6-Day Kenya Birding Safari – A Unique Ornithological Journey; The top bird watching spots in Kenya, such as Nairobi National Park, Manguo Swamp, Gatamaiyu Forest, Lake Elementeita, and Lake Baringo, are all accessible by birding safari in Kenya.
Discover the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley, an incredibly beautiful natural area consisting of three interconnected, relatively small lakes: Lake Bogoria, covering 10,700 hectares, Lake Nakuru, covering 18,800 hectares, and Lake Elementaita, covering 2,534 hectares.
This region is home to several additional worldwide bird diversity as well as roughly thirteen globally vulnerable bird species. Whether you are a casual birdwatcher or an avid “twitcher,” all groups are welcome to reserve this package.
6-Day Kenya Birding Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Bird Nairobi National Park
- Day 2: Bird watching in Manguo Swamp / Gatamaiyu Forest
- Day 3: Bird Lake Elementeita
- Day 4 & 5: Birding safari at Lake Baringo
- Day 6: Transfer from Lake Baringo to Nairobi
Detailed 6-Day Kenya Birding Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Bird Nairobi National Park
After receiving a briefing from your birding guide, meet them and head to Nairobi National Park to go bird watching.
Situated just 10km from the capital city, the park is one of the oldest reserves and home to over 500 different species of birds.
You will see a lot of creatures on this day, such as the buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhino. In addition to wildlife, keep an eye out for the following birds in Nairobi National Park: African Finfoot, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Kori Bustard, Black-bellied bustard, Hartlaub’s Bustard, White-faced Whistling Duck, Masaai Ostrich, Helmeted Guineafowl, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Coqui Francolin, Harlequin Quail, Spur-winged Goose, Pygmy Falcon, Lanner Falcon, Long-crested Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Vulture, African Green Pigeon, Egyptian Vulture, White-bellied Bustard, Lappet-faced Vulture, Bateleur, Spotted Eagle Owl, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Crowned Eagle, African Finfoot, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Namaqua Dove, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Jacobin Cuckoo, Great Painted Snipe among others. Retire and drive to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Bird watching in Manguo Swamp / Gatamaiyu Forest
Drive to Manguo Swamp for a fantastic bird-watching experience after eating breakfast. Manguo Swamp is about 40 minutes from Nairobi City along Nairobi-Naivasha Road. Freshwater birds, such as the Maccoa Duck and the localized duck, call the marsh home.
The IUCN has classified maccoa ducks as “near threatened” in recent years.
Conversely, Gatamaiyu Forest is a part of the broader Kereita, which is an extension of the Aberdares ranges’ southernmost indigenous forest.
For those seeking an urban birding and trekking venue to observe Afro-tropical highland bird species, Gatamaiyu Forest is a veritable wonderland.
The following bird species can be seen in Gatamaiyu Forest today: Abbott’s Starling, Hartlaub’s Turaco, White-bellied Tit, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Hunter’s Cisticola, and more. Additionally, you might see certain primates including Sykes’s monkeys and Colobus. Supper and the night at the lodge you have reserved.
Day 3: Bird Lake Elementeita
After breakfast, go on a birdwatching expedition to Lake Elementeita, also written as Lake Elmenteita or Lake Elementaita.
The Maasai term muteita, which meaning “dust place,” is whence the word elementeita originates.
The lake is home to both Greater and Lesser Flamingos and is designated as an Important Bird Area. Bogoria, Nakuru, and Elementeita are the three lakes that are visited by more than 4 million Lesser Flamingos.
Significant concentrations of more than 100 species of migratory Palearctic birds can also be found in the lake. Lake Elementeita is home to the following bird species: African Hobby, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, Peregrine Falcon, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Grey-headed Bushshrike, and White-crested Helmetshrike. Lesser Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Common Kestrel, Greater Kestrel, Grey Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Amur Falcon, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Eurasian Hobby, Lanner Falcon, Saker Falco, Red-throated Wryneck, Green-backed Honeybird, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Green Wood-Hoopoe, African Scops Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Levant Sparrowhawk, Greater Spotted Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Lammergeier, African Cuckoo Hawk, Western Osprey, Goliath Heron, Squacco Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Gull-billed Tern, Temminck’s Stint, Horus Swift, Three-banded Plover, Black-tailed Godwit among others.
Day 4 & 5: Birding safari at Lake Baringo
Drive to Lake Baringo for a bird-watching excursion after breakfast. There are around 470 uncommon bird species in the lake. There are seven islands in Lake Baringo: Olkokwe, the largest, is followed by Samatian, Rongena, Olkokwa, Lengai, Lokoros, Parmolos, and Devil’s Island.
The bird species that can be seen in Lake Baringo include the following ones: Little Bittern, Dwarf Bittern, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Goliath Heron, and Great Spotted Cuckoo Senegal’s Heuglin’s Courser, Abdim’s Stork, and White-backed Night-heron Pale Prinia, Allen’s Gallinule, Thick-kneedle Pennant-winged Nightjar, Star-spotted Nightjar, Slender-tailed Nightjar Asterios, Shining Sunbird, Somali Sparrow, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Somali Tit, African Scops Owl, Blue-naped Mousebird, Greater Honeyguide, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, and Greyish Eagle Owl Pygmy Sunbird, Pygmy Batis, Pygmy Owl, Northern White-faced (Scops) Owl, Pygmy Bee-eater, Pygmy Helmetshrike, White-necked Raven, and Somali Fiscal, White-billed Buffalo Weaver, Northern Red Bishop, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Northern Masked Weaver, White-crested Turaco, African Pygmy Kingfisher among others.
Day 6: Transfer from Lake Baringo to Nairobi
After a leisurely breakfast and a relaxing morning, conclude your six-day Kenya birding safari by traveling to Nairobi.
Before leaving, you might go to the giraffe center, depending on the specifics of your flight.
Other Kenya Birding Safari Tours:
- 14-Day Ultimate Kenya Birding Adventure – A Birdwatcher’s Dream
- 8-Day Kenya Birding Safari – Explore Kenya’s Avian Wonders
- 5-Day Kenya Birding Safari – Exclusive Avian Expedition
- 3 Days Lake Nakuru & Naivasha Wildlife Safari Tour in Kenya
