Wild Kenya: Great Rift Valley & Western Kenya
This one-of-a-kind birding tour combines the Great Rift Valley and Western Kenya birding circuits in just 10 days. It allows you to see a wealth of sought-after and regional species in a short amount of time, visiting some of Kenya’s best birding destinations.
Starting with a visit to the scenic Lake Elementaita, known for its large flocks of stunning flamingos and the only breeding colony of Great White Pelicans in East Africa, you’ll then travel to one of Kenya’s best birding locations—the iconic Lake Baringo. Over the next two days, you’ll explore Lake Baringo’s diverse ecosystems, from its shores to the surrounding cliffs, in search of raptors, owls, and other target species.
Next, you’ll head through the lesser-visited Kerio Valley to Saiwa Swamp, where the rich habitats offer exciting sightings of regional species. You’ll then go birding at the hidden gem of the Kongelai Escarpment, a highlight of the trip.
The next stop is the famous Kakamega Forest Reserve, one of Kenya’s last remaining rainforests, home to an incredible array of forest species. Afterward, you’ll explore the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake, where you’ll go birding in the riparian zone and also take a boat ride on the lake.
Finally, you’ll make your way to the superb Lake Naivasha for more Rift Valley species (a contrast to Lake Victoria) before concluding the tour at the Kinangop Plateau, where you’ll search for the endemic Sharpe’s Longclaw. This original birding tour offers an unparalleled experience of integrating the best of the Great Rift Valley and Western Kenya birding circuits
List of Great Rift Valley species highlights:
- Great White Pelican
- Superb Starling
- African Hoopoe
- Green Wood-hoopoe
- African Spoonbill
- Black-necked Grebe
- Yellow-billed Stork
- Gull-billed Tern
- Pied Avocet
- Black-winged Stilt
- Grey-headed Gull
- Lesser and Greater Flamingo
- African Fish Eagle
- Dark Chanting-Goshawk
- Spotted Eagle-Owl
- African Scops Owl
- Northern White-faced Scops Owl
- Shikra
- Verreaux’s Eagle
- Slender-tailed Nightjar
- Heuglin’s Courser
- Blue-capped Cordon-bleu
- D’Arnaud’s Barbet
- Lilac-breasted Roller
- Grey Crowned Crane
- Black-throated Barbet
- Brubru
- Grey-headed Bushshrike
- Jackson’s Golden-backed Weaver
- Northern Masked Weaver
- Saddle-billed Stork
- Goliath Heron
- Giant Kingfisher
- Malachite Kingfisher
- Pied Kingfisher
- Hilderbrandt’s Francolin
- Arrow-marked Babbler
- Tawny Eagle
- Osprey
- Hybrid Lovebird
- Grey Crowned Crane
- African Cuckoo
- Grey-crested Helmetshrike
- Sharpe’s Longclaw
- Black-winged Lapwing
- Wing-snapping Cisticola
- Long-tailed Widowbird
- Jackson’s Widowbird
- Nyanza Swift
- Red-headed Weaver
List of Western Kenya species highlights:
- Gambaga Flycatcher
- Montane Oriole
- White-naped Raven
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
- Meyer’s Parrot
- Northern Black Flycatcher
- Brown Babbler
- Yellow-throated Leaf-Love/Greenbul
- African Firefinch
- Mountain Illadopsis
- Snowy-headed Robin-Chat
- Grey-winged Robin
- Angola Swallow
- Mosque Swallow
- Brown Woodland Warbler
- Stuhlmann’s Starling
- Black-collared Apalis
- Common Quail
- Brown-backed Woodpecker
- Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill
- Yellow-bellied Hyliota
- Western Banded Snake-Eagle
- Hooded Vulture
- Fan-tailed Widowbird
- Doherty’s Bush-Shrike
- Yellow-billed Shrike
- White-crested Turaco
- Hemprich’s Hornbill
- Spotted Creeper
- Lesser Honeyguide
- Greater Honeyguide
- Black-headed Batis
- African Open-billed Stork
- White-headed Saw-wing
- Red-fronted Tinkerbird
- Black-billed Barbet
- White-headed Barbet
- African Penduline Tit
- Bronze-tailed Starling
- Purple Starling
- Splendid Starling
- Lesser Blue-eared Starling
- Boran Cisticola
- Foxy Cisticola
- Blue-naped Mousebird
- Stone Partridge
- Black-crowned Tchagra
- Striped Kingfisher
- Black-cheeked Waxbill
- Broad-billed Roller
- Slate-coloured Boubou
- Rufous Chatterer
- Red-headed Weaver
- Speckle-fronted Weaver
- Chestnut Weaver
- Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
- Green-backed Eremomela
- Heuglin’s Masked Weaver
- Red-chested Flufftail
- Chubb’s Cisticola
- Hartlaub’s Marsh Widowbird
- Blue-headed Bee-eater
- Great Blue Turaco
- Turner’s Eremomela
- Papyrus Gonolek
- Black-headed Gonolek
- Papyrus Canary
- Woodland Kingfisher
- Slender-billed Weaver
- Northern Brown-throated Weaver
- Long-toed Lapwing
- African Marsh-Harrier
- Blue-headed Coucal
- Red-chested Sunbird
- Purple-banded Sunbird
- Rufous-chested Swallow
- Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle
- Swamp Flycatcher
- Greater Swamp Warbler
- White-winged Swamp Warbler
- Papyrus Yellow Warbler
- Carruther’s Cisticola
- Winding Cisticola
- Red-faced Cisticola
- Water Thick-knee
- Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
- Jackson’s Hornbill
- White-crested Helmet-Shrike
- Pale/Common Scrub White-eye
- African Wattled Lapwing
- Familiar Chat
- Dark Chanting-Goshawk
Map:
Number of days
10
Expected bird count:
Over 350
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:
Medium – plenty of on-foot birding sessions but nothing too enduring. Walking boots are essential.
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: Great Rift Valley& Western Kenya costs £2,360 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.
Free Kenya Checklist
Fancy a FREE up-to-date checklist of Kenya? Get in touch.
Contact Us.
-
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
Day 1: Lake Elementaita
Day 2: Lake Baringo
Day 3: Lake Baringo
Day 4: Kerio Valley/Saiwa Swamp
Day 5: Kongelai Escarpment
Day 6: Kakamega Forest
Day 7: Kakamega Forest
Day 8: Lake Victoria/Kisumu
Day 9: Lake Victoria/Lake Naivasha
Day 10: Lake Naivasha & Departure
