck, Impala, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Hippopotamus, Wildebeest, Common Zebra, Maasai Giraffe, and Common Eland.

Spend another full day exploring the Mhttps://www.sopalodges.com/masai-mara-sopa-lodge/the-lodgeasai Mara’s remarkable birdlife. Visit different habitats to improve your chances of finding species missed earlier. Watch for eagles soaring overhead, vultures circling above the plains, and smaller birds feeding among the grasslands. Your guide will focus on your remaining target species. Enjoy further wildlife viewing and photography throughout the day. The Mara offers excellent opportunities to observe predators and large herds of grazing animals.

Target birds: Schalow’s Turaco, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Sooty Chat, Red-necked Spurfowl, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Winding Cisticola, Temminck’s Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Magpie Shrike, Rufous-bellied Heron, Tabora Cisticola, Stout Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Grey-capped Social-Weaver, Capped Wheatear, Secretarybird, Senegal Lapwing, Black-winged Lapwing, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Banded Martin, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Melodious Lark, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Usambiro Barbet, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Violet-backed Starling, and Black-bellied Bustard.

Mammals: Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Bohor Reedbuck, Impala, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Hippopotamus, Wildebeest, Common Zebra, Maasai Giraffe, and Common Eland.

Enjoy an early morning bird walk around your accommodation before breakfast. Aim to leave the reserve by 10:00 am. Travel towards Nairobi and stop at Manguo wetland for your final birding session, depending on road conditions and available time. Search for waterbirds, ducks, rails, warblers, and sunbirds. Continue to Nairobi for dinner or a short rest if your flight schedule permits. Your driver will then transfer you to the appropriate airport terminal for your outbound flight.

Target birds: African Swamphen, White-backed Duck, Blue-billed Teal, Red-knobbed Coot, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Glossy Ibis, Malachite Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, and Hunter’s Cisticola.

End of safari: Airport transfer in Nairobi.