ITINERARY: Outline
Lamu extention (start Nairobi, end Malindi)
From Nairobi we start off with a short visit to Lamu Island off the north-east coast, reached by air, to see the recently-described Somali Boubou, and may find Zanzibar Red Bishop, Scaly Babbler and Golden Palm Weaver here too.
Eastern Kenya (start and end Nairobi)
A short air hop across to the mainland at Malindi sees us join up with new arrivals from Nairobi, where our focus will be on the endemic-rich coastal forests of Arabuko-Sokoke. Highlights here will hopefully include Amani Sunbird, Sokoke Pipit, Malindi Pipit, Clarke's Weaver, Fischer's Turaco, Mombasa Woodpecker, East Coast Akalat and Sokoke Scops Owl.
From here we make our way inland to the arid savannas of Tsavo East, where specials may include Grant's Wood Hoopoe, Hartlaub's Bustards, and if we are very lucky, Fire-fronted Bishop.
A short detour into the Taita Hills gives us the opportunity for three highly endangered endemics - Taita Apalis, Taita White-eye and Taita Thrush - holding on in the last forest patches.
Back down to the lowlands of Tsavo West we hope to see Pangani Longclaw, Friedmann's Lark, Hildebrandt's Starling, Tsavo Sunbird, Southern Grosbeak-Canary and Pink-breasted Lark, before completing our eastern loop back to Nairobi.
Central and Western Kenya (start and end Nairobi)
Nairobi is conveniently situated near the central highlands and its endemics, although we start off with a day in the very birdy Nairobi National Park, where highlights may include Red-throated Tit and Rosy-throated Longclaw, before continuing on to Thika for the night. We'll hope to track down the localised endemic Hinde's Babbler before climbing into the highlands of the Aberdare ranges.
In the Aberdares, highlights should include Jackson's Francolin, Aberdare Cisticola and Golden-winged Sunbird, before we cross the Kinangop Plateau, home of Sharpe's Longclaw and Jackson's Widowbird, and drop down to Naivasha.
A short detour to Gatamaiyu Forest may turn up Hartlaub's Turaco and the rare Abbott's Starling, before we continue west to Nakuru (for Grey-crested Helmetshrike) and on to Kakamega Forest (for Turner's Eremomela, Blue-headed Bee-eater and lots of other forest birds).
Turning back east we make our way to Lake Baringo where Jackson's Hornbill, Northern Brown-throated Weaver and a host of other dryland birds.
And finally we end off with two full days in the Samburu area where specialties include Grant's Wood Hoopoe, Donaldson Smith's Sparrow-Weaver, Friedmann's Lark, White-headed Mousebird, Black-bellied Sunbird and Vulturine Guineafowl.
Marsabit and Mount Kenya extention (start Samburu, end Nairobi)
From here you have the option of flying back to Nairobi, or continuing north to Marsabit, where the lava deserts are home to Masked Lark and William's Lark, Heuglin's Bustard and Somali Sparrow.
After a day here we turn back south for Nairobi, pausing at Mt Kenya on the way to look for any highland specials we may have missed, and to have a second shot at Hinde's Babbler.
Masaai Mara extention (start and end Nairobi)
Finally, for those with an appetite for big game, we offer a four-day extension to Masaai Mara, and the chance to see Karamoja Apalis.
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