kenyan bird and animal safari itinerary · african tropical rainforest at kakamega and our...

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KenyanBirding&AnimalSafariOrganizedbyDetroitAudubonandSilentFliersofKenya

July8thtoJuly23rd,2019

Kenyaisaglobalbiodiversity“hotspot”;however,itisnotonlyfamousforextraordinaryviewingofcharismaticmegafauna(likeelephants,lions,rhinos,hippos,cheetahs,leopards,giraffes,etc.),butitisalsoworld-renownedasabirdwatcher’sparadise.LocatedintheRiftValleyofEastAfrica,Kenyahosts1054speciesofbirds--60%oftheentireAfricanbirdlife--whicharedistributedinthemostvariedofhabitats,rangingfromtropicalsavannahanddryvolcanic-shapedvalleystofreshwaterandbrackishlakestomontaneandrainforests.

Whenaddedtotheamazingbirdlife,thebeautyofthevolcanicandlava-sculptedlandscapesincombinationwiththeincredibleconcentrationoficonicmegafauna,theexperienceistrulybreathtaking--thattheAfricaofmovies(“OutofAfrica”),books(“BornFree”)anddocumentaries(“FortheLoveofElephants”)isrighthereinEastAfrica’sGreatRiftValleywithitsunparalleleddiversityoficonicwildlifeandequatorially-locatedecosystems. Kenyaistrulythedestinationofchoiceforthebirdwatcherandnaturalist.Karibu(“Welcometo”)Kenya!

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Itinerary:

Day1:ArrivalinNairobi.Ourguidewillmeetyouattheairportandtransferyoutoyourhotel.OvernightstayinNairobi.

Day2:Afteranearlybreakfast,wewillembarkonafulldayexplorationofNairobiNationalPark--Kenya’sfirstNationalPark.This“urbanpark,”locatedadjacenttooneofAfrica’smostpopulouscities,allowsforthepossibilityofseeingthefollowingspeciesofbirds;OlivaceousandWillowWarbler,AfricanWaterRail,WoodSandpiper,GreatEgret,Red-backedandLesserGreyShrike,Rosy-breastedandPanganiLongclaw,Yellow-crownedBishop,Jackson’sWidowbird,Saddle-billedStork,CardinalQuelea,Black-crownedNight-heron,MartialEagleandseveralspeciesofCisticolas,inadditiontomanyotheruniquespecies.Duringyoursafari,keepaneyeoutforHippos,Giraffes,Lions,RhinosandothericonicanimalsofAfrica.OvernightstayinNairobi.

Day3:TodaywewilldrivesouthofNairobitoAmboseliNationalParkwhichisaperfectplaceforwatchingground-dwellingbirds.AmboseliNationalParkisaflat,semi-aridbasinlyingbelowthemostfamoussymbolofAfrica–MountKilimanjaro.

Risingdramaticallyoutofthesavannahto5,895m(19,340ft),KilimanjaroisthehighestpeakinAfricaandthetallestfree-standingmountainintheworld.

Themajesticgiantwithitssnow-cladpeakfloatinginthestarkblueAfricanskyformsadramaticbackdropbehindtheabundantwildlifethatliveinAmboseliNationalPark.

Alargepartoftheparkconsistsofthealluvialdried-upbedoftheseasonalLakeAmboseli,whichintherainyseasoncantransformintoashallowfloodplain,whilstthedryseasonbringsstrangemiragesabovethedryshimmeringsurface.

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Towardsthecenteroftheparkareaseriesofswamps,fedbytheundergroundriversrunningoffthemountain.Hereyouwillencounterever-presentherdsofelephant,alongwithcolorfulbirdlife.ThisincludesawidevarietyofwaterbirdssuchasGreyHeron,Saddle-billedStork,EgyptianGooseaswellasLong-toedLapwing,Yellow-throatedSand-grouseandupto6speciesofVultures.

OtheranimalsfrequentlyseenincludeCapeBuffalo,Zebra,Wildebeest,Gazelle,MaasaiGiraffe,LionandCheetah.OvernightstayinAmboseli.

Day4:Today,wewillspendtheentiredayinAmboseliNationalPark,andspeciesofbirdsexpectedtobeseenincludes:GreatWhitePelican,GreyHeron,GoliathHeron,SquaccoHeron,CattleEgret,GreatWhiteEgret,Saddle-billedStork,MarabouStork,AfricanSpoonbill,GlossyIbis,EgyptianGoose,SecretaryBird,TawnyEagle,BrownSnake-eagle,Montagu’sHarrier,AfricanWhite-backedVulture,AfricanFish-eagle,AfricanJacana,SpottedThick-knee,Two-bandedCourser,PaintedSnipe,Kittlitz’sPlover,Three-bandedPlover,andmanyotherspeciesofmagnificentbirdlife.OvernightstayinAmboseli.

Day5:Today,wewilldrivenorthtowardMt.Kenya,stoppingenrouteatMweariceplantationareawhereweexpecttorecordspecieslikeYellow-crownedBishop,Yellow-mantledWidowbird,OrioleFinch,WindingCisticolaandvariousspeciesofaquaticbirds.WewillcontinuetoCastleForestLodge.Aftersomerelaxing,wewillstartourafternoonbirdingonthemainforestroad,whichisanexcellenttrail.

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Day5con’t:We’llseemanyspecies,withachanceofspottingtheSilvery-cheekedHornbill,OliveandEasternBronze-napedPigeons,Hartlaub’sTuraco,Rüppell’sRobin-Chat,MountainYellowWarbler,AbbotandSharp’sStarling,Doherty’sandBlack-frontedBush-shrike,CinnamonBrackenandEvergreenForestWarblersandYellow-crownedCanary,White-starredRobin,AbyssinianCrimson-wing,AfricanCrownedEagle,AfricanEmeraldCuckoo,andMoustachedGreenTinkerbird.OvernightstayatCastleForestLodge.

Day6:FulldayofbirdingatMt.Kenyaforestreserve.Also,duringyourstay,beonthelookoutforJackson’sChameleon.OvernightstayatCastleForestLodge.

Day7:Today,westartwithanearlybreakfastandaftercheckingoutofCastleForestLodge,weleaveforSamburuNationalReservewhichisfurthernorth.BeyondIsiolothehabitatbecomesverydryandthesignaturetreebecomesapparentalongthewaterways,theDoumPalm.OnceinsideSamburuyouwillseewhythisisoneofthemostexcitingreservesinEastAfrica.

AnafternoongamedrivewillproducemanyofthespecialtybirdsofthearealikeSomaliOstrich,Palm-nutVulture,thetinyAfricanPygmyFalcon,VulturineGuineafowl,Lichtenstein’sSandgrouse,AfricanOrange-belliedParrot,VioletWood-Hoopoe,White-headedMousebird,SomaliBee-eater,EasternYellow-billedHornbill,thegloriousGoldenbreastedStarling,andmanyotheruniqueavianspecies.OvernightstayatSamburuGameLodge.

Day8:FulldaybirdwatchinginSamburuNationalReserve,whichisgreatforbiggamewithLion,Cheetah,theattractiveReticulatedGiraffe,CapeBuffalo,BeisaOryx,Gerenuk,andtheendangeredGrevy’sZebraallpresent.ThebiggestofbiggameistheiconicAfricanElephant.

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Day8con’t:Explorationofthereservewillproduceanalmostoverwhelmingarrayofbirdspecies:Buff-crestedandWhite-belliedBustards,Black-facedandLichtenstein'sSandgrouse,Rufous-crownedRoller,VonderDecken'sHornbill,Red-and-yellowBarbet,BeardedWoodpecker,Pink-breastedLark,Rosy-patchedBushshrike,Hunter'sandBlack-belliedSunbirds.OvernightstayatSamburuGameLodge.

Day9:Followingbreakfastwewilldoagamedriveonourwayoutofthepark.AfterweexittheparkwewilldrivetoNanyuki,atownwherewewillstopforlunch.AfterlunchweheadtothebaseofAberdareNationalPark.EnroutewewillbirdSolioPlains,stoppingaswegotostudyanarrayofsmallpasserinesperchedontheroadsidewires,wherewehopetofindTemminck’sCourser,Jackson’sWidowbird,Black-belliedBustard,andvariousothergrasslandspecies.YouwillalsoexpecttoseeWhiteRhinosonthisdrive.Beforethedayends,youwilldrivetoanoldquarrywhereyoumeetEunice,alocalguidewhohasbeentrackingCapeEagleOwl(sub-speciesMackinderi)forsometimenow.OvernightstayonthelowerslopesofAberdareRange.

Day10:AfteranearlybreakfastwewillbeofftoAberdareNationalPark.We’llheadintotheAberdareMountains,whereagoodroadwilltakeusabovetreelineintomoorlandhabitat.Asweascendthroughmixedwoodland,we’llseeJackson’sFrancolinsalongtheroad,andthesongsofBrownWoodlandWarblerandAfricanEmeraldCuckooshouldgiveawaytheirpresence.

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Day10con’t:We’llstopattheendoftheroadinmoorlandhabitatabove10,000feet.AlpineChatswillbecommonhereandeasilyseen,andwe’llsearchpatchesofgiantlobeliasforthemainspecialty,Scarlet-tuftedMalachiteSunbird.InthelateafternoonweexitAberdarenationalparkusingMutubioGateanddrivedowntoLakeNakuruNationalPark.WeexpecttobeinsideLakeNakuruNationalParkataround6:00p.m.OvernightstayatLakeNakuruLodge. Day11:We’llspendthemorningatLakeNakuruNationalPark,worldfamousforitsvastflockofPelicans,Flamingoandawealthofotherwaterbirds.Intheacaciawoodlandaroundthelake,we’lllookforsuchspeciesasNarinaTrogon,Red-throatedWryneck,GreaterandScaly-throatedHoneyguides,Arrow-markedBabbler,andAfricanFirefinch.Wewillthenreturntothelodgeforlunchandcheck-outaswebirdourwaytotheexitgate.WhileexploringtheAcaciawoodlandandthelakesidemarsheswewillnodoubtencountermanywonderfulaviandelights:GreatWhitePelican,GreatCormorant,AfricanSpoonbill,AfricanFish-eagle,AfricanHarrier-hawk,Hildebrandt'sFrancolin,Grey-headedGull,Broad-billedRoller,Levaillant'sCuckoo,White-browedCoucal,GreenWood-hoopoe,GreyWoodpecker,BlackCuckoo-shrike,NorthernAnteater-chat,Grey-backedFiscal,Brown-crownedTchagraandAfricanFirefinch.MammalsarealsoquitecommonintheparkanditisoneofthefewplacesinEastAfricawheretheendangeredBlackRhinocanbefound.SomeoftheothermammalswehopetofindincludeRothschild'sGiraffe,leopard,BuffalosandDeffasawaterbuck. ThisisalsoagoodareaforLeopards;theyoftenspendthedayasleepintheyellow-barkedacaciatrees.

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Day11con’t:Afterlunchwe’lldrivewesttotheonlyremnantofEastAfricantropicalrainforestatKakamegaandourwonderfulaccommodationwithintheforestwhereGreatBlueTuracosarefrequentvisitorsandWhite-spottedFlufftailslivebythefishponds.OvernightstayinKakamegaForest.

Day12:Wehaveourbreakfastat6:00amandstartbirdingtheforest.WeexpecttoseespecieslikeUgandaWoodlandWarbler,Black-collaredApalis,Black-facedRufousWarbler,Red-headedBluebill,Red-headedMalimbe,Pink-footedPuffbacks,Olive-greenCamaroptera,EquatorialAkalat,Yellow-billedBarbet,Purple-throatedCuckooshrike,Lühder´sBush-Shrike,Grey-throatedBarbet,GreatBlueTuraco,JoyfulGreenbul,KakamegaGreenbul,Green-headedSunbird,Brown-earedWoodpecker,Yellow-spotted

Barbet,Brown-chestedAlethe,Jameson´sWattle-eyeandDuskyTit.Othersinclude;White-headedWood-Hoopoe,Dark-backedandBlack-billedWeaversandGreen,Green-throatedandGreenSunbirds,alongwithanumberofmoresomberlycoloredbutnoless-interestingspecies. WewillreturntothelodgeforlunchandafterwardbirdthecompoundofthelodgewhereweexpecttonetNorthernDouble-collaredSunbird,Vieillot´sBlackWeaver,Mackinnon´sFiscal,Stuhlmann´sStarling,AfricanBlueFlycatcher,White-spottedFlufftailandChubb’sCisticola.OvernightstayatRondoRetreat.

Day13:Todaywehavebreakfastearlyandbirdourwayoutoftheforest.WewillbestoppingatKerioViewLodgeforlunchatthewesternedgeofKerioValley.AfterlunchwewilldescendthevalleystoppingatonelocationtolookforBoranCisticola,GambagaFlycatcher,Red-headedWeaver,LittleRockThrush,LesserHoneyguide,White-crestedTuraco,Chestnut-crownedSparrow-weaverandBlack-headedGonolek.WeascendthemajesticTugenHillsontheeasternsideofthevalleyanddowntoLakeBaringo,afreshwaterlakewhichisabirdingparadise.OvernightstayatTumbiliCliffLodge.

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Day14:Afterbreakfastwewilldrivetothevolcanicescarpmentlocatedonthewesternsideofthelake.Hereweexpecttopocketthefollowingspeciesofbirds:Bristle-crowned,Greaterblue-eared,andMagpieStarlings,LittleWeaver,Three-streakedTchagra,PalePrinia,Mouse-colouredpenduline-tit,Easternviolet-backed,Hunter’sandBeautifulSunbird,Jackson’s,AfricanGreyandHemprich’sHornbill,Green-wingedPytilia,PurpleGrenadierandRed-frontedWarbler.WewillreturnbacktothelodgeforsomerestandtohideourselvesfromthescorchingheatthatlakeBaringoisknownfor.Thelodgecompoundisagoodplacetowatchbirdsinthecomfortoftheswimmingpool.Intheafternoonwe’llventureoutintothenearbyscrub,whereoursharp-eyedlocalguideswillhelpusfindSpottedThick-knee,Heuglin’sCourser,Lichtenstein’sSandgrouse,GrayishEagle-owlandNorthernWhite-facedScops-owl,Verreaux’sEagle-owl,andSlender-tailedNightjar,amongothers.OvernightstayatTumbiliCliffLodge. Day15:TodayyouhaveanoptionofhiringaboattoexploretheLake.A3-hourboattripisalwaysrecommended.ThiswillenableyoutopotentiallyspotspecieslikeGoliath,Green-backed,SquaccoandBlack-crownedNight-heron,SenegalThick-knee,CarmineBee-eater,Crimson-rumpedWaxbill,Malachite,WoodlandandGiantKingfishersandmanymore.

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Day15con’t:Wewillreturntothelodgeforsomemorecompoundbirdingandbirdfeederphotography.Afterlunch,wedrivetoLakeBogoriaNationalReserve,thisisthelakewhereoveramillionlesserflamingoshavebeenrecorded.ThelakeprovidesafeedinggroundfortheflamingosduetoitsrichnessinSpirolinaalgae.OvernightstayatTumbiliCliffLodge.

Day16:TodayisourlastdaybirdingdayinKenya,dependingonwhattimeyourflightisdue.Wewilltransferyoutotheairportforyourflightbackhome,stoppingforlunchalongthewayinLakeNaivashaarea.DeparturefromNairobi’sJomoKenyattaInternationalAirport.TourLeaderBio:BruceSzczechowskiisthrilledtobeleadingthistriptooneofhisfavoriteplacesintheworld.BrucehasbeenaprofessionaleducatorforovertwentyyearsandholdsaBachelor’sofSciencefromWayneStateUniversity,aTeachingCertificatefromEasternMichiganUniversity,andaMaster’sinAppliedEcologyfromMichiganTechnologicalUniversity,aswellashavingextensiveornithologicalexpertisegarneredfromadecadeofcollaborativeworkwiththeCanadianWildlifeServiceandtheU.S.FishandWildlifeService.In2011he,alongsidehisfriendandKenyanbusinesspartnerAlexKotut,co-foundedTembokangaToursandEducationVentures,asafaricompanythatfocusedontheirsharedexpertiseintheEastAfricannationalparksystem.HecurrentlyteachesEnvironmentalScienceatAndersonHighSchoolinSouthgate,Michigan,andcontinuestoorganizetoursto,andguidesafarisin,Kenyaeveryyear.HeisnowintheprocessofcreatinganewtourcompanywithKenyanfriends,JosephAengwoandWilsonTiren,expertwildlifeguidesandfoundersofSilentFliersofKenyasafaricompanyinordertoprovideunparalleledwildlifeguidingandbirdingservicestoallfutureclients.Testimonial:“IhaveknownBruceforover10yearsasaneffectiveresearcher,outstandingteacher,andpassionatenaturalist.Hehasastrongsenseofwonderforthenaturalworld,akeeninterestinsharinghisknowledge,andanabilitytoinspireotherstocarefortheEarth.Bruce’suniquegiftsandtalentsmakehimanidealpersontoleadandguidetoursinKenya.”–Dr.JohnHartig,formerRefugeManageroftheDetroitRiverInternationalWildlifeRefuge,USFish&WildlifeService(January23,2012)

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Accommodations:• Nights1&2:Nairobi,Kenya• Nights3&4:AmboseliNationalPark• Nights5&6:CastleForestLodge• Nights7&8:SamburuGameLodge• Night9:AberdareNationalPark• Night10:LakeNakuruLodge• Night11:KakamegaForest• Night12:RondoRetreat• Nights13–15:TumbiliCliffLodge

FeesandRegistrationInformation:Howmuchwillthistripcost?Perperson,doubleoccupancy:$5,750Perperson,singleoccupancy:$6,500

Whatisincludedinthetripfee?

• Alloverlandtravel• Allmeals&bottledwater• Parkfees• Lodging

Whatisnotincludedinthetripfee?

• AirfaretoandfromNairobi• Mealbeverages(alcoholicornon-alcoholic)• Extraboattours/naturewalks/villagetours• Speciallodgeservices(laundry,spaservices,etc)• Kenyanentrancevisa($51,canbeobtainedbeforetravelingtoKenyaoruponarrival)• Tippingofsafariguides(recommendedbutnotrequired)

HowdoIsignup?

• IfyouareinterestedinjoiningusonthisKenyanadventure,emailBaileyLininger,DetroitAudubonProgramCoordinator,atblininger@detroitaudubon.orgtoputyourselfonthelist.Wewillhaveaninformationalsessionforinterestedparticipantstolearnmore—time,date,locationformeetingTBD.

• A50%depositwillbeduebyApril30th.Depositinformationtointerestedpartieswillbesentoncewehaveconfirmationthatourminimumtripnumber(6)hasbeenreached.PaymentinfullwillbedueonJune15th.