Kenya birdwatching safaris: Top bird watch, camel & walking safaris

Kenya Bird-watching Safaris

Most of the safari companies in Kenya offer some kind of bird watching safaris, but quality varies. Some kenya vacation companies offers 14 day specialist bird watching extravaganzas that take in Mt. Kenya, the rift valley lakes, Kakamega forest reserve, the Maasai Mara national reserve, lake Victoria among other kenya important bird area safari destinations.

Top class lodges are used throughout this trip and the cost, based on two people sharing, works out at US$ 4986/5803 per person in the low/high season, coming down to US$ 3061/3700 per person for groups of six. There are monthly departures through out the year.

Camel Safaris

This is a superb way of getting right off the beaten track and into areas where vehicle safaris don’t or can’t go. Most camel safaris go to the Samburu and Turkana tribal areas between Isiolo and Lake Turkana and you’ll have a chance to experience nomadic life and mingle with tribal people. Wildlife is also plentiful, although it’s the journey itself that is the main attraction.

You have the choice of riding the camels or walking alongside them and most tribes are led by experienced Samburu Moran (warriors) and accompanied by English- speaking tribal guides who a re well versed in bush lore, botany, ornithology and local customs. Most traveling is done as early as possible in the cool of the day and a campsite established around noon. Afternoons are time for relaxing, guided walks and showers before drinks and dinner around a camp fire.

All Kenya safari companies provide a full range of camping equipment (generally including two-person tents) and ablution facilities, but they vary in what they require you to bring. Some even provide alcoholic drinks, although normally you pay extra for this. The typical distance covered each day is 15km to 18km so you don’t have to be super fit.

Cultural safaris

With eco friendly lodges now springing up all over kenya, local tribes people are becoming increasingly involved with tourism and there are a growing number of Kenya cultural safari companies offering such safaris that allow you to interact with the tribes in a far more personal way than the rushed souvenir stops that the mainstream tours make at Masai villages. The best of these combine volunteer work with more conventional tour activities and provide accommodation in Tents, eco-lodges and village houses.

Many of the Lake Turkana safaris covered earlier include a trek to Rendille and Samburu villages and interact with the tribes people.

Western region of Kenya including the Kakamega, Kisii, Lake Victoria and Mt. Elgon are being developed into a cultural tourism hub. The area is heavily entrenched in culture and rife with mythology and legends.

The western Kenya cultural groups include the Luo, Kisii, Luyha among others. Currently they organise week-long annual cultural festivals for each tribe. These are usually filled with pomp, song, dance and cultural indulgence and are a nice venue to learn of the some bizarre African cultures and practices. You can enquire from your Kenya travel company on the specific dates for bookings.

Robert is a travel expert with Landmarksafaris.com. Degreed in tourism management, he has authored more than 1000 articles on Kenya East Africa travel. Select your Kenya bird watching safari here