Kenya Ornithological Tours Safari - 9 Days

Itinerary of the 9 Days Kenya Ornithological Tours Safari: DAY 1 - Nairobi – Samburu Game Reserve - We drive northwards to the Buffalo Springs National Reserves. - A drive through the central highlands takes you to this reserve which is amazing for its diversity in wildlife and birds. - After lunch, we have time to relax before heading out on a game viewing drive. - Dinner and overnight stay at Samburu Shaba lodge. DAY 2 - Samburu Game Reserve - Today we drive across the main road to Samburu National Reserve for a Morning and afternoon game drive. - There have been more than 390 bird species recorded in Samburu and Buffalo Springs national reserves. The reserves protect a variety of habitats, home to different bird species including arid acacia savannah, scrub and gallery forest alongside the Uaso Nyiro River. The dry, open country offers very rewarding birding opportunities and boasts a number of northeast African dry-country species shared with Ethiopia and Somalia, such as vulturine guineafowl, Somali bee-eater, and Golden-breasted Starling. - Dinner and overnight at the Lodge. DAY 3 - Samburu – Sweetwaters Conservancy - After breakfast, we depart for Sweetwater’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary. This Chimp Sanctuary is the only one of its kind in Kenya. - The forest and Savannah grasslands of the Sanctuary are home to 22 orphaned Chimps. With more than 500 species recorded, Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Early morning and afternoon bird walks can be organized at the lodges (maximum six people), but on game drives, the main focus tends to be on large animals so it might be worth booking a private vehicle if bird watching is your interest. - Dinner and overnight at the Sweetwaters Tented Camp. DAY 4 - Sweetwaters – Mount Kenya Safari Club - After breakfast we proceed a few kilometers north to Mt. Kenya Safari Club, a luxurious retreat with spectacular views across the forested slopes to the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Kenya. - Among the activities available within the grounds of these manicured lawns and ornamental ponds are – swimming, tennis, bowling, croquet, trout fishing and game viewing. - Lunch, dinner, and overnight at the club. - Remember that a tie and jacket for the gentlemen and evening dress for ladies is necessary for dinner at this exclusive club. DAY 5 - Mount Kenya – Aberdare National Park - After breakfast, depart for Nyeri arriving in time for lunch. - Lunch is served at the Outspan Hotel followed by a transfer provided to Treetops which is situated in the park and you can have a night game viewing. - The forests and moorlands of Aberdare NP are a birder’s paradise – more than 290 species have been recorded. The striking Hartlaub’s turaco is just one of the interesting visitors at the bird feeding platforms at the tree hotels. The indistinct Aberdare cisticola is endemic to the region and can be found at higher altitudes. Several interesting sunbirds are found in the park including the rare scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird which can be found on the mountain peaks. - Dinner and overnight at Treetops. DAY 6 - Aberdares – Lake Nakuru - After breakfast, proceed to Lake Nakuru arriving in time for lunch. - An afternoon game drive takes us round the Lake; home of the famous pink flamingo. - Lake Nakuru is truly an ornithologist’s paradise. Lake Nakuru is a great birding destination with more than 500 species recorded. The soda lake is a birding hotspot and supports a lot of birdlife, including large flocks of pelicans. Unfortunately, flamingos are no longer the drawcard here as unfavorable conditions have driven them to other Rift Valley lakes. Nakuru is also one of the best places in Kenya to see the striking, long-tailed widowbird. There is a good variety of raptors including Verreaux’s and long-crested eagle. - Dinner and overnight at the Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge. DAY 7 - Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara - Awoken by the most natural alarm clock (birdlife) for breakfast then the unforgettable journey to Maasai Mara Game Reserve. - Being the northern stretch of the world-famous Serengeti National park it is the scene of the teeming wildebeest and Zebra migration. - On arrival relax by the pool. - Afternoon game drive. - The Masai Mara isn’t one of Kenya’s birding hotspots. However, with more than 500 bird species recorded, this isn’t a bad place to mark off a lot of Kenya’s savannah species from your bird list. The park is particularly rich in raptors with 57 species present. Bateleurs can often be seen soaring above the grassy plains and predator kills are a good place to find six species of vultures scavenging. Migratory birds are present from November to April. - Dinner and overnight at Sopa Lodge. DAY 8 - Maasai Mara - Morning and afternoon game drives are provided. - Among the wildlife seen are Wildebeest, black rhino, cheetah, giraffe, elephant, great herds of antelope and fascinating primates such as the red-tailed monkey. - Game drives in open land rovers and bush walks with excellent resident guides and naturalists reveal the wonders of the Mara in an interpretative experience for you. - All meals and overnight at Sopa Lodge. DAY 9 - Masai Mara - Nairobi - Depart early for Nairobi and ascend the escarpment to the central highlands. - You will arrive in Nairobi in the early afternoon for your shopping and freshening up. - Farewell dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant before being dropped off at the airport for your journey back home.