• Secretarybird seen on a Birds of Kenya safari.
    Kenya Safari Tour

May 2025 / 2026: Birds & Wildlife of Kenya

A Kenya Safari is one of the classic African holiday experiences. Indeed, Kenya is often touted as the ‘home of safari’. It was where the concept was first pioneered in the mid-to late 1800’s. Today the Kenya safari experience still captures that ambiance of comfort in the wilderness. Of open plains teeming with all manner of wild animals. Of vistas so immense that they touch your soul. Moreover, the country has a bird list of over 1000 species! Truly, Kenya safari is a must for anyone with an interest in travel and natural history. This 16-day itinerary is designed to showcase some of the country’s top birding and wildlife areas It’s designed to be a well-rounded and immensely enjoyable safari experience. And we have limited it to 5 participants, making for an exclusive and personal tour.

Areas covered:

Our Birds and Wildlife of Kenya Safari starts with a night in Nairobi. We then visit Samburu National Reserve, home to the ‘northern specials’. These include Reticulated Giraffe (arguably the most striking of all the Giraffes), Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx and the unique Vulturine Guineafowl. Moving on, we then explore the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, with Mount Kenya as the backdrop to the vast plains. From there we explore three of the Rift Valley lakes (Nakuru, Bogoria and Baringo). Next up is Kakamega, Kenya’s last tract of tropical rainforest, a bird and primate hot-spot. Then we spend a night at Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria before the highlight of the tour – 4 nights in the Masai Mara.

Accommodation:

Your accommodation is of a medium-plus to high standard. It includes safari lodges in the main, as well as a few inns and country lodges. Importantly, all accommodations have en-suite facilities, and are clean and comfortable.

The birding:

This Kenya tour has a split focus, with both birds and mammals as the areas of interest. On the birding side there’s a great range of species to be seen. These include some of the typically bold and easy-to-see African savanna species. In addition, there will be a plethora of water-associated species to see. It’s the forests of Kakamega however that will offer the more unusual species, at least in terms of scarcity and range-restriction. To summarize, there is something for every type of birder, from casual to the more serious. Some of our target birds include: Vulturine Guinefowl, Somali Ostrich, Somali Bee-eater, Von der Decken's Hornbill, Jackson's Hornbill, Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, Fan-tailed Raven, White-bellied Bustard, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Greyish Eagle Owl, Yellow-billed Barbet, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Red-bellied Parrot, Jameson's Wattle-eye, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, Rosy-patched Bush Shrike, Bocage's Bush Shrike, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, African Shrike Flycatcher, Mackinnon's Shrike, African Blue Flycatcher, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Chubb's Cisticola, Carruther's Cisticola, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Golden-breasted Starling, Bristle-crowned Starling, Fischer's Starling, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Golden-winged Sunbird, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Black-billed Weaver, Jackson's Widowbird, Red-headed Bluebill and many more.

The mammals:

Large mammals and the Kenya safari experience are synonymous! In this respect our Kenya tour has plenty to offer. Samburu, Ol Pejeta and the Masai Mara are the large mammal hot-spots. Kakamega offers an interesting range of primate species. Mammals we’ll be looking for include: Reticulated, Rosthchild's and Masai Giraffes, Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles, Defassa Waterbuck, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Plain’s Zebra, Bearded Gnu, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Serval, Elephant, African Buffalo, Black Rhino, Kirk’s Dik-Dik, Olive Baboon, Black-and-White Colobus, Red-tailed Monkey, Bat-eared Fox.

In conclusion, this Kenya tour is an experience not to be missed. From plains of Ol Pejeta in the shadow of Mount Kenya to the endless game-studded vistas of the Mara, this safari will enrich you well beyond just the 16 days spent in the country… 

See the 2023 trip report - Birds & Wildlife of Kenya 2023.

See the Trip Advisor review of this tour.

Gallery

Itinerary

Birds & Wildlife of Kenya Route Map

Birds & Wildlife of Kenya route map. Click to enlarge.

Tour in brief

Group size: limited to a maximum of 5 participants.

Areas visited: Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lakes Nakuru and Baringo, Kakamega Forest, Lake Victoria and the Masai Mara.

Expected weather conditions: generally warm to hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms occurring regularly.

Tour tempo: medium to medium-plus; some long traveling days and some full days out on safari. 

Accommodation standards: good to high: private guest houses, lodges and mobile camps.

Mammal viewing: Outstanding! Unbeatable for multitudes of plains game and predator action.

Top mammals: Reticulated, Rosthchild's and Masai Giraffes, Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles, Defassa Waterbuck, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Grevy's Zebra, Gerenuk, Desert Warthog, Bearded Gnu, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Serval, Elephant, African Buffalo, Black Rhino, Kirk’s Dik-Dik, Olive Baboon, Black-and-White Colobus, Red-tailed Monkey, Bat-eared Fox.

Birding in brief: Excellent, many of the East African specials to be seen.

Top birds: Vulturine Guinefowl, Somali Ostrich, Somali Bee-eater, Von der Decken's Hornbill, Jackson's Hornbill, Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, Fan-tailed Raven, White-bellied Bustard, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Greyish Eagle Owl, Yellow-billed Barbet, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Red-bellied Parrot, Jameson's Wattle-eye, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, Rosy-patched Bush Shrike, Bocage's Bush Shrike, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, African Shrike Flycatcher, Mackinnon's Shrike, African Blue Flycatcher, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Chubb's Cisticola, Carruther's Cisticola, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Golden-breasted Starling, Bristle-crowned Starling, Fischer's Starling, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Golden-winged Sunbird, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Black-billed Weaver, Jackson's Widowbird, Red-headed Bluebill and many others. 

Add ons: spend more time in Kenya visiting Amboseli (for classic Mount Kilimanjaro views) and Tsavo, or spend time relaxing on the coast.

Rates

2025:
5 participants:            US$ 7 350 per person sharing ($460 per day).
4 participants:            US$ 8 020 per person sharing ($500 per day).
3 participants:            US$ 9 150 per person sharing ($570 per day).

Single supplement:   US$ 495.

Contact us for prices for other group sizes.

Price may be subject to change based on factors beyond our control. 

Includes

  • Accommodation
  • All meals (except lunches and dinners on first and last days)
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transport in 4×4 photographic converted Land Cruiser
  • Charter flight
  • Bottled water in vehicle whilst travelling
  • Personalised checklists
  • Specialist guide fees

Excludes

  • All airfares except charter flight
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Lunches and dinners on first and last day
  • All drinks
  • Optional excursions where applicable
  • Gratuities
  • Items of a personal nature

Note:

  • This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions at the time and other factors beyond our control.
  • Birds and mammals mentioned on this itinerary do not represent all that can be seen.  A full list of possibles appears on your checklist.

Tour ends in Nairobi on the last day of the tour. We will arrive at approximately 13h00; so evening departure flights will work well. For those who may need to overnight in Nairobi we can arrange all accommodation and transfers (at extra cost). Day rooms may be available between arriving and departing Nairobi on international flights on the final day, at extra cost. Please check with us before booking any flights.