12 Day Kenya East Coast Birding Safari
Expert-led 12-day Kenya birding
tour stunning East Coast. |
Arabuko-Sokoke Forest
and coastal reserves
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
- Kenya 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
The 12-Day Kenya East Coast Birding Safari takes you through Eastern and Coastal Kenya, where you will explore diverse landscapes, from sandy beaches to the lush cloud forests of the Taita Hills. The trip offers incredible bird-watching 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
Detailed Itinerary: 12 Day Kenya East Coast Birding Safari
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 the Sabaki River Mouth, a crucial stopover for migratory birds. Expect to see Madagascar pratincole, African skimmer, flamingos, ruddy turnstones, sooty gulls, Caspian terns, and Zanzibar red bishops.
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 National Park. Birds here include African skimmers, 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, end of our 12-Day Kenya East Coast Birding Safari
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.
- 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)
- 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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