🐦 36 Days Kenya Mega Birding & Nature Safari

Safari Starts & Ends in Nairobi

An extraordinary 36-day birding and wildlife expedition covering Kenya’s savannahs, forests, wetlands, highlands, deserts, and coastal ecosystems. Designed for serious birders and nature enthusiasts seeking maximum species diversity.

🌍 Safari Highlights

✔ Nairobi National Park
✔ Maasai Mara Ecosystem
✔ Lake Victoria Basin
✔ Kakamega Rainforest
✔ Rift Valley Lakes
✔ Northern Kenya Arid Zone
✔ Mount Kenya Highlands
✔ Amboseli & Tsavo Ecosystem
✔ Taita Hills Endemics
✔ Kenya’s Coastal Forests & Wetlands

📅 Detailed Itinerary

🦁 Day 1: Arrival – Nairobi National Park

• Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

• Transfer to Nairobi National Park

• Full-day game drive

Bird Highlights:
Shelley’s Francolin, Snowy Barbet, Desert Cisticola, Kenya Sparrow

Mammals:
White & Black Rhino, Lion, Maasai Giraffe, Impala

🏨 Overnight: Nairobi

🌾 Days 2–5: Maasai Mara National Reserve

• Scenic drive via Sekenani Gate

• Balloon Safari experience

• Full-day game drives in Mara Triangle

• Visit to Maasai village

• Focus on grassland species & Big Five

🏨 Overnight: Maasai Mara

🌊 Days 6–10: Lake Victoria Basin & Kakamega Forest

Kisumu & Western Kenya

• Hippo Point birding

• Yala Swamp exploration

• Gem & River Nzoia

• Busia grasslands & plantations

Kakamega Forest (2 Full Days)

• Kenya’s only tropical rainforest

• Intensive forest birding

Key Targets Include:
Brown Twinspot, Bamboo Warbler, Red-headed Lovebird, Rock Pratincole, White-crested Turaco

🏨 Overnight: Kisumu / Kakamega

🌄 Days 11–14: Western Highlands & Lake Baringo

• Kitale farmlands

• Kongelai Escarpment

• Cherengani Hills

• Lake Baringo boat ride

• Cliff and lakeshore birding

Special Species:
Ross’s Turaco, African Spotted Creeper, Jackson’s Hornbill, Slender-tailed Nightjar

🏨 Overnight: Kitale / Baringo

🦒 Days 15–17: Rift Valley & Central Highlands

• Lake Nakuru National Park

• Kinangop Grasslands

• Lake Naivasha boat ride

• Aberdare National Park

Target Birds:
Sharpe’s Longclaw, Golden-winged Sunbird, Aberdare Cisticola

🏨 Overnight: Nakuru / Naivasha / Naro Moru

🌵 Days 18–20: Samburu & Northern Kenya

• Buffalo Springs & Samburu National Reserve

• Larva Lark Plains

• Marsabit region

• Bubisa arid landscapes

Northern Special Five Mammals:
Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Somali Ostrich, Gerenuk

Rare Bird Targets:
Williams’s Lark, Masked Lark, Heuglin’s Bustard

🏨 Overnight: Samburu / Marsabit

🌳 Days 21–24: Meru & Castle Forest

• Imenti Forest birding

• Meru National Park

• Pel’s Fishing Owl site

• Castle Forest high-altitude birding

Key Forest Species:
Olive Ibis, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Bar-tailed Trogon, Kenrick’s Starling

🏨 Overnight: Meru / Kerugoya

🐘 Days 25–27: Amboseli & Kilimanjaro Region

• Search for Hinde’s Babbler enroute

• Amboseli full-day game drives

• Oloitoktok Forest birding

• Mandege Farm specialties

Views of Mount Kilimanjaro
Excellent wildlife photography opportunities

🏨 Overnight: Amboseli

🌋 Days 28–29: Tsavo West & Taita Hills

• Quail-Plover site

• Mzima Springs & Shetani Lava

• Gangao Forest

Taita Endemics:
Taita Apalis
Taita Thrush
Taita White-eye

🏨 Overnight: Tsavo West / Taita

🌴 Days 30–33: Kenya Coastal Birding Circuit

Shimba Hills National Reserve

• Green-headed Oriole

• Palm-nut Vulture

Mida Creek & Watamu

• Coastal waders & shorebirds

Arabuko Sokoke Forest

• Sokoke Scops Owl

• Sokoke Pipit

• Amani Sunbird

Sabaki River Estuary

• Terns, plovers, gulls & waterbirds

🏨 Overnight: Coast

🦓 Days 34–35: Tsavo East National Park

• Lake Jilore

• Full-day game drives

• Night game drive

• Pipeline road birding

🏨 Overnight: Voi

✈ Day 36: Return to Nairobi

• Morning birding near lodge

• Train transfer to Nairobi

• Optional visit to Karura Forest or Giraffe Centre

• Airport drop-off based on flight schedule

End of the 36-Day Kenya Mega Birding & Nature Safari