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Kenya Bird Watching
Safari
KSBW 03:10
Days 9 Nights
Day 1:
Arrive at JKIA Airport - : Pickedup at JKIA Airport
and transfer to Nairobi
0830hrs : Stop over in Nairobi for Breakfast
1000hrs: Set off to Naivasha with a stop over at the
Rift Valley viewing point
1200hrs: Arrive in Naivasha (Country club)
1230hrs: Lunch at hotel and thereafter depart for the
Lake for bird watching on boat
1630hrs: Return to hotel then depart for Nakuru and
overnight at Hotel Meric.
LAKE NAIVASHA
This Rift Valley lake is categorized in Kenya as an
IBA 1
( Important bird area) and boasts amazing aquatic
birdlife including some globally threatened species like Grey
Crested helmet shrike, Basra reed warbler(winter visitor). There are
roughly 80 species to look for. In general about 20,000 water birds
live here according to a census done 1991-1997. Apart from the birds
there are also other animals to look for including hippos and
buffalo.
Day 2 -
0630hrs: Early breakfast and set off to the lake with
picnic lunch
1800hrs: Return to hotel and overnight.
LAKE NAKURU
Undoubtedly, this park is a must-visit destination
for birders. Flocks of both lesser and greater flamingoes sometimes
numbering 1.5 million can be seen here together with almost 450
other species. The park was gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960. A
species of fish (oreochromis alcalicus platensis) was introduced at
that time to curb mosquitoes, but in turn supported a number of
secondary consumers mostly birds. This lake is a transient home to a
large number of Palearctic waders who use it on passage or winter.
The lake is not only for birders, because it is a
national park, there are other larger animals including the black
and the white rhinoceros, Rothschild giraffe, water bucks, leopard,
lion, buffalo etc. This park therefore will serve all purpose for
both birds and big game. There is no better place in Kenya to watch
white rhinos.
Day 3
0630hrs: Early breakfast and off to the lake
1000hrs: Return to hotel and check out. Depart for
lake Baringo
1300hrs: Arrive Lake Baringo country club + lunch
1500hrs: Set out birding on boats
1830hrs: Return to hotel
LAKE BARINGO
This is a well known destination for birdwatchers and
over 500 species have been recorded. A colony of 20 Goliath herons
have nested on one of the Islands in the lake. While the diversity
of water birds is considerable, total numbers are usually in low
thousands. Species of global conservation concern include lesser
kestrel (a passage migrant in small flocks) lesser flamingo,
Madagascar squacco heron, pallid harrier etc. This lake is also a
home to the fish eagle. Watch and photograph them swooping down on
fish. The lake also supports a large population of Nile crocodile
and hippopotamus.
Day 4
0630hrs: All day birding around the lake and
overnight stay.
Day 5
0630hrs: Drive to Lake Bogoria + Picnic Breakfast
1400hrs: Lunch at Lake Bogoria Hotel + birding around
hotel + swim in warm pool.
1600hrs: Drive back to the lake for birding.
1800hrs: Overnight stay at Lake Bogoria hotel.
LAKE BOGORIA
This lake is spectacular. The extraordinary hot
springs and geysers, the rugged faulted landscape, an enormous
concentration of flamingoes and a chance of seeing a greater Kudu
are great attractions. This is one of the reasons for designating
this lake as a national reserve. A part from the above the lake is a
home to some regionally threatened species such as great crested
grebe, African darter, white backed duck, white headed vulture and
martial eagle.
Day 7
0630hrs: Early game drive to the lake before
breakfast .
1000hrs: Drive to Kakamega Forest (Rondo Retreat
Centre) lunch en route.
1500hrs: Arrive at Rondo Retreat Centre and check in.
1600hrs: Birding around lodge + overnight.
KAKAMEGA FOREST
This is the crown of any Kenya birding Safari.
Kakamega forest is a mid-altitude tropical rainforest, the
easternmost of the Congo basin forests. Its West African affinities
are unique in Kenya, and the forest contains many species found
nowhere else in the country. The avifauna is well known, rich, and
unusual in its composition. Two globally threatened species occur,
Chapin's fly catcher and Turners Eremomela.
The 194 forest dependent bird species (the highest
total for any Kenyan forests) include 40 of Kenya's 43 Guinea-Congo
forests biome species, as well as 33 of Kenya�s 67 Afro tropical
Highlands biome species. At least 16 bird species occur only in
Kakamega but nowhere else in Kenya. The forest also holds large
populations of Black and white Columbus, Red tailed monkey and small
numbers of de Brazza monkey.
Day 8
0615hrs: Full day birding activities.
Day 9
0615hrs: Half day birding activities + lunch.
1300hrs: Depart for Kisumu (Dunga Beach) for
afternoon birding.
1630hrs: Drive to Kericho ( Kericho Tea Hotel) for
overnight stay.
DUNGA SWAMPS-KISUMU
This swamp is one of the most reliable IBA site in
Kenya for the scarce and threatened Papyrus yellow warbler. It is
also an important home for Papyrus gonolek, white winged warbler and
Papyrus canary, all papyrus endemics. There are also a host of other
aquatic birds.
Day 10
0630hrs: Birding around the arboretum.
0900hrs: Breakfast and departure for Nairobi.
1400hrs: Arrive Nairobi - lunch and visit to the
museum.
1600hrs: check to rooms change.
1900hrs: Dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant.
2030hrs:
Depart for airport or overnight at Nairobi.
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