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Kenya - Mega Birding Tour

© Cheetah by Adam Riley
Kenya - Mega Birding Tour 2026

14 Oct 2026 - 05 Nov 2026 (23 days)

USD11,595 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: James Wade Lee

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Tour Price (Per person): USD11,595 (GBP8,954 * EUR10,135 * AUD17,848)

Single Supplement: USD1,950 (GBP1,506 * EUR1,705 * AUD3,002)

Flight costs: USD140 (GBP108 * EUR122 * AUD216)

Kenya - Mega Birding Tour 2027

17 Oct 2027 - 08 Nov 2027 (23 days)

USD11,695 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Glen Valentine

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Tour Price (Per person): USD11,695 (GBP9,031 * EUR10,223 * AUD18,002)

Single Supplement: USD1,950 (GBP1,506 * EUR1,705 * AUD3,002)

Flight costs: USD140 (GBP108 * EUR122 * AUD216)

Kenya - Mega Birding Tour 2028

01 Nov 2028 - 23 Nov 2028 (23 days)

USD12,300 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Richard Stratton Hatfield

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Tour Price (Per person): USD12,300 (GBP9,498 * EUR10,752 * AUD18,934)

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*

Our Kenya Mega birding tour offers twenty-six days of non-stop birdwatching as we thoroughly explore this famous bird and wildlife country. Our 2007 tour smashed all records with an amazing 817 bird species recorded, plus an incredible diversity of large mammals and other wildlife. In fact, on our four Mega tours thus far, we have recorded an unbelievable 901 species (over 80% of Kenya's possible birds!) and 90 mammal species (an average of 77 per tour!). Not only is this safari specifically planned to obtain a huge list of mouth-watering birds and animals, but also Kenya’s most sought-after endemics and rarities.

Our tour kicks off with an exploration of the lush Shimba Hills and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. Here we will seek out some of the rarest birds in Africa, including the diminutive Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit and Clarke’s Weaver. Next we travel through both Tsavo West and East reserves, offering excellent game viewing and a huge bird list. A visit to the isolated Taita Hills in search of the critically endangered Taita Thrush, Taita Apalis and Taita White-eye is truly memorable. We then search Mount Kenya’s forest clad slopes for avian gems such as Jackson’s Francolin, Abbott’s Starling and Abyssinian Crimsonwing. We enter the true arid zone at Samburu-Shaba where a wealth of new dry-country specials occur; possible highlights include Somali Courser and the nomadic Williams’s and Friedmann’s Lark. Traveling next to the dry woodlands of the beautiful Lake Baringo, we will search for new birds including Jackson’s Hornbill, Red-naped Bushshrike and Somali Sparrow. The famous west Kenyan forest of Kakamega will add a West African element to our tour as we tick off such forest gems as Blue-headed Bee-eater, Turner’s Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye and Great Blue Turaco. After exploring the papyrus swamps and moist woodlands along Lake Victoria, we enter the plains to visit the grand Maasai Mara. Besides the incredible birds, here we will enjoy unrivalled game watching (sightings of large predators and teeming game can be expected), superb scenery, wonderful lodges and tented camps, friendly tribal people and a well-planned tour.

Top Birds

Sharpe's Longclaw, Sokoke Scops & Cape Eagle Owls, Sokoke & Malindi Pipits, Clarke's & Taveta Weavers, Hinde's & Scaly Babblers, East Coast Akalat, Green Barbet, Green Tinkerbird, Fischer's, White-crested, Ross's & Hartlaub's Turaco, Amani, Plain-backed, Tsavo, Violet-breasted & Golden-winged Sunbirds, Green-headed Oriole, Taita & Abyssinian Ground Thrushes, Taita Apalis, Taita White-eye, Jackson's Francolin, Aberdare Cisticola, Abbott's, Golden-breasted, Magpie & Fischer's Starlings, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Somali & Three-banded Coursers, Rock Pratincole, William's & Friedmann's Lark, Jackson's Hornbill, Red-naped Bushshrike, Somali Sparrow, Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver, Somali & Blue-headed Bee-eaters, White-headed Mousebird, Turner's & Yellow-vented Eremomelas, Yellow-bellied and Jameson's Wattle-eyes, Vulturine Guineafowl, White-spotted Flufftail, Bar-tailed Trogon, Hartlaub's Bustard, Sooty Gull, Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Eastern Black-headed and Forest Batis, Donaldson-Smith's Nightjar, Forbe's-Watson's Swift, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Pallid Honeyguide, Mombasa & Speckle-breasted Woodpeckers, African Broadbill, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Four-coloured Bushshrike, Papyrus Gonolek, Red-throated Tit, Uganda Woodland & Basra Reed Warblers, Somali Crombec, Southern & Yellow-bellied Hyliotas, Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Equatorial Akalat, White-throated Robin, Chapin's & Gambaga Flycatchers, Fire-fronted & Zanzibar Red Bishops, Jackson's Widowbird, Red-throated & Brown Twinspots, Grey-headed Silverbill, Steel-blue Whydah, Cuckoo Finch, Papyrus Canary, Southern Grosbeak-Canary, Oriole Finch

Top Mammals

Lion, Leopard, Black & White Rhinoceros, Cheetah, Striped & Spotted Hyenas, Reticulated, Maasai & Rothschild's Giraffes, Angola Pied Colobus, Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Serval, Golden-rumped Elephant-Shrew, Crested Porcupine, Small-spotted & Blotched Genets, African Civet, African Buffalo, African Elephant, Southern Tree Hyrax, Giant Forest Hog, Lesser & Greater Kudu, Harvey's Duiker, Suni, Sable Antelope

Habitats Covered

lowland & montane forests, Acacia savanna, papyrus swamps, rivers and wetlands, rocky gorges, grassland, semi-desert, coastal estuaries

Expected Climate

warm to hot, dry conditions, but cool at higher elevations and occasional rain can be expected

Max Group Size

6 with 1 Rockjumer leader

Tour Pace & Walking

Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.

Accommodation

comfortable to luxurious lodges, a few more basic hotels & tented camps

Ease of Birding

mostly easy birds with some difficult species

Number of Species Expected

760 - 800+

Other Attractions

Olorgasailie Prehistoric sites, Mt Kenya, Aberdare Mountains, Shimba Hills, Maasai Mara, Lakes Nkuru, Naivasha and Baringo, Masaai Tribe and other local tribes, African curios

Photographic Opportunities

Excellent

What our clients say about us

Gregory de Klerk
SK - Kenya 2024

Greg de Klerk was a wonderful leader. He knew exactly how to lead this relaxed tour. He always made sure that the needs of everyone in group were being met. He also demonstrated incredible knowledge of both the birds and the animals. I would go anywhere with him on another related tour.

Gregory de Klerk
LW, Kenya 2023

We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our trip with Greg. He is the ultimate Bird Whisperer. His birding skills are outstanding! He has a great sense of humor and wonderful stories. He shared his extensive knowledge about all the animals and their behavior, which made every part of the trip so much more interesting. This was certainly one of our best trips with Rockjumper. In addition, we sincerely appreciate Rockjumpers flexibility in working with us to reschedule this trip, since we were originally planning to go in March 2020.

Stephan Lorenz
LVY, Kenya - Mega Birding Tour 2025

This trip was a fantastic experience for me, both as a traveler and as an intermediate birder. Kenya is an extraordinary country to explore, and this itinerary certainly delivered a huge variety of habitats, birds, and landscapes. The days were long, packed, and sometimes demanding, but the rewards were genuinely worth it. One thing I appreciated throughout the tour was how clear it became that the logistics—especially the long hours in the jeep—were simply part of what was needed to make the birding goals possible. In my own line of work, planning and logistics are everything, so I fully understood what was happening behind the scenes. Whenever we had to eat in the vehicle, Stephan always explained honestly why: because there was no smarter alternative if we wanted to reach the planned areas and have the best shot at our targets. And he was right. As for the guiding, Stephan was excellent. He’s tireless in the field, extremely sharp, and incredibly knowledgeable—but what stood out most for me was how approachable he is. As an intermediate birder, I never once felt overlooked or rushed. He taught, explained, and helped me refine my skills without ever making me feel inadequate or behind the group. His patience, clarity, and genuine interest in helping each participant improve made a huge impact on my experience. He was also very receptive to feedback. Whenever we shared observations or suggestions, he didn’t just brush them off; he acknowledged them and showed real appreciation. That kind of attitude goes a long way on a long tour. Regarding the itinerary, while it was certainly comprehensive, I personally feel it might have flowed better in reverse. Starting with the more demanding, longer days and the less captivating sites—and ending with the “wow” locations—would have given the trip a stronger final note. Our last three days felt long and tiring, and they didn’t quite match the excitement of earlier highlights. A reordering could create a more compelling and energizing finish. I also believe that including the Masai Mara would take this tour from excellent to truly iconic. The Mara is one of East Africa’s crown jewels, both for birds and mammals, and we would have happily paid more or added extra days to include it. As part of a “mega” Kenya itinerary, it feels like a natural and very valuable addition. Accommodation-wise, most lodges were very good, some even excellent. A few were more basic but still fine. The main outlier was the Blue Post Hotel, where the rooms we received didn’t reflect what is advertised online. All in all, the experience was memorable, the birding phenomenal, and the group dynamic wonderful. I walked away with new skills, new species, and a renewed appreciation for what such a complex tour takes to run well. I’d happily travel with Rockjumper again—especially if Stephan is leading.

Gregory de Klerk
JB, SB & CB, Kenya 2018

We very much enjoyed our East Africa experience, finding it to be the adventure we dreamed it would be. With Greg de Klerk as our excellent and informative guide and the incredible wildlife, the tour exceeded our expectations. Greg took care of us all throughout the tour and was extremely patient and considerate to make certain that all were able to find the birds we were seeking. We had a group with different levels of birding experience and Greg worked so well with all. Thanks to all who made this wonderful experience happen for us.

David Hoddinott
VS & BS, Kenya 2021

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.

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Route Map

Tour Route Map

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