Bird Watching in Kenya: Where to Go and What You’ll See

A lot of guests come to Kenya for lions and elephants. Many leave talking about the birds. It happens all the time. Someone who’s never owned binoculars suddenly wants to know the name of every bright flash of blue and orange by the road.

Kenya is one of the best birding countries in Africa, with more than 1,000 recorded species. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy it.

Why Kenya is so good for birds

Kenya packs a lot of different habitats into one country: savanna, lakes, mountain forest, dry northern bush, rainforest and coast. Each one has its own birds. On a single trip you can see flamingos on a soda lake, eagles over the plains and forest birds you’ll find nowhere else.

The best places for bird watching in Kenya

• Lake Nakuru National Park. Famous for flamingos, though their numbers rise and fall with the water level. You’ll also see pelicans, storks and plenty of raptors. Rhinos are a nice bonus here.
• Lake Naivasha. A freshwater lake with fish eagles, kingfishers, herons and many more. Take a boat ride for close views.
• Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria. Baringo is a top spot for serious birders. Bogoria often has large flocks of flamingos and hot springs.
• Masai Mara. Great for big savanna birds like the secretary bird, kori bustard, ground hornbill and many vultures and eagles.
• Kakamega Forest. Kenya’s last patch of tropical rainforest. Home to colourful turacos, hornbills and forest species found in West and Central Africa.
• Samburu. Dry-country birds like the vulturine guineafowl, a stunning blue-chested bird.
• Arabuko Sokoke Forest. On the coast near Watamu, with rare species found almost nowhere else.

Birds every visitor hopes to see

• Lilac-breasted roller. Probably the most photographed bird in Kenya. It looks like it’s been painted with a rainbow.
• Superb starling. Shiny blue and orange, and often right outside your tent.
• African fish eagle. Its loud call is the sound of Africa’s lakes.
• Secretary bird. A tall bird of prey that hunts snakes on foot.
• Grey crowned crane. Elegant, with a golden crown of feathers.
• Flamingos. Pink flocks on the Rift Valley lakes.

Best time for bird watching

Birding is good all year. But November to April is the peak. That’s when migrant birds arrive from Europe and Asia, and many local birds are in their bright breeding colours. The rains also bring insects, which bring the birds.

Tips for beginners

• Bring good binoculars, one pair per person if you can.
• Download a free bird app or carry a small field guide to East African birds.
• Ask your guide. Our guides love birds and know their calls well.
• Go out early. Birds are most active in the first hours of light.
• Keep a simple list. It’s fun to count how many you’ve seen by the end.

How to add birding to your safari

You don’t need a special birding tour. Most of our trips pass through great birding areas. The 7 Days Camping Safari: Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara covers three very different habitats, and the 10 Days Kenya Tour gives you even more. If birds are your main interest, we can build a custom birding route.

FAQs

Do I need to be an expert to enjoy birding in Kenya?

Not at all. Many guests discover birding for the first time on safari.

Can I combine birding with the Big Five?

Yes. The same parks are great for both.

What’s the best single place for birds?

It depends on what you want to see, but Lake Baringo and Lake Nakuru are hard to beat for variety.

Love birds, or want to start? Tell us and we’ll plan a route.