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

What our clients say about us

Gregory de Klerk
AW - Kenya 2024

This trip far exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Greg de Klerk, was excellent in every way. He took the time to actually teach us about bird and animal behavior. When other tour vehicles were speeding away, we got to sit and really learn. Also our driver, Martin, was superb -- an excellent driver who navigated the rutted roads with great skill, but also proved himself to be an excellent spotter and birder. Greg and Martin made a wonderful team. The selection of game reserves that we visited on this trip was perfect, especially for me as a first-timer. I felt I got an excellent overview of the Kenyan countryside. Our accommodations were all comfortable, but some were better than others. I loved the Wildebeest Eco-Lodge in Nairobi -- a wonderful introduction to the country. Castle Forest felt magical, and even the annoyance of having only one plug per room did not dampen my enthusiasm. The Sopa Lodge at Sambura was comfortable and the staff were very accommodating; I just wish the doors and windows had been a bit tighter to keep out a startling array of large critters (crickets, spiders, and something very large with lots of legs), none of which appeared at any other location. The Lodge at Lake Nakuru was a treat and very unexpected. But I loved the low-key atmosphere of the Pride Inn at Masai Mara -- a lovely location, and again the staff were wonderful. I thought the food offered at the buffets in all our lodges was excellent overall. Thank you for a wonderful experience. I can't wait to go back.

David Hoddinott
Anon, Kenya - Mega

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!

Stuart Elsom
IS, Kenya 2022

Stuart took my "hit list" and ensured that I saw as many as possible. Driver/guide Jack and local guides also helpful. Accommodation and food generally good. One negative was that Landcruiser was cramped and difficult to enter and exit, but apparently a 4X4 is necessary for this tour. Overall very happy with the tour and total list. Other participants also enjoyed it.

André Bernon
VW, Kenya 2018

Thank you for a wonderful experience! The tour exceeded my expectations. Andre Bernon is an extremely talented and knowledgeable guide. His eyes and ears are incredible and he is very thoughtful with his guests.

Glen Valentine
ID, Kenya 2021

Great trip – close encounters with a lot of target birds and mammals, exciting habitats, comfortable accommodations and an outstanding guide. Glen must be one of the foremost authorities on African birds and I learned a great deal from him regarding ecology, behaviour, systematics and conservation.

Kenya - Highlights 2025

01 Feb 2025 - 15 Feb 2025 (15 days)

USD7,495 - Spaces Available

client-img

Tour Leader: Robert Williams

Tour price (Per person): USD7,495 * GBP6,023 * EUR7,035 * AUD11,651

Single Supplement: USD1,080 * GBP868 * EUR1,014 * AUD1,679

Flight costs: USD130 * GBP104 * EUR122 * AUD202

  • Your details

  • Hidden
  • Contact permission

    We would love to send you Newsletters (twice yearly).via Type a message, Promotions/Discounts (weekly), Blog Articles/Image of the Month (monthly) and other content that we think you would find interesting. If you are happy with this then please select your preferences below. If you would like to unsubscribe from previous subscriptions, or leave our mailing list entirely, then please do so by visiting the Preference Centre link at the bottom of these emails.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Route Map

Tour Route Map

English