Birding tours in Kenya; there are abundant sites to visit in Kenya which has over 1,100 recorded bird
species located in diverse habitats: cool, alpine zones, simmering hot soda lakes papyrus swamp, tussock
grasslands, desert scrub or dunes, where birding is rewarding and productive of course with the help of
our professional bird guides. To optimize on the high numbers the best time for birding is between
October and April when more than 100 Palearctic migrant bird species have arrived from the northern
hemisphere. From April to October the northern migrants are replaced by birds from the southern
hemisphere and Madagascar, but these are much fewer, no more than 60 or 65 bird 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 as well as much more multihued. Even without
venturing outside Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, more than 500 resident and migratory bird species are found;
more than in any other capital city, and more than in most countries. To see Kenya’s rarest, indigenous
and unfortunately endangered birds, the bird enthusiast needs to seek out forests or highland
grasslands tucked away amongst various farmlands. Arabuko-Sokoke Forest near Malindi, tops the list,
with the six threatened bird species of the Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit, Spotted Ground Thrush, East
Coast Akalat, Amani Sunbird and Clarke’s Weaver.
Some other areas including the forest “islands” at the top of the Taita Hills, near Voi, is home to the
beautiful but critically endangered Taita Thrush and Taita Apalis, as well as the endangered Taita White-
eye.
Sharpe’s Longclaw and Aberdares Cisticola, native and endangered, live in the highland grasslands near
the Aberdares mountain range.
In western Kenya, Kakamega Forest is a little patch of Guineo-Congolian rainforest in Kenya. Among the
many rainforest species found are spectacular Turacos and Hornbills, and the tiny, endangered Turner’s
Eremomela.
The scarce and threatened Papyrus Yellow Warbler is found in papyrus swamps on the shores of Lake
Victoria, alongside the Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler and Papyrus Canary, all papyrus
endemics.