Kenya Wildlife Birding – 14 Days Amazing Safari

After arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and clearing customs, meet your expert safari guide for a comprehensive Kenya wildlife birding, pre-tour briefing before departing for Thika. This excellent birding location offers afternoon opportunities to spot the rare Kenyan endemic Hinde’s Pied Babbler along the scenic river. Optional activities include visiting a local coffee factory to experience authentic Kenyan coffee production from bean to cup. Evening wildlife watching may reveal Southern Giant Pouched Rat, Crested Porcupine, or the elusive Rusty-spotted Genet visiting the lodge grounds.

Overnight at Kariminu River Camp

Begin your day with productive morning Kenya birding around camp, targeting the Kenyan endemic Hinde’s Pied Babbler and regional specialties including Grey-Olive Greenbul, Blue-headed Coucal, Northern Pied Babbler, multiple sunbird species, and Black-throated Wattle-eye. Common Crimson-winged, Yellow-bellied, and Black-faced Waxbills add colorful variety to this exceptional Kenya birding location.

Journey through picturesque pineapple and coffee plantations to Mt Kenya Forest Reserve, arriving for lunch. Afternoon birding in this magnificent highland forest habitat offers opportunities to observe Africa’s most powerful raptor, the African Crowned Eagle, alongside stunning species like Hartlaub’s Turaco, Sharpe’s Starling, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, another Kenyan endemic Kikuyu White-eye, Eastern and Northern Double-collared Sunbirds, Rameron Pigeon, Red-fronted Parrot, White-headed Woodhoopoe, African Emerald Cuckoo, and Grey Cuckoo-shrike.

Watch for Olive Ibises flying overhead during evening hours as they return to roosting sites.

Overnight at Castle Forest Lodge

After breakfast, transfer to Buffalo Springs National Reserve, adjacent sister reserve to the famous Samburu National Reserve, arriving for late lunch. This spectacular arid bush country features beautiful riverine forest along the scenic Ewaso Nyiro River, creating exceptional Kenya wildlife habitat and outstanding photographic opportunities.

The reserve supports diverse mammals including magnificent Reticulated Giraffe, critically endangered Grevy’s Zebra, Somali Mongoose, Kirk’s and Gunther’s Dik-dik, Common Waterbuck, unique Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, African Elephant herds, Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah. Lucky visitors may spot the fascinating tiny Naked Mole Rat throwing soil from underground tunnels.

Overnight at Ashnil Samburu Camp

Full-day morning and afternoon Kenya wildlife viewing and birding throughout this exceptional park reveals spectacular species diversity.

Target birds include the impressive Somali Ostrich, the majestic Bateleur, the Palm-nut Vulture, the African Hawk-eagle, the diminutive Pygmy Falcon, the powerful Martial Eagle, and the unmistakable, comical-looking Vulturine Guineafowl.

Additional highlights include Buff-crested Bustard, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, vibrant Rosy-patched Bushshrike, African Orange-bellied Parrot, African Scops-owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Bearded Woodpecker, stunning Somali Bee-eater, Rufous-crowned Roller, Pink-breasted Lark, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Hunter’s and Black-bellied Sunbirds, Golden-breasted Starling, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Fischer’s Starling, and Donaldson-Smith’s Sparrow-weaver.

Special excursion to remote corners of the reserve for additional rare species such as the endemic William’s Lark..

Overnight at Ashnil Samburu Camp

After breakfast, Kenya wildlife & birding safari transfers to world-renowned Lake Nakuru National Park with strategic stops including a dramatic cliff wall roosting spot for the highly sought-after Mackinder’s (Cape) Eagle-Owl.

Additional Kenya birding opportunities include Little Rock Thrush, Red-winged Starling, Pale Flycatcher, Long-billed Pipit, Lesser Jacana, and Levaillant’s Cisticola.

Lake Nakuru National Park delivers what’s regarded as “the greatest ornithological spectacle in the world,” featuring both Lesser and Greater Flamingos (historically exceeding hundreds of thousands). While recent numbers vary, this remains an exceptional birding destination. The diverse habitats—ranging from alkaline lakes to acacia woodlands, grasslands, rivers, inlets, and marshes—support a remarkable diversity of resident and migratory species.

Prolific birdlife includes waterbirds, Long-crested Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite, Augur Buzzard, vibrant White-fronted Bee-eater, stunning Lilac-breasted Roller, Rock Martin, Arrow-marked Babbler, Little Rock Thrush, Wailing Cisticola, Rattling Cisticola, Rüppell’s Long-tailed Starling, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, White-shouldered Cliff-Chat, African Grey Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Common Fiscal, Grey-backed Fiscal, Tropical Boubou, Black Cuckoo-shrike, and beautiful Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu.

Outstanding Kenya wildlife viewing includes endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe, Cape Buffalo herds, Waterbuck, Common Eland, Hippo pods, both Black and White Rhino, Lion prides, Leopard, and Spotted Hyena.

Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge

Following morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya wildlife & birding safari transfers to scenic Lake Naivasha. Target species include Grey-crested Helmet-Shrike and regional specialties like Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Schalow’s Wheatear, White-fronted Bee-eater, and Lyne’s Cisticola. Enjoy productive boat rides for excellent waterbird viewing opportunities.

An optional night game drive may produce exciting nocturnal species including Spring Hare, Bat-eared Fox, and, rarely the elusive Aardvark.

Overnight at Crater Lake Lodge

After breakfast, Kenya wildlife & birding safari transfers to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s premier wildlife destination and site of the spectacular Great Migration. Arrive for lunch before embarking on an afternoon game drive where the magnificent mammal extravaganza begins.

Overnight: Ashnil Mara Camp / Enka Kenya Camp / Matira Bush Camp

Masai Mara National Reserve features expansive rolling grassland plains dotted with iconic acacia trees, bisected by the famous Mara River, creating diverse swampy, grassy, and forested habitats that host extraordinary bird and wildlife diversity.

Birding specialties among abundant common species include Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Ashy Flycatcher, Mosque Swallow, Lesser Striped Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, African White-backed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, White-naped Raven, stunning Ross’s Turaco, Black-backed Puffback, Croaking Cisticola, Stout Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Rattling Cisticola, Black-backed Cisticola, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, magnificent Lilac-breasted Roller, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Plain Pipit, Long-billed Pipit, impressive Saddle-billed Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, and Yellow-fronted Canary among hundreds of other species.

Exceptional Kenya wildlife viewing opportunities throughout three full days offer excellent chances of encountering Kenya wildlife, including prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, massive elephant herds, buffalo, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and all the spectacular larger mammals of the African savannah that make the Masai Mara legendary worldwide.

Overnight at Ashnil Mara Camp/EnkaKenya Camp/Matira Bush Camp

After breakfast, the Kenya wildlife & birding safari departs the Mara for Nairobi with a cultural stop at an authentic Maasai village to experience traditional customs and vibrant culture. Upon arrival in Nairobi, visit the renowned Kazuri Bead Factory, showcasing exquisite handcrafted jewelry ethically created by skilled female artisans, supporting local communities and sustainable enterprise.

Overnight: Ole Sereni Hotel

After breakfast, Kenya wildlife & birding safari takes you to the spectacular Amboseli National Park, located on the leeward slopes of Africa’s highest mountain, majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the Kenya-Tanzania border. Though relatively dry and dusty with open terrain, underground water from Kilimanjaro creates numerous springs and swampy papyrus habitats, attracting massive concentrations of wildlife, particularly legendary elephant herds, buffalo, wildebeest, and diverse waterbirds. The park also features attractive open acacia woodland and Commiphora bushland.

Prolific birdlife includes Common Ostrich, Great White Pelican, Common Squacco Heron, Goliath Heron, Grey Heron, Hadada Ibis, Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, African Spoonbill, Lesser Flamingo, Red-billed Teal, impressive Secretary Bird, African White-backed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, magnificent Bateleur, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Tawny Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, African Fish Eagle, tiny Pygmy Falcon, African Harrier-Hawk, Gabar Goshawk, Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Crested Francolin, Buff-crested Bustard, Hartlaub’s Bustard, spectacular Kori Bustard, African Jacana, Collared Pratincole, Long-toed Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Namaqua Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, African Mourning Dove, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar, Speckled Mousebird, Blue-naped Mousebird, White-headed Mousebird, Green Wood-hoopoe, Southern Ground Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Yellow-billed Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Red-billed Hornbill, Fawn-colored Lark, Rufous-naped Lark, Singing Bush Lark, Rufous Chatterer, Little Rush Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Banded Parisoma, Desert Cisticola, Grey-backed Fiscal, Taita Fiscal, Fischer’s Starling, Wattled Starling, and Grey-capped Social-Weaver.

Overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge/Kibo Safari Camp

Spend the early morning until midday on productive game drives, returning to the lodge for lunch and relaxation during the heat of the day. Afternoon game drive offers additional excellent Kenya wildlife viewing opportunities with spectacular Mt. Kilimanjaro providing breathtaking photographic backdrops when clouds permit views of Africa’s highest peak.

Overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge/Kibo Safari Camp

Following early morning breakfast, enjoy a final game drive en route while transferring to Nairobi, where your unforgettable 14-day Kenya wildlife & birding safari concludes with a farewell dinner at a premier Nairobi restaurant, celebrating extraordinary memories of Africa’s wildlife and natural wonders.