AJS
1 6 : Epic birding in Africa
12Nights/13 Days
- Nairobi - Amboseli - Tsavo West - Taita Hills - Arabuko Sokoke Forest
- Mida Creek - Sabaki River Mouth - Tsavo East - Kibwezi Forest - Chyulu
Hills - Nairobi
Day
01: Nairobi
On arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport (morning flight), met by our representative
and later transferred to Nairobi Safari Club Hotel where you will check-in
and later we proceed to Nairobi National Park, an ornithological paradise
starter within
the city environs. Afternoon guided visit to National Museum Bird Gallery,
Followed by a short bird walk at Nairobi National Museum Botanic Garden.
Here we anticipate to see species like the Variable Sunbird, Bronze Sunbird
and the Collard Sunbird, African Goshawk, Palm swift, Baglafetch Weaver,
among others. Lunch, Dinner and Overnight stay will be at NAIROBI
SAFARI CLUB Hotel or similar one (BLD).
Day
02: Nairobi - Amboseli
After
an early morning breakfast, proceed with your safari by road to Amboseli
National Park. The park and surrounding game reserve cover 1260 sq miles
and is mostly arid woodland with a series of swamps and lakes that provides
a year round water supply for wildlife. The snowcapped peak of Kilimanjaro
rising above a saucer of clouds, dominates every aspect of Amboseli and
forms a backdrop to an impressive display of wildlife with its population
of lion, huge hard of elephant, buffalo e.t.c. With a game drive en-route
you'll arrive to your lodge for lunch. Ol-Tukai Lodge is camouflaged in
a forest of fever trees and palms and well designed cottage style accommodation
spreads out on either side of the main lodge. Afternoon game drive, dinner
& overnight at OL-TUKAI LODGE (BLD).
Day
03: Amboseli
After breakfast it will be the perfect time for photographing the humbling
and magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa. With picnic
lunch you depart your lodge for a full day birding section with our eagle
eyed birding guide. Please take this opportunity to add a new species
in your birding list. Dinner and overnight tonight will be served at OL-TUKAI
LODGE (BLD).
Day
04: Amboseli - Tsavo
After early morning breakfast, commence your safari by road with our driver/guide
through the North Great Road to the legendary land of man-eaters - Tsavo
National Park. A diverse and vast park which is one of the largest game
sanctuaries in the World when we combine Tsavo west and Tsavo East covering
an area of more than 20,000 sq km. This wilderness supports a large number
of games including elephants, rhino, lion, huge herd of buffalo etc. Enjoy
your lunch at Kilanguni Lodge, which is magnificently set at the heart
of the park with views of the Chyulu Hills and the snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Each room has a private verandah overlooking the waterhole and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Dinner & overnight at KILANGUNI SERENA LODGE
(BLD).
Day
05: Tsavo - Taita Hills Forest
After an early morning breakfast, we proceed with our safari by road to
Taita Hills Forest. Taita Hills Forest has an area of 400 ha, at an Altitude
of between 1350-2228m. It lies south -eastern Kenya south and west of
Voi town, and rising abruptly above the semi-arid plain of Tsavo west
National Park. Taita Hill share some botanical affinities are located
120 km distant. Geologically, the hills are the northern most outpost
of the ancient Eastern mountains of Tanzania and Malawi. Dry bushland
runs up the flanks of the hills, giving away rather abruptly near the
top to small holder cultivation or remnant patches of moist forest. Special
Species that we focus here will include the Taita Falcon, Taita Thrush,
Zosterops silvanus, Bar throated Apalis. All meals, dinner & overnight
at our lodge.
Day
06 to 08: Taita Hills Forest - Arabuko - sokoke forest
After
an early morning breakfast, proceed with our safari to Arabuko-sokoke
forest. Has an area of 41,600 ha at an altitude of 0-21m above the sea
level. It was proclaimed a crown forest in 1932 and gazetted 1943 covering
an area of 2,700 ha added in 1968. Arabuko-sokoke has three types habitats
namely; Mixed forest 7,000 ha, Brachystegia woodland 7,700 ha on white,
very infertile soil and Cynometra forest 11,300 ha with a canopy height
of 7-8 m. Here we target species likes Sokoke scopes owl, Clarke's Weaver,
Amani sunbird, Ant-eater thrush, Eastern Nicator, Mombasa woodpecker among
other globally threaten species that only occurs in this forest. All meals,
dinner and overnight will be served at TURTLE
BAY BEACH CLUB (BLD).
Day
09: Arabuko sokoke forest - Mida creek
After breakfast, it will be the perfect time for photographing the humbling
and magnificent Mangrove forest (the magical trees) of Mida creek. Mida
creek has an area of 26100 ha and stretches for almost 40 km along the
seashores and it's a fascinating world of cultures to discover, lying
at 0-10 m above the sea level. Area comprises a complex of marine and
tidal habitats on Kenya's north coast, stretching from just south of Malindi
town southwards to beyond the entrance of Mida creek. Habitats include
inter-tidal rock, sand and mud, fringing reefs and coral gardens; beds
of sea grass; coral cliffs, platforms and islets; sandbeaches; and mangrove
forests. The sand dunes are great workout to build leg muscles and the
tiny sand granules are fantastic as they massage every nerve of your foot
- it's natural reflexology. Our species of focus will include among others
the Crab plover, Terek sandpiper, Mangrove kingfisher, Greater Sandplover,
Eurasian Oystercatcher among others. All meals, dinner and overnight will
be served at TURTLE BAY BEACH CLUB (BLD).
Day 10: Mida
creek- Sabaki river mouth
After breakfast we drive further north to Sabaki river mouth. It Comprise
the sandbanks, mudbanks, dunes and fresh water pools and marshes at the
mouth of the Sabaki, Kenya's second longest river 5km north of Malindi
town. The state and size of the estuary vary seasonally depending on river
flows. Just north and south of the river mouth are grassy dunes that conceal
permanent or temporary pools of fresh water. Here we anticipate species
like the Sooty gull, Zanzibar red bishop, Greater snipe, Malindi pipit,
Broad billed sandpiper, Whimbrel among other Coastal species. All meals,
dinner and overnight will be served at TURTLE BAY BEACH CLUB.
Day
11: Sabaki- Tsavo East National Park
Today after an early breakfast, Our safari will be destined for Tsavo
East National Park with Vast savanna, it lies low in semi-arid country
at the Eastern edge of the inland plateau, north of the main Mombasa -
Nairobi road and railway much of the park is level, open country, with
scattered rock outcrops. Birdlife is abundant and beautiful, with some
400 species to be seen, 48species of wildlife and several reptile species
are found in the park, including, crocodiles, common in the Athi and Tsavo
rivers, whose rocky confluence lies just north of Voi town. Our accommodation
will be at TSAVO PARK HOTEL located
just five kilometres from the gate to park, has 16 spacious and comfortable
rooms with a total of 38 beds. Each room has a private balcony with a
pretty flower border, a shower room with the usual facilities and telephone,
besides you will have a pleasant stay, comfortable and relaxed at TSAVO
PARK HOTEL. All meals and overnight will be served at TSAVO
PARK HOTEL (BLD).
Day
12: Kibwezi forest - Chyulu hills forest
After an early morning breakfast, we leave for Chyulu hills forest situated
190km south -east of Nairobi and 30km south west of Kibwezi are relatively
recent volcanic origin and the range is composed of ash cones and craters.
This hills hold no permanent surface water, but rainfall percolating through
the porous rock feed many permanent fresh water source in the surrounding
plains, notably Mzima springs and the Tsavo and Galana rivers. Hills are
relatively undisturbed and shelter indigenous vegetation and wildlife.
All meals dinner and overnight will be served at
HUNTER'S LODGE (BLD).
Day
13: Chyulu hills forest - Nairobi
After our early morning breakfast we bid fare well to Hunter's lodge and
leave for Nairobi
arriving in time for lunch at TOONA TREE RESTAURANT
where you can enjoy some good Italian food. Later early in
the evening, a complimentary dinner will be hosted by our company at the
world famous CARNIVORE RESTAURANT considered
"Africa's greatest eating experience" (if you love barbecue
it doesn't get better than this), thereafter you will be transferred to
the airport in time for your International departure flight.
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