9 DAYS COASTAL FORESTS BIRD-WATCHING SAFARI

9 DAYS COASTAL FORESTS BIRD-WATCHING SAFARI

This 9 days safari ensures you experience a variety of bird species and landscapes, making for a memorable birdwatching safari. The safari will take you through the southern, southeastern and coastal regions of Kenya, where you will encounter a diverse array of birdlife. This tour boasts sightings of three Kenyan endemic birds, the Taita Thrush, Taita Apalis and Taita White-Eye. The safari will also take you through the Arabuko Sokoke Forest where you will be able to spot unique birds such as the Sokoke Scops-Owl Pipit, Amani Sunbird and Red-napped Bush-shrike.

 DAY 01: NAIROBI – AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Depart from Nairobi and head to Amboseli National Park a 4-5 hours drive. Arrive, check in and have lunch at Penety Amboseli Resort. In the afternoon, you’ll explore the park’s open plains, swamps and lakes. Some of the birds you’ll encounter includes the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Pangani Longclaw, Taveta Golden Weaver, Fischer’s Sparrow-lark, Banded Parisoma, Taita Fiscal etc. Amboseli National Park offers a breathtaking backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, comprising of plains, woodlands and rocky thorn bush and great birding experience.

DAY 02- 03: AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

You will wake up early to catch the birds at their most active. Head, focusing on the park’s wetlands and swamps, where you can spot water birds like egrets, herons, pelicans and crowned cranes. Make a stop at Observation Hill for panoramic views of the park and Mount Kilimanjaro, This is also a great spot to see raptors and other birds of prey. In the mid-morning, continue to the swamp areas such as the Ol Okenya Swamp where you can see a variety of bird species including the African jacana, Goliath heron and grey crowned crane. Take a short break at a designated picnic area to enjoy some coffee or tea while observing the birds around you. Continue exploring the park’s grasslands and acacia woodlands, looking out for ground birds like Hartlaub’s bustard and the localized Pangani longclaw as well as dry country specials like the steel blue whydah and Von der Decken’s hornbill. Head out for lunch and return for your second game drive focusing on different habitats to maximize your birdwatching opportunities. Visit areas with dense vegetation for species like the white-bellied go-away bird and Taveta golden weaver. Stop at boreholes where birds come to drink and bathe to see a variety of species in one place. Dinner and overnight stay at Amboseli Penety Resort.

DAY 04: AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK – TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

Arrive and check in to your accommodation. After lunch proceed for a bird watching session. Try your luck for Cut-throat Finch, African Bared-eyed Thrush, Irania, Golden-breasted Starling, Southern Ground Hornbill, Long creasted Eagle, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Somali Long-billed Crombec, Straw-tailed Whydahs, Pangani Longclaw, Vulturine Guinea-Fowl, Crested Francolin, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Scaly Chatterer and Violet Wood-hoopoe. Dinner and overnight at Ashnil Aruba.

DAY 05: TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

Wake up early after breakfast and continue with your bird exploration. Look out for dry savannah specials, the Golden-breasted starling, golden pipit, vulture Guinea fowl and water birds like herons, egrets and kingfishers. Other birds to look out for are the Rosy-patched bush-shrike, red-winged lark, common eastern chanting goshawk, Blue-napped Mouse birds, Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike, Red and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers,  Yellow throated Woodland Warbler, Black-fronted Bush Shrike, Red-chested Cuckoo, Three-streaked Tchagra, Eurasian and Black-headed Orioles, Spotted Flycatcher, Crested Francolin, the national Taita Thrush, Taita White-Eye and variable Sunbirds. Head for lunch, return for continuation of birdwatching.

Dinner and overnight at Ashnil Aruba.

DAY 06: TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK – ARABUKO SOKOKE FOREST

You will depart Tsavo East and drive into the famous Arabuko Sokoke Forest, which is the largest remnant of the East African Coastal Forest. You might be able to see the rarely seen Kenyan endemic Clarke’s Weaver among the rich diversity of other bird species. These may include near endemic Amani Sunbird, Sokoke Pipit & Malindi Pipit, East Coast Akalat, Scaly Babbler, and Mombasa Woodpecker. Other birds you will see are the Little Yellow Fly catcher, a localized Collared Palm Thrush, Four-colored Bush shrike, Fischer’s Turaco, Mangrove Kingfisher, Scaly-throated & Pallid Honeyguides, Eastern Green Tinkerbird & Green Barbet, Green-backed Woodpecker amongst many others. Arabuko Sokoke Forest is also the home to near endemic Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew. Depending on the time we will visit either Mida Creek or the forest fringed by mangrove forest, the creek has a large area that fills with saline water during high tides.

DAY 07-08: ARABUKO SOKOKE FOREST

You will enjoy the morning birding in Arabuko Sokoke Forest again to look out for other birds that were missed during the previous day. The golden-rumped elephant shrew is a common resident here. You will spend the next day here continuing with your bird watching activity. Dinner and overnight at Jacaranda Watamu.

DAY 09: ARABUKO SOKOKE FOREST – NAIROBI

After breakfast you will be provided with transportation for your journey back to Nairobi. You’ll use flight back to Nairobi. You’ll be dropped off at the airport to catch your flight home.

INCLUSIVE

Accommodation

Full Board Meals

Park Entry Fees

Return Transport

Professional Tour Guide

Drinking Water

EXCLUSIVE

International Flights

Tips

Personal Items

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