Archives February 16, 2023

Why you should go birding in Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara is one of the top attractions in the famous Northern Tanzania safari region. The park is well known for its prolific birdlife that supplements the perfect wildlife scenes in nearby Ngorongoro and Serengeti national park. Despite being one of the smallest parks in Tanzania and with a soda lake covering over 2/3 of the total land mass, Lake Manyara boost an impressive 400 native and migrants bird species. Even though its majorly a waterbird sanctuary, the adjacent wilderness characterized by a series of unique habitats give it one of the most biodiverse ecological areas in the country. Interestingly, Lake Manyara is a seasonal lake that dries up when there is a prolonged dry period, leading…

Why Kenya is a birding Paradise

Whether you are an avid birder or you like sighting bird scenes as you continue with your day game drives Kenya is one of Africa best choice to consider. In this guide we shall cover some of the reason you should consider biding in Kenya and all the country has to offer.

1.      A longlist of species

Kenya has 1080 recorded bird species. This means that you can find near half of Africa’s 2477 avian species in the country. At least 800 species are native to the sahara region meaning that the country is a lively birding destination all year round. In the country there are 8 endemic bird areas which…

Which are the best lodges for bird watching in Kenya?

A safari in Kenya definitely leads to fascinating bush experiences indulging into some of the most hidden nature fantasies. But nothing excites more than staying in a lodge set in a scenic birding sites where sounds and sights of nature creates breathtaking moments of relaxation after spending hours on game drives. Kenya has over 1000 exotic and endemic avifauna species that you can sight during your bush holidays. In this post we shall cover the most exciting lodges for bird lovers.

1.      Lake Bogoria spa resort

The hotel is set in the most perfect location for watching flamingos and other water birds in lake bogoria a soda lake situated 2 hrs

Where can I watch flamingos in Kenya?

Kenya is one of the few places in the world where you can watch spectacular flamingos scenes perfect for photography. The lesser flamingo is the most common variety  in Kenya mainly due to proximity to lake Natron which is the largest lesser flamingo breading ground in the world. A host of greater flamingo are also especially in places where there are large numbers of the smaller variety. The 2 live harmoniously since they don’t compete for food as lesser flamingos feed on algae and the greater flamingos feed on crustaceans and other shoreline creatures.  Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania hosts one of the highest number of soda lakes in the world which are the most characteristic habitat for…

Where can I go for birding in Nairobi?

Nairobi has one of the best unique fauna and avifauna opportunities you can have in any urban of the world. The capital of Kenya features a number of ornithological sites situated within where you can spend the morning awaiting your departure flight. Besides there are excellent avian spots in the surrounding areas within 2 hrs drive where you can go for a day safari for optimal birding experience. Some of these ornithological sites include

v Nairobi National park

The national park is in the capital just 36 minutes drive from the airport. The park is well known as an excellent exotic and endemic avifauna area boosting a checklist of about 520…

Flamingo watching in Tanzania

Hosting over 2.5 million lesser  flamingos. Soda lakes and ponds in Tanzania and Kenya regions boosts some of the most spectacular birds scenes. Whereas Kenya flamingo spots are in major lakes which are which are excellent bird zones, it’s only Lake Nakuru and Lake Amboseli where you can have a quality game view alongside flamingo watching. On the other hand, flamingo spots in Tanzania are mostly small lakes and tarns found in major parks where flamingo watching play alongside an excellent wildlife view. In this guide we shall discuss some of the most popular flamingo spots and all that the destination has in their bucket of experiences.

1.      Lake Natron

The…

Popular birding spots in Serengeti,Tanzania

There are about 1125 recorded avian species in Tanzania of which 800 species are endemic to the region and another 200 are parts of over 2 billion Eurasian birds that migrate to Sub Saharan region for the wintering period.  In this guide we shall cover various birding hotspots in the region where you can have you desired birdlife experience while on a safari.

1.      Serengeti National park

Serengeti is Tanzania’s most visited park well known for the great wildebeest migration. The park also boost a rich flora cover that leads to unmatched fauna and avifauna sights. The 14000 square kilometer sized park has one of the most biodiverse wilderness in the…

Birding in Masai Mara

Masai Mara is undoubtedly Kenya richest ecological area that successfully sustains large quantities of flora, fauna and avifauna within its 1510 square kilometres area. The entire greater Mara region that encompasses the main reserve and privately owned Mara North conservancies has over 510 recorded migratory and local bird species. The parks strong biodiversity features an array of ornithological hotspot where you can sight birds adapted to uniquely different habitats. Among the mara birds are 7 globally threatened species i.e jackson’s windowbird, lesser kestrel, Madagascar pond heron, grey crested helmet shrike, corncrake, pallid harrier and red throated tit. Quite a good number of species are common occurrence and can easily be spotted on a normal game drive with…

Birding in Lake Naivasha

Set at an elevated location in the great rift valley, Lake Naivasha unique nature taste  is drawn from the presence of underground water outflows that makes it the only freshwater lake on the floor of the valley. Lake Naivasha is therefore the only refuge for aquatic birds that cannot survive in the saline water of the lakes of the Gregory valley.  Additionally, the lake is one of the areas on the floor of great rift valley experience tectonic shift leading to formation of fascinating features amongst them alkaline lake oloiden an isolated soda lagoon to the south west of the lake and a heaven for birds of saline habitat.

The presence of rich flora…

Best time to go bird watching in Kenya

With over ¾ of the total bird species being resident varieties Kenya offers an optimal bird experience all year round. However, different period will serve one safari desire differently. In this guide we shall share a detailed chart on birding experience over different seasons.

January to Mid-march

This is the dry seasons. During this season you can sight most of the Eurasian migratory birds destined to Kenya mostly waterfowls. Some of the Eurasian species in the southern part of Africa can as well be seen in different stopovers along the passage with their numbers increasing in march in their return journey. With marshes in different parks drying up opportunities for sighting…