SVABW 001:9 Nights/10 Days Kenya Bird Watching Safari: Mt Kenya Baringo Kakamega Forest Kisumu Lake Nakuru Lake Naivasha

Day 1: Nairobi – Mukurweini

Depart Nairobi, driving towards Mukurweini in Nyeri. Arrive at Wajee Nature Park, a bird conservancy, a good site for all nature and bird watchers, in time for lunch at Wajee Camp. After lunch go for nature walks in search of birds. There are a number of falls along Rwarai River with scenic beauty and area sight to behold. The river valleys in Mukurweini are home to many bird species a number of which are preserved at Wajee Nature Park. This 22 acre park which rates a mention in the Endangered Birds List is one of the few places in the world that harbours the rare Hinde’s Babbler. Over 110 species of other birds have been spotted here including guinea fowls, African wood owls (pictured right) and the Rupell’s Robin Chat (a great mimic with over 8 recorded different chants). Overnight at Wajee Camp, which has high class restaurant and Boarding facilities which include pitched luxury tents.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Wajee Camp

Day 2: Mukurweini – Mt Kenya

After breakfast, depart for Alliance Naru Moru River Lodge in Mt Kenya. Look out for bird-life along the route. After lunch we will spend the rest of the afternoon bird watching at the Naru Moru River Lodge grounds. Narumoru is an excellent birding spot especially at the lodge’s grounds and the small forest along the river. Here we will be looking for such species as Olive, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Cinnamon-Chested Bee-eater, Crowned and Silvery-Cheeked Hornbills, Cape Wagtail, Black Saw-wing, Yellow-Whiskered, Slender-Billed and Mountain Greenbuls, White-Starred Robin, Cape and Ruppell’s Robin Chats, African Dusky Flycatcher, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Hunter’s Cisticola, Chestnut-Throated, Grey and Black-Throated Apalis, Grey-Capped Warbler, White-Browed Crombec, Montane White-Eye, White-Bellied Tit, Tropical Boubou, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Montane Oriole, White-Headed Wood Hoopoe, Eastern and Northern Double-Collared Sunbird (among other six species), Brown-Capped Weavers, Thick-Billed Seed-Eater and Yellow-Crowned Canary.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Alliance Naru Moru River Lodge

Day 3: Mt Kenya – Lake Baringo

After breakfast, depart for Lake Baringo driving across the Solio Plains adjacent to the famous Solio Ranch. If lucky we might be able to spot the White Rhinos or Black Rhinos through the fence as we drive across. A brief stop at the famous Thompson Falls and later drive to the Rift Valley at Lake Baringo Club in time for lunch.

Lake Baringo region has got its specialties as well and you will be looking for species like, Jackson’s and Hemprich’s Hornbill, Bristle-Crowned Starlings, Brown-Tailed Rock Chat, Dark-Chanting Goshawk, a variety of weavers as well as an incredible number of water birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Baringo Club

Day 4: Lake Baringo – Lake Bogoria

After breakfast, take a 1-hour bird watching trip by boat to the island to view more birds and hippos. On the Island you can organize short excursions at an extra cost to see the Njemp village (local tribe) and dancing, or a local snake farm.

Afterwards, depart for Lake Baringo. After lunch at Lake Bogoria County Club, we will depart for an afternoon game/bird drive at the nearby Lake Bogoria National Reserve. Notable species at Bogoria includes huge flocks of Cape Teals, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Black-Necked Grebes and other wader birds not mentioning the Lesser and Greater Flamingoes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Bogoria Country Club

Day 5: Lake Bogoria – Kakamega Forest

After breakfast, we will depart for Kakamega Forest through the spectacular Kerio Valley in search of rare flycatchers. We will have a couple of birding stopovers and finally arrive in time for Lunch at the Rondo Retreat Center. In this Western part of Kenya, the remnant Congolese rainforest has species which are found nowhere else in Kenya. The rest of the day will be spent birding at the Retreat’s lovely grounds with dinner and overnight at Rondo Retreat Center.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Rondo Retreat Center

Day 6: Kakamega Forest

Full day birding around the Kakamega Forest with our second night here. At Kakamega and the surroundings, you will be looking for the 36 birds’ species that are endemic to this place among which are the Blue-Headed Bee-Eater, Western Black-Headed Oriole, Jameson’s Wattle-Eye, Turner’s Eremomela, African Crowned Eagles, Yellowbill, Great Blue and Black-Bellied Turaco and a host of Greenbuls among others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Rondo Retreat Center

Day 7: Kakamega Forest – Kisumu

After breakfast, we will drive to Kisumu via some major birding hot spots on the way with lunch en route. Later in the evening, we will visit the famous Dunga Swamp (one of the strong hold of rare Lake Victoria swamp species).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Kisumu Sunset Hotel

Day 8: Kisumu – Lake Nakuru

After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Nakuru National Park (a birding paradise). Arrive at Lake Nakuru Lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon game drives in the park. Besides the flamingos that the lake is famous for, there are approx 400 other species of birds visiting the lake. Also, many species of game can be found in the park including the introduced Rothschild’s giraffe, black and white rhino, waterbuck, reedbuck, lion, buffalo, leopard, baboon and many species of plains game.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge

Day 9: Lake Nakuru – Lake Naivasha

After breakfast, depart for the nearby Naivasha. Lunch at Lake Naivasha Country Club. After lunch, we will spend the rest of the evening bird watching at the grounds of the Club as well as the lake shoreline. Optional visit to the Crescent Island, which is across the lake from Lake Naivasha Country Club.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Country Club

Day 10: Lake Naivasha – Nairobi – Depart Home

After breakfast, go for birding at Naivasha. After lunch, drive towards Nairobi via Kinangop grasslands in search for Sharpe’s Longclaw and proceed on with another stop over at some lovely ponds for African and migratory Ducks. Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to catch your international flight home.