🐦 Western & Northern Kenya Mega Birding Safari

27 Days | Kenya’s Ultimate Birding Expedition

Explore Kenya’s most diverse birding regions, from the grasslands of Maasai Mara to the remote deserts of Moyale. This mega birding safari is designed for serious birders seeking endemic, highland, forest, savannah and arid-zone specialties.

🌍 Safari Overview

This 27-day expedition covers:

• Maasai Mara Ecosystem

• Lake Victoria Basin

• Kakamega Rainforest

• Mount Elgon Highlands

• Rift Valley Lakes

• Samburu & Buffalo Springs

• Northern Kenya Deserts

• Meru National Park

• Castle Forest Highlands

Expect a combination of:

• 🚗 Game drives

• 🌳 Forest bird walks

• 🥾 Moderate hikes

• 🌾 Farmland and escarpment birding

• 🌊 Wetland exploration

📅 Detailed Itinerary

🦜 Days 1–2: Maasai Mara National Reserve

• Early departure from Nairobi

• Birding enroute to Maasai Mara

• Afternoon game drives at Ololo Escarpment

• Full day exploring Mara Triangle

Key Targets Include:
Schalow’s Turaco, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Rufous-bellied Lark, Black-winged Lapwing, Yellow-bellied Hyliota.

🏨 Overnight: Mara West Camp

🌊 Day 3: Maasai Mara to Kisumu

• Morning birding around camp

• Scenic drive toward Lake Victoria

• Afternoon birding at Hippo Point

Special Focus:
White-winged Swamp Warbler, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Red-winged Prinia.

🏨 Overnight: Kisumu

🌳 Days 4–6: Kakamega Forest Region

• Visit Ramula for Twinspot and Firefinch

• Extensive birding in Kenya’s only tropical rainforest

• Multiple forest trails and hotspots explored

Forest Specials Include:
Blue-headed Bee-eater, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Sharpe’s Drongo, White-tailed Ant Thrush, Orange-tufted Sunbird.

🏨 Overnight: Kakamega

🌄 Days 7–9: Western Highlands & Mount Elgon

• Birding farmland areas near Kitale

• Cherengani Hills and Kongelai Escarpment

• Full day in Mount Elgon forest

Target Highlights:
Elgon Francolin, Oriole Finch, African Spotted Creeper, Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul.

🏨 Overnight: Kitale / Mount Elgon

🌅 Days 10–12: Rift Valley Lakes Region

• Lake Baringo birding hotspots

• Lake Naivasha acacia woodland

• Kinangop Grasslands

Key Species:
Black-cheeked Waxbill, Sharpe’s Longclaw, Jackson’s Widowbird, African Snipe.

🏨 Overnight: Baringo / Naivasha

🏔 Day 13: Aberdare National Park

• Full day game drive in high-altitude habitat

• Excellent opportunity for highland endemics

Target Birds:
Aberdare Cisticola, Jackson’s Spurfowl, Doherty’s Bushrike.

🏨 Overnight: Nanyuki

🌵 Days 14–20: Northern Kenya Expedition

This section focuses on arid-zone and Somali-Maasai biome species.

Samburu & Buffalo Springs

• Game drives and escarpment birding

• Mount Ololokwe hike

Marsabit & Moyale

• Desert and semi-arid habitat birding

• Roadside and open plains exploration

• Highland hiking near Qiltipe

Rare Northern Targets Include:
Somali Ostrich, Masked Lark, Heuglin’s Bustard, Ethiopian Bee-Eater, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse.

🏨 Overnight: Samburu / Marsabit / Moyale

🌿 Days 21–23: Meru National Park

• Scenic return south

• Full-day game drive

• Riverine forest and savannah habitats

Key Species:
Pel’s Fishing Owl, Zebra Waxbill, Thick-billed Cuckoo.

🏨 Overnight: Meru

🌲 Days 24–26: Castle Forest & Imenti Forest

High-altitude forest birding at 2100m.

• Early morning forest walks

• Waterfall visit

• Targeting elusive highland species

Specialties Include:
Olive Ibis, Bar-tailed Trogon, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Fine-banded Woodpecker.

🏨 Overnight: Kerugoya

✈ Day 27: Sagana – Return to Nairobi

• Final birding session

• Search for Hinde’s Pied Babbler and Holub’s Golden Weaver

• Lunch stop near Blue Post

• Transfer to Nairobi and airport drop-off