Bird Watching in Kenya

Bird Watching in Kenya

Kenya is one of the best safari destinations for bird watching in Africa. It is located on the eastern side of Africa in the Great Lakes region. The country has several lakes, and rivers and is the Great Rift Valley. The country is crossed by the equator and also the border by Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Kenya also has coastal land on the Indian Ocean.

Bird watching tours in Kenya allow travelers to get an up-close encounter with multiple avian species. It is a chance for you to see birds that have lived in Africa for many years. Kenya’s national parks also have popular bird watching trails through which birders walk in search of birds. You will also get a chance to see some of the Rift Valley endemic species.  Birding watching tours in Kenya should be done in the right seasons since some of these birds are migratory.

A bird watching tour in Kenya is never complete without an experienced bird guide. The guides speak different languages. In Kenya, Kiswahili and English are the official languages. Additionally, Kenya experiences a tropical type of climate. The country traces its name from Mountain Kenya which experiences much of the Montane type of climate. Kenya is home to the big five animals and also other several wildlife is available in the different gazette areas of the country. Kenya has several birdlife for travelers to encounter during birding safaris. There are migratory, resident, water, and endemic species also available in the park. The country hosts over 1100 bird species 10 of these species are only found in Kenya. So the country is one of the interesting destinations for bird lovers.

Where to go bird watching in Kenya?

Kenya has several destinations which travelers on their birding safaris can engage in and these destinations include;

Masai Mara National Reserve

The reserve is located in the southwest of Kenya at the border of Tanzania. It is home to several wildlife and bird species. Masai Mara National Reserve is home to several savannah bird species which are over 500 in number and also about 47 of these are birds of prey. The birds in the reserve are categorized as big birds and grassland birds. The bird species in the national reserve include; the African fin-foot, African fishing eagle, African wood owl, Giant kingfisher, and many others.

Lake Nakuru National Park

One of the national parks with the largest soda lakes. The park is located in Nakuru. The process of protecting this park started in 1957 to protect and focus on the increasing number of flamingoes. In 1961 the park was officially open for the bird watching safaris. While in this park, there are several flamingoes seen on the shores of the lake Nakuru. The other include; bushy grasslands, acacia woodlands, and euphorbia.

Lake Bogoria National Reserve

This is a UNESCO World Heritage site which is found in the volcanic region of the country with several hot springs, geysers, and large amounts of blue-green algae. The blue-green algae attract several bird species like the flamingos. Over 200 bird species are recorded and the others include; yellow-billed stork, African spoonbill, great tit, and many others.

Kakamega forest

The forest is located in the northwest of Kenya at the border of Uganda and Kenya. The reserve was gazette in 1985. The tropical rainforest has the most diverse environment for wildlife to live in. The bird species in this reserve include; blue-headed bee-eater, Black-billed Turaco, grey parrot, and many others.

Aberdare national park 

Found in the ranges of the Aberdare mountain in the central region within the Rift Valley area. This park covers the higher areas of the park. The park is covered by large tropical forests, bamboo, and high alpine forests which make a great habitat for the bird species. The park hosts over 250 bird species. These species include; Aberdare cisticola and Hartlaub’s turaco which are the endemic species in the park. The others include; the bar-tailed trogon, ayre’s hawk eagle, chested bee-eater, yellow African welber, and many others.

What are the requirements for bird watching in Kenya?

The bird watching in Kenya requirements are essential for travelers to plan accordingly and these include;

• Album and research books for travelers to know and see birds and their characteristics.
• Binoculars, pointers, and sound recorders that are used to track the birds during the safari.
• Notebook or journal that is used to list the bird species that have been cited.
• Camera to capture the birds in the wild.
• Appropriate clothing to make the travelers comfortable while tracking the birds.
• Field guide to inform the traveler about the bird species found in the destination.
• Travelers are required to be physically fit to engage in the birding since it involves a long walk.
• Responsible birding practices like engaging the local communities, and not destroying the birds’ habitat.

What is the best time to do bird watching in Kenya?

Bird-watching in Kenya is done throughout the year. Bird watching in Kenya is best done in the rainy season from September to June since this is the best time to see the migratory bird species in Kenya. During the rainy season, this is the best time for the migratory birds from Europe to nest and breed.  Also in the dry season, the bird species can be seen like the savannah bird species in the different regions of the country. During this time the area is more clear to site bird species.