Birdwatching

Kenya is a country in which the keen ‘twitcher’ will be able to discover a particularly rich and varied birdlife, with over 1000 different species able to be viewed in different locations, and at different times of the year.

On or near to water, you will find pink Flamingos, Hammerkops, Kingfishers, Plovers, Herons, Storks, Geese, Cranes, Jacanas and of course the iconic African Fish Eagle. In certain places along the coast there are breeding pairs of Osprey as well.

The open savannah, where most big game viewing safaris take place, offers excellent bird watching opportunities for some unusual ground dwellers. The Ground Hornbill, at nearly 110 cm. tall is one of the largest and most visible; the tall Secretary bird is also spotted often. Eagles, Vultures, and Ostrich, are also readily to be found.

The smaller plains birds, such as the Ox-peckers, snowy white Egrets, brilliant Sunbirds and Bustards are also found in abundance; you can't miss seeing birds on any game drive in Kenya! [cont.]

Then, near to the woodlands, you'll find yet more species, with Starlings of every colour, Bee-eaters, Drongos, Hornbills, Shrikes, the striking Lilac-breasted Roller, Barbets and Guinea Fowl.

For sheer numbers the best time for bird watching is between October and April when more than 120 migrant species arrive from the Northern hemisphere, mostly from the Palearctic but with some African migrants such as Forbes-Watson's Swift; there is also the chance of finding one of the passage migrants such as the Sooty Falcon in March-April and October-December.

Between April to October the Northern Migrants are replaced by birds from the southern hemisphere and Madagascar, but these are much fewer, comprising no more than 10 or 12 species. It is, however, the time when many of the birds are in breeding plumage following the long rains, which makes species such as the various weavers much easier to see as well as much more colourful.