Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Sunday, November 16

ARRIVAL IN KENYA VIA NAIROBI

Our journey begins with your arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (IATA code: NBO), where our local team will be ready to welcome you. From here, we’ll transfer to our comfortable hotel for a restful night before the adventure begins.

Overnight at the Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi, in Nairobi.

Days 2–3

Monday-Tuesday, November 17-18

LAKE BARINGO

Today we make our way north toward Lake Baringo, birding en route through a mix of highland and savannah habitats. A brief stop at the Equator crossing offers a great photo opportunity, and we’ll be on the lookout for raptors and other highlights along the way.

Lake Baringo is a freshwater oasis surrounded by dry scrubland and dramatic cliffs—prime habitat for a fantastic array of species. Target birds include Spotted Eagle-Owl, Northern White-faced Scops-Owl, Shikra, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Verreaux’s Eagle, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Heuglin’s Courser, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Black-throated Barbet, Brubru, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Spotted and Senegal Thick-knees, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Little and Jackson’s Golden-backed Weavers, Northern Masked Weaver, White-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Jackson’s, Yellow-billed, and Hemprich’s Hornbills, Northern Red Bishop, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Mocking Cliff-Chat, and Bristle-crowned Starling.

We’ll team up with local birders to track down several owl species at their daytime roosts. This should give us a chance to take photos of these wonderful creatures with great lighting! One morning will be devoted to a boat ride across Lake Baringo to look for waterbirds such as African Jacana, Black Crake, Goliath Heron, Little and Purple Herons, White-faced Whistling Duck—and to watch the majestic African Fish Eagles vocalizing and defending their territories.

Raptor Targets: Osprey, Shikra, Verreaux’s Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, African Harrier-Hawk, Black-shouldered Kite, Steppe Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby, Lanner Falcon.

Overnights at the Soi Safari Lodge, in Baringo.

DAYS 4–5

Wednesday-Thursday, November 19-20

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Next, we travel to the iconic Lake Nakuru National Park, a renowned sanctuary in the Great Rift Valley. The alkaline lake here hosts thousands of flamingos, and the park itself is home to an impressive diversity of birds and mammals, including both Black and White Rhinos.

Highlights include African Fish Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Great White Pelican, Hamerkop, Grey-backed Fiscal, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Lilac-breasted Roller, Helmeted Guineafowl, White-browed Robin-Chat, Yellow-billed Duck, Blacksmith Lapwing, and Yellow-billed Stork.

Target Raptors: Osprey, Secretarybird, African Fish Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Long-crested Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Sooty Falcon, Eurasian Hobby.

Overnights at the Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, in Nakuru.

Day 6

Friday, November 21

NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK

Back in Nairobi, we’ll spend the afternoon in Nairobi National Park—unique in being the only wildlife-rich national park located within a capital city. This is another excellent rhino sanctuary, and we’ll scan for White-backed Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, Secretarybird, African Open-billed Stork, White-bellied Bustard, White-winged Widowbird, Long-tailed Fiscal, Long-toed Lapwing, Speke’s Weaver, Superb Starling, Hybrid Lovebird, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Hamerkop, and Yellow-necked Spurfowl.

Raptor Targets: Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Martial Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Yellow-billed Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Gabar Goshawk, African Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Amur Falcon.

Overnight at the Argyle Hotel Nairobi, in Nairobi.

Days 7–8

Saturday-Sunday, November 22-23 - TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

We then head to Tsavo East, Kenya’s largest national park, known for its red elephants and sprawling bushland. The Galana River nourishes this vast dry savannah, making it a wildlife haven.

We’ll keep our eyes peeled for charismatic mammals and an exciting bird list featuring Bateleur, Pygmy Falcon, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, White-bellied Bustard, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Red-winged Lark, Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike, Golden Pipit, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Red-and-yellow Barbet, and the striking Baobab landscapes.

Raptor Targets: Secretarybird, Egyptian Vulture, Ruppell’s Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Palm-nut Vulture, Shikra, Bateleur, Verreaux’s Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Booted Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Brown Snake-Eagle, Black-Chested Snake-Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Pygmy Falcon, Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Sooty Falcon.

Overnights at the Ashnil Aruba Lodge, in Tsavo East.

Day 9

Monday, November 24

TAITA HILLS CONSERVANCY

Our next stop takes us to the western edge of the Tsavo ecosystem. The mix of open savannah, riverine woodland, and grassy plains makes this an exciting birding region.

Bird highlights include Lizard Buzzard, Brown Snake-Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Marsh Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Crested Francolin, Superb Starling, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Singing Bush Lark, among others. Mammal sightings may include Cheetah, African Lion, Zebra, Buffalo, Elephant, and Fringe-eared Oryx.

Overnight at the Salt Lick Safari Lodge, in Taita Hills.

Days 10–11

Tuesday-Wednesday, November 25-26

TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK

Tsavo West brings us into volcanic terrain and unique habitats like Shetani Lava and Mzima Springs. Game viewing here includes African Lion, Buffalo, Black Rhino, Leopard, Savannah Elephant, Lesser Kudu, and Cheetah.

Key birds include Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Tawny Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, White-bellied Canary, Beautiful Sunbird, Black-headed Lapwing, Nubian Woodpecker, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Golden-breasted Starling, Friedmann’s Lark, and African Grey Hornbill.

Raptor Targets: Ruppell’s Vulture, White-backed Vulture, African Marsh Harrier, Gabar Goshawk, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Bateleur, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Peregrine Falcon.

Overnights at the Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, in Tsavo West.

Days 12–13

Thursday-Friday, November 27-28

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Our final major stop is Amboseli, famous for its “super tuskers”—African elephants with gigantic tusks—and breathtaking views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The park features varied habitats, from wetlands and swamps to open plains and Acacia woodland.

Here, we hope to find African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Saddle-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, Kori Bustard, and Grey Crowned Crane, among others. Mammals include African Elephant, Bohor Reedbuck, Spotted Hyena, Cheetah, Maasai Giraffe, and Wildebeest.

Raptor Targets: White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Booted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, African Fish-Eagle, Greater Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon.

Overnights at the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, in Amboseli.

Day 14

Saturday, November 29

AMBOSELI TO NAIROBI AIRPORT

We’ll enjoy a final morning safari in Amboseli, scanning for any missed targets, before beginning our drive back to Nairobi. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer to the international airport (IATA code: NBO) for your evening departures, concluding this unforgettable East African birding adventure.

Or...

Continue your journey with the Tanzania Raptor Safari for an unmatched East African birding experience! Take Sunday, 30 November off and relax at the Argyle Hotel Nairobi, in Nairobi. We'll fly as a group from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro International Airport (IATA code: JRO) in Tanzania on Monday, 1 December.