14 Oct 2026 - 05 Nov 2026 (23 days)
USD11,595 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: James Wade Lee
Tour Price (Per person): USD11,595 (GBP8,838 * EUR10,082 * AUD17,682)
Single Supplement: USD1,950 (GBP1,486 * EUR1,696 * AUD2,974)
Flight costs: USD140 (GBP107 * EUR122 * AUD214)
17 Oct 2027 - 08 Nov 2027 (23 days)
USD11,695 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Tour Price (Per person): USD11,695 (GBP8,914 * EUR10,169 * AUD17,835)
Single Supplement: USD1,950 (GBP1,486 * EUR1,696 * AUD2,974)
Flight costs: USD140 (GBP107 * EUR122 * AUD214)
01 Nov 2028 - 23 Nov 2028 (23 days)
USD12,300 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Richard Stratton Hatfield
Tour Price (Per person): USD12,300 (GBP9,375 * EUR10,695 * AUD18,758)
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*
Kenya Mega birding tour takes in twenty-six days of non-stop birding as we thoroughly explore this famous bird and wildlife country. 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 2007 tour smashed all records with an amazing 817 birds, plus an incredible diversity of large mammals and other wildlife. In fact, on our five Mega tours thus far, we have recorded an unbelievable 912 species (over 80% of Kenya's possible birds!) and 99 mammal species (an average of 77 per tour!). Our recently updated itinerary has been tweaked to cover new sites and recent taxonomical splits – putting our current record in jeopardy.
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, 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. The isolated Taita Hills, with its critically endangered species, will no doubt be memorable, and we’ll search all elevations of the Aberdare’s and Mount Kenya’s slopes for avian gems such as Jackson’s Francolin, Bar-tailed Trogon, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, localized Hinde’s Babbler and Abyssinian Ground Thrush. We then enter the true arid zone at Samburu-Shaba, where highlights should include Golden-breasted Starling, Vulturine Guineafowl, Williams’s Lark, Somali Bee-eater and Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse. The dry woodlands of Lake Baringo are home to Jackson’s Hornbill, Northern Masked Weaver and Somali Sparrow, while the famous Kakamega forest adds a plethora of forest specials with 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, we finally enter the plains to visit arguably the most famous game reserve in the world, the fabulous Maasai Mara!
Sharpe's Longclaw, Sokoke Scops & Cape Eagle Owls, Sokoke & Malindi Pipits, Clarke's, Compact & 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 & Kikuyu White-eyes, Jackson's & Elgon Francolins, 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 & Jameson's Wattle-eyes, Vulturine Guineafowl, White-spotted Flufftail, Bar-tailed Trogon, Hartlaub's Bustard, Sooty Gull, Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Eastern Black-headed & 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, Papyrus Gonolek, Red-throated Tit, Uganda Woodland, Black-faced Rufous & Basra Reed Warblers, Somali Crombec, Southern & Yellow-bellied Hyliotas, Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Easy Coast Akalat, White-throated Robin, Chapin's & Gambaga Flycatchers, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, 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.
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
lowland & montane forests, Acacia savanna, papyrus swamps, rivers and wetlands, rocky gorges, grassland, semi-desert, coastal estuaries
warm to hot, dry conditions, but cool at higher elevations and occasional rain can be expected
6 with 1 Rockjumer leader
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.
comfortable to luxurious lodges, a few more basic hotels & tented camps
mostly easy birds with some difficult species
780 - 800+
Olorgasailie Prehistoric sites, Mt Kenya, Aberdare Mountains, Shimba Hills, Maasai Mara, Lakes Elementeita & Baringo, Masaai and other local tribes, African curios
good to excellent - time permitting
Tour Review – Kenya Mega Birding Tour Our experience on this tour was truly exceptional, and the main reason for that was our tour leader, Stephan Lorenz. Stephan is, without question, the best birding guide we have ever had. His guiding style is remarkable: relentless in the field, always pushing to find the birds no matter the conditions, while maintaining a calm, patient, and positive attitude throughout long days. He has an almost supernatural ability to detect birds and an extraordinary depth of knowledge. Beyond identification, he actively teaches participants to become better birders, sharing techniques, fieldcraft, and intuition in a way that is both inspiring and accessible. Stephan is also incredibly organized and consistently makes sure that every day runs smoothly. He always ensures that everyone sees the birds—not just those who spot them first. He manages group dynamics beautifully, avoids conflicts before they even arise, and creates a warm, cohesive, and supportive atmosphere. His patience and dedication are unmatched. In short: he is an exceptional guide, the best we’ve ever travelled with, and the main reason this tour was such a success for us. We will absolutely choose future Rockjumper tours where Stephan is the leader. Regarding the tour itself: The lodges were generally excellent—some truly outstanding, others more standard but still very good. The only exception was the Blue Post Hotel, where it seems we were given quite outdated rooms compared to what is advertised. Our only real regret is that the itinerary did not include the Masai Mara. While we did see carnivores—including fantastic sightings of leopards—the Mara offers much higher concentrations of wildlife overall: large prides of lions, bigger herds of elephants, massive numbers of antelopes, and that classic East African savanna experience. Including it, or at least offering a 3–4 day extension, would add immense value to the tour. Missing the Mara felt a bit like visiting France but skipping the Eiffel Tower. Apart from that, the experience was superb. The group was wonderful, the birding outstanding, and the journey an absolute pleasure from start to finish. We had an unforgettable time, and we look forward to travelling with Rockjumper again—especially on tours led by Stephan.
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.
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.
Paul Josop is a top notch and amazing tour leader - at all times he was knowledgeable, patient, attentive and engaging. We loved the trip and feel that much of its success was because of Paul's excellent guiding skills. We feel very fortunate to have experienced all that we did.
The Kenya Mega was a very pleasant experience. We had an especially congenial group with some very good observers. Stephan did a very good job of running the trip, and it ended up exceeding my expectations (I am picky. I have seen over 8M birds, and have done a lot of traveling). Most of the lodges were wonderful, and the Kenyan people we met were very friendly.
Kenya - Mega Birding Tour 2025 - November 2025
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game (Small Group) IV 2025 - April 2025
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game (Small Group) II 2025 - April 2025
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game (Small Group) III 2025 - April 2025
Kenya - Birds & Big Game (Relaxed) I 2025 - April 2025
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game (Small Group) I 2025 - April 2025
Kenya - Mega Birding Tour 2024 - November 2024
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game III 2024 - April 2024
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game I 2024 - April 2024
Kenya - Birds & Big Game (Relaxed) II 2024 - February 2024
Kenya - Highlights II 2023 - November 2023
Kenya - Highlights I 2023 - October 2023
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game IV 2023 - April 2023
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game III 2023 - April 2023
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game I 2023 - March 2023
Kenya - Mega Birding Tour I 2023 - March 2023
Kenya - Relaxed 2023 - March 2023
Kenya - Highlights 2022 - November 2022
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