Kenya · Bird Watching

3-Day Kenya Birding Tour with Nairobi National Park and Magadi

3 Days Round trip from Nairobi Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore the grasslands and savannah of Nairobi National Park
02 Observe southern white-crowned shrike and superb starling along Magadi Road
03 Discover the diverse montane forest habitat of Gatamaiyu Forest
04 Bird across varied habitats, from open grasslands to a simmering soda lake
05 Look for both sought-after bird species and big game near Nairobi

This 3-day birding tour in Kenya is designed for birdwatching enthusiasts with limited time for an extended safari in pursuit of birds and big game. The carefully selected sites - Nairobi National Park, Magadi Road, and Gatamaiyu Forest - offer excellent birding close to Nairobi at a pocket-friendly budget. Habitats covered include lowland and highland forests, wooded and open grasslands, semi-arid scrublands, dry woodlands, and a simmering soda lake.

The carefully selected sites - Nairobi National Park, Magadi Road, and Gatamaiyu Forest - offer excellent birding close to Nairobi at a pocket-friendly budget.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Nairobi, Magadi, Nairobi National Park

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Birding in Nairobi National Park

Morning (6:30 AM): Start the day early at Nairobi National Park. Arrive at the main gate and meet your birding guide.
Morning (6:45 AM - 10:00 AM): Begin your birding adventure by exploring the grasslands and savannah of Nairobi National Park. Look out for species such as the secretary bird, Rüppell's long-tailed starling, Fischer's sparrow lark, and other grassland and acacia species.
Lunch (12:30 PM): Take a break for lunch at a picnic area within the park.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Continue birding in the park's different habitats, such as the Athi Basin wetlands, where you might spot waterfowl like the African fish eagle, African spoonbill, and hamerkop.
Evening (5:30 PM): Leave the park and return to your accommodation.

Day 02

Magadi Road Birding to Lake Magadi

Morning (6:30 AM): Depart from your accommodation and head southwest towards Kona Baridi.
Morning (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Start birding along Magadi Road, which offers a variety of bird species, including the southern white-crowned shrike, superb starling, and Speke's weaver.
Lunch (12:30 PM): Enjoy a packed lunch at a scenic spot along Magadi Road.
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM): Continue your journey towards Lake Magadi, exploring the surrounding areas. Look out for flamingos, ostriches, and other water-associated birds.
Evening (6:00 PM): Return to your accommodation and perhaps take some time to relax and review your birding checklist.

Day 03

Forest Birding in Gatamaiyu

Morning (6:30 AM): Depart for Gatamaiyu Forest, located north of Nairobi.
Morning (7:45 AM - 12:00 PM): Explore the diverse montane forest habitat of Gatamaiyu. Look for highland bird species such as Hartlaub's turaco, bar-tailed trogon, and the African olive pigeon.
Lunch (12:30 PM): Have a picnic lunch at a suitable spot within the forest.
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:30 PM): Continue birding in the forest, paying attention to canopy and understory species.
Evening (5:00 PM): Conclude your birding tour at Gatamaiyu Forest and begin your journey back to Nairobi.
Evening (6:30 PM): Arrive back in Nairobi, marking the end of your 3-day birding adventure.
Please note that this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be customized based on the group's specific interests and birding goals.

Where this trip takes you

Nairobi National Park grasslands, Magadi Road scrublands, Lake Magadi soda lake, Gatamaiyu Forest canopy

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Nairobi 3 cities · 3 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Accommodation on a full-board basis, including lunch, dinner, and breakfast for 2 nights at a hotel in the capital city of Nairobi
Park entry fees
Transport in a tour van with an open-hatched roof, fuel, and game drives for the 3-day tour
Bottled water while on tour

What's Not Included

Travel and personal accident insurance
All international flights and taxes
Tips and personal expenses such as telephone calls
Excursions not detailed in the above itinerary
Visas

What to bring

Pair of binoculars
Camera, if you have one
Field bird guide/mammals book
Hat with a round brim to protect you from the sunlight
Insect repellent may be used while walking in the forest
Shirt with long sleeves and long pants while walking in the highland forest
Extra bottle of water, if possible

Know before you go

While in the park, leaving the vehicle is prohibited except in designated areas, where the guide will advise when necessary.
All park rules must be observed. Failure to do so may result in the tour being terminated for the person involved, and the relevant authorities being informed.
For optimum time during game drives or bird walks, a picnic lunch is recommended for this tour unless otherwise advised.
It may be hot in Magadi, so drinking plenty of water is advised, and light clothes may be ideal for the day.

It is an ideal tour to observe some of the big game, including the Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Maasai Giraffe, Giant Eland, Burchell's Zebra, Impala, Gazelles, Warthogs, Coke's Hartebeest, and Dikdiks, just to name a few.

Special birds expected to be seen include the majestic Maasai Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Grey Crowned Cranes, Kori Bustard, Hartlaub's Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, African Crowned-Eagle, Verreaux's Eagle, Ruppell's Griffon Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Narina Trogon, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Dusky Turtle Dove, Red-throated Tit, Rufous-naped Lark, Singing Bush-Lark, White-tailed Lark, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Lesser Honeyguide, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Beautiful Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Green-headed Sunbird, Northern Double-colored Sunbird, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Nubian Woodpecker, Winding Cisticola, Red-faced Cisticola, Pectoral-patched Cisticola, Grey Apalis, Chestnut-fronted Plover, Greater Flamingoes, Lesser Flamingoes, Pied Avocets, Purple Gallinule, African Hill Babbler, White-starred Robin, and Grey-headed Negrofinch, among others. There are abundant sites to visit in Kenya, with over 1,100 recorded bird species in diverse habitats.

Photographic opportunities are available for both wildlife and beautiful landscapes.

Note: The tour will be done primarily while in the vehicle, with intermittent bird walks where necessary, especially in the forest and along Magadi Road to Soda Lake.

Logistics