Bird watching
in Kenya 5 Days - Nairobi - L. Naivasha - L.Nakuru - Maasai Mara
Day 01: Nairobi - Lake Naivasha
After breakfast we depart from our Nairobi hotel for a scenic drive
through the Great North road to Lake Naivasha. Stop en-route at the
view points of the Great Rift Valley for stunning views arriving
Lake Naivasha by mid-morning for bird walk before time for lunch at
Lake Naivasha Lodge.
Lake Naivasha being close to Lake Nakuru and 65 miles from Nairobi,
is a freshwater Lake. It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1967 and
also supports pastoral industries of wine and flowers. During our
full day field trip to Lake Naivasha, we study the birds of the
region such as herons, fish eagles, ospreys, black crakes, and
lily-trotters. Dominated by the shadow of Mt. Longonot, few lakes in
the world have a more commanding or spectacular setting than
Naivasha.
We also have an excursion to the Elsa mere Center. Activities
include reliving the experience of Joy Adamson and Elsa while
viewing "Born Free." Lake Naivasha being on the Rift floor is home
to an incredible variety of species. Over 450 species have been
recorded here. Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Naivasha Lodge or
similar.
Day 02: Lake Naivasha -Lake Nakuru
This morning we leave Naivasha and head for Lake Nakuru Park,
regarded by avid birders' as the greatest World ornithological
spectacle on the Earth. The park is famous for its millions of pink
flamingoes lining on the lake shore, arriving by mid morning at Lake
Nakuru for a game drive en route before checking-in at Lake Nakuru
Lodge for Lunch. Afternoon game drive followed by a walk along the
shores which will also allow us to see the many wild animals in the
park and especially the park is the Sanctuary to the Black Rhino,
White Rhino and the Rothschild Giraffe. Here we'll have the chance
to look out at some of the common species like the Lesser and
Greater Flamingoes, African fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Green Wood
Hoopoes, Cliff Chat, Great White and Pink Backed Pelicans plus other
intra- African Migrants. Dinner and Overnight stay today will be at
Lake Nakuru Lodge or similar.
Day 03: Lake Nakuru - Masai Mara
Soon after breakfast, drive across the floor of the Great Rift
Valley the longest rift in the crust of the Earth to Masai Mara Game
Reserve the unspoiled Savannah. Masai Mara is actually the northern
portion of the Great Plains ecosystem in the neighbouring Tanzania
called Serengeti. It is a home to the "big five" lion, buffalo,
rhino, leopard and elephant as well cheetah, zebra, giraffe and vast
herds of plain antelope and numerous and other wildlife. Our
accommodation for the nights will be at one of the excellent lodge
Mara Sopa Lodge. Sopa is a Masai word meaning welcome and indeed
this is a tradition which has been well adopted by the lodge to all
guest. Set in the Oloolaimutia valley the lodge blends in perfectly
with its surrounding hillside landscape. After lunch and some time
to relax and perhaps take a dip in the pool, you will depart with
your driver guide for an afternoon game drive in search of the big
five. As sun starts to edge dip into the horizon, it will be perfect
time to photograph the beautiful Mara rolling plains. Don't forget
this is the right time to spot the shy leopard. Dinner & overnight
at the lodge.
Day 04: Masai Mara
A full day in the Mara, the extensive grasslands are a strong hold
to the threatened, migratory Corncrake and the near threatened
Jackson's widowbird. The bush and woodlands around the reserve also
hold some unique bird species, more than 450 bird species have been
recorded in the Mara, including 12 species of cisticola and birds of
prey. Large numbers of palaerctic migrants winter in the area
including Caspian plovers and white storks. Other local and unusual
birds in the Mara include Rock Cisticola, Rufous Bellied Heron,
Denham's Bustard, Black Coucal, Red Tailed chat, Pale Wren Warbler,
Tabora Cisticola, Yellow Bellied Hyliota, Green-capped Eremomela and
Magpie Shrike. All meals, dinner and Overnight stay will be at
Sarova Mara Camp or similar.
Day 05: Masai Mara - Nairobi - Fly
After breakfast, we drive back to Nairobi arriving in time for lunch
at Toona Tree Restaurant where you can enjoy some good Italian food,
Check-in to day room at Nairobi hotel. Farewell dinner Later early
in the evening, will be hosted by our company at the world famous
Carnivore Restaurant considered "Africa's greatest eating
experience" (if you love barbecue it doesn't get better than this),
and home to the "Simba Saloon" one of the cities most popular night
clubs. Thereafter you will be transferred to the airport in time for
your International departure flight
13 Days - Nairobi - Amboseli - Tsavo West - Taita Hills - Arabuko
Sokoke Forest - Mida Creek - Sabaki River Mouth - Tsavo East -
Kibwezi Forest - Chyulu Hills - Nairobi
Day 01: Nairobi - Amboseli
After an early morning breakfast, proceed with your safari by road
to Amboseli National Park. The park and surrounding game reserve
cover 1260 sq miles and is mostly arid woodland with a series of
swamps and lakes that provides a year round water supply for
wildlife. The snowcapped peak of Kilimanjaro rising above a saucer
of clouds, dominates every aspect of Amboseli and forms a backdrop
to an impressive display of wildlife with its population of lion,
huge hard of elephant, buffalo e.t.c. With a game drive en-route
you'll arrive to your lodge for lunch. Afternoon game drive, dinner
& overnight at camp/ lodge.
Day 02: Amboseli National park
After breakfast it will be the perfect time for photographing the
humbling and magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa.
With picnic lunch you depart your lodge for a full day birding
section with our eagle eyed birding guide. Please take this
opportunity to add a new species in your birding list. Dinner and
overnight at Lodge.
Day 03: Amboseli - Tsavo National park
After early morning breakfast, commence your safari by road with our
driver/guide through the North Great Road to the legendary land of
man-eaters - Tsavo National Park. A diverse and vast park which is
one of the largest game sanctuaries in the World when we combine
Tsavo west and Tsavo East covering an area of more than 20,000 sq
km. This wilderness supports a large number of games including
elephants, rhino, lion, huge herd of buffalo etc. Enjoy your lunch
at Kilanguni Lodge, which is magnificently set at the heart of the
park with views of the Chyulu Hills and the snowcapped Mt.
Kilimanjaro. Each room has a private verandah overlooking the
waterhole and Mt. Kilimanjaro. Dinner & overnight at Kilanguni
Serena Lodge .
Day 04: Tsavo - Taita Hills Forest
After an early morning breakfast, we proceed with our safari by road
to Taita Hills Forest. Taita Hills Forest has an area of 400 ha, at
an Altitude of between 1350-2228m. It lies south -eastern Kenya
south and west of Voi town, and rising abruptly above the semi-arid
plain of Tsavo west National Park. Taita Hill share some botanical
affinities are located 120 km distant. Geologically, the hills are
the northern most outpost of the ancient Eastern mountains of
Tanzania and Malawi. Dry bushland runs up the flanks of the hills,
giving away rather abruptly near the top to small holder cultivation
or remnant patches of moist forest. Special Species that we focus
here will include the Taita Falcon, Taita Thrush, Taita white eye,
Bar throated Apalis. All meals, dinner & overnight lodge.
Day 05 - 07: Taita Hills Forest - Arabuko - sokoke forest
After an early morning breakfast, proceed with our safari to
Arabuko-sokoke forest. Has an area of 41,600 ha at an altitude of
0-21m above the sea level. It was proclaimed a crown forest in 1932
and gazetted 1943 covering an area of 2,700 ha added in 1968.
Arabuko-sokoke has three types habitats namely; Mixed forest 7,000
ha, Brachystegia woodland 7,700 ha on white, very infertile soil and
Cynometra forest 11,300 ha with a canopy height of 7-8 m. Here we
target species likes Sokoke scopes owl, Clarke's Weaver, Amani
sunbird, Ant-eater thrush, Eastern Nicator, Mombasa woodpecker among
other globally threaten species that only occurs in this forest. All
meals, dinner and overnight will be served at a lodge/ beach club.
Day 08: Arabuko sokoke forest - Mida creek
After breakfast, it will be the perfect time for photographing the
humbling and magnificent Mangrove forest (the magical trees) of Mida
creek. Mida creek has an area of 26100 ha and stretches for almost
40 km along the seashores and it's a fascinating world of cultures
to discover, lying at 0-10 m above the sea level. Area comprises a
complex of marine and tidal habitats on Kenya's north coast,
stretching from just south of Malindi town southwards to beyond the
entrance of Mida creek. Habitats include inter-tidal rock, sand and
mud, fringing reefs and coral gardens; beds of sea grass; coral
cliffs, platforms and islets; sandbe aches; 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. Our species of focus will include among
others the Crab plover, Terek sandpiper, Mangrove kingfisher,
Greater Sandplover, Eurasian Oystercatcher among others. All meals,
dinner and overnight will be served at lodge/beach club.
Day 9: Mida Creek- Sabaki River Mouth
After breakfast we drive further north to Sabaki river mouth. It
Comprise the sandbanks, mudbanks, dunes and fresh water pools and
marshes at the mouth of the Sabaki, Kenya's second longest river 5km
north of Malindi town. The state and size of the estuary vary
seasonally depending on river flows. Just north and south of the
river mouth are grassy dunes that conceal permanent or temporary
pools of fresh water. Here we anticipate species like the Sooty
gull, Zanzibar red bishop, Greater snipe, Malindi pipit, Broad
billed sandpiper, Whimbrel among other Coastal species. All meals,
dinner and overnight will be served at lodge/beach club.
Day 10: Sabaki- Tsavo East National Park
After an early breakfast, Our safari will be destined for Tsavo East
National Park with Vast savanna, it lies low in semi-arid country at
the Eastern edge of the inland plateau, north of the main Mombasa -
Nairobi road and railway much of the park is level, open country,
with scattered rock outcrops. Birdlife is abundant and beautiful,
with some 400 species to be seen, 48species of wildlife and several
reptile species are found in the park, including, crocodiles, common
in the Athi and Tsavo rivers, whose rocky confluence lies just north
of Voi town. All meals and overnight will be served at lodge.
Day 11: Tsavo East National Park - Kibwezi forest
Day 12: Kibwezi forest - Chyulu hills forest
After an early morning breakfast, we leave for Chyulu hills forest
situated 190km south -east of Nairobi and 30km south west of Kibwezi
are relatively recent volcanic origin and the range is composed of
ash cones and craters. This hills hold no permanent surface water,
but rainfall percolating through the porous rock feed many permanent
fresh water source in the surrounding plains, notably Mzima springs
and the Tsavo and Galana rivers. Hills are relatively undisturbed
and shelter indigenous vegetation and wildlife. All meals dinner and
overnight will be served at lodge.
Day 13: Chyulu hills forest - Nairobi
After our early morning breakfast we bid fare well to Hunter's lodge
and leave for Nairobi arriving in time for lunch at Pampa Grill .
Later early in the evening, a complimentary dinner will be hosted by
our company at the world famous CARNIVORE RESTAURANT considered
"Africa's greatest eating experience" (if you love barbecue it
doesn't get better than this), thereafter you will be transferred to
the airport in time for your International departure flight. |
