12 Days Bird Watching Safari

Itinerary

• 1

  JKIA/Nairobi Hotel
  Pick up from JKIA upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn (BB)

• 2

  Nairobi/ Hippo Point Conservancy- Naivasha
  Pickup from your hotel and drive to Lake Naivasha to reach your hotel in time for lunch. Enroute we stop at the Great Rift Valley escarpment to enjoy the stunning views of the Great Rift Valley and Mt. Longonot. We then proceed to Hippo point conservancy. Hippo Point offers roughly four different biospheres within the Conservancy as well as a number of important birding areas within. The greater Naivasha Lake is home to at least 350 regular bird species as well as of a host of migrants and irregular visitors. “The shores of Lake Naivasha are home to an incredible variety of birdlife, from the Great and Long-tailed Cormorants to the Malachite, Pygmy, Pied and Giant Kingfishers. Egrets, Herons and Storks roam the reeds from the submerged Boat’s House all the way to the airstrip. Numerous Fish Eagles and Western Marsh Harriers permanently scour the area. On dry land, Hildebrandt’s Francolins, Grey-headed Bush-shrikes and three different species of Woodpeckers (Grey, Bearded and Nubian) create an enchanting background. Klaas’s Cuckoo is also a regular in the garden of the Farm. The Naivasha Lake side is best visited by boat in the early morning hours”. “On nearby Lake Oloiden is especially interesting for ducks (Cape, Hottentot and Red-billed Teals, Southern Pochards, White-backed Ducks) as well as for both the Greater and Lesser Flamingos. The trees and shrubs lining the shore are inhabited by Black and African Cuckoos, Green Wood-hoopoes and by a family of Verreaux Eagle-owls. Fischer’s, Yellow-collared and Hybrid Lovebirds nest around the Tower”. Overnight at Hippo Point (BLD)

• 3

  Lake Naivasha& Hells Gate National Park
  Day spend looking for bird species within the areas of Oloiden and Lake Naivasha. After lunch, we visit the scenic Hells Gate National Park for gamedrive to look for birds “Hell’s Gate National Park is a remarkable quarter of the Great Rift Valley. Spectacular scenery including the towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub clad volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most atmospheric Parks in Africa. It has over 100 species of birds. In addition to the bio-diversity that includes raptors, visitors can enjoy (optional) walking, mountain biking, rock climbing and a natural spa.” Overnight at Hippo Point (BLD)

• 4

  Lake Naivasha/ Lake Bogoria
  After breakfast, we depart for the scenic Lake Bogoria to reach there in time for lunch. Lake Bogoria with the [very] hot springs is the home of two million flamingoes and other birds today. Lake Bogoria National Reserve has more than 350 birds on its list, but the main attraction is flamingos, which flock in the shallow waters feeding on algae. Lake Bogoria is one of the best places in Kenya to see large flocks of these birds. Plenty of other water birds are easy to spot, and the call of a fish eagle is never far off. Overnight at Lake Bogoria Spa Resort (BLD)

• 5 & 6

  Lake Bogoria/Lake Baringo
  After breakfast, we move over to the nearby Lake Baringo these 2 days, which is reputed to have over 470 bird species. Baringo’s bird population rises and falls with the seasons but the lakeshore resounds with birdsong (and frogs) at most times of year. It is surprisingly easy to get within close range of the birds – some species, such as the starlings and the white-bellied go-away bird, are positively brazen and may even perch on your breakfast table. There are some interesting marshy areas where you should see some unusual species such as the white phase of the paradise flycatcher, grey-headed bush shrike, violet wood hoopoe and various kingfishers. A resident experienced bird watcher will be at hand to assist. Overnight at Island Camp Lake Baringo (BLD)

• 7 & 8

  Lake Baringo/Lake Nakuru
  After breakfast, we drive to Lake Nakuru in time for lunch in your hotel. Lake Nakuru has over 400 bird species. In these two days, you will explore Lake Nakuru, which is a seasonal home for pink flamingos, pearl white pelicans and many other species of birds. Lake Nakuru is also a sanctuary for both the black and white rhinos as wells as the Rothschild giraffe. It also harbours lions, warthogs, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippo and many other animals. Overnight at The Cliff (BLD)

• 9

  Lake Nakuru/Masai Mara
  Depart for Masai Mara Game Reserve after an early breakfast to reach your in time for lunch. The reserve is popular for its big game and is a northern extension of the Serengeti National Park eco system in Tanzania. Thereafter have afternoon game drive. Overnight at Basecamp Mara (BLD)

• 10 & 11

  Masai Mara National Park
  Two days spend game viewing and birding with morning and afternoon game drive to experience the Mara magic! Kenya’s premier reserve is famed for its astounding concentration of wildlife and harboring lions, leopards, cheetah, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, Masai giraffes, hippos, black rhinos, spotted hyenas many species of antelopes. The climax is the annual great wildebeest migration in July, August, September and October of each year. Visit Mara River to see crocodiles and hippos. In addition, there are more than 470 species in the park with almost 60 species being raptors. The birds include vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds, hornbills, crowned cranes, ostriches, long-crested eagles, African pygmy-falcons and the lilac-breasted roller. Overnight at Basecamp Mara (BLD)

• 12

  Masai Mara/Nairobi JKIA After breakfast, we have a morning game drive then we transfer you to Nairobi JKIA in time for your evening/night International homebound flight (B) END OF SAFARI