Kenya Bird Watching Safari - Kenya Wildlife Safari Tours

Kenya Bird Watching Safaris

Overview

A bird-watching safari in Kenya can be an incredibly rewarding and exciting experience due to the country’s diverse and abundant birdlife. Kenya is home to over 1,100 bird species, making it a prime destination for bird enthusiasts and Nature lovers.

Kenya is renowned for its incredible birdwatching opportunities, boasting a diverse array of bird species due to its varied habitats, including savannas, forests, wetlands, and coastal areas which have made it a favorable migratory route for birds among other areas. Below are some of the best areas for bird watching safaris in Kenya.

Photography of birds becomes easier that arise to photograph birds. The most obvious are birds of the open savanna such as the Common Ostrich, bustards, and Secretary bird, and the astounding concentrations of flamingos on soda lakes in Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake Bogoria. Many bird species such as fiscals and weavers of the open country can easily be captured. With patience, it’s also possible to photograph birds of the Kakamega Forest and other forested habitats.

The best time to go birding in Kenya is during the short rains of November and early December when most species are in breeding plumage. That’s also when the display behavior of most species takes place. By January mating activities have shaped off and birds are changing into non-breeding plumage. During this season some birds also migrate from and to Europe and Asia and between October and February, many Palearctic migrants come to Kenya’s marine and inland shorelines. The best time to watch the bird’s species is in the early morning between the time the sun rises and mid-morning is often the time of the day when birds are most active. Most birds are most active at dawn and dusk, so these times are the best ones for bird-watching.

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Best Birding areas in Kenya

Maasai Mara National Reserve:

Known for its rich biodiversity, Maasai Mara offers excellent birdwatching opportunities, especially during the wet season when migratory birds are present.

Lake Nakuru National Park:

Famous for its flamingos, Lake Nakuru is a haven for water birds, including pelicans, cormorants, and various species of ducks.

Amboseli National Park:

Home to a diverse range of birdlife, Amboseli is particularly known for its large population of raptors and waterfowl.

Samburu National Reserve:

Samburu is renowned for its unique bird species adapted to the semi-arid landscape, such as the Somali ostrich and the Grevy’s zebra.

Tsavo National Parks (Tsavo East and Tsavo West):

Tsavo is one of the largest national parks in Kenya and is great for birdwatching, offering sightings of hornbills, eagles, and a variety of migratory birds.

Aberdare National Park:

Aberdare is famous for its diverse birdlife, including the Aberdare cisticola and the Jackson’s francolin.

Mount Kenya National Park:

Mount Kenya is a prime location for birdwatching, with a range of altitudes providing different bird habitats and species.

Hells Gate National Park:

Hells Gate is known for its vulture and raptor population, as well as its unique landscape.

Kakamega Forest Reserve:

Kakamega Forest is a haven for forest bird species and is an excellent place to see diverse avian life.

Mida Creek and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest:

These coastal areas are excellent for birdwatching, especially for bird species endemic to the East African coastal region.

Lake Baringo:

Lake Baringo is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 470 bird species recorded, including fish eagles, herons, and egrets.

Aberdare’s and Mount Kenya region:

The montane forests of Aberdares and Mount Kenya host a variety of unique bird species, including the rare and endemic Aberdare cisticola.
It’s advisable to hire a local birdwatching guide or join a birdwatching tour to enhance your birdwatching experience in these areas, as they can provide valuable insights and help you spot elusive bird species.

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