Kenya is well regarded as one of the finest safari destinations on the planet, and rightly so. Our 2-week Kenya Highlights tour traverses a wide range of habitat from coastal forest, acacia savanna and central African rainforest to papyrus swamps and rolling grassy savanna as we target a mouth-watering array of Kenya’s most special birds. The game viewing will also be a significant highlight as we explore famous Kenyan game reserves such as Tsavo West, Tsavo East and the Maasai Mara.
Our tour begins with an exploration of the lush Shimba Hills and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. Here we will endeavor to find some of the rarest birds in Africa, including the diminutive Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit, Green-headed Oriole, Fischer’s Turaco, Amani Sunbird and Clarke’s Weaver. We then travel through both Tsavo West and East Parks, offering excellent game viewing and a huge bird list. We will also take time to visit the isolated Taita Hills, with its critically endangered species. For the second week of our Kenya tour we head across to western Kenya where our first site will be the famous Kakamega Forest. Here a plethora of forest specials await, with the gorgeous Blue-headed Bee-eater, Turner’s Eremomela, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat and Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye being notable targets. After exploring the papyrus swamps and moist woodlands along Lake Victoria for the striking Papyrus Gonolek and Papyrus Canary we finally enter the plains to visit arguably the most famous game reserve in the world, the fabulous Maasai Mara!
Join us for what promises to be an extraordinary tour offering an incredible diversity of wildlife, superb scenery, wonderful lodges and tented camps, and super-friendly tribal people!
Top Birds
Blue-headed and Somali Bee-eaters, Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke, Golden & Malindi Pipits, Clarke's and Golden Palm Weavers, Amani, Plain-backed & Tsavo Sunbirds, Green-headed Oriole, Fischer's & Black-billed Turacos, Equatorial and East Coast Akalats, Taita Apalis, Taita White-eye, Taita Thrush, Golden-breasted & Magpie Starlings, Black-headed Apalis, Turner's Eremomela, Chapin's Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied & Jameson's Wattle-eyes, Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-shouldered & Grey-winged Robin-Chats, Grey-chested Babbler, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Red-headed Bluebill, Papyrus Canary, Papyrus Gonolek, Red-naped Bushshrike, Three-streaked Tchagra, Pringle's Puffback, Athi Short-toed and White-tailed Larks, Red-throated Tit, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Pangani Longclaw, Steel-blue & Straw-tailed Whydahs, Cuckoo-finch, Red-throated Twinspot,
Top Mammals
Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, African Elephant, African Buffalo, Black Rhinoceros, Lesser Kudu, Golden-rumped Sengi, Harvey's Duiker, Sable Antelope, Angola Colobus, Small-eared Greater Galago, Serval, Spotted & Striped Hyaena, Aardwolf, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, Maasai Giraffe
Habitats Covered
lowland coastal forest, grasslands, estuaries, beaches, mangroves, acacia savanna, temporary and permanent wetlands, rivers, central African rainforest,
Expected Climate
warm to hot, dry conditions mostly but humid along the coast, cooler at higher elevations and rain can be expected
Max Group Size
6 with 1 Rockjumper Leader
Tour Pace & Walking
undemanding to moderate pace, moderate walking and some long drives
Accommodation
safari lodges and hotels
Ease of Birding
mostly easy birding, tougher in forest
Other Attractions
Maasai and other tribes, African curios
Photographic Opportunities
excellent
David Hoddinott and indeed the drivers and Alison were all amazing - making this a life-changing experience. Everything went far better than expected throughout the tour in my opinion. I do not see how it could have been improved. Well done to all!
Our Rockjumper guide was Rich Lindie. The word “excellent” does not begin to cover the outstanding quality of his technical and interpersonal skills. Rich is the personification of enthusiasm for what he does. Extensively knowledgeable about both flora and fauna (in particular of course birds), he was at all times professional and friendly. In addition, Rich has a great sense of humor and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him and hearing about some of his amazing experiences in international travel, living, teaching and guiding. What an interesting and talented young man. We were very fortunate to have him as our guide.
I really can’t think of a way this tour could have been improved.... The itinerary was wonderful, the accommodations lovely, and the birds fantastic. Greg de Klerk is one of my all-time favorite guides. He genuinely cares about his guests, and does his best to make sure they have a great experience. This was truly a trip I have dreamed of since I was a kid, and it certainly fulfilled my expectations.
We have birded with David Hoddinott previously. As usual, David was exceptionally talented at finding birds and other wildlife, plus making certain that all participants were able to see them. David maximized our exposure to viewing birds and wildlife which made the tour a pleasurable experience.
Heinz Ortmann was charming and funny, outstanding on the birds and other animals, and excellent in dealing with the logistics. I would be very happy to travel with Heinz again.