Kenya Coastal Birding Tour

Day 1: Nairobi to Tsavo West National Park

Our 12-Day Kenya East Coast Birding Safari 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 the diverse habitats of Tsavo West. 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

12-Day Kenya East Coast 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 the little yellow flycatcher, bearded scrub robin, and the fascinating 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 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.