Overview
This 10-day birding and photography expedition across Kenya’s diverse ecosystems offers a blend of avian rarities, iconic African megafauna, Big Game, and stunning landscapes.
| Number of Pax | 1pax | 2Pax | 3Pax | 4Pax | 5Pax | 6Pax |
| USD Per Person | 7547 | 4743 | 3900 | 3486 | 3250 | 3080 |
| Single Supplement USD | 450 | |||||
10-Days Kenya Birding & Wildlife Tour: The Itinerary Details
Day 1: Nairobi National Park on Arrival
Your adventure begins with a 6:00 AM pickup for a full day in the world’s only wildlife park within a capital city. The park’s unique juxtaposition of skyscrapers and savannah provides a dramatic backdrop for photography. We will explore the wetlands, highland forests, and open grasslands.
Expect to see the Lesser Kestrel, Shelley’s Francolin, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Pangani Longclaw, Jackson’s Widowbird, Kori Bustard, Secretarybird, African Quail-finch, Speke’s Weaver, and Martial Eagle. Mammals are abundant here; we will track the Black Rhino, Lions, Leopards, Masai Giraffes, and Burchell’s Zebras. After a full day of capturing the “Big Five” against the city skyline, we retire to Hotel Troy Nairobi for dinner and briefing.
Day 2: Final Birding Nairobi Later Transfer to Masaai Mara
After a final morning birding session in Nairobi to catch the early light, we embark on a 5-hour (250 km) journey to the world-famous Masai Mara. The drive descends the breathtaking Great Rift Valley escarpment, offering panoramic views. We reach the Mara in time for an evening transition drive.
Key avian targets include the Southern Ground Hornbill, Usambiro Barbet, Schalow’s Turaco, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Temminck’s Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Saddle-billed Stork, Bateleur, Lappet-faced Vulture, and Rufous-bellied Heron. In the grasslands, we’ll look for Elephants, Topis, and Coke’s Hartebeest. We will spend the night at AA Lodge Masai Mara, perfectly positioned for early access to the reserve.
Day 3 & 4: In The Heart of Maasai Mara!
These two days are dedicated to open safari game drives, focusing on the Mara’s incredible predator-prey dynamics. With sunrise and sunset photography as our priority, we track the “Great Migration” routes.
Birding highlights include the Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Magpie Shrike, Black-headed Heron, Lilac-breasted Roller, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, White-bellied Bustard, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Wattled Plover, Long-crested Eagle, and Double-banded Courser. This is prime territory for Cheetahs, Spotted Hyenas, and Bat-eared Foxes. We will also explore the Mara River for Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, and Olive Baboons. Our base remains AA Lodge Masai Mara for both nights.
Day 5: Masai Mara to Lake Victoria (Kisumu) and Afternoon Trip at Lake Victoria
Following a sunrise drive, we depart for Kisumu on a 6-hour (280 km) journey toward the shores of Lake Victoria. In the afternoon, we take a boat trip along the papyrus-fringed shores, a haven for water-associated specialties.
We aim for the Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Swamp Flycatcher, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Greater Swamp Warbler, Double-toothed Barbet, Blue-headed Bee-eater, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Long-toed Lapwing, and Pied Kingfisher. Along the banks, we may spot the Spotted-necked Otter and Vervet Monkeys. We stay at Sunset Hotel Kisumu, enjoying the cooling breeze from the world’s second-largest freshwater lake.
Day 6 & 7: Kakamega Forest Exploration with a Local Site Guide
A short 1.5-hour drive (50 km) takes us to Kakamega Forest, Kenya’s only remaining Guinea-Congolian rainforest. This is a birding mecca with many species found nowhere else in the country. We will spend two days under the canopy seeking the Great Blue Turaco, Grey Parrot, Blue-headed Bee-eater, Turner’s Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Green-throated Sunbird, White-chinned Prinia, Chubb’s Cisticola, and the elusive African Broadbill (rare)
The forest is also home to specialized primates like the Black-and-white Colobus, Red-tailed Monkey, and the rare De Brazza’s Monkey. Our sanctuary for these two nights is the tranquil Rondo Retreat Centre.
Day 8: Final Birding in Kakamega and Travel to to Lake Nakuru National Park
Today we travel 4 hours (180 km) southeast to Lake Nakuru National Park. Upon arrival, we enjoy afternoon birding around the lodge grounds and the alkaline lake shores.
The park is famous for its massive flocks of Lesser and Greater Flamingos, which turn the shores pink. Other targets include the Great White Pelican, African Fish Eagle, Hottentot Teal, Pied Avocet, Black-necked Grebe, Ruppell’s Vulture, Brimstone Canary, Red-capped Lark, and African Spoonbill. We will likely encounter the Southern White Rhino and Rothschild’s Giraffe near the water. Overnight is at the historic Lake Nakuru Lodge, offering stunning views of the lake.
Day 9: Lake Nakuru Full Day Safari and Birding
A full day is dedicated to exploring the diverse habitats of Nakuru, from the acacia woodlands to the rocky cliffs of Baboon Cliff. We will search for the Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Narrow-tailed Starling, Abyssinian Wheatear, White-fronted Bee-eater, Mocking Cliff Chat, Speke’s Weaver, African Marsh Harrier, Red-chested Cuckoo, Verreaux’s Eagle, and Coqui Francolin.
The park is one of the best places in Kenya to photograph Leopards resting in fever trees. We will also observe Defassa Waterbucks, Bushbucks, and large troops of Olive Baboons. We return to Lake Nakuru Lodge for our final evening in the wild.
Day 10: Nakuru to Nairobi & Departure
On our final morning, we enjoy a short birding session to pick up any missed species before the 3-hour (160 km) transfer back to Nairobi. Along the way, we stop at the Rift Valley viewpoints for landscape photography. We look for high-altitude species like the Augur Buzzard and Long-tailed Widowbird along the route.
Upon arrival in Nairobi, we can visit a local craft market or enjoy a farewell lunch before your transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your return flight. We will keep a lookout for the Marabou Stork and Hadada Ibis even in the city outskirts as we conclude this epic photographic journey.
