KWS 17 Walking and Bird Watching Safaris
The
ultimate birding safari in Kenya including Lakes Naivasha, Nakuru,
Baringo, Bogoria and Kakamega Forest, with opportunities to see
vast flocks of flamingoes as well as hundreds of species of other
birds at Kenya's top birding sites.
This will not only be a specialised birding safari, but will also
offer you opportunities for sightseeing and watching and photographing
other wildlife. You will be able to see the stunning countryside
including a breath-taking view of the Rift Valley dropping thousands
of feet. En route to several destinations, you will also have
a chance to see the different local tribes and observe their way
of living.
We will be staying in 5 star accommodation with comfortable transport
between destinations by minibus.
The maximum number of guests is 4 per trip.This are window guranteed
seats .At the various destinations we may split the group into
smaller numbers for better viewing and here will use resident
guides who have vast knowledge of the local areas. All selected
destinations are Kenya?s IBAs (Important Bird Areas)
Itinerary
KWS 17 Day 1:
Arrive
Nairobi airport (0635 from Heathrow).: Pickup at JKI 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 Merica
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 colobus,
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
JOSEPH KARIUKI our senior ornithological safari guide and his
vast experience of 9 years in field guiding has been a great input
in our company.Joseph emerging with a Geographical Club which
he chaired as the chairman and later joined tourism college, these
saw him grow gradually with the interest of birding and later
joined Nature Kenya, a society that back here in Kenya deals with
the matters pertaining with Birds, Flowers, Plants, Entomology
and in general the conservation of Nature. He has also been a
member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA)
and holds a Bronze Medal.great volunteer with the department of
ornithology.Joseph is always at the forefront during the annual
African Water bird census that is conducted every January of the
year and not to mention the Bi-annual World bird watch. Apart
from that Joseph has been a tour leader with most of the leading
tour operators and among the many prominent birders that he has
gone safari with is Mr & Mrs Andre' Konter, a research scientist
and a writer of the book THE GREBES OF OUR WORLD a lynx edition.
His birding safaris have been commendable with the growing list
of the clients who have done safari with him.
