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Republic of Kenya

Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus ©Charles J Sharp (CC BY-SA 4.0) Website

Kenya is a country in East Africa covering over 580,000 K² (c. 224,000 square miles). With a population of more than 56.2 million, Kenya is the 7th most populous in Africa. Kenya’s capital and largest city is Nairobi, while its oldest and second-largest city, is the major port city of Mombasa, situated on Mombasa Island in the Indian Ocean and the surrounding mainland. Mombasa was the capital of the British East Africa Protectorate, which included most of what is now Kenya and southwestern Somalia. Other important cities include Kisumu and Nakuru. Kenya is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. Kenya’s geography, climate and population vary widely, ranging from cold snow-capped mountaintops (Batian, Nelion and Point Lenana on Mount Kenya) with vast surrounding forests, wildlife and fertile agricultural regions to temperate climates in western and rift valley counties and further on to dry less fertile arid and semi-arid areas and absolute deserts (Chalbi Desert and Nyiri Desert).

From the coast on the Indian Ocean, the low plains rise to central highlands which are bisected by the Great Rift Valley, and fertile plateaus lie on either side, around Lake Victoria and to the east. The Kenyan Highlands are one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya and the second highest peak on the continent: Mount Kenya, which reaches a height of 17,057 feet and is the site of glaciers.

Kenya’s climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate inland to arid in the north and northeast parts of the country. The area receives a great deal of sunshine every month. It is usually cool at night and early in the morning inland at higher elevations. The ‘long rains’ season occurs from March/April to May/June. The ‘short rains’ season occurs from October to November/December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and often falls in the afternoons and evenings. Climate change is altering the natural pattern of the rainfall period, causing an extension of the short rains, which has caused flooding, and reducing the drought cycle from every ten years to annual events, producing strong droughts. The temperature remains high throughout these months of tropical rain. The hottest period is February and March, leading into the season of the long rains, and the coldest is in July, until mid-August.

Masai Mara – ©Byrdyak, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Kenya has considerable land area devoted to wildlife habitats, including the Masai Mara, where blue wildebeest and other bovids participate in a large-scale annual migration. More than one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras participate in the migration across the Mara River. The ‘Big Five’ game animals of Africa; lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant, can be found in Kenya and in the Masai Mara in particular. A significant population of other wild animals, reptiles, and birds can be found in the national parks and game reserves. The annual animal migration occurs between June and September, with millions of animals taking part, attracting valuable foreign tourism. Two million wildebeest migrate a distance of 2,900 kilometres (1,802 miles) from the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya, in a constant clockwise fashion, searching for food and water supplies. This Serengeti Migration of the wildebeest is listed among the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

Birding Kenya

Kenya is one of the most visited countries of Africa as it is renowned for its Safari opportunities. A country where you can see all the most famous Big Game animals in a relatively comfortable climate. It also has an extensive bird list and an increasing eco-tourism industry geared to birders… not least as it holds some remarkable birding sights… such as the rift valley lakes with millions of flamingos. Kenya is a birding paradise, teeming with birdlife, with diverse habitats, spectacular scenery and a supporting cast of the big game for which it is famous. Over 1100 bird species have been recorded in the country, and it is possible to see well over a half of these without undue effort within three or four weeks.

In the west, there are remnants of the rainforest which used to stretch all the way to the west coast, as well as the shores of Lake Victoria, with their once-extensive papyrus beds. The Rift Valley cuts a swathe through the centre of the country, with sometimes towering cliffs, shrouded in forest, on either side. In the valley itself are the great safari plains, open in the south, and acacia-wooded in the north, with numerous lakes in between, of both fresh and soda water.

Mount Kenya – Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

The Central Highlands rise to the east of the Rift, with the Aberdares and Mount Kenya cloaked in forest, which gives way to afro-alpine moorland towards the peaks, which provide the sight of snow on the equator. The descent to the coast is mainly acacia woodland, and finally, the coast itself is a mosaic of estuary, palm and mangrove fringed beaches and creeks, and behind these, the remnants of coastal rainforest, home to numerous endemic and near-endemic species.

The variety of birdlife is enhanced by its visibility. Vibrant Sunbirds flit from tree-to-tree, Weavers build their incredible variety of nests in the open, the Starlings shine, resplendent Widowbirds dance in the air, and bright Turacos are strangely camouflaged in the trees. Kingfishers, Rollers, Bee-eaters, Hornbills, Barbets and Woodpeckers are present in many varieties, and for a greater challenge, the Cisticolas and Greenbuls provide just that. Overhead, the sky is alive with a variety of Swifts and Swallows, and raptors are plentiful.

Lesser Flamingos at Lake Nakuru – Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Ground birds include several Bustards, Larks, Pipits and Gamebirds, and the cast is not complete without the wonderful sight of tens of thousands of Lesser Flamingos on the soda lakes, and the world’s largest bird, the Ostrich. This is just the beginning of the avian jewels in the country, and for those who have not visited, go there whilst the political climate is reasonably stable, and the big game is still there in reasonable numbers.

This page is sponsored by Birding Ecotours

Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 1165

    (As at July 2024)

    National Bird: Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus

Endemics

  • Number of endemics: 11

    Jackson's Spurfowl Pternistis jacksoni
    Williams's Lark Mirafra williamsi
    Taita Apalis Apalis fuscigularis
    Tana River Cisticola Cisticola restrictus
    Aberdare Cisticola Cisticola aberdare
    Taita White-eye Zosterops silvanus
    Kikuyu White-eye Zosterops kikuyuensis
    Hinde's Pied-Babbler Turdoides hindei
    Taita Thrush Turdus helleri
    Clarke's Weaver Ploceus golandi
    Sharpe's Longclaw Hemimacronyx sharpei
Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Kenya , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • Exotic Birding

    Checklist
    List of species recorded in the country along with frequency of occurrence. Table indicates whether each species is globally threatened or endangered according to the IUCN and whether it is migratory, very rare, or accidental in the country.

  • Wikipedia

    Annotated List
    This is a list of the bird species recorded in Kenya. The avifauna of Kenya included a total of 1158 confirmed species as of July 2023. Of them, 11 are endemic, and 4 have been introduced by humans.

  • eBird

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
Useful Reading

  • 50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya

    | By Catherine Ngarachu | Random House Struik | 2017 | Paperback | 168 pages, 180 colour photos, colour maps | ISBN: 9781775842484 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • A Bird Atlas of Kenya

    | By Adrian Lewis & Derek Pomeroy | A A Balkema | 1989 | Hardback | 620 pages, b’w photos, figs, tabs, maps | ISBN: 9789061917168 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • A Field Guide to the Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania

    | By Dale Zimmerman, Donald A Turner, Doug Pratt, David J Pearson & Ian Willis | Christopher Helm | 2005 | Paperback | 576 pages, 124 colour plates, b/w line drawings, 800 distribution maps | ISBN: 9780713675504 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of East Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi

    | By Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe | Helm | Edition 2 | 2020 | Papwerback | 640 pages, 289 plates with 3500+ colour illustrations; 2 b/w illustrations, colour distribution maps, 4 colour maps | ISBN: 9781408157367 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of Kenya's Rift Valley

    | By Adam Scott Kennedy | WILDGuides | 2014 | Paperback | 256 pages, 500 colour photos | ISBN: 9780691159072 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding Aps

  • Birds of Africa

    Android


    Birds of Africa was developed as an aid to conservation and is an asset of The African Bird Club. It is a guide to more than 2300 species of birds in 43 countries and in time it will cover all the birds and countries in Africa.

  • eGuide to Birds of East Africa

    Apple iOS |


Museums & Universities

  • National Museums of Kenya

    In Kenya, there are about 1080 species of birds. These range from the Ostrich - the world`s biggest bird - to tiny sunbirds with brilliantly coloured feathers. Kenya has a varied landscape and diverse habitats, and different birds may be seen in each different habitat.
Organisations

  • A Rocha Kenya

    Facebook Page
    Our mission is to conserve and restore threatened habitats and biodiversity through research, environmental action, advocacy and empowerment of communities. Also see Facebook Page

  • African Bird Club

    Website
    With over 1,000 species recorded, several endemics and many near endemics, and birding which starts in the capital Nairobi, Kenya can justifiably be described as a mecca for birders. Whether you are a new or regular visitor to East Africa, an ornithologist or a traveller with a passing interest in birds, Kenya should be high in your list of priorities to visit

  • Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest

    Facebook Page
    Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (FoASF) was started in October 1999 by concerned individuals and institutions to link people interested in the conservation of the Forest with the present Forest Managers…

  • Ileret Bird Club

    Webpage
    In March 2019, the Global Change and Conservation team (GCC) started a new project called “Ileret Bird Club” on the Kenyan side of Lake Turkana (Ileret Ward). Lake Turkana is considered as one of the most important wetlands in East Africa, serving as a central flyway and stopover site for many migratory birds. Given the relevance of the lake for waterbird populations, BirdLife International declared it as one of the 68 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Kenya.

  • Kenya Bird Map

    Website
    The Kenya Bird Map project aims to map the current distribution of all of Kenya’s bird species and describe their status with the help of valued input from Citizen Scientists – volunteer members of the public who are keen to contribute through going birding and submitting their observations to the project...

  • Kenya Women Birders

    Webpage
    Welcome to the Kenya Women Birders Club. This is a group of passionate women who are being trained in a series of programs to equip them with skills to become professional bird guides. We are partnering with Uganda Women Birders and Rwanda Women Birders. The plan is to have an East African group of women birders who can lead birding tour groups and research groups.

  • Lake Baringo Biodiversity Conservation Group

    Website
    Lake Baringo is a real birding hotspot that never fails to impress birders for its easily seen birds. Around the compounds of the Lake Baringo Club and Robert’s Camp one can easily pocket around 200 species within a period of 3 hours. Lake Baringo has approximately 480 species on its list. Lake Baringo Biodiversity Conservation Group (LBBCG) provides high quality bird guiding services around the area and you can contact them by calling +254 727 856048. The Club president Moses Kandie is a big birder, Joseph Aengwo, Wilson Tiren, Francis Cherutich and Cliff William Kiror are exceptional guides

  • Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Website
    Lewa was once a cattle ranch; it then became a heavily guarded black rhino sanctuary, and it is now the headquarters for a non-profit wildlife conservancy, which has gained a world-wide reputation for extending the benefits of conservation beyond its borders

  • Matangwe Bird Club

    Facebook Page
    The Matangwe Bird Club of Kenya meets weekly under the guidance of local birders to band birds and to record observations.

  • Nature Kenya

    Facebook Page
    Nature Kenya - the East Africa Natural History Society (EANHS) - is Africa’s oldest environmental Society. We were established in 1909 to promote the study and conservation of nature in eastern Africa.Our mission is to connect people with nature and take action for biodiversity conservation.
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • IBAs

    WebsiteSatellite View
    There are 9 restricted range species of the Kenya mountains Endemic Bird Area (EBA) and 7 of the East African coastal forests EBA. Kenya also has small portions of other EBAs: Tanzanian Malawi mountains; Serengeti plains; Jubba and Shabeelle valleys

  • Kenya National Parks

    InformationSatellite View
    Annotated list of links to individual wikipedia pages

  • NNR Kakamega Forest

    InformationSatellite View
    The Kakamega National Reserve is a 36 km2 reserve, situated at the north end of the Kakamega Forest, in Western Province, Kenya, at an elevation of about 1560m, along the northeastern edge of the Lake Victoria basin. Along its eastern edge rises the partially forested Nandi Escarpment which runs along the western edge of the Rift Valley. The Kakamega Forest is generally considered the eastern-most remnant of the lowland Congolean rainforest of Central Africa. Faunally and florally, Kakamega is dominated by central African lowland species, but due to its elevation (predominantly between 1500m and 1600m) and proximity to the formerly contiguous Nandi Forests it also contains highland elements and is thus unique. The forest boundary (including the reserves) encloses about 238km2, of which less than half is still indigenous forest.

  • NP Aberdare

    InformationSatellite View
    The Aberdare National Park covers the higher areas of the Aberdare Mountain Range of central Kenya and the Aberdare Salient to their east. There are over 250 species of birds in the park, including the endangered endemic Aberdare cisticola & Jackson's francolin.

  • NP Amboseli

    InformationSatellite View
    Amboseli National Park offers some of the best opportunities to see African wildlife because the vegetation is sparse due to the long, dry months. The protected area is home to African bush elephant, Cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, Masai giraffe, Grant's zebra, and blue wildebeest. A host of large and small birds occur too

  • NP Arabuko-Sokoke

    InformationSatellite View
    There are over 270 species of birds recorded in the forest including several rare and endemic species. The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest protects many endemic and near endemic species. Clarke's weaver is completely endemic to the forest, while the eponymous Sokoke scops owl, Sokoke pipit, and the Amani sunbird and spotted ground thrush are found only here and in a forest fragment in Tanzania. The park adjoins Mida Creek, a mangrove forest that is an important shorebird wintering ground, protecting species such as the Terek sandpiper and the crab plover.

  • NP Chyulu Hills

    InformationSatellite View
    The Chyulu Hills is a mountain range in Makeuni County, South Eastern Kenya. It forms a 100 kilometre long volcanic field in elongated NW-SE direction. Its highest peak is 2188 metres high.

  • NP Hell's Gate

    InformationSatellite View
    Hell's Gate National Park lies south of Lake Naivasha in Kenya, north west of Nairobi. Hell's Gate National Park is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley. It was established in 1984. A small national park, it is known for its wide variety of wildlife and for its scenery. The park has historically been an important home for the rare lammergeyer vultures There are over 103 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux's eagles, augur buzzard, etc.

  • NP Lake Nakuru

    InformationSatellite View
    Lake Nakuru National Park (188 km2, 73 mi2), was created in 1961 around Lake Nakuru, near Nakuru Town. It is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingos nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognisable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. As well as flamingos, there are myriad other bird species that inhabit the lake and the area surrounding it, such as African fish eagle, Goliath heron, hamerkop, pied kingfisher and Verreaux's eagle among others.

  • NP Maasai Mara

    InformationSatellite View
    The park is smaller than and contiguous with Serengeti in Tanzania. More than 470 species of birds have been identified in the park, many of which are migrants, with almost 60 species being raptors.Birds that call this area home for at least part of the year include: vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds, hornbills, crowned cranes, ostriches, long-crested eagles, African pygmy-falcons and the lilac-breasted roller, which is the national bird of Kenya.

  • NP Meru

    InformationSatellite View
    Meru was one of the two areas in which conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the best selling book and award winning movie Born Free. Aside from the beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife, Tourist attractions include the once home of George and Joy Adamson, Adamson's Falls, views of Mount Kenya, and the Tana River.

  • NP Mount Elgon

    InformationSatellite View
    Mount Elgon National Park is a national park 140 kilometres (87 mi) northeast of Lake Victoria. The park covers an area of 1,279 square kilometres (494 sq mi) and is bisected by the border of Kenya and Uganda. Mount Elgon is home to at least 144 bird species. Of particular interest are Jackson's francolin, the eastern bronze-naped pigeon, Hartlaub's turaco, the Tacazze sunbird and the endangered lammergeier, due to their restricted range.

  • NP Mount Kenya

    InformationSatellite View
    Mount Kenya National Park was established in 1949 to protect Mount Kenya, the wildlife and surrounding environment, which forms a habitat for wild animals, as well as acting as an area for the catchment of water, to supply Kenya's water.

  • NP Nairobi

    InformationSatellite View
    Still, despite its proximity to civilisation and relative small size for an African national park, Nairobi National Park boasts a large and varied wildlife population. Migrating herbivores gather in the park during the dry season, and it is one of Kenya's most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries. The park has a high diversity of bird species, with up to 500 permanent and migratory species in the park. Dams have created a man-made habitat for birds and aquatic species.

  • NP Ruma

    InformationSatellite View
    Over 400 species of birds have been recorded in the park, making it an Important Bird Area. The rare intra-African migrant, the blue swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) is one such avian species.

  • NP Tsavo East

    InformationSatellite View
    Tsavo East National Park is one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya at 13,747 square kilometres. Situated in a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru Desert. Over 500 bird species have been recorded in the area, including ostriches, kestrels, buzzards, starlings, weaver birds, kingfishers, hornbills, secretary birds and herons.

  • NP Tsavo West

    InformationSatellite View
    Tsavo West National Park is located in the Coast Province of Kenya. The park covers an area of 9,065 square kilometres. The A109 road Nairobi-Mombasa and a railway divides it from the adjoining Tsavo East National Park. Together with adjoining ranches and protected areas, they comprise the Tsavo Conservation Area.

  • NR Samburu

    InformationSatellite View
    There are over 350 species of bird. These include grey-headed kingfisher, sunbirds, bee-eaters, Marabou stork, tawny eagle, Verreaux's eagle, bateleur, vulturine guineafowl, yellow-necked spurfowl, lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird, superb starling, northern red-billed hornbill, yellow-billed hornbill, and various vultures including the palm-nut vulture.
Sightings, News & Forums
Guides & Tour Operators

  • African Birding Expeditions

    Tour Operator
    We offer excellent Uganda Birding Tours, Birding safaris in Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and entire East African region. With a professional and passionate team in organizing Birding safaris in Uganda, our birding tours and Africa birding expeditions are top rated in the region, giving travelers unique insights into the over 1000 bird species in East Africa including hard-to-find shoebill storks communicated in a deeply infectious manner that leaves you in awe and with a new found respect for these gentle vertebrates.

  • Avian Safaris

    Tour Operator
    We set out to do something different; to offer quality guided birding expeditions which are far from the ordinary, customised, unique, relaxed, energetic, bonding and indulgent for individuals, families and groups.

  • Beads Safaris Collection

    Tour Operator
    Beads Safaris Collection is a Destination Management Company operating tours and travel services all over Eastern Africa destinations including: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar. We specialize in offering the best and most unique properties and locations for our guests’ safety, enjoyment and tailor-made to their needs.

  • Biodiversity Expedition Safaris

    Facebook Page
    Biodiversity Expedition Safaris (BES) is a tour company which organizes tailor-made safaris into Kenya and East Africa specializing in birds watching, mammal tours, cultural and photographic safaris and student’s ecological expeditions…

  • Bird Watching Kenya

    Tour Operator
    Embark on an unforgettable avian adventure with Birdwatching Kenya’s [object object] Bird Watching in Kenya pngeggimmersive guided tour. From the vibrant plains of the Masai Mara to the picturesque shores of Lake Victoria, witness an array of winged wonders in their natural habitat. Discover the beauty of Eastern Africa, one feathered encounter at a time.

  • BirdFinders

    Tour Operator
    This tour visits some of the best birding sites in the country. We will see over six hundred species of birds and, although it is primarily a birdwatching tour, we will also see far more species of mammals than on a regular safari as we will spend more hours in the field! It all adds up to an unforgettable experience.

  • Birding & Beyond Safaris

    Tour Operator
    We invite you to read through our web-pages in order to be able to come up with the actual desired Holiday of your lifetime. We always have one more lifer for you…

  • Birding Africa

    Tour Operator
    With 1100 bird species, including more than 20 endemics and near-endemics, and lots of easy open-country birding and big game, Kenya is simply a must-do birding destination.

  • Birding Ecotours

    Tour Operator
    A Birdwatcher’s Paradise… Kenya boasts a wide variety of habitats, from snow-capped peaks to grass plains, arid deserts and palm-fringed ocean. Over 1100 bird species have been recorded, of which we should see well over half, as well as a bewildering array of large mammals.

  • Birdquest

    Tour Operator
    From Lamu and Sokoke on the coast to Marsabit in the north and Kakamega in the west

  • Cheesemans Safaris

    Tour Operator
    We are a high quality wildlife tour company for small groups. We offer tours to our favorite places in the world, places unique for their abundant and photogenic mammals and birdlife. All our trips have knowledgeable, enthusiastic leadership, custom high quality itineraries, and more time in the field. Our safaris are for nonsmokers who love nature

  • Cisticola Tours

    Tour Operator
    We are a dedicated safari company based in Kenya, leading top Birding and Nature Tours in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Our tours have become a top choice for many first time visitors and even returning clients to this magical destination. We also offer a wide variety of tailor-made tours, where the clients help to select the destinations and species they would love to see on their safari in East Africa.

  • ConQuest Adventures

    Tour Operator
    ConQuest Adventures Ltd is a specialist tour operator in East Africa, offering top class bespoke, birding safaris, bird photography, and wildlife tours in Kenya , Uganda and Tanzania We are well-known for great birding in East Africa; we offers and organize unrivaled Day Birding tours, as well as wholly-inclusive multi-day birdwatching, wildlife and photography safaris across East Africa.

  • FieldGuides

    Tour Operator
    Combines the richest birding and mammal spots in Kenya and northern Tanzania: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Great Rift Valley, Kakamega Forest, and more. An impressive diversity of habitats, many with spectacular scenery. Limited to 6.

  • HeatherLea

    Tour Operator
    Kenya has the second highest birdlist for any African country with over 1000 species, and on this tour we expect perhaps 450 of these, including many of the most sought-after Kenyan and regional endemics during a birding spectacle to treasure, as we visit many of the country's top sites. Specifically designed for the keen enthusiast, this tour is an exceptional Kenyan birding safari.

  • Kabira Safaris

    Tour Operator
    11 Days Kenya Birding Safari Tour (Western Kenya Birds)

  • Kenya Birding

    Tour Operator
    Are you visiting Kenya and would like to go birding for a day or two to see a breeding male of Red-collared Widowbird or Saddle-billed Stork or the endemic Sharpe’s Lonclaw and Aberdare Cisticola? How about birding in Kenya and seeing an African Crowned Eagle, or glittering Sunbirds and gorgeous Turacos? All of these birds and many more are possible on birding day trips from Nairobi and aren’t all that difficult to to see in Kenya….if you know where to find them.

  • Nature Travel Birding

    Tour Operator
    Our 14-day Kenya birding tour offers some of the best birding in Africa with over 1000 species recorded here. Visit renowned parks and reserves and the famous Maasai Mara also gives great opportunities for game viewing.

  • Nature's Wonderland Safaris

    Tour Operator
    We proudly present a selection of exciting Birding safaris, Wildlife safaris, Adventure tours and Camping safaris through the Eastern part of Africa ranging from 4 - 37 days, many of which can be combined with a relaxing interlude on the coast

  • Rockjumper Birding Tours

    Tour Operator
    Kenya, with a bird list in excess of a thousand species, epitomizes Africa’s reputation as ‘the birding continent’, and over our many years of operation in this region we have tailored an exciting portfolio of tours to satisfy every visitor.

  • Sarus Bird Tours

    Tour Operator
    The Birdwatcher`s Paradise

  • Swahili Eco

    Tour Operator
    With over 1380 remarkable species of birds to see, enjoy the company of professional guides to trek with you birding across Kenya. Discover the endemics and experience the best of Birdwatching in Kenya, birdwatching in Tanzania, birdwatching in Uganada and birding across the entire East Africa with Swahili Eco Tours & Safaris, spearheaded by co-owner Mustafa!

  • Tropical Birding

    Tour Operator
    Kenya offers Africa in a nutshell, from the soda-encrusted, flamingo-filled Rift Valley lakes to alpine Mt. Kenya and the western lowland forests at Kakamega. These habitats, combined with bird-rich savannas...

  • Twinspot Tours

    Tour Operator
    Twinspot Tours and Travel specializes in providing exceptional birdwatching experiences in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda showcasing the diverse avian life that our beautiful region has to offer.

  • WINGS

    Tour Operator
    The vast expanses of East Africa have long been part of every traveler’s dreams, a land of rolling grasslands dotted with acacia trees, snow-capped mountain rising above the limitless horizons, and riverine forests harboring colorful birds and troops of monkeys....
Trip Reports

  • 2001 [05 May] - Bo Beolens - BFA

    Report
    A report on the first ever birding for all trip - with access details for hotels etc. as well as checklist, diary etc.

  • 2015 [07 July] - Terry Stevenson - Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our July 2015 Kenya Highlights tour began, as always, at the Ole Sereni Hotel overlooking Nairobi National Park. We then went south to Lake Magadi (near the Tanzania border), north to Mount Kenya and the arid lowlands of Samburu, west to Lake Baringo in the Great Rift Valley, and further west to Kakamega Forest and Lake Victoria, before returning to the Rift Valley at Nakuru and back to Nairobi. The final leg involved flights to and from the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve -- the jewel of Kenya's wildlife parks.

  • 2016 [01 January] - Nate Dias

    Report
    This trip report covers a safari I took to Kenya with my friend Tommy Graham. Tommy is a good naturalist who also knows his birds, though he is not a lister or twitcher by any means. Mammals are his primary natural history interest. Tommy went to school with my father and has been a friend of the family since before I was born. This was the first trip to Africa for both of us.

  • 2016 [02 February] - Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our January-February 2016 East Africa Highlights tour benefitted from exceptional rains across most of the region from early December onwards. This unexpected, prolonged period of rain meant that many birds were still breeding, and one of the tour highlights was seeing a displaying African Broadbill at Kakamega. Additionally, a good variety of sunbirds, weavers, widowbirds, and bishops were in full breeding plumage -- with Northern Red Bishop at Bogoria being simply stunning!

  • 2016 [05 May] - Marcus Lilje - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    There can hardly be a wildlife destination on the planet that can compete with the sheer number and diversity of large mammals in combination with attractive and easy-to-see birds. During the course of this brief exploration of Tanzania and Kenya, we managed to cover a wide diversity of habitats as we amassed well over 500 different bird species and many wonderful mammals, providing great viewing and photographing opportunities...

  • 2017 [04 April] - Wayne Jones - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    East Africa is one of the world’s iconic wildlife destinations, in particular, places like AmboseliNational Park, the vast Serengeti Plains and marvellous Ngorongoro Crater. The mammals arespectacular, the birding easy yet rewarding and the scenery is breathtaking. Throw in addedattractions like Africa’s two highest mountains, world-renowned geological site Oldupai Gorge anda glimpse into the fascinating Maasai culture and this could easily qualify as the trip of a lifetime!

  • 2017 [05 May] - Gareth Robbins - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    Our tour started at the stunning Ngarasero Lodge, on the outskirts of the bustling city of Arusha. The first bird we saw for the trip was a vocal Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, which was calling from a comfortable perch in a large tree in the centre of the garden. ..

  • 2017 [05 May] - Heinz Ortmann - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    The East African countries of Tanzania and Kenya never disappoint with the amazing overall wildlife experience that they offer, and this particular tour was no different. The guests were spoilt with incredible bird and big mammal sightings, with over 470 bird species and a staggering 54 mammal species seen during our 18-day journey through the northern parts of Tanzania and various parts of southern and central Kenya. Added to the many special birds and mammals were, of course, the experiences of Mt Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, vast open plains of the Serengeti, iconic Amboseli landscapes and a visit to a Maasai village – to name but a few of the wonderful parts of this incredible safari.

  • 2017 [07 July] - Terry Stevenson - Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our July 2017 East Africa Highlights: Kenya & Tanzania tour took place in one of the driest seasons on record in northern Tanzania, but shortly after unusual July rains in Kenya. With global climate change, just which are the best months to visit these days comes largely down to luck, but luck, together with many years of experience in running tours in this area certainly helped this time. Just a few of our highlights were Lion, Leopard and Cheetah two days running in the Serengeti, Black Rhino - our very first day in Nairobi National Park, and of course a whole bunch of other mammals ranging from monkeys to ground-squirrels, Spotted Hyaena, elephant, zebra, giraffe, hippo, and a fabulous variety of antelopes and gazelles.

  • 2018 [02 February] - Terry Stevenson - Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our January 2018 East Africa Highlights tour was a tour of great contrasts - Tanzania was receiving good rains, with lush grass and flowering trees throughout much of the region. The Wildebeest had arrived in the Serengeti in huge numbers, which together with other plains game attracted the big cat predators - lion, leopard and cheetah were all seen. Due to the presence of dangerous mammals much of the Tanzania portion of our tour was done from a specially adapted Safari Landcruiser. Kenya by contrast was dry as a bone, with lakes and small water bodies attracting both waterbirds and passerines.

  • 2018 [05 May] - André Bernon - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    Our tour started off in the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi. We visited iconic destinations such as MountKenya, Shaba and Buffalo Springs Game Reserves, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli with MountKilimanjaro as a backdrop! Our adventure then took us into the wilderness of Tanzania. TarangireNational Park, with its beautiful scenery and hundreds of African Elephants between the myriad ofBaobab Trees; Ngorongoro Crater, with one of the highest densities of predators in the world; andlastly the Serengeti, where we witnessed the great migration – hundreds of thousands of wildebeest andzebra marching over the open plains. We managed to find the iconic “Big 5” on our Safari and evenwitnessed a Cheetah kill on our last day in the Serengeti! The birding did not take a back seat at all,and we had superb sightings and tallied a total of 477 species on our Safari!

  • 2018 [09 September] - Per Holmen

    Report
    ...We had to call some Fundis from Marigat to come and help us. Fortunately for us we had stopped in a good birding habitat. We soon found Brown Babbler, Northern Black Flycatcher, White morphed Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike and GreyTit Flycatcher. The Fundis arrived after a long wait. They removed the thermostat and told us to go on...

  • 2019 [03 March] - Terry Stevenson

    Report
    Beginning in Nairobi, we made an afternoon visit to the nearby national park where our first lions were lying right beside the road. Giraffe, Burchell's Zebra, African Buffalo, Warthog, and a variety of the more common gazelles were all part of a truly African scene as we meandered across the plains and through the acacia scrub.

  • 2019 [09 September] - Birding Ecotours

    PDF Report
    ...We found a good collection of both forest specialists and forest generalists. They included Hartlaub’s Turaco, Heuglin’s White-eye, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Chinspot Batis, White-headed Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Collared Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Tropical Boubou, both Cabanis’s and Yellowwhiskered Greenbuls, and White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher. Most of the species seen were photographed...

  • 2020 [02 February] - Peg Abbott

    PDF Report
    ...Arriving mid-morning, we had a couple of hours to wait for our rooms, so we had either coffee (mochas, yum!) or cold drinks, lunch and right in front of us a great bird show. Thick-billed, Yellow-rumped and Streaky Seedeaters were numerous, as were Speke’s Weavers, which has an active nesting colony going, already fledglings were begging here. There were several Black-headed Heron, Hadada Ibis and a Hamerkop. The day previous Jack and Nancy has the treat of a pair of Gray-crowned Cranes flying in. We found our first Fork-tailed Drongo, African Paradise Flycatcher, and at a distance, a displaying male Yellow-crowned Bishop...

  • 2020 [02 February] - Preston Mutinda

    PDF Report
    Arriving mid-morning, we had a couple of hours to wait for our rooms, so we had either coffee (mochas, yum!) or cold drinks, lunch and right in front of us a great bird show. Thick-billed, Yellow-rumped and Streaky Seedeaters were numerous, as were Speke’s Weavers, which has an active nesting colony going, already fledglings were begging here. There were several Black-headed Heron, Hadada Ibis and a Hamerkop. The day previous Jack and Nancy has the treat of a pair of Gray-crowned Cranes flying in. We found our first Fork-tailed Drongo, African Paradise Flycatcher, and at a distance, a displaying male Yellow-crowned Bishop...

  • 2021 [09 September] - Crammy Wanyama (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    The trees had plenty to offer at the exit gate, including a pair of tiny Brown-backed Woodpeckers, a sub-adult male Black-backed Puffback, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, and the black-backed form of the White-headed Barbet that occur around Central Kenya.

  • 2021 [11 November] - Moses Kandie (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    Our arrival into the park saw us begin an easy walk around the offices and car park which is well maintained with trees lining the edges and provided great sightings of birds including five sunbirds: Bronzy, Scarlet chested, Amethyst, Collared, Northern and Eastern double collared.

  • 2021 [11 November] - Niels Bomholt

    PDF Report
    Hele turen var perfekt arrangeret. For at spare lidt havde vi ikke valgt de dyreste og fineste lodges, men det fungerede fint alle steder. Moses var en utrolig dygtig fugleguide, og David var en god chauffør og en rigtig kammerat. Vi kan absolut anbefale Avian Safaris og deres team.

  • 2022 [02 February] - ABA

    Report
    We enjoyed 11 glorious days traveling to three very different areas of Kenya: Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba Game Reserves in the dry northern region; Lake Nakuru National Park in the rift valley; and the magnificent Maasai Mara Game Reserve in the south.

  • 2022 [05 May] - Crammy Wanyama (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    We found and had exceptional observations of the Sharpe's Longclaw, which became our first of the sought-after endemics. We had brilliant views of the East African endemic race of Long-tailed Widowbird, Streaky Seedeater, African and Plain-backed Pipit, Yellow-throated Longclaw...

  • 2022 [09 September] - Alex Mwangia

    PDF Report
    As we waited for the arrival of remaining tour members, including two who had come directly from Uganda, we ate breakfast on a long, outdoor porch that overlooks Nairobi National Park. Common Ostrich, Speckled Pigeon, Little Swift, African Palm Swift, Marabou Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Black Kite, and Hamerkop, and African Pied Wagtail, Red-rumped Swallow, as well as a distant herd of plains zebra and an African buffalo were visible from our tables...

  • 2023 [05 May] - Lawsons

    Report
    In May we finished our inaugural Birds & Wildlife of Kenya safari - 16 days covering some of the best birding and wildlife areas of Kenya. From Samburu - absolutely magical after good rains - to the Rift Valley Lakes, Kakamega Forest - a last remnant patch of rain forest that once extended much further eastwards across Kenya - to the famous Masai Mara, there was plenty to keep us occupied! Check out some great images in out Safari Photo Trip Report.

  • 2023 [05 May] - Pete Marsh

    PDF Report
    ...We saw 532 bird species of which 118 were new to me. Francis was assiduous in studying the list I had provided to him of my target birds. He was amazing at picking up targets as we were driving. Needless to say we enjoyed a host of mammalian sightings- 46 to be precise...

  • 2023 [10 October] - Yoav Perlman

    PDF Report
    ...We saw many of the ArabukoSokoke specialties, including Amani Sunbird, Spotted GroundThrush, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Forest Weaver, Green-backed Twinspot, Chestnut-fronted and Retz’s Helmetshrikes, Mottled Spinetail, Mombasa Woodpecker, Fasciated Snake-Eagle, and Trumpeter Hornbill. Fischer’s Turaco played it hard to get but eventually we connected with a vocal pair...

  • 2023 [12 December] - Bob Swann

    PDF Report
    ...We drove into a small campsite on the edge of the forest and immediately starting seeing birds with Black Saw-wings zipping through the clearing. In the trees along the forest edge spotted Black-throated Apalis, Black-collared Apalis and best of all a Chestnut-throated Apalis. We had spent a lot of time last year on Mt.Kenya trying, unsuccessfully, to see one of these so it was great to get such good views at last. In the bushes bounding the forest we located Cabanas’s Greenbul, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, Eastern Mountain Greenbul and a Slender-billed Greenbul...

  • 2024 [02 February] - Michael Zieger

    PDF Report
    ...We had already seen & photographed 700 of the 1166 known bird species in Kenya, now we managed to get 524 species of birds pictured, saw another 2 without taking another photography, and 179 not yet seen („new“) species including 6 out of 12 possible endemics (end) (both printed in bold)! Our guide had the additional task of making an inventory of all the species he could hear and see. In return, we were kept busy studying with the various possible sub-species of (already) seen birds...

  • 2024 [04 April] - Rob Williams

    PDF Report
    ...species that are usually scarce here were common and some species were staggeringly abundant. We saw between 60 and 80 Harlequin Quail and probably heard 4- 5 times as many as we saw. Several Fire-fronted Bishops were an unusual species here. During our morning game drive a single Cheetah was watched scanning the landscape from a small hillock in beautiful morning light...

  • 2024 [09 September] - Chris Lotz

    PDF Report
    Bird highlights included many bustards including the world’s heaviest flying bird, Kori Bustard, both ostrich species, Secretarybird, a long list of raptors including Africa’s largest eagle, Martial Eagle, Africa’s heaviest eagle, Crowned Eagle, many accipiters and a number of excellent owls, like Northern White-faced Owl.
Places to Stay

  • Eco-resorts East Africa

    Accommodation
    Welcome to eco-resorts, your online resource for East African eco-tours and safaris! We would like to personally welcome you to the fascinating world of eco-safaris and eco adventures in Kenya and Tanzania. Take your time - visit some of the delightful camps, hotels and lodges available for your safari.

  • Kichwa Tembo

    Accommodation
    The Masai Mara is Kenya's premier wildlife habitat. Kichwa Tembo is the ideal location for intimate encounters with an overwhelming assortment of animals. The camp overlooks endless, game-filled plains and is shaded by a dense forest canopy.

  • Lake Nakuru Lodge

    Accommodation
    Threat to Wetland of International Importance. Concern for the Ecological Character (maintenance of the Natural Integrity to Flora and Fauna. Education and public awareness. Community conservation - soil erosion and tree planting. Pollution and Ecotourism - Nature friendly. Promotion of Coexistence between Mankind and Wildlife.

  • Naro Moru River Lodge

    Accommodation
    Situated on the Equator between Nyeri and Nanyuki at an altitude of 1,982 meters (6,505 ft) in the foothills of Mt. Kenya. The lodge is set in beautiful tropical gardens through which the snow fed Naro Moru River flows. Naro Moru River Lodge is the natural choice as the base for climbing Mt. Kenya. Time from Nairobi is between 2-3 hours of scenic drive. The Lodge is 180 km from Jomo Kenyatta Airport and 160 km from Nairobi.

  • Rondo Retreat

    Accommodation
    The tranquil Retreat Centre in the Kakamega Rain Forest welcomes you to make it your home for a few memorable days, pursuing your hobbies as a butterfly collector, beetle specialist, frog fancier, spider hunter, tourist or bird watcher. Among the vast array of birds the Kakamega Rain Forest is home to the flamboyant Great Blue Turaco, gemlike Emerald Cuckoo and the cacophonous Black-and-white casqued Hornbill
Other Links

  • Hinde’s Babblers Breeding in Kabete, Nairobi

    Article
    Following the initial sightings of Hinde’s Babblers at the University of Nairobi’s Upper Kabete Field Station on 26th February (Simon Carter and David Guarnieri) and 8th March 2017 (Nature Kenya Wednesday Morning Bird Walk), marking the first official records of the species in Nairobi, I have been monitoring the birds as I am a student at UoN Upper Kabete Campus. On one occasion while observing the birds with Allan Kipruto (a schoolmate), we got a brief glimpse of what seemed to be a very orange-looking individual in the bushes where the rest of the Babblers (4 adults) were noisily moving around. We suspected it was a juvenile but couldn’t confirm since it quickly went deep into the bush and did not re-emerge.
Photographers & Artists

  • Photographers - John & Nigel Kendall

    Gallery
    Bird-crazy brothers, John and Nigel Kendall, spent nine days bird watching in Kenya in early March 1999. John was a resident of Kenya at the time. Here are some of the photographs from the trip plus shots taken by John during 10 years of missionary work…

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