Grey-headed, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, African Hoopoe, Red-capped Lark, Fischer's Sparrow-lark, Pangani and Rosy-throated Longclaws, Zitting and Winding Cisticolas, Speke's Weaver, Taveta Golden-weaver, Fan-tailed Widowbird and the diminutive Red-billed Firefinch.
Some of the many mammals possible in the Amboseli are Yellow Baboon, Black-faced Vervet Monkey, Scrub Hare, Black-backed and Side-striped Jackals, Dwarf Mongoose, Spotted Hyena, Lion, Cheetah, African Savannah Elephant, Common (Burchell's) Zebra, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Masai Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Kirk's Dikdik, Bohor Reedbuck, Common Waterbuck, Thomson's and Grant's Gazelles, Impala, Coke's Hartebeest and occasionally the stunning Fringe-eared Oryx.
Days 04/05: Amboseli / Tsavo
After breakfast we transfer to Tsavo West; one of the largest parks in the world and is also one of the wildest areas left on the planet. The park consists of many habitat types, but thick bush country is the most prevalent. Avian treats during our stay in Tsavo West may include African Darter, Hamerkop, Tawny and Verreaux's Eagles, Mottled and African Black Swifts, Spot-flanked Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Green Wood-hoopoe, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Dodson's Bulbul, Scaly Chatterer, Somali Tit, Mouse-coloured Penduline-tit, Black-bellied, Hunter's, Tsavo and Kenya Violet-backed Sunbirds, Pygmy Batis, Brubru, Three-streaked and Black-crowned Tchagras, African Black-headed Oriole, White-naped Raven, Red-billed and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, Golden-breasted Starling, Black-necked, Village and Red-headed Weavers, Black-capped Social-weaver, Reichenow's (Kenya Yellow-rumped) Seedeater and the magnificent Somali Golden-breasted Bunting. African Crested Porcupine, Blue Sykes' Monkey, Unstriped Ground-squirrel, Bush Hyrax, Hippopotamus, Masai Bushbuck, the elegant Lesser Kudu, Klipspringer, Bush Duiker, Impala, Coke's Hartebeest and the impressive Fringe-eared Oryx are just a few of the mammals we may locate during our stay in Tsavo West. All meals and overnight stay at Ngulia Lodge.
Day 06: Tsavo West / Taita Hills
Today will be spent further exploring the vast Tsavo West National Park en route to the Taita Salt Lick Lodge for a one-night stay. Woolly-necked Stork, Vulturine Guineafowl, Wahlberg's Eagle, African Hawk-eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Southern Ground-hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Greater Honeyguide, Rufous-crowned Roller, Red-winged Lark, Desert Cisticola, Red-fronted Warbler, Pale Prinia, African Paradise-flycatcher, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Purple Grenadier, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and the extremely local Pringle's Puffback are all species we may be able to add during the course of the day. During the evening hours several different mammal species can be seen coming in and drinking at the water hole behind the lodge. In the past these have included African Civet Cat and Striped Hyena amongst others.
Day 07: Tsavo West / Tsavo East
In the morning we will explore two small forest patches in the Taita Hills. The Taita Hills are home to several endemics and these will be the targets of our visit. African Crowned Eagle, Hartlaub's Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, Striped Pipit (rare), Stripe-faced and Placid Greenbuls, Orange Ground-thrush (uncommon at best), Taita Thrush (a rare endemic), Black-backed Puffback, Taita Apalis (an uncommon endemic), Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler, African Stonechat, African Dusky Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Red-winged Starling, Taita White-eye (endemic), Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Brown-backed Mannikin and the tiny Yellow-bellied Waxbill are just some of the many highland forest species we hope to find in this unique area. In the late afternoon we will transfer to the nearby Tsavo East National Park for a one-night stay at Voi Safari Lodge.
Day 08: Tsavo East / Shimba Hills
The morning will be spent birding in Tsavo East National Park, followed by an afternoon transfer to Shimba Hills Lodge on the southern coast for a two-night stay. Somali Ostrich, African Openbill, Harlequin Quail (seasonal), Black-chested and Brown Snake-eagles, African Harrier-hawk, Rüppell's Griffon-vulture, Striped Kingfisher, Diederik Cuckoo, Banded Martin, Golden Pipit, Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark (seasonal), Fork-tailed Drongo, Wattled Starling, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Chestnut Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, African Silverbill and the elegant Eastern Paradise-whydah are some of the birds we may see. Accommodation in a Tree Lodge.
Day 09: Shimba Hills
All day will be spent in the Shimba Hills National Reserve. This reserve is mostly thick coastal forest, which is broken up in areas by forest glades. Birds that can be located within this lush habitat include Ayres's Hawk-eagle, Black Goshawk (Great Sparrowhawk), African Cuckoo-hawk, Palm-nut Vulture, Crested Guineafowl, Red-necked Francolin, Tambourine Dove, Fischer's Turaco, Yellowbill, Mosque Swallow, Mottled and Bat-like (Bohm's) Spinetails, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, White-throated Bee-eater (seasonal), Trumpeter and Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, Brown-breasted, White-eared and Green Barbets, Eastern Green Tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Flappet Lark, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Tiny and Sombre Greenbuls, Terrestrial Brownbul, Siffling and Croaking Cisticolas, Black-headed Apalis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Forest Batis, Black-bellied Starling, Eastern Olive Sunbird, Green-headed Oriole and the lovely Dark-backed (Forest) Weaver. Mammals that can be seen in the picturesque Shimba Hills are Western Black-and-white Colobus (local), Lesser Galago or Bushbaby (sometimes on top of the dinner table), Red-bellied Coast Squirrel, Common Genet, the majestic Sable Antelope, Red Duiker and the shy Suni. Occasionally an African Civet Cat or even a family party of Bush Pigs will visit the swamp behind the Lodge at night.
Day 10: South Coast
In the morning we will drive further south along the coast to the small town of Shimoni. Several specialties can be found along this drive and these include Lizard Buzzard, Little Sparrowhawk, Red-necked Falcon, Broad-billed Roller, Brown-hooded Parrot, Black-collared Barbet, Northern Carmine and Madagascar Bee-eaters (seasonal), Black Coucal, Ethiopian Swallow, Coastal Cisticola, White-browed Robin-chat, Collared Palm-thrush, Purple-banded Sunbird, Golden Palm-weaver, Black-winged and Zanzibar Red Bishops, Common Waxbill and Bronze Mannikin. In the afternoon we will transfer north to the town of Watamu for a three-night stay at Ocean Sports Hotel. This offers a very nice view of the Indian Ocean and the cool breeze off the water can be quite refreshing.
Days 11/12: Arabuko Sokoke
We will spend two days exploring the Arabuko–Sokoke Forest. Birds to be expected within this forest reserve are Southern Banded Snake-eagle, African Goshawk, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Scaly-breasted, Lesser and Pallid Honeyguides, Mombasa and Green-backed (Little Spotted) Woodpeckers, Common Scimitarbill, Mangrove Kingfisher, Narina Trogon, Sokoke Pipit (endangered), Yellow-bellied and Fischer's Greenbuls, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, Green-backed Camaroptera, East Coast Akalat (endangered), Red-capped Robin-chat, Bearded Scrub-robin, Four-coloured Bush-shrike, Pale Batis, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Blue-mantled Crested-flycatcher, Scaly Babbler, Plain-backed and Amani Sunbirds, African Golden Oriole, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike and the poorly known endemic Clarke's Weaver (endangered). In the evening we will be searching for several nocturnal species such as Sokoke Scops-owl (endangered), African Barred Owlet, African Wood-owl and the colourful Fiery-necked Nightjar. Four-toed and Golden-rumped Elephant Shrews (the latter being critically endangered) are both found in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, but are very shy and difficult to see. Occasionally during our night outings we find nocturnal mammals, such as White-tailed Mongoose, Honey Badger or even the stunning Caracal. Of course it helps to have a little bit of luck with these! Another site we will visit during our stay in the Watamu area is Mida Creek. This is a tidal mudflat with scores of waders present. Birds of note in this area are Greater Flamingo, Dimorphic Egret, Crab Plover (sometimes more than 100 individuals), Lesser and Greater Sand-plovers and Terek and Curlew Sandpipers.
Day 13: North Coast
On our last morning we will visit the Sabaki Estuary north of Malindi town. This area is usually teeming with waders and waterfowl. Some of our target species here are Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Madagascar Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, White-fronted Plover, Sooty and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Lesser and Greater Crested Terns, Saunders's Tern and African Skimmer. Rarities pop up in this area all the time and it is exciting to think of what we may find. In the latter part of the morning we will try and find the extremely local Malindi Pipit.
Day 14: Malindi / Nairobi
A local flight to Nairobi connects you with your international outbound flight home
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