Bird watching isn’t just a profession, it is a passion we share with you.

From Nairobi National Park to the Indian Ocean. From savannah to coastal and mangrove forests. From majestic raptors to small sunbirds. On this Kenya bird watching safari you will meet birds wide spread in Africa but a good number of East Africa endemic and rare species. The coastal forests of Kenya and Northeastern Tansania host a number of rare and endemic species. You will come across subspecies only found in the region.

This Inspiring Kenya bird watching safari 13 days 

Nairobi to coast will reveal an amazing number of bird species and is best between September and March. This is the time migrants from the North and intra-African migrants will be present and add to the numbers of species.

The great Kenya bird watching safari 13 days Nairobi to coast starts in Nairobi National Park. An area often underestimated and still new species are found by keen birders. Nairobi National Park is the only park in the world bordering a capital city. Due to its habitat variety over 500 bird species were recorded.

Nairobi National Park is a good start for Kenya bird watching Safari. You will see mainly grass savanna with small acacia forests. Acacia trees are loved by insectivorous birds like the Red-throated Tit (Parus fringillinus), which only has a small distribution area in Kenya and Northern Tanzania, Long-tailed Fiscal (endemic to Kenya, Somalia and Northeastern Tanzania), Northern Fiscal  (Lanius h. humeralis), various Cisticola species and a good number of migrants enrich the avifauna.

Water dams are home to Fish Eagle, Darter, egrets, herons, Three-banded Plover, Open-billed Stork, ducks, geese and warblers. There is always action at these dams and you might find the often overlooked Quail-Finch  (Ortygospiza fuscocrissa). Shelly’s Francolin can sometimes even be met on the road. For a couple of years a Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) is spending the Northern winter here.

Amboseli National Park, your next destination during your Kenya bird watching Safari, has become home to Greater and Lesser Flamingos. A lake has grown and stayed for the last couple of years. Here you can find Red-billed Ducks, Yellow-billed Ducks, Hottentot Teals, White-faced Whistling Ducks, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Spur-winged Geese, Egyptian Geese, African Jacanas and with luck a Lesser Jacana.

On open grass areas often Grey Crowned Cranes congregate and dance – beautiful to watch!

Martial Eagles have their territory near the large Umbrella Thorn Acacias and near the airstrip you can find Greater Kestrels. Open areas are often visited by Kory Bustards while on salt plains Double-banded Courser are running around.

In the large compound of Sentrim Amboseli Lodge I have found during my visits: Spotted Eagle-Owl, Pearl-spotted owlet, Gabar Goshawk, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, von der Deckens Hornbill, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Black-necked Weaver and many more. Often you can also see Kilimanjaro from the garden or the platform. It is one great spot on the Kenya bird watching Safari. It is a very good place to stay for bird watching.

Severin Safari Lodge in Tsavo West National Park is surrounded by Acacia trees and water holes. From the terrace you can not only see to Kilimanjaro but also watch birds coming to the bird bath – Red-bellied Parrot, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Africa Silverbill, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Rufous-crowned Roller, Eastern violet-backed Sunbird and others. The place adds quite some species to the list during the Kenya bird watching Safari.

At the Mzima Springs in Tsavo West National Park you have the chance to find 4 different species of Kingfishers: Malachite Kingfisher (Ispidina picta picta),Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon l. leucocephala), Pygmy Kingfisher (Corythornis cristata galerita) and Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle m. maxima). Additionally Darters and Striated Herons are often present.

Sagala Lodge and the nearby Ngutuni Sanctuary are full of interesting and not often found species. You will see bird watching is amazing here. Gambaga Flycatcher has its main distribution area in the Sahel zone and Heuglin’s Courser are 2 of them. The Sombre Greenbul (Andropadus importunus) is more a coastal bird but found locally inland. The Pygmy Batis (Dryoscopus pringlii) is endemic to Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania in thorn-bush savannah. Three-banded Tchagras (Tchagra jamesi) are endemic to the Horn of Africa and as well a typical thorn-bush savannah inhabitant.

In Tsavo East National Park as well as in Ngutuni conservancy you can meet some raptors like Martial Eagle, Grasshopper Buzzard, African Hawk-Eagle, Brown Snake-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Lanner Falcon a.o. Look out for Giant Eagle Owls and small Pearl-spotted Owlets as well as Crimson-winged waxbills, Northern Brownbul and Tsavo Sunbird (Cinnyris tsavoensis).

While driving through Tsavo East National Park be on the lookout for Northern Carmine Bee-eaters and as well Amur Falcons. But you might also see Fisher’s Sparrow-lark, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear and other migratory and resident bird species.

Arabuko Sokoke Forest is a bird watching paradise for endangered species and one of the hot spots during the Kenya bird watching Safari. Sokoke Scops-owl, East coast Akalat (Sheppardia gunningi sokokensis), Sokoke Pipit (Anthus sokokensis), Spotted Ground-thrush (Geokichla (guttata) fischeri), Amani Sunbird (Hedydipna pallidigaster), Böhm’s Spinetail (Neafrapus boehmi sheppardi) – some of them are also found in North Eastern Tanzania.

Malindi Pipit, Mombasa Woodpecker, Scaly Chatterer, Little yellow Flycatcher, Black-bellied Starling, Chestnut-fronted Helmet-shrike, Retz’s Helmet-shrike, Olive Sunbird, Green Barbet, Fischer’s Turaco, Red-tailed Rufous Thrush (Ant-thrush) (Neocossyphus rufus rufus), Fish Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, European Honey Buzzard are some of the raptors you might find.

Mida Creek is a very special biotope during this Kenya bird watching Safari. Unique are its mangrove forests and extreme low and high tide. It is protected by a local community project and supported by NABU. Some special species to look for: East coast Boubou (Lanarius sublacteus), Coastal Cisticola (Cisticola haematocephala), Purple-banded Sunbird, Black-bellied Starling and shore birds.

While drifting with the canoe you observe many birds sitting on bushes or on sand banks. The moment low tide frees sand from water they all fly there in flocks – an amazing sighting and a very special experience during your Kenya birding safari!

Grey Plover, Sanderling, Lesser or Mongolian Sandplover, Caspian Plover, Greater Sandplover, Curlew Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel just to name some.

Photos by Lorenzo Barelli and Elvira Wolfer

Itinerary Inspiring Kenya bird watching safari 13 days Nairobi to coast: