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Kenya has remarkable avian diversity. Country has 1135 bird species recorded on eBird take him first place in Africa and 11th globally. Aberdare Cisticola, Clarke’s weaver, Hinde’s pied Babler, Heuglin’s White-eye, Taita Thrush, Tane River Cisticola and Williams’s Lark are the endemic species of Kenya.

Kenya also offers excellent wildlife viewing, with the Big Five regularly seen on safari.

I fall in love to Africa after my trip to Uganda in January 2024. My family amazed with the photos, so I decided to arrange VIP Safari Trip with them to Kenya. Therefore, it’s not a hardcore birding tour but a semi-birding safari trip with my family.

Summary of the itinerary as below:
Day 1:Lake Naivasha – Hell’s Gate NP
Day 2:Nairobi National Park
Day 3:Amboseli National Park
Day 4:Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Day 5:Tsavo East National Park

From 2024, Kenya became a Visa-Free Destination, but you have to get Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) from their official site. My application was approved within two hours. The system is so simple and user friendly.

There are too many flight options, and we choose the Saudia Airlines for their amazing price and offers. You don’t need a visa on transfer. If you want to stay longer, Saudia issues a free Stopover visa for you.

Quick reminder for travelers to Kenya:
•No plastic bag allows since 2017. Avoid them in your luggage.
•Take your Type G plugs or converter.
•Yellow Fever vaccination recommended.
•Malaria risk is not too high but take your medicine under the recommendation of your doctor.

Let’s start the journey…

Day 1
Flying with the Saudi Airlines were better than my expectations. The seats are comfortable, everything is on time or even earlier, transfer is extremely easy, Jeddah airport clean and looks so modern. Before departing, you heard a prayer of Prophet Muhammed about traveling. Kind thought!

Passport check in Kenya took nearly an hour. On the road to Naivasha Highway was an accident so we went through the alternative way. The weather was too foggy, even some points view distance maybe 10mt.

After check-in to the Hotel, we went directly to a boat tour on Lake Naivasha.

Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake situated in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, is renowned for its diverse wildlife and birdlife. This serene lake offers a unique opportunity to observe a variety of species in their natural habitat.

Lake Naivasha offers a truly unforgettable experience for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers alike. Its diverse ecosystem and stunning scenery make it a must-visit destination in Kenya.

One of the best ways to experience the birdlife of Lake Naivasha is through a boat safari which I did! In a very short minutes on our boat tour, found one of the greatest target “Greater Painted Snipe” ! Such an amazing lifer. Including Crested Island, I got more than 50 species within two hours and gained 14 lifers. My son gave a fish to Pelicans and made a lot of fun.

Than we had a lunch break and started again our journey with Hell’s Gate NP. The park’s diverse habitats, ranging from volcanic landscapes to acacia woodlands, provide a home for a wide variety of avian species.

Amazingly beautiful place which you can walk or cycling on the Safari! Nothing unusual but gained 5 lifers from there.

Summary of the Day 1;
Total Counts..: 67
Total Lifer……: 21
Mammals…..: Masai giraffes, hippo, plains zebra, Kirk’s dik-dik, Warthog, Buffalo, Coke’s hartebeest, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, Impala, Defassa waterbuck, olive baboons.

Day 2
At seven in the morning, we left for the Nairobi National Park.

Nairobi National Park is a unique and accessible destination for birdwatchers visiting Kenya. Despite its urban setting, the park offers a surprising diversity of birdlife and provides a valuable opportunity to experience the beauty of the Kenyan savanna.

We spent nearly 5 hours in the park. The weather was very cloudy. Too many mammals and too many birds. I got what I expected from the park and gained 23 lifers!

Summary of the Day 2;
Total Counts..: 83
Total Lifer……: 23

Mammols and other animals : Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, Rhino, Masai Giraffe, Zebra, Buffalo, Coke’s hartebeest, Grant’s gazelle, Wildebeest

Day 3
Early in the morning we drove to the Amboseli National Park. We arrived at nearly 12:00 and till the lunch time, I did some birding in the lodge. In a short time, I gained 5 lifers including Crested Francolin, Fischer’s Lovebird and Buffalo Weavers.

Amboseli National Park, renowned for its majestic elephants and stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, is also a birdwatcher’s haven. The park’s diverse habitats, ranging from savanna grasslands to acacia woodlands, support a wide variety of avian species.

After a delicious lunch, we went for the search of Secretary birds and other targets. 3 secreteries we found and expect Saddle Billed Stork, I found each and any of my targets. 10 lifer from Amboseli NP.

Summary of the Day 3;
Total Counts..: 77
Total Lifer……: 16

Mammols and other animals : Elephant, Giraffei Hippo, Buffalo, Zebra, Wildebeest,bohor reedbuck, crocodile, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle.

Day 4
Taita Hills is our next destination. I never thought that the roads would be so bad. We spent 5 hours on the road and 4 hours was disgusting.

Our hotel, Salt Lick Lodge, is located in the Taita Hills Conservation Area. From the window I found Wolly-necked stork!

The Taita Hills, located in southeastern Kenya, are a relatively unexplored region that offers a unique and rewarding experience for birdwatchers. The hills’ diverse habitats, ranging from rainforests to montane forests, support a wide variety of avian species, many of which are endemic or rare.

After lunch we did a game drive and found 10 new birds including Southern-Ground Hornbill, White-bellied Bustard, red and yellow barbet. Also, too many mammals in the park.

Summary of the Day 4;
Total Counts..: 48
Total Lifer……: 13

Day 5
On the final day, our only plan to spent 4 hours on Tsavo East National Park.

Tsavo East National Park is a national park in Kenya with an area of 13,747 km2. It was established in April 1948 and covers a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru Desert. Together with the Tsavo West National Park, it forms an area of about 22,000 square kilometers.

I had many targets and top 1 was Vulturine Guinafowl. Without Vulturine, I found nearly every bird that I searched and gained 14 lifers!

The road from Tsavo to Nairobi really long and quite dangerous.

Summary of the Day 5;
Total Counts..: 47
Total Lifer……: 16

Consequently, Kenya is a nice place for birding. In a short and soft birding trip I really enjoyed so much!

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