East Africa Birds, Mammals, and Wildlife Expedition

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi

You arrive in Nairobi. Our team meets you at the airport and takes you to the Sarova Panafric Hotel.

Overnight: Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi (Full Board) — 2 nights

Day 2: Nairobi National Park

We spend a full day in Nairobi National Park, a wildlife park right on the edge of the capital city. Even though it sits close to Nairobi, the park holds more than 500 bird species and a wide range of mammals. We look for Black and White Rhinoceros, Masai Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Cape Buffalo, Common Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Southern Mountain Reedbuck, Thomson's Gazelle, and Common Warthog. With good luck, we may also spot Lion, Leopard, Hippopotamus, Vervet Monkey, and Sykes' Monkey.

The birding is just as rewarding. We watch for Shelley's Francolin, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Hartlaub's Bustard, White-bellied Go-away-bird, White-headed Barbet, Green-backed Honeybird, Lesser Honeyguide, Tropical Boubou, Slate-coloured Boubou, Red-throated Tit, Northern Pied Babbler, Wattled Starling, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Red-billed Oxpecker, Abyssinian Thrush, Rosy-throated Longclaw, the scarce Parasitic Weaver, several cisticolas, and the iconic Common Ostrich. As our first full day in the field, nearly every stop brings a new bird or a memorable wildlife sighting.

Day 3: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha via Kinangop Plateau and Crater Lake Sanctuary

After breakfast, we leave Nairobi and drive into the Great Rift Valley, making several birding stops along the way. Our first stop gives us a chance to find the shy Maccoa Duck. From there, we head to the Kinangop Plateau, one of Kenya's best highland grassland birding sites. Here we search for the endangered Sharpe's Longclaw and the beautiful Golden-winged Sunbird, while also watching for Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Hunter's Cisticola, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Long-tailed Cisticola, Jackson's Widowbird, Purple Grenadier, Kenya Rufous Sparrow, Cape Wagtail, Reichenow's Seedeater, Yellow-crowned Canary, Brimstone Canary, and, with luck, Quailfinch.

Later, we continue to the acacia woodlands of Crater Lake Sanctuary, one of the most reliable places to see the striking Grey-crested Helmetshrike. Other species we hope to find include Hildebrandt's Francolin, Coqui Francolin, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Green Woodhoopoe, Mountain Grey Woodpecker, African Black-headed Oriole, Grey-capped Warbler, Chin-spot Batis, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, and Long-billed Pipit, before we settle in beside the beautiful shores of Lake Naivasha for the evening.

Overnight: Naivasha Sawela Hotel (Full Board) — 1 night

Day 4: Birding to the Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, we travel south-west towards the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, making birding stops through Kenya's farmland along the way for species such as African Goshawk, African Harrier-Hawk, Straw-tailed Whydah, Swahili Sparrow, Pale White-eye, and other local specialities. We aim to reach the reserve in time for lunch, followed by our first afternoon game drive in one of Africa's most celebrated wildlife destinations.

Part of the vast Serengeti ecosystem, the Masai Mara offers one of the finest safari experiences on the continent. We search for Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal, African Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, Cape Buffalo, Masai Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Topi, Eland, Kirk's Dik-dik, Grant's Gazelle, and Thomson's Gazelle, among many other mammals. Birdlife is equally spectacular, with possibilities including Secretarybird, Bateleur, Southern Ground Hornbill, Lilac-breasted Roller, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Malachite Kingfisher, numerous vultures and raptors, larks, and a rich variety of grassland birds.

Overnight: Sarova Mara Game Camp (Full Board) — 2 nights

Day 5: Full Day in the Masai Mara National Reserve

Today is dedicated to exploring the vast plains of the Masai Mara with a morning game drive and an afternoon game drive, letting us take in one of Africa's finest wildlife ecosystems at an easy pace. The reserve shares its habitat with the Serengeti across the Mara River, giving outstanding opportunities for both birding and mammal viewing. We continue building our species list with Ross's Turaco, Schalow's Turaco, D'Arnaud's Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Red-fronted Barbet, Bearded Woodpecker, Slate-coloured Boubou, Magpie Shrike, African Paradise Flycatcher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Rosy-throated Longclaw, and Golden-breasted Bunting, while keeping an eye out for elusive mammals including Bat-eared Fox, Caracal, Honey Badger, and Aardwolf. During the heat of the day, we return to the lodge for lunch and some rest before heading back out for the afternoon, ending another memorable day with a beautiful African sunset over the Mara plains.

Day 6: Masai Mara to Kisumu

After an early morning game drive, we say goodbye to the Masai Mara and travel west to Kisumu, on the shores of Lake Victoria. The wetlands, reedbeds, and wide papyrus swamps around the lake introduce us to a brand-new birding habitat, with chances to find regional specialities such as Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Papyrus Canary, and Carruthers's Cisticola, together with a variety of wetland birds found around East Africa's largest lake.

Overnight: Sarova Imperial Hotel, Kisumu (Full Board) — 1 night

Day 7: Lake Victoria Boat Excursion and Transfer to Kakamega Forest

An early morning boat trip on Lake Victoria gives us excellent birding along the shoreline and papyrus fringes, where we hope to find Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Eastern Plantain-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Water Thick-knee, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, numerous weaver species, Highland Rush Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbler, African Reed Warbler, Winding Cisticola, Red-chested Sunbird, and many other lakeshore specialities.

Afterwards, we continue to Kakamega Forest, Kenya's only true tropical rainforest and the easternmost reach of the great Congo Basin forests. This remarkable habitat holds an exceptional diversity of Guinea-Congo forest birds, marking another exciting shift in the tour as we begin exploring one of East Africa's finest forest birding destinations.

Overnight: Rondo Retreat (Full Board) — 2 nights

Day 8: Birding Kakamega Forest

Today is dedicated to exploring the remarkable Kakamega Forest, Kenya's last remaining tract of Guineo-Congolian rainforest and one of the country's premier birding destinations. The forest supports important local conservation work and offers an outstanding diversity of birds. Our main targets include Blue-headed Bee-eater, Kakamega Modulatrix, Red-chested Owlet, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, and the near-endemic Turner's Eremomela. Along the forest trails, we also hope to find Great Blue Turaco, Black-billed Turaco, Crowned Eagle, Narina Trogon, Bar-tailed Trogon, Grey-throated Barbet, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Southern Hyliota, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Dusky Crested Flycatcher, Black-collared Apalis, Joyful Greenbul, several other greenbuls, and an impressive variety of colourful sunbirds.

Day 9: Kakamega Forest to Lake Baringo

After a final morning of birding in Kakamega Forest, we travel north-east towards Lake Baringo, descending the dramatic Keiyo Escarpment into Kenya's dry Rift Valley landscapes. This change in habitat brings a completely different set of birds, with chances for White-crested Turaco, Little Rock Thrush, Boran Cisticola, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, and White-billed Buffalo-Weaver, along with many other dry-country specialities. Once we arrive at Lake Baringo, we spend the afternoon birding around the lodge, searching for Black-throated Barbet, Spotted Morning Thrush, Northern Brownbul, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, and other species before settling in for the evening.

Overnight: Tumbili Cliff (Full Board) — 2 nights

Day 10: Birding Lake Baringo

Lake Baringo is one of Kenya's finest birding destinations, known for its exceptional diversity, dramatic scenery, and the skill of its local bird guides. We begin the day with a relaxing boat excursion on the lake, searching for Grey Crowned Crane, African Swamphen, Giant Kingfisher, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Hemprich's Hornbill, African Jacana, Hamerkop, and the iconic African Fish Eagle. The surrounding acacia woodland, rocky cliffs, and dry scrub support an equally impressive variety of species, including Black Cuckooshrike, Fan-tailed Raven, Rufous Chatterer, Somali Tit, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit, Grey Wren-Warbler, Red-fronted Prinia, Bristle-crowned Starling, Magpie Starling, and several spectacular sunbirds. The cliffs are also home to Rock Hyrax, which occasionally attracts the magnificent Verreaux's Eagle. One special highlight of the day is searching for nocturnal birds at their daytime roosts, with good chances of finding Northern White-faced Owl, African Scops Owl, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Slender-tailed Nightjar, and, with some luck, Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse and Three-banded Courser.

Day 11: Lake Baringo to Samburu–Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Leaving Lake Baringo, we travel north through Kenya's changing landscapes, passing the Aberdare Range and the foothills of Mount Kenya before descending into the arid bush country of Samburu. This shift brings us into a completely new ecosystem, home to many northern Kenya specialities. As we enter Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves, we begin searching for Somali Ostrich, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Somali Courser, Somali Bee-eater, and the reserve's unique mammals, including Grevy's Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, and Desert Warthog.

Overnight: Simba Samburu (Full Board) — 2 nights

Day 12: Full Day in Samburu–Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Today is devoted to exploring the varied habitats of Samburu National Reserve, one of Kenya's richest areas for northern dry-country birds and mammals. Birding highlights may include Vulturine Guineafowl, Buff-crested Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, Kori Bustard, White-headed Mousebird, Violet Wood Hoopoe, Von der Decken's Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Pygmy Falcon, Red-bellied Parrot, Pygmy Batis, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Somali Crombec, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Golden-breasted Starling, Fischer's Starling, Black-bellied Sunbird, Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver, Black-capped Social-Weaver, and, with some luck, the striking Golden Pipit. We also search for Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Grevy's Zebra, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, Kirk's Dik-dik, and other remarkable wildlife that make this region one of Kenya's most rewarding safari destinations.

Day 13: Samburu–Buffalo Springs to Aberdare National Park

After breakfast, we leave the dry northern landscapes behind and travel south towards the cool highlands of the Aberdare region. As we gain altitude, the scenery changes dramatically from semi-arid bush to lush farmland, montane forest, and bamboo-covered slopes, reaching elevations of over 3,000 metres. Along the way, we make selected birding stops, including a known site for the elusive Cape Eagle-Owl, before continuing to the Aberdare area. The surrounding forests and parklands also offer excellent opportunities to see African Elephant and a variety of highland birds and mammals.

Overnight: Aberdare Country Club (Full Board) — 1 night

Day 14: Birding Aberdare National Park

Today we explore the spectacular montane habitats of Aberdare National Park, where our birding drive takes us through bamboo, moorland, and high-altitude forest. As we gain elevation, we search for Jackson's Spurfowl, Scaly Spurfowl, Elgon Francolin, White-eared Barbet, Red-throated Wryneck, Moorland Chat, Aberdare Cisticola, Brown Woodland Warbler, Slender-billed Starling, Malachite Sunbird, and many other highland specialists. The park's cool climate and dramatic scenery also give excellent opportunities to encounter forest mammals, including African Elephant.

Overnight: Castle Forest Lodge (Full Board) — 2 nights

Day 15: Birding Mount Kenya Forest

Our final full day in the field is spent exploring the magnificent forests on the slopes of Mount Kenya, one of East Africa's most rewarding montane birding destinations. We hope to find Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Red-fronted Parrot, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul, Kikuyu White-eye, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Rüppell's Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Malachite Sunbird, Abbott's Starling, Kenrick's Starling, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, and Kandt's Waxbill. In the afternoon, we continue searching for forest dwellers such as African Broadbill, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Black-throated Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Black-headed Apalis, African Hill Babbler, and Brown-chested Alethe. As dusk approaches, we may see Olive Ibis flying overhead and, with a little luck, the elusive Montane Nightjar.

Day 16: Mount Kenya to Nairobi via Mwea

After breakfast, we begin our journey back to Nairobi, making a final birding stop at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, a productive wetland area that often produces species such as Lesser Moorhen and Yellow-crowned Bishop, and, on the outskirts of Nairobi, the highly localised Hinde's Babbler. We aim to arrive at the Sarova Panafric Hotel in time for lunch, with a day room available for the group to relax, freshen up, and repack before evening departures. Guests with a flight the following day may also choose to extend their stay in Nairobi.