10 Dec Trip Report – Wild Kenya: Great Rift Valley, 10th-13th December 2024
Tour Leader: Paul Kungu
Guests: Adam & Miles – Australia
Overview:
This report outlines a birdwatching trip undertaken from 10th to 13th December 2024, visiting key locations in Kenya, including Lake Elementaita, Lake Baringo, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, and Hell’s Gate National Park. The itinerary was carefully designed to give our guests a rich experience of observing a wide range of bird species in their natural surroundings.
Adam and Miles, relatively new to birding, having only taken it up a few months ago back in Australia, were among the participants. Despite being ‘newbies,’ they demonstrated good knowledge and an impressive talent for photography.
Each day’s activities are documented, detailing the species recorded, the habitats explored, and the participants’ overall impressions. The trip aimed not only to provide an enjoyable and informative experience for our guests but also to contribute to the ongoing study and documentation of birdlife in these remarkable areas.
Day 1: Lake Elementaita and Lake Baringo – 10th December 2024
Our journey began at 6:00 am, departing from Olanga House in Naivasha. After a short drive, we stopped for breakfast at the Naivasha Java House to prepare for the day.
Our first birding destination was Lake Elementaita, where we spent three hours walking along the lake’s shoreline. The calm waters and surrounding environment provided good conditions for birding. Lake Elementaita offered sightings of flamingos, stilts, and pelicans.
Afterwards, we drove to Lake Baringo, making several birding stops along the way. Each stop allowed us to spot additional species and appreciate the changing landscape. Upon reaching Lake Baringo, we took an afternoon walk around the lake, observing the varied birdlife until evening.
Day 2: Lake Baringo and Lake Nakuru National Park – 11th December 2024
The day started with a cup of coffee at dawn before we embarked on a boat tour along Lake Baringo. The two-and-a-half-hour tour provided excellent birding opportunities. Afterward, we had breakfast at around 8:30 am and followed it with a birding walk at noon.
We then drove to Marigat town, where we spent 30 minutes birding before continuing to Lake Nakuru National Park. Along the way, we made two stops to observe more species, arriving at Sarova Lions Hill Lodge in Nakuru around 7:00 pm.
Bird Species Recorded:
- Egyptian Goose
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- Coqui Francolin
- Ring-necked Dove
- Long-crested Eagle
- Augur Buzzard
- Eurasian Hoopoe
- Flappet Lark
- Hunter’s Cisticola
- Winding Cisticola
- Plain Martin
- Superb Starling
- Kenya Rufous Sparrow
- Reichenow’s Seedeater
- Black-headed Lapwing
- Lilac-breasted Roller
- Northern Fiscal
- Isabelline Wheatear
- Eastern Paradise-whydah (highlight of the day)
- D’Arnaud’s Barbet
- White-crested Helmet Shrike
- White-billed Buffalo-Weaver
- Common Ostrich
- Crested Francolin
- Mourning Collared-Dove
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
- White-bellied Go-away-bird
- Slender-tailed Nightjar
- Spotted Thick-knee
- Spur-winged Lapwing
- Verreaux’s Eagle
- Pearl-spotted Owlet
- Blue-naped Mousebird
- Abyssinian Scimitarbill
- Hemprich’s Hornbill
- Jackson’s Hornbill
- Northern Red-billed Hornbill
- Grey-headed Kingfisher
- Red-and-yellow Barbet
- Nubian Woodpecker
- Pygmy Batis
- Brubru
- African Paradise-Flycatcher
- Mouse-colored Penduline-Tit
- Northern Crombec
- Red-faced Crombec
- Grey Wren-Warbler
- Buff-bellied Warbler
- Yellow-breasted Apalis
- Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
- Barn Swallow
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Spotted Morning-Thrush
- Northern Wheatear
- Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird
- Hunter’s Sunbird
- Beautiful Sunbird
- White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
- Lesser Masked-Weaver
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- Red-chested Cuckoo
- African Swamphen
- African Jacana
- Wood Sandpiper
- Whiskered Tern
- African Darter
- Reed Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
- Little Egret
- Striated Heron
- Squacco Heron
- Yellow-billed Egret
- Grey Heron
- Purple Heron
- Black-headed Heron
- Goliath Heron
- Osprey
- African Fish-Eagle
- Jackson’s Hornbill
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- Northern Carmine Bee-eater
- Malachite Kingfisher
- Woodland Kingfisher
- Pied Kingfisher
- Barn Swallow
- Common Bulbul
- Rüppell’s Starling
- Spotted Morning-Thrush
- Northern Masked-Weaver
- Village Weaver
- Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
- African Pied Wagtail
Highlight of the Day:
The Eastern Paradise-whydah was a lovely sighting.
Day 3: Lake Nakuru National Park – 12th December 2024
We started the day with an early breakfast at around 6:00 am, ensuring we had enough energy for a full day of birding. Shortly after, we set off to explore the stunning landscapes of Lake Nakuru National Park, stopping at key habitats and vantage points to search for a variety of bird species. The park’s diverse terrain, from open savannahs to wooded areas and the picturesque lake itself, offered excellent opportunities to spot both waterbirds and terrestrial species.
Around midday, we paused to enjoy our packed lunch at a scenic spot within the park, surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature. Refreshed, we continued birding well into the afternoon, immersing ourselves in the park’s incredible biodiversity until around 5:30 pm. With the day’s birdwatching concluded, we made our way to Olanga House in Naivasha, arriving in time to relax and prepare for the next day’s adventures.
Bird Species Recorded:
- Common Ostrich
- Egyptian Goose
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- Coqui Francolin
- Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl
- Red-eyed Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- Laughing Dove
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
- White-browed Coucal
- African Palm Swift
- Gray Crowned-Crane
- Pied Avocet
- Common Ringed Plover
- Long-toed Lapwing
- Blacksmith Lapwing
- Crowned Lapwing
- African Jacana
- Common Sandpiper
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Wood Sandpiper
- Gull-billed Tern
- Whiskered Tern
- Little Grebe
- Saddle-billed Stork
- Marabou Stork
- Yellow-billed Stork
- African Darter
- Reed Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
- Glossy Ibis
- African Sacred Ibis
- African Spoonbill
- Western Cattle-Egret
- Great Egret
- Yellow-billed Egret
- Gray Heron
- Black-headed Heron
- Goliath Heron
- Great White Pelican
- Pink-backed Pelican
- Secretary Bird
- Osprey
- Black-winged Kite
- Martial Eagle
- Long-crested Eagle
- Tawny Eagle
- African Fish-Eagle
- Augur Buzzard
- Common Buzzard
- Speckled Mousebird
- Green Woodhoopoe
- White-fronted Bee-eater
- Pied Kingfisher
- Lilac-breasted Roller
- Bearded Woodpecker
- Meyer’s Parrot
- Tropical Boubou
- Fork-tailed Drongo
- Red-backed Shrike
- Gray-backed Fiscal
- Northern Fiscal
- Pied Crow
- White-bellied Tit
- Gray Wren-Warbler
- Yellow-breasted Apalis
- Tawny-flanked Prinia
- Rattling Cisticola
- Stout Cisticola
- Barn Swallow
- Common Bulbul
- Willow Warbler
- Red-billed Oxpecker
- Rüppell’s Starling
- Superb Starling
- Greater Blue-eared Starling
- Abyssinian Thrush
- Northern Anteater-Chat
- Amethyst Sunbird
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Bronze Sunbird
- Red-headed Weaver
- Baglafecht Weaver
- Vitelline Masked-Weaver
- Speke’s Weaver
- Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
- Village Indigobird
- Kenya Rufous Sparrow
- Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- African Pied Wagtail
- African Pipit
Highlight of the Day:
Saddle-billed Stork
Day 4: Lake Naivasha & Hell’s Gate National Park – 13th December 2024
We began our journey at approximately 6:45 am, taking a short 10-minute drive to Lake Naivasha for a morning boat ride. The tranquil waters and surrounding habitats made for an incredible two-hour experience, offering plenty of opportunities to observe waterbirds and other wildlife up close. The calm atmosphere and stunning views added to the excitement of spotting several bird species, including the majestic African Fish-Eagle and the striking Giant Kingfisher, which turned out to be the highlight of the day.
Later in the afternoon, we headed to Hell’s Gate National Park, known for its dramatic landscapes and diverse birdlife. Here, we spent the rest of the day birding amidst towering cliffs, open grasslands, and rocky gorges. The park’s unique environment provided an excellent chance to encounter both terrestrial and raptor species, adding variety to our sightings. We wrapped up our birding session at around 6:00 pm before heading to Olanga House for check-in and some well-deserved rest.
Bird Species Recorded:
- Ring-necked Dove
- Black Crake
- Three-banded Plover
- Long-toed Lapwing
- Blacksmith Lapwing
- Spur-winged Lapwing
- African Jacana
- Wood Sandpiper
- Gull-billed Tern
- Whiskered Tern
- Little Grebe
- Yellow-billed Stork
- African Darter
- Reed Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
- Glossy Ibis
- African Sacred Ibis
- Hadada Ibis
- African Spoonbill
- Little Egret
- Squacco Heron
- Yellow-billed Egret
- Hamerkop
- Great White Pelican
- African Fish-Eagle
- Giant Kingfisher (Highlight of the Day)
- Pied Kingfisher
- Lilac-breasted Roller
- Fischer’s x Yellow-collared Lovebird (hybrid)
- Plain Martin
- Barn Swallow
- Red-billed Oxpecker
- Superb Starling
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- Dusky Turtle-Dove
- Namaqua Dove
- White-browed Coucal
- Klaas’s Cuckoo
- White-backed Vulture
- Rüppell’s Griffon
- Augur Buzzard
- Speckled Mousebird
- White-fronted Bee-eater
- Lanner Falcon
- Northern Fiscal
- Rattling Cisticola
- Pectoral-patch Cisticola
- Pale Flycatcher
- Northern Anteater-Chat
- Abyssinian Wheatear
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Bronze Sunbird
- Baglafecht Weaver
- Vitelline Masked-Weaver
- Common Waxbill
- Kenya Rufous Sparrow
- Chestnut Sparrow
- Yellow-throated Longclaw
- Reichenow’s Seedeater
- Brimstone Canary
- Streaky Seedeater
- Yellow-crowned Canary
- Highlight of the Day:
Highlight of the Day: Giant Kingfisher
Conclusion:
The bird-watching expedition was a resounding success, with the team recording an impressive total of 225 species. Notable highlights included sightings of Owls, Heuglin’s Courser, Slender-tailed Nightjar, and Eastern Paradise-Whydah.
The variety of ecosystems explored—from swamps and forests to lakes and savannahs—offered a comprehensive insight into Kenya’s remarkable birdlife. This experience not only deepened the participants’ appreciation for the country’s rich biodiversity but also emphasised the critical need for ongoing conservation efforts to protect these habitats and the species that rely on them.
In addition to being an unforgettable experience for everyone involved, the trip also contributed valuable data to ornithological records, helping to enhance our collective understanding of these birds and their environments.
Total number of species observed:
205
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