Wild Kenya: Central Highlands to Northern Rangelands
This comprehensive birding tour in Kenya offers the opportunity to see regionally restricted species found in the endemic-rich central highlands and the legendary northern rangelands
Starting in the Central Highlands, a region renowned for its stunning landscapes, localised species and endemics, you’ll first visit Aberdare National Park. This park is home to a wealth of sought-after species, including the endemics Aberdare Cisticola and Jackson’s Francolin. You’ll then continue to Mount Kenya National Park, home to Africa’s second-highest mountain, in search of regional specials such as the Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, Hartlaub’s Turaco, and Red-fronted Parrot and the endemic Hinde’s Babbler.
From the lush highlands, you’ll venture northward to the outstanding Northern Rangelands. Here, you’ll visit the exceptional Shaba National Reserve in search of the endemic William’s Lark. Your final destination will be the legendary Samburu National Reserve, renowned for its incredible density and diversity of avifauna, along with dry-country specialised megafauna.
List of birding highlights:
- Aberdare Cisticola
- Abyssinian Crimsonwing
- Crowned Eagle
- African Goshawk
- Olive Ibis
- Moorland Chat
- Augur Buzzard
- Ayres’s Hawk-eagle
- Bar-tailed Trogon
- Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
- African Yellow Warbler
- Doherty’s Bush-shrike
- Golden-winged Sunbird
- African Green Pigeon
- Hartlaub’s Turaco
- Hunter’s Cisticola
- Jackson’s Francolin
- Montagu’s Harrier
- Montane White-eye
- Moorland Francolin
- Mountain Buzzard
- Moustached Green Tinkerbird
- Narina Trogon
- African Paradise Flycatcher
- Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk
- Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird
- Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
- Tacazze Sunbird
- Tambourine Dove
- White-headed Wood-hoopoe
- Mountain Wagtail
- African Black Duck
- Red-fronted Parrot
- Abyssinian Ground Thrush
- Black-headed Waxbill
- Slender-billed Starling
- Waller’s Starling
- Eastern Double-collared Sunbird
- William’s Lark
- Straw-tailed Whydah
- Steel-blue Whydah
- Rufous Bush Chat
- Magpie Starling
- Red-billed Hornbill
- Egyptian Vulture
- Donaldson Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver
- Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse
- Friedmann’s Lark
- Somali Ostrich
- Somali Courser
- White-headed Mousebird
- Hunter’s Sunbird
- Shining Sunbird
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Somali Bee-eater
- Stone Partridge
- Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill
- African Orange-bellied Parrot
- Vulturine Guineafowl
- Rufous Chatterer
- Bateleur
- Martial Eagle
- Tawny Eagle
Map:
Number of days
8
Expected bird count:
Over 300
Speed:
Medium – this tour was designed to be impactful, gaining a large count of endemics, near endemics and regionally restricted species within a relatively short space time.
Difficulty:
Easy – many on-foot birding sessions but nothing too enduring.
When to visit:
Birding in Kenya is fantastic all year round! However, to nitpick, the prime birding season in Kenya falls during the short rains of November and early December. This period highlights most species in vibrant breeding plumage, featuring captivating display behaviours of whydahs, widowbirds and bishops. Additionally, it’s when many Palearctic migrants make their presence felt, so the count will be high. However, if you want to see the wildebeest migration at the Masai Mara, then September is highly recommended.
Sustainability:
At Wild Birding, our goal is to ensure that every birding holiday we create contributes positively to bird conservation efforts and local communities. Our determination to promote sustainable travel led us to become founding members of Tourism Declares Climate Emergency. As part of this commitment, we have established the world’s pioneering carbon scoring and offsetting framework for tailor-made holidays. Feel free to request us to carbon score your individual trip!
Price:
Our tailor-made birding tours are custom-designed for each client, making standard pricing difficult. Costs vary based on factors like accommodation, group size, duration, and specific locations. For a personalised quote that matches your taste and budget, please contact us with your requirements.
As an example, this Wild Kenya: Central Highlands To Northern Rangelands costs £1,995 per person, based on a group of 6 individuals staying in top-end mid-range safari lodges with shared twin rooms.
For our Set Departure Birding Tours, with fixed prices, please click the button below.
Tour Leader:
Paul grew up in the northern part of Kenya, particularly in Laikipia, an area abundant in cultural heritage and wildlife. His upbringing played a crucial role in cultivating his passion for adventure. As an energetic and resourceful tour guide with several years of experience in travel arrangement and reservation services in East Africa, Paul is adept at conducting research to optimise travel plans. He possesses extensive experience in organisng itineraries based on time frames, weather conditions, and events, always dedicated to providing clients with the best customer service and travel experience possible.
Paul holds a special attachment and attention to authentic wildlife, birdlife, culture, scenic land, historical sites, flora, and fauna in East Africa. It is his pleasure to guide clients through most, if not all, attractions to experience the untamed savannah bush fully—wildlife viewing, relaxing on sunny, sandy white beaches, tackling challenging landscapes for mountain climbing, exploring the hot, unending great plains of the north during desert safaris, and discovering unimaginable destinations and landscapes during sightseeing. This includes exclusive hidden gems and safaris tailored for honeymooners, among others.
As a staunch supporter and promoter of eco-tourism, Paul advocates for the preservation of parks’ sensitive ecosystems and actively advocates for safe and sustainable safaris, guaranteeing clients’ safety by ensuring they have the right tour vehicle and equipment to conquer terrains, coupled with excellent service delivery in both guiding and comfortable stays, ensuring nothing but the best and most memorable experiences.
His favourite bird is the Kenya endemic, William’s Lark.
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Departure
Nairobi -
Included
Airport TransfersBirding TelescopeFull board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)Mineral WaterNational Park FeesOvernight In Top Safari LodgesProfessional Bird GuideProfessional DriverSafari VehicleUpdated Bird ChecklistWiFi
Our gallery
Pick-up/Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park
Mount Kenya National Park
Mount Kenya National Park
Shaba National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve & Departure
