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ABA Kenya 2022

5th to 15th February (11 days)

© © Cheetah In 'the Mara' By Keith Valentine

Kenya is well regarded as one of the finest safari destinations on the planet, and rightly so. This specially crafted 11-day Kenya tour focuses on three of the best locations in the country for both birdwatching and game viewing. We begin with the well-known reserve complex of Shaba/Samburu/Buffalo Springs which highlights many unique species that are restricted to north-east Africa’s dry Acacia scrub from Gerenuk and Reticulated Giraffe to Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse and Somali Bee-eater. We then spend a couple of night at the wonderful Rift Valley lake of Nakuru where we have excellent chances for a plethora of waterfowl and woodland species while the reserve is also famous for its Rhino populations and we have excellent chances at finding both White and Black Rhinoceros. Finally, we visit arguably the most famous game reserve in the world, the fabulous Maasai Mara! Here big game abounds, and the birdlife is simply magnificent.

 

Join us for what promises to be an extraordinary tour offering an incredible diversity of wildlife, superb scenery, wonderful lodges, and super-friendly tribal people!

DAY 1 Arrival in Nairobi
DAY 2 Nairobi to Samburu Game Reserve
DAY 3 Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba Game Reserves
DAY 4 Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba Game Reserves
DAY 5 Samburu Game Reserve to Lake Nakuru National Park
DAY 6 Lake Nakuru National Park
DAY 7 Lake Nakuru National Park to Maasai Mara Game Reserve
DAY 8 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
DAY 9 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
DAY 10 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
DAY 11 Maasai Mara Game Reserve to Nairobi and depart

DAY 1: Arrival in Nairobi

After arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you will be met by your Rockjumper leaders and ABA representatives. From here we will transfer through to our comfortable hotel in Nairobi. This evening we will take some time to get acquainted and discuss some of the highlights and what to expect over the coming week and a half.

DAY 2: Nairobi to Samburu Game Reserve

This morning we begin our safari as we venture northwards to the Samburu district. During the drive we will pass by lovely roadside scenery where many traditional Kikuyu villages can be found. This area used to comprise mostly of montane grasslands but these days is mostly agricultural fields. Still a number of bird species can be found and sometimes include Long-tailed, Red-collared and Jackson’s Widowbirds. Thereafter we descend the escarpment to the town of Isiolo, gateway to the arid-zone reserves of Shaba, Samburu and Buffalo Springs. From here, we will travel to our splendid lodge situated within the scenic Samburu Game Reserve.

Somali Bee-eater by Gareth Robbins
Gerenuk by Heinz Ortmann

DAYS 3 & 4: Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves

Over the course of the next two days we are going to have opportunities to visit all three of these iconic reserves, which hold a plethora of wildlife and offer exceptional birding opportunities. While being located in close proximity to one another they are all subtly different. Shaba is known as one of the most scenically attractive reserves in Kenya, and together with neighbouring reserves – Buffalo Springs and Samburu, they boast a unique collection of game only found in this region, including Reticulated Giraffe, the attractive Grevy’s Zebra, Lesser Kudu, giraffe-necked Gerenuk and Beisa Oryx. The area also offers excellent chances at finding many of Africa’s Big Cats including Cheetah, Leopard and Lion while some of the other interesting and readily observed mammals include African Elephant, Klipspringer, Gunther’s Dik-dik and Guereza Colobus (a beautiful black and white monkey that inhabits the regions tall riverine woodland).

These reserves consist of rugged mountains, Acacia woodland and inhospitable lava plains dissected by strips of verdant riverine vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River, while isolated springs away from the river provide much needed water for the areas’ faunal inhabitants.

 

Shaba, made famous by the late Joy Adamson and her leopardess Penny, has also gained media attention due to it being used to film parts of the Hollywood movie “Out of Africa” and the reality show “Survivor: Africa”. This remote reserve is probably most famous, among birders, for its populations of the rare and little known Williams’s Lark.

This species is endemic to Kenya and was only described to science as recently as 1955. Williams’s Lark appears to be strongly connected to the lava fields in this part of its tiny range and this will be one of the undoubted specials to find in Shaba. The reserve also offers arguably the best opportunity to find other sought-after species such as Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Steel-blue Whydah and even Fire-fronted Bishop (if conditions are wet enough). All of these are uncommon species but highly desirable.

 

All three reserves are puntuated by the Ewaso Nyiro River which provides superb riverine woodland habitat that truly stands out from the surrounding dry scrub. Naturally this area holds some interesting species and a few of the prime targets in the riverine zone include the localised Grant’s Wood Hopooe, White-headed Mousebird, Black-bellied Sunbird and Golden Palm Weaver. 

 

The general birding here can also usually be extremely productive and we are likely to see many other beautiful species such as Striated Heron, Hamerkop, Giant and Grey-headed Kingfishers, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Spotted Palm Thrush, White-throated Bee-eater, Great Spotted, Jacobin and Diederik Cuckoos, White-browed Coucal, Grey Crowned Crane, Red-bellied Parrot, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Greater Honeyguide, Rufous Chatterer and Northern Brownbul.

Black-faced Sandgrouse by Markus Lilje

It is however the dry, scrubby hills and plains that hold the largest selection of specials and species such as the gorgeous Golden Pipit, Somali Courser, almost implausable Vulturine Guineafowl, Somali Bee-eater, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Somali Crombec, Pringle’s Puffback, Golden-breasted Starling, Hunter’s Sunbird and localised Donaldson Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver are all major potential highlights.

Vulturine Guineafowl by Marius Coetzee
Vulturine Guineafowl by Marius Coetzee
Reticulated Giraffe by Keith Valentine

Further to this most of the species in the region are all largely confined to north-east Africa and are primarily dry country species shared with Ethiopia and Somalia. During our time in the area we will also be on the lookout for Somali Ostrich, Harlequin Quail, Buff-crested Bustard, Black-faced and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Black-throated Barbet, Nyanza Swift overhead, Pygmy Batis, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Pink-breasted, Foxy, Red-winged and Singing Bush Larks, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Fischer’s and Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Larks, Fan-tailed Raven, Acacia Tit, Northern Crombec, the strange scrub-dwelling Red-fronted Warbler, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Northern Puffback, Ashy Cisticola, Grey Wren-Warbler, Banded Parisoma, Fischer’s and quirky Bristle-crowned Starlings, Starling, Marico and Eastern Violet-backed Sunbirds, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, Straw-tailed Whydah, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, African Silverbill, Purple Grenadier, Cut-throat Finch, Parrot-billed Sparrow, Black-capped Social Weaver, Reichenow’s Seedeater and Somali Bunting.

 

Birds of prey are also more obvious in these reserves than in many others and we stand good chances at finding a fair number during our two full days. Possibilities include the stately Secretarybird, Ruppell’s and White-backed Vultures, African Harrier-Hawk, Bateleur, Brown Snake, Black-chested Snake, Martial, Wahlberg’s, Booted, Tawny, Steppe and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, Gabar Goshawk, Augur Buzzard, Greater Kestrel, Red-necked, Pygmy and Lanner Falcons.

DAY 5: Buffalo Springs National Reserve to Lake Nakuru National Park

After an early breakfast, we will deaprt the magical Samburu area and head back south towards the incredible Lake Nakuru National Park in the Great Rift Valley. Our drive today will take us through extremely varied habitat as we climb back up to higher elevation passing some beautiful stretches of native grassland on Solio plains. We will take some time to bird along this stretch of road in search of grassland species including Kori, Denham’s, Black-bellied and White-bellied Bustards, migrant Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers, Pectoral-patch Cisticola and Capped Wheatear with further chances for Jackson’s Widowbird. Further on down the road we make a stop at a quarry to look for the rare Cape Eagle-Owl at a day roost. The race here is sometimes split off as Mackinder’s Eagle-Owl. Birding along the way, we will visit the impressive Thomson’s Falls, which usually hold the waterfall loving Slender-billed Starling while we also often see Nyanza and African Black Swift on the drive as well. Thereafter, we will drop down the eastern rim of the Great Rift Valley and arrive in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Early morning Shaba scenery by Rainer Summers

DAY 6: Lake Nakuru National Park

Originally declared a national park because of its vast flamingo population, Lake Nakuru is also known for supporting populations of both species of African rhinoceros – Black and White. The levels of the blue-green alkaline waters of the lake vary annually and this, with other accompanying environmental changes, causes considerable variation in the flamingo population (from millions to none at all). However, when they are present en masse the lake turns a gorgeous rosy pink and the Lesser Flamingos usually form a pink wall along the entire length of the lake.

Maasai Mara scenery by Rich Lindie

Today we will have the opportunity to take morning and afternoon game drives through the park. African Buffalo, Plains Zebra, glamorous Rothschild’s Giraffe, several antelope species and Lion and Leopard may be found. Besides the flamingos, other waterbirds abound and we can expect to find both species of African pelicans (Great White usually present in large numbers), cormorants, egrets, herons, ibises, ducks, African Spoonbill, Saddle-billed Stork, Greater Painted-snipe, the regal African Fish Eagle and noisy groups of Pied Kingfisher. Other species we may encounter include Coqui and Hildebrandt’s Francolins, White-fronted Bee-eater, Green Wood Hoopoe, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Red-throated Wryneck, Eastern Grey and Nubian Woodpeckers, Red-rumped and Mosque Swallows, Mocking Cliff Chat, Little Rock Thrush, Arrow-marked Babbler, the scarce Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Rüppell’s and Greater Blue-eared Starlings and Speke’s Weaver.

DAY 7: Lake Nakuru National Park to Maasai Mara Game Reserve

This morning after a scrumptuous breakfast we depart for the world famous Maasai Mara. We plan to arrive in the Maasai Mara in time to enjoy a birding and big game safari en route to our camp. As we head southwards, the countryside becomes drier and less undulating and we will begin to come across the tall and proud Maasai cattle-herders. We have 3 full days dedicated to exploring the world-famous Maasai Mara ecosystem. Based in one central location will allow us to venture into a variety of different habitats and our days here are sure to be extremely memorable.

Black Rhinoceros by Keith Valentine

DAYS 8 to 10: Maasai Mara

The Mara, as it is affectionately called, is Kenya’s most well-known reserve, and it boasts an astonishing volume of game. Unfenced, it is bounded in the east by the Ngama Hills, in the west by the Oloololo or Siria Escarpment and to the south by the vast Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Famously, the Mara is the northerly end of the Great Migration, that unrivalled primeval surge of wildebeest, zebra and antelope that sweeps in from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Maasai Mara as the Tanzanian grass starts to fail. Although we will not experience the migration at this time of year, we can still expect to see first class African big game. The impressive black-maned Mara Lions are possibly the stars of the show, however, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyeana and others are present in good numbers. Other animals we can expect to see include African Elephant, African Buffalo, Maasai Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Hippopotamus, Impala, Waterbuck, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Grant’s and Thomson’s Gazelles, Banded and Egyptian Mongooses and Warthog.

Not only is this a great place in which to find game, but also the wide golden-green savannas, dotted with Acacia trees, make it ideal for photography. The Mara is ravishingly beautiful and offers long, undisturbed views and utterly dramatic panoramas. As for the birding, the Mara is also world-renowned, and we will have time in the western and eastern sections of the reserve. Some of the more localized species we may encounter include Rufous-bellied Heron, Temminck’s Courser, Scaly Francolin, Black Coucal, Schalow’s Turaco, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, D’Arnaud’s Barbet (the local form sometimes split as Usambiro Barbet), Green-backed and African Grey Woodpeckers, Flappet and White-tailed Larks, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Long-billed Pipit, Sooty Chat, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Northern Black Flycatcher, Trilling, Stout, Croaking, Pectoral-patch and occasionally even Black-backed Cisticolas, Green-capped Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Hyliota and Yellow Bishop.

Lioness and cubs by Keith Valentine
Lioness and cubs by Keith Valentine

We will also take some time to venture out to the eastern section of the Mara which gives access to some different habitat and better chances for a few species such as Double-banded Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Spotted Eagle-Owl, African Black Swift, Athi Short-toed Lark, Long-tailed Cisticola, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Red-throated Tit, Swahili Sparrow and Magpie Shrike.

DAY 11: Maasai Mara to Nairobi and departure

After breakfast we will depart on a final morning game drive before making our way out of this vast and beautiful wilderness and back to Nairobi. Along the way, we will stop at the Limuru Ponds, a seasonal wetland that fills when there have been sufficient rains. This site supports a good selection of duck species including Hottentot Teal, White-backed and occasionally Maccoa Duck together with a variety of waders. We then make our way to Nairobi Airport for our flights home.

D'Arnaud's Barbet by Cuan Rush

Coastal & Tsavo Extension

A number of Kenya’s most well-known birding sites and reserves are covered on this incredible extension. We start out exploring two coastal sites, the lush Shimba Hills and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, that hold several highly localized and range-restricted species. Here we will endeavor to find some of the rarest birds in Africa, including the diminutive Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke and Malindi Pipits, stunning Fischer’s Turaco, Mombasa Woodpecker, highly prized Green-headed Oriole, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Green Tinkerbird, East Coast Akalat, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Scaly Babbler, Amani Sunbird and Clarke’s Weaver.

 

The second half of our extension is spent exploring the exceptional Tsavo reserves which hold a wonderful assortment of dry country species and a plethora of big game including more opportunities to see a variety of antelope species, African Elephant and Big Cats such as Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. On the birding front the list of quality species is numerous and includes Scaly Chatterer, Red-naped Bushshrike, Pringle’s Puffback, Tsavo Sunbird, Taveta Weaver, Golden-breasted and Fischer’s Starlings, White-throated Robin, the rare and little known Friedmann’s Lark, Hartlaub’s Bustard and Grey-headed Silverbill to name a few. We also take time to visit the Taita Hills where three extremely localized Kenyan endemics can be found – Taita Thrush, Taita White-eye and Taita Apalis…

Sokoke Scops Owl by Rich Lindie

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Coastal Extension

On this special extension we explore two fabulous areas on the Kenyan coast, the lush Shimba Hills and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, that hold several highly localized and range-restricted species. Here we will endeavor to find some of the rarest birds in Africa, including the diminutive Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke and Malindi Pipits, stunning Fischer’s Turaco, Mombasa Woodpecker, highly prized Green-headed Oriole, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Green Tinkerbird, East Coast Akalat, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Scaly Babbler, Amani Sunbird and Clarke’s Weaver.

 

Day 1: Nairobi to Shimba Hills. This morning we will board a connecting flight to Mombasa where we will meet-up with our local driver/guide and enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant. Thereafter we begin our short extension in earnest as we drive to the nearby Shimba Hills Lodge. Our lodge is perfectly situated for easy access to the beautiful Shimba Hills National Park. This reserve protects a large tract of coastal forest and grasslands and was primarily created to save the endangered and beautiful Sable Antelope, and this is the only site in Kenya where this creature is still found. Special birds that we will be searching for in this park and around the productive grounds of our lodge include flocks of top-knotted Crested Guineafowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, the lovely Fischer’s Turaco, striking Green-headed Oriole, Mottled and African Palm Swifts, Green Tinkerbird…

Bearded Scrub Robin by Keith Valentine

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Kakamega Forest Extension

Our Kakamega extension offers some of the finest forest birding in all of Africa. On this extension we have 3 nights based at the beautifully appointed Rondo Retreat, which is based right in the middle of the forest and gives immediate access to some wonderful forest trails right from the rooms. Kakamega holds a myriad of incredible birds but is probably most famous as being the only reliably accessible site for the magnificent Blue-headed Bee-eater and Turner’s Eremomela. Other species that are always high on the wish list include Yellow-bellied and Jameson’s Wattle-eyes, Blue-shouldered and Grey-winged Robin-Chats, and we even have a chance for Grey-chested Babbler, a species often placed in a unique African bird family with Spot-throat and Dapplethroat and is regarded as one of the more difficult bird families to connect with. Join us for what promises to be a bird filled forest experience with wonderful trails and stunning accommodation.

 

Day 1: Maasai Mara to Kakamega Forest. After breakfast and morning birding, we depart from the Maasai Mara and head to the famous Kakamega Forest. We expect to arrive at Kakamega in the late afternoon and we should have an opportunity to bird around the grounds of the peaceful Rondo Retreat Centre. Kakamega Forest is one of Africa’s most famous birding forests and it supports numerous species that can only be found in Central or West Africa…

Lühder's Bushshrike by Markus Lilje

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Mount Kenya & Rift Valley Lakes Extension

Two of the country’s most iconic rift valley lakes, Mount Kenya and the scenically spectacular Aberderes National Park all in just 6 days is what this incredible extension offers. One of the undoubted highlights will be birding the forested slopes of Mount Kenya where specials are numerous and include the likes of Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Bar-tailed Trogon, Golden-winged Sunbird, Kandt’s Waxbill and Abyssinian Crimsonwing. We will also target several Kenyan endemics including the striking Jackson’s Francolin, highly endangered Sharpe’s Longclaw, localized Hinde’s Babbler and Aberdere Cisticola. The Rift Valley lakes offer high volumes of birds and we can expect many days of 100+ species with specials including Jackson’s and Hemprich’s Hornbills, Northern Masked Weaver, Bristle-crowned and Magpie Starlings and Gambaga Flycatcher.

 

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha via Kinangop Plateau. This morning we leave Nairobi behind us, after breakfast, as we depart for Lake Naivasha. En route we will pass through Kieni Forest and the Kinangop grasslands. Kieni Forest holds a number of special birds and we hope to see Hartlaub’s Turaco, Mountain Oriole, Placid Greenbul, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Black-throated, Chestnut-throated and Black-collared Apalis, Waller’s and the scarce Abbott’s Starling and the endemic Kikuyu White-eye…

Jackson's Francolin by Keith Valentine

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Tsavo East & West Extension

On this extension we focus our time on the exceptional Tsavo reserves which hold a wonderful assortment of dry country species and a plethora of big game including more opportunities to see a variety of antelope species, African Elephant and Big Cats such as Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. On the birding front the list of quality species is numerous and includes Scaly Chatterer, Red-naped Bushshrike, Pringle’s Puffback, Tsavo Sunbird, Taveta Weaver, Golden-breasted and Fischer’s Starlings, White-throated Robin, the rare and little known Friedmann’s Lark, Hartlaub’s Bustard and Grey-headed Silverbill to name a few. This extension is designed to be a more general birding and wildlife experience than a purely bird focused extension.

 

Day 1: Nairobi to Tsavo West National Park. This morning we depart Nairobi and head out east for the world-famous Tsavo National Parks. Both Tsavo East and Tsavo West hold fantastic numbers of big game and we will enjoy a total of 4 nights (2 nights in each reserve), where we will enjoy multiple game drives looking for the region’s special birds and animals. Tsavo West protects over 9000 square kms of habitat with major focal points including Mzima Springs, the beautiful Tsavo River and Lake Jipe on the border Tanzania…

Cheetah by Adam Riley

Download Itinerary

Tour dates, prices, single supplement rates, approximate flight costs and spaces available for this tour are displayed on our website. Please see under IMPORTANT NOTES below.

 

Tour Price:

    • US$ 5,750.00 per person sharing
    • Single supplement – US$ 650.00

 

This includes:

      • All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 11;
      • Bottled drinking water;
      • All lodgings;
      • Ground transportation in safari-style 4×4 landcruisers;
      • Reserve Entrance Fees;
      • Gratuities for local guides and services; and
      • All guiding services.

 

The tour fee does not include:

      • ANY airfares (see above);
      • Visa fees;
      • Optional excursions not mentioned in the itinerary;
      • Beverages;
      • Special gratuities; and
      • Telephone calls, laundry or other items of a personal nature.

 

Single Supplement: The single supplement cost for this tour will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If RBL cannot provide you with a rooming partner for these nights although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share.

a. Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we quote our tours in 4 currencies. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other currencies listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 4 months before the tour.) The same applies to approximate flight and single supplement rates, which are also quoted in the respective fixed currency.

b. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement will have to be charged.

c. Furthermore, these costs are subject to unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result.

d. Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and / or the designated Rockjumper leader/s at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible.

 

Tipping: As noted above, gratuities (drivers, hotel staff, restaurants etc.) are included on this tour. However, this does NOT include your Rockjumper leader/s. If, therefore, you feel that he/they have given you excellent service, it is entirely appropriate to tip them.

 

SPECIAL NOTES:

  • Although this Kenya tour does not require a high level of fitness, participants should be in good general health as much of the forest birding will be done on foot and may require walking for several hours at a time. There will be a few lengthy drives and many of the days will be long with early starts. Should you have any physical limitations, please notify us in advance of departure.
  • The vehicles used are comfortable stretched Landcruiser 4X4’s with open roof-hatches. In areas with big game we will be confined to the vehicles.
  • It is important for the comfort of your fellow travellers that you do not over-pack. Kindly stick to 20kgs (44lb) for check in luggage and 8kg’s (18lb) for hand luggage.
  • Accommodation throughout the trip is of a generally high standard and the hotels and resorts that we make use of range from comfortable to rather luxurious. There is no camping on this trip.

 

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE DETAILS:

This tour does not include any airfares. The tour will depart from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi (IATA: NBO) on the morning of day 1 of the tour and it is advised that you arrive the day before the tour starts. The tour will conclude in the early evening of day 11 in Nairobi.

 

The above information in respect of arrivals and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be sent to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office.

 

FLIGHTS:

Nairobi International Airport, Nairobi (IATA: NBO), in Kenya is the main port of arrival and exit for this tour. Please DO NOT book any flights until you have consulted the Rockjumper office for confirmation on the status of the tour.

Tour Information

Kenya is well regarded as one of the finest safari destinations on the planet, and rightly so. This specially crafted 11-day Kenya tour focuses on three of the best locations in the country for both birdwatching and game viewing. We begin with the well-known reserve complex of Shaba/Samburu/Buffalo Springs which highlights many unique species that are restricted to north-east Africa’s dry Acacia scrub from Gerenuk and Reticulated Giraffe to Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse and Somali Bee-eater. We then spend a couple of night at the wonderful Rift Valley lake of Nakuru where we have excellent chances for a plethora of waterfowl and woodland species while the reserve is also famous for its Rhino populations and we have excellent chances at finding both White and Black Rhinoceros. Finally, we visit arguably the most famous game reserve in the world, the fabulous Maasai Mara! Here big game abounds, and the birdlife is simply magnificent.

 

Join us for what promises to be an extraordinary tour offering an incredible diversity of wildlife, superb scenery, wonderful lodges, and super-friendly tribal people!

DAY 1 Arrival in Nairobi
DAY 2 Nairobi to Samburu Game Reserve
DAY 3 Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba Game Reserves
DAY 4 Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba Game Reserves
DAY 5 Samburu Game Reserve to Lake Nakuru National Park
DAY 6 Lake Nakuru National Park
DAY 7 Lake Nakuru National Park to Maasai Mara Game Reserve
DAY 8 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
DAY 9 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
DAY 10 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
DAY 11 Maasai Mara Game Reserve to Nairobi and depart

DAY 1: Arrival in Nairobi

After arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you will be met by your Rockjumper leaders and ABA representatives. From here we will transfer through to our comfortable hotel in Nairobi. This evening we will take some time to get acquainted and discuss some of the highlights and what to expect over the coming week and a half.

DAY 2: Nairobi to Samburu Game Reserve

This morning we begin our safari as we venture northwards to the Samburu district. During the drive we will pass by lovely roadside scenery where many traditional Kikuyu villages can be found. This area used to comprise mostly of montane grasslands but these days is mostly agricultural fields. Still a number of bird species can be found and sometimes include Long-tailed, Red-collared and Jackson’s Widowbirds. Thereafter we descend the escarpment to the town of Isiolo, gateway to the arid-zone reserves of Shaba, Samburu and Buffalo Springs. From here, we will travel to our splendid lodge situated within the scenic Samburu Game Reserve.

Somali Bee-eater by Gareth Robbins
Gerenuk by Heinz Ortmann

DAYS 3 & 4: Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves

Over the course of the next two days we are going to have opportunities to visit all three of these iconic reserves, which hold a plethora of wildlife and offer exceptional birding opportunities. While being located in close proximity to one another they are all subtly different. Shaba is known as one of the most scenically attractive reserves in Kenya, and together with neighbouring reserves – Buffalo Springs and Samburu, they boast a unique collection of game only found in this region, including Reticulated Giraffe, the attractive Grevy’s Zebra, Lesser Kudu, giraffe-necked Gerenuk and Beisa Oryx. The area also offers excellent chances at finding many of Africa’s Big Cats including Cheetah, Leopard and Lion while some of the other interesting and readily observed mammals include African Elephant, Klipspringer, Gunther’s Dik-dik and Guereza Colobus (a beautiful black and white monkey that inhabits the regions tall riverine woodland).

These reserves consist of rugged mountains, Acacia woodland and inhospitable lava plains dissected by strips of verdant riverine vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River, while isolated springs away from the river provide much needed water for the areas’ faunal inhabitants.

 

Shaba, made famous by the late Joy Adamson and her leopardess Penny, has also gained media attention due to it being used to film parts of the Hollywood movie “Out of Africa” and the reality show “Survivor: Africa”. This remote reserve is probably most famous, among birders, for its populations of the rare and little known Williams’s Lark.

This species is endemic to Kenya and was only described to science as recently as 1955. Williams’s Lark appears to be strongly connected to the lava fields in this part of its tiny range and this will be one of the undoubted specials to find in Shaba. The reserve also offers arguably the best opportunity to find other sought-after species such as Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Steel-blue Whydah and even Fire-fronted Bishop (if conditions are wet enough). All of these are uncommon species but highly desirable.

 

All three reserves are puntuated by the Ewaso Nyiro River which provides superb riverine woodland habitat that truly stands out from the surrounding dry scrub. Naturally this area holds some interesting species and a few of the prime targets in the riverine zone include the localised Grant’s Wood Hopooe, White-headed Mousebird, Black-bellied Sunbird and Golden Palm Weaver. 

 

The general birding here can also usually be extremely productive and we are likely to see many other beautiful species such as Striated Heron, Hamerkop, Giant and Grey-headed Kingfishers, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Spotted Palm Thrush, White-throated Bee-eater, Great Spotted, Jacobin and Diederik Cuckoos, White-browed Coucal, Grey Crowned Crane, Red-bellied Parrot, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Greater Honeyguide, Rufous Chatterer and Northern Brownbul.

Black-faced Sandgrouse by Markus Lilje

It is however the dry, scrubby hills and plains that hold the largest selection of specials and species such as the gorgeous Golden Pipit, Somali Courser, almost implausable Vulturine Guineafowl, Somali Bee-eater, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Somali Crombec, Pringle’s Puffback, Golden-breasted Starling, Hunter’s Sunbird and localised Donaldson Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver are all major potential highlights.

Vulturine Guineafowl by Marius Coetzee
Vulturine Guineafowl by Marius Coetzee
Reticulated Giraffe by Keith Valentine

Further to this most of the species in the region are all largely confined to north-east Africa and are primarily dry country species shared with Ethiopia and Somalia. During our time in the area we will also be on the lookout for Somali Ostrich, Harlequin Quail, Buff-crested Bustard, Black-faced and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Black-throated Barbet, Nyanza Swift overhead, Pygmy Batis, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Pink-breasted, Foxy, Red-winged and Singing Bush Larks, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Fischer’s and Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Larks, Fan-tailed Raven, Acacia Tit, Northern Crombec, the strange scrub-dwelling Red-fronted Warbler, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Northern Puffback, Ashy Cisticola, Grey Wren-Warbler, Banded Parisoma, Fischer’s and quirky Bristle-crowned Starlings, Starling, Marico and Eastern Violet-backed Sunbirds, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, Straw-tailed Whydah, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, African Silverbill, Purple Grenadier, Cut-throat Finch, Parrot-billed Sparrow, Black-capped Social Weaver, Reichenow’s Seedeater and Somali Bunting.

 

Birds of prey are also more obvious in these reserves than in many others and we stand good chances at finding a fair number during our two full days. Possibilities include the stately Secretarybird, Ruppell’s and White-backed Vultures, African Harrier-Hawk, Bateleur, Brown Snake, Black-chested Snake, Martial, Wahlberg’s, Booted, Tawny, Steppe and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, Gabar Goshawk, Augur Buzzard, Greater Kestrel, Red-necked, Pygmy and Lanner Falcons.

DAY 5: Buffalo Springs National Reserve to Lake Nakuru National Park

After an early breakfast, we will deaprt the magical Samburu area and head back south towards the incredible Lake Nakuru National Park in the Great Rift Valley. Our drive today will take us through extremely varied habitat as we climb back up to higher elevation passing some beautiful stretches of native grassland on Solio plains. We will take some time to bird along this stretch of road in search of grassland species including Kori, Denham’s, Black-bellied and White-bellied Bustards, migrant Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers, Pectoral-patch Cisticola and Capped Wheatear with further chances for Jackson’s Widowbird. Further on down the road we make a stop at a quarry to look for the rare Cape Eagle-Owl at a day roost. The race here is sometimes split off as Mackinder’s Eagle-Owl. Birding along the way, we will visit the impressive Thomson’s Falls, which usually hold the waterfall loving Slender-billed Starling while we also often see Nyanza and African Black Swift on the drive as well. Thereafter, we will drop down the eastern rim of the Great Rift Valley and arrive in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Early morning Shaba scenery by Rainer Summers

DAY 6: Lake Nakuru National Park

Originally declared a national park because of its vast flamingo population, Lake Nakuru is also known for supporting populations of both species of African rhinoceros – Black and White. The levels of the blue-green alkaline waters of the lake vary annually and this, with other accompanying environmental changes, causes considerable variation in the flamingo population (from millions to none at all). However, when they are present en masse the lake turns a gorgeous rosy pink and the Lesser Flamingos usually form a pink wall along the entire length of the lake.

Maasai Mara scenery by Rich Lindie

Today we will have the opportunity to take morning and afternoon game drives through the park. African Buffalo, Plains Zebra, glamorous Rothschild’s Giraffe, several antelope species and Lion and Leopard may be found. Besides the flamingos, other waterbirds abound and we can expect to find both species of African pelicans (Great White usually present in large numbers), cormorants, egrets, herons, ibises, ducks, African Spoonbill, Saddle-billed Stork, Greater Painted-snipe, the regal African Fish Eagle and noisy groups of Pied Kingfisher. Other species we may encounter include Coqui and Hildebrandt’s Francolins, White-fronted Bee-eater, Green Wood Hoopoe, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Red-throated Wryneck, Eastern Grey and Nubian Woodpeckers, Red-rumped and Mosque Swallows, Mocking Cliff Chat, Little Rock Thrush, Arrow-marked Babbler, the scarce Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Rüppell’s and Greater Blue-eared Starlings and Speke’s Weaver.

DAY 7: Lake Nakuru National Park to Maasai Mara Game Reserve

This morning after a scrumptuous breakfast we depart for the world famous Maasai Mara. We plan to arrive in the Maasai Mara in time to enjoy a birding and big game safari en route to our camp. As we head southwards, the countryside becomes drier and less undulating and we will begin to come across the tall and proud Maasai cattle-herders. We have 3 full days dedicated to exploring the world-famous Maasai Mara ecosystem. Based in one central location will allow us to venture into a variety of different habitats and our days here are sure to be extremely memorable.

Black Rhinoceros by Keith Valentine

DAYS 8 to 10: Maasai Mara

The Mara, as it is affectionately called, is Kenya’s most well-known reserve, and it boasts an astonishing volume of game. Unfenced, it is bounded in the east by the Ngama Hills, in the west by the Oloololo or Siria Escarpment and to the south by the vast Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Famously, the Mara is the northerly end of the Great Migration, that unrivalled primeval surge of wildebeest, zebra and antelope that sweeps in from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Maasai Mara as the Tanzanian grass starts to fail. Although we will not experience the migration at this time of year, we can still expect to see first class African big game. The impressive black-maned Mara Lions are possibly the stars of the show, however, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyeana and others are present in good numbers. Other animals we can expect to see include African Elephant, African Buffalo, Maasai Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Hippopotamus, Impala, Waterbuck, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Grant’s and Thomson’s Gazelles, Banded and Egyptian Mongooses and Warthog.

Not only is this a great place in which to find game, but also the wide golden-green savannas, dotted with Acacia trees, make it ideal for photography. The Mara is ravishingly beautiful and offers long, undisturbed views and utterly dramatic panoramas. As for the birding, the Mara is also world-renowned, and we will have time in the western and eastern sections of the reserve. Some of the more localized species we may encounter include Rufous-bellied Heron, Temminck’s Courser, Scaly Francolin, Black Coucal, Schalow’s Turaco, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, D’Arnaud’s Barbet (the local form sometimes split as Usambiro Barbet), Green-backed and African Grey Woodpeckers, Flappet and White-tailed Larks, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Long-billed Pipit, Sooty Chat, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Northern Black Flycatcher, Trilling, Stout, Croaking, Pectoral-patch and occasionally even Black-backed Cisticolas, Green-capped Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Hyliota and Yellow Bishop.

Lioness and cubs by Keith Valentine
Lioness and cubs by Keith Valentine

We will also take some time to venture out to the eastern section of the Mara which gives access to some different habitat and better chances for a few species such as Double-banded Courser, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Spotted Eagle-Owl, African Black Swift, Athi Short-toed Lark, Long-tailed Cisticola, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Red-throated Tit, Swahili Sparrow and Magpie Shrike.

DAY 11: Maasai Mara to Nairobi and departure

After breakfast we will depart on a final morning game drive before making our way out of this vast and beautiful wilderness and back to Nairobi. Along the way, we will stop at the Limuru Ponds, a seasonal wetland that fills when there have been sufficient rains. This site supports a good selection of duck species including Hottentot Teal, White-backed and occasionally Maccoa Duck together with a variety of waders. We then make our way to Nairobi Airport for our flights home.

D'Arnaud's Barbet by Cuan Rush
Extensions

Coastal & Tsavo Extension

A number of Kenya’s most well-known birding sites and reserves are covered on this incredible extension. We start out exploring two coastal sites, the lush Shimba Hills and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, that hold several highly localized and range-restricted species. Here we will endeavor to find some of the rarest birds in Africa, including the diminutive Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke and Malindi Pipits, stunning Fischer’s Turaco, Mombasa Woodpecker, highly prized Green-headed Oriole, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Green Tinkerbird, East Coast Akalat, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Scaly Babbler, Amani Sunbird and Clarke’s Weaver.

 

The second half of our extension is spent exploring the exceptional Tsavo reserves which hold a wonderful assortment of dry country species and a plethora of big game including more opportunities to see a variety of antelope species, African Elephant and Big Cats such as Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. On the birding front the list of quality species is numerous and includes Scaly Chatterer, Red-naped Bushshrike, Pringle’s Puffback, Tsavo Sunbird, Taveta Weaver, Golden-breasted and Fischer’s Starlings, White-throated Robin, the rare and little known Friedmann’s Lark, Hartlaub’s Bustard and Grey-headed Silverbill to name a few. We also take time to visit the Taita Hills where three extremely localized Kenyan endemics can be found – Taita Thrush, Taita White-eye and Taita Apalis…

Sokoke Scops Owl by Rich Lindie

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Coastal Extension

On this special extension we explore two fabulous areas on the Kenyan coast, the lush Shimba Hills and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, that hold several highly localized and range-restricted species. Here we will endeavor to find some of the rarest birds in Africa, including the diminutive Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke and Malindi Pipits, stunning Fischer’s Turaco, Mombasa Woodpecker, highly prized Green-headed Oriole, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Green Tinkerbird, East Coast Akalat, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Scaly Babbler, Amani Sunbird and Clarke’s Weaver.

 

Day 1: Nairobi to Shimba Hills. This morning we will board a connecting flight to Mombasa where we will meet-up with our local driver/guide and enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant. Thereafter we begin our short extension in earnest as we drive to the nearby Shimba Hills Lodge. Our lodge is perfectly situated for easy access to the beautiful Shimba Hills National Park. This reserve protects a large tract of coastal forest and grasslands and was primarily created to save the endangered and beautiful Sable Antelope, and this is the only site in Kenya where this creature is still found. Special birds that we will be searching for in this park and around the productive grounds of our lodge include flocks of top-knotted Crested Guineafowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, the lovely Fischer’s Turaco, striking Green-headed Oriole, Mottled and African Palm Swifts, Green Tinkerbird…

Bearded Scrub Robin by Keith Valentine

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Kakamega Forest Extension

Our Kakamega extension offers some of the finest forest birding in all of Africa. On this extension we have 3 nights based at the beautifully appointed Rondo Retreat, which is based right in the middle of the forest and gives immediate access to some wonderful forest trails right from the rooms. Kakamega holds a myriad of incredible birds but is probably most famous as being the only reliably accessible site for the magnificent Blue-headed Bee-eater and Turner’s Eremomela. Other species that are always high on the wish list include Yellow-bellied and Jameson’s Wattle-eyes, Blue-shouldered and Grey-winged Robin-Chats, and we even have a chance for Grey-chested Babbler, a species often placed in a unique African bird family with Spot-throat and Dapplethroat and is regarded as one of the more difficult bird families to connect with. Join us for what promises to be a bird filled forest experience with wonderful trails and stunning accommodation.

 

Day 1: Maasai Mara to Kakamega Forest. After breakfast and morning birding, we depart from the Maasai Mara and head to the famous Kakamega Forest. We expect to arrive at Kakamega in the late afternoon and we should have an opportunity to bird around the grounds of the peaceful Rondo Retreat Centre. Kakamega Forest is one of Africa’s most famous birding forests and it supports numerous species that can only be found in Central or West Africa…

Lühder's Bushshrike by Markus Lilje

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Mount Kenya & Rift Valley Lakes Extension

Two of the country’s most iconic rift valley lakes, Mount Kenya and the scenically spectacular Aberderes National Park all in just 6 days is what this incredible extension offers. One of the undoubted highlights will be birding the forested slopes of Mount Kenya where specials are numerous and include the likes of Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Bar-tailed Trogon, Golden-winged Sunbird, Kandt’s Waxbill and Abyssinian Crimsonwing. We will also target several Kenyan endemics including the striking Jackson’s Francolin, highly endangered Sharpe’s Longclaw, localized Hinde’s Babbler and Aberdere Cisticola. The Rift Valley lakes offer high volumes of birds and we can expect many days of 100+ species with specials including Jackson’s and Hemprich’s Hornbills, Northern Masked Weaver, Bristle-crowned and Magpie Starlings and Gambaga Flycatcher.

 

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha via Kinangop Plateau. This morning we leave Nairobi behind us, after breakfast, as we depart for Lake Naivasha. En route we will pass through Kieni Forest and the Kinangop grasslands. Kieni Forest holds a number of special birds and we hope to see Hartlaub’s Turaco, Mountain Oriole, Placid Greenbul, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Black-throated, Chestnut-throated and Black-collared Apalis, Waller’s and the scarce Abbott’s Starling and the endemic Kikuyu White-eye…

Jackson's Francolin by Keith Valentine

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Tsavo East & West Extension

On this extension we focus our time on the exceptional Tsavo reserves which hold a wonderful assortment of dry country species and a plethora of big game including more opportunities to see a variety of antelope species, African Elephant and Big Cats such as Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. On the birding front the list of quality species is numerous and includes Scaly Chatterer, Red-naped Bushshrike, Pringle’s Puffback, Tsavo Sunbird, Taveta Weaver, Golden-breasted and Fischer’s Starlings, White-throated Robin, the rare and little known Friedmann’s Lark, Hartlaub’s Bustard and Grey-headed Silverbill to name a few. This extension is designed to be a more general birding and wildlife experience than a purely bird focused extension.

 

Day 1: Nairobi to Tsavo West National Park. This morning we depart Nairobi and head out east for the world-famous Tsavo National Parks. Both Tsavo East and Tsavo West hold fantastic numbers of big game and we will enjoy a total of 4 nights (2 nights in each reserve), where we will enjoy multiple game drives looking for the region’s special birds and animals. Tsavo West protects over 9000 square kms of habitat with major focal points including Mzima Springs, the beautiful Tsavo River and Lake Jipe on the border Tanzania…

Cheetah by Adam Riley

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Booking Form
Financial Arrangements

Tour dates, prices, single supplement rates, approximate flight costs and spaces available for this tour are displayed on our website. Please see under IMPORTANT NOTES below.

 

Tour Price:

    • US$ 5,750.00 per person sharing
    • Single supplement – US$ 650.00

 

This includes:

      • All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 11;
      • Bottled drinking water;
      • All lodgings;
      • Ground transportation in safari-style 4×4 landcruisers;
      • Reserve Entrance Fees;
      • Gratuities for local guides and services; and
      • All guiding services.

 

The tour fee does not include:

      • ANY airfares (see above);
      • Visa fees;
      • Optional excursions not mentioned in the itinerary;
      • Beverages;
      • Special gratuities; and
      • Telephone calls, laundry or other items of a personal nature.

 

Single Supplement: The single supplement cost for this tour will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If RBL cannot provide you with a rooming partner for these nights although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share.

Important Notes

a. Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we quote our tours in 4 currencies. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other currencies listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 4 months before the tour.) The same applies to approximate flight and single supplement rates, which are also quoted in the respective fixed currency.

b. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement will have to be charged.

c. Furthermore, these costs are subject to unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result.

d. Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and / or the designated Rockjumper leader/s at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible.

 

Tipping: As noted above, gratuities (drivers, hotel staff, restaurants etc.) are included on this tour. However, this does NOT include your Rockjumper leader/s. If, therefore, you feel that he/they have given you excellent service, it is entirely appropriate to tip them.

 

SPECIAL NOTES:

  • Although this Kenya tour does not require a high level of fitness, participants should be in good general health as much of the forest birding will be done on foot and may require walking for several hours at a time. There will be a few lengthy drives and many of the days will be long with early starts. Should you have any physical limitations, please notify us in advance of departure.
  • The vehicles used are comfortable stretched Landcruiser 4X4’s with open roof-hatches. In areas with big game we will be confined to the vehicles.
  • It is important for the comfort of your fellow travellers that you do not over-pack. Kindly stick to 20kgs (44lb) for check in luggage and 8kg’s (18lb) for hand luggage.
  • Accommodation throughout the trip is of a generally high standard and the hotels and resorts that we make use of range from comfortable to rather luxurious. There is no camping on this trip.

 

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE DETAILS:

This tour does not include any airfares. The tour will depart from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi (IATA: NBO) on the morning of day 1 of the tour and it is advised that you arrive the day before the tour starts. The tour will conclude in the early evening of day 11 in Nairobi.

 

The above information in respect of arrivals and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be sent to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office.

 

FLIGHTS:

Nairobi International Airport, Nairobi (IATA: NBO), in Kenya is the main port of arrival and exit for this tour. Please DO NOT book any flights until you have consulted the Rockjumper office for confirmation on the status of the tour.

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