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Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safaris

12 Day Kenya East Coast Birding Safari

Amazing birding and wildlife tours in Kenya

Kenya Coastal Birding Tour

Important bird areas on this tour

  • Tsavo West National Park
  • Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Shimba Hills National Reserve
  • Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve
  • Sabaki River Estuary
  • Lamu and Manda Islands
  • Tsavo East National Park
  • Nairobi National Park

Main Targets

  • Kenyan endemic birds (Taita thrush, Taita apalis, Taita white-eye)
  • Rare and near-endemic species
  • Migratory birds
  • Coastal forest specialists
  • Waterbirds at estuaries and river mouths

Tour Overview

This exciting birding tour takes you through Eastern and Coastal Kenya, where you will explore diverse landscapes, from sandy beaches to the lush cloud forests of Taita Hills. The trip offers incredible birdwatching opportunities, including sightings of three Kenyan endemic species—Taita thrush, Taita apalis, and Taita white-eye. You will also visit some of Kenya’s top birding spots and encounter rare birds like the Sokoke scops-owl, Malindi pipit, the striking crab plover, red-naped bush-shrike, and many more.

Main Target Birds

  • Sokoke scops-owl
  • Malindi pipit
  • Crab plover
  • Red-naped bush-shrike
  • Scaly chatterer
  • Nairobi pipit
  • Manda boubou
  • African skimmer
  • Madagascar pratincole
  • Fischer’s turaco
  • Clarke’s weaver

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Tsavo West National Park

The tour starts with a drive to Tsavo West National Park. The landscape features acacia-Commiphora bushland, baobabs, grassy plains, and riverine woodland. You'll birdwatch along the way, spotting migratory species at Ngulia Safari Lodge, where thousands of European and Asian birds pass through during autumn.

Day 2: Birding in Tsavo West National Park

This day is dedicated to exploring Tsavo West’s diverse habitats. Depending on the season, you might see Friedmann’s lark, red-naped bush-shrike, and scaly chatterer. Other possible sightings include singing bush lark, Somali courser, African scops owl, Pringle’s puffback, Basra reed warbler, violet wood-hoopoe, and vulturine guineafowl.

Day 3: Transfer to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary – Ngaongao Forest

Birdwatching continues in Ngulia and Lake Jipe, where you'll look for Taveta golden weaver and Hartlaub’s bustard. In the evening, you’ll arrive in the Taita Hills, home to the endemic Taita white-eye, Taita thrush, and more.

Day 4: Taita Hills Birding and Rukinga Sanctuary

Spend most of the day in Taita Hills, the only place in Kenya to see all three endemics—Taita thrush, Taita apalis, and Taita white-eye. Other targets include striped-cheeked greenbul and striped pipit. Later, enjoy birdwatching in Rukinga Sanctuary, where you can walk in search of species like Friedmann’s lark, bare-eyed thrush, and scaly chatterer. A nocturnal birding drive follows in the evening.

Day 5: Rukinga Birding and Transfer to Shimba Hills National Reserve

Travel to Shimba Hills, Kenya’s only site for the green-headed oriole and Uluguru violet-backed sunbird. You may also spot Fischer’s turaco, black-breasted barbet, and white-eared barbet.

Day 6: Shimba Hills Birding and Transfer to Malindi

Look for green-headed oriole, white-eared barbet, and Usambara double-collared sunbird. Other highlights include little yellow flycatcher, bearded scrub robin, and fasciated snake eagle. In the evening, transfer to Malindi.

Day 7: Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve

This coastal forest is home to the rare Clarke’s weaver and near-endemics like the Amani sunbird, Sokoke pipit, and Malindi pipit. Other species include East Coast akalat, scaly babbler, and Mombasa woodpecker. In the afternoon, visit Mida Creek, a vital feeding ground for shorebirds.

Day 8: Sabaki River Estuary

Explore Sabaki River Mouth, an important stop for migratory birds. Expect to see Madagascar pratincole, African skimmer, flamingos, ruddy turnstone, sooty gull, Caspian tern, and Zanzibar red bishop.

Day 9: Arabuko Sokoke and Lamu’s Manda Island

After a morning in Arabuko Sokoke, head to Lamu and Manda Island to find the near-endemic Manda boubou. Other possible sightings include mouse-colored sunbirds and purple-banded sunbirds.

Day 10: Highland Birding and Transfer to Tsavo East National Park

Spend the morning searching for any missed species before heading to Tsavo East. Birds here include African skimmer, flamingos, terns, and gulls. Evening birdwatching on the way to the lodge.

Day 11: Tsavo East Birding and Transfer to Nairobi

Look for bare-eyed thrush, rufous chatterer, quail-plover, Somali courser, and Pringle’s puffback in Tsavo East. Later, drive back to Nairobi.

Day 12: Nairobi National Park and Departure

The final day offers birding in Nairobi National Park, home to over 520 bird species. Expect sightings of Nairobi pipit, saddle-billed stork, secretary bird, lappet-faced vulture, and martial eagle. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner before heading to the airport for your flight.

Tour price includes

  • Park entrance fees
  • All activities (Unless labeled as optional) 
  • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional driver/bird guide
  • All transportation with a 4X4 customized safari car with a pop-up.
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • Meals 
  • Drinking water (On all days)

Tour Price Does Not Include

  • International flights (From/to you home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips 
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)

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