01Feb 2022 by safarisense
Fundi Chuma! Why the Hamerkop is known as the Flying Architect

Fundi Chuma! Why the Hamerkop is known as the Flying Architect

Bird_watching, Conservation, Excursion, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari
Along the shores of Kenya’s rivers and lakes, the Hamerkop rakes the muddy banks with its short, heavy bill, searching for frogs and fish. Occasionally, It also employs other tactics such as wiggling its feet in the mud to stir up the menu, and may even fly into the wind at low level and dip at the water’s surface to pick on unsuspecting fish. Dull brown, with a pale chin and throat, the Hamerkop is named for its unusual shape – the word “Hamerkop” meaning “hammerhead” in German, and aptly describes the bird’s profile with a prominent heavy crest at the back of its head. It belongs to the heron family. Although only about 30cm high, breeding pairs use twigs, mud, and grass to build the most remarkable permanent spherical…
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08May 2021 by safarisense
New eBird Checklist, Global Big Day 2021

New eBird Checklist, Global Big Day 2021

Bird_watching, Conservation, Excursion, History, Nairobi Area
There was a slight breeze at 8 in the morning when I got out my DSLR to take part in this year’s Global Big Day. The air was unusually loud with bird songs, reminding me it was breeding season for our fine-feathered friends. Flamboyant and elaborate displays of prominent plumage colors blurred the camera lenses as different species showed off how strong and healthy they were, advertising their suitability as the best mates. And, honestly speaking, if there was ever a month to give bird watching a try, it would definitely be May. It’s arguably the best month of the year for urban birders, with Nairobi, my location of choice, boasting of about 700 bird species scattered in and around the environs. This month, breeding season is in full swing…
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09Mar 2021 by safarisense
Check Out These March Adventure Travel Must-haves

Check Out These March Adventure Travel Must-haves

Excursion, Game drive, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Valentine's Day, Wildlife Safari
March marks the beginning of Kenya’s tourism low season (which lasts up until May) and the start of the long rains. This means fewer vehicles in parks and reserves and a much quieter accommodation. Down at the coast, clear blue skies at the start of the month is an indication of good conditions for diving and snorkelling just before the change of weather. Its also the ideal time to go out Whale shark spotting. For wildlife safari, flooded roads; an abundance of vegetation; and generally wet weather at this time makes for poor wildlife watching and slippery summits for those planning a hike at Mount Kenya. Even though some tracks are impassable and mosquitoes are rife (in a few places), if you're looking to bag a bargain then this is certainly…
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07Feb 2021 by safarisense
Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Those Who Love to Travel

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Those Who Love to Travel

Excursion, Game drive, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Valentine's Day, Wildlife Safari
Valentine’s Day is the most ideal opportunity for creating unforgettable memories with the person you love the most.  There is no shortage of places in Kenya for the perfect getaway to unleash your passion. But if a trip isn’t in the cards this year, the next best thing is to surprise your significant other with a gift worthy of a travel experience. If you are thinking of getting your special someone long-stem roses or a box of chocolates, you might be missing a lot. So, why not surprise your significant other with the following selected gifts that are guaranteed to leave lasting memories. Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through…
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01Aug 2020 by safarisense
Travel Tips: Any Time Game Drive at Nairobi National Park

Travel Tips: Any Time Game Drive at Nairobi National Park

Bird_watching, City Tour, Game drive, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari
The Nairobi National Park has always been reserved a page or two in our travel diaries here at Safari Sense. Over the years, we’ve had varied experiences in this unforgettable slice of paradise within Kenya’s capital city. Some days are lucky. Especially when the traffic is low on an early weekday morning game drive. Chances of seeing a lion hunt are high. Animals and birds are most active when the air is still cool and crisp. Other times you can really have a rough time. Bad weather and no predator sightings can distract someone from the otherwise uncertain and beautiful nature of the park itself. The unique ecosystem continues to fascinate, and is often the first taste to a real Kenyan safari. There are very real prospects of seeing four…
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13Jul 2020 by safarisense
Off The Beaten Path: Caving and Off-roading – Gatune Hills

Off The Beaten Path: Caving and Off-roading – Gatune Hills

City Tour, Excursion, Extreme, Nairobi Area
Its always the dream of any 4x4 car owner to test the limits of their machines in harsh and extreme terrains. Most 4x4 fans never get a chance to experience this thrill, and when such an opportunity cropped up, I couldn’t resist. Having limited activities due to the COVID-19 restrictions gave me time to slowly service the old Suzuki Vitara. I’d driven the four-wheel drive car for years, but I rarely take it through grit and dirt roads. Looking for spare parts online led me to join a unique group of Suzuki enthusiasts. Apart from mechanical and technical advise members help each other in sourcing spare parts and other gadgets necessary for the ultimate off-roading vehicle. I had never heard of Gatune Hills, or Nachu Caves before, but owing to…
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20May 2020 by Rei Mongela
Birdnificent©: Backyard Birding – Nairobi (COVID-19 Edition)

Birdnificent©: Backyard Birding – Nairobi (COVID-19 Edition)

Bird_watching, Nairobi Area
What’s the difference between bird-watching and birding you may ask?Well before I answer that, did you know that Nairobi boasts of over 400 bird species at any given season of the year?Yeah. I only came to know about this when I was first introduced to the beauty and mystery of birds a few years ago. This was when a colleague out on safari suddenly pulled out a thick book from his backpack filled with pictures and illustrations of our winged friends. Needles to say, I was at first wary, finding nothing of interest from the pages filled with feathers and beaks of all colours and shapes. But my interest grew as he started explaining the different birds we came across in detail. He could even identify a bird from its…
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29Apr 2017 by safarisense
Birdnificent©: Ngong Forest

Birdnificent©: Ngong Forest

Bird_watching, City Tour, Excursion, Hiking, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari
When? All year round Just 10 km from the Kenyan capital, adjacent to Nairobi Racecourse, Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary – the isolated remnant of a once vast upland forest elsewhere almost wholly supplanted by suburbia – still boasts a surprisingly rich avifauna. Activities Where to go...​ Look out for...​ Activities Discover birds in the wild while exploring the forest trails Take a break with a picnic and immerse yourself in nature. Where to go...​ A network of tracks crisscrosses what is left of the indigenous Ngong Forest, between broad avenues used by local equestrians. There is an active African Crowned Eagle nest, to which a forest guide should be able to escort you. Pairs of Narina Trogon and Hartlaub’s Turaco can usually be found within patches of dense woodland, and after rain…
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21Oct 2014 by safarisense
Birdnificent©: Nairobi National Park

Birdnificent©: Nairobi National Park

Bird_watching, City Tour, Excursion, Game drive, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari
When? October - April Unique in being located alongside a major city, the 120-km² Nairobi National Park encompasses a wealth of contrasting habitats, ranging from open grassland and lightly wooded plains with rocky valleys to seasonal swamps, dams, forest-lined rivers and streams, and – along its western boundary – a thin strip of upland forest. Gazetted in 1946, the Park is Kenya’s oldest conservation area, with a bird list running to 520 species, of which 200 can often be seen in a single day. What to do... Look out for... Where To Go.. What to do... A day tour at Nairobi National Park offers a gentle orientation into the world of safari giving you a taste of what to expect from the bigger parks spread around the country. Few things…
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16Feb 2014 by Ernest Nyamasyo
Off the Beaten Path: Rafting, Bungee Jumping – River Tana Grade 5 Rapids [Jan – Mar]

Off the Beaten Path: Rafting, Bungee Jumping – River Tana Grade 5 Rapids [Jan – Mar]

Excursion, Extreme, Nairobi Area
Rafting, bungee jumping, birding - Rapids Camp Sagana River Tana’s Grade 5 rapids not only give the camp its name, but also provide opportunity for adrenaline-filled kayaking, diving from a height of 60 ft. and fresh water fishing. River Tana’s Grade 5 rapids not only give the camp its name, but also provide opportunity for adrenaline-filled kayaking, bungee jumping from a height of 60 ft. and fresh water fishing. About 100 bird species have been recorded here. Rapids Camp Big 5 are the waterfall, the startling rocks, the Grade 5 rapids, the manicured lawns and the serene habitat. The camp hosted the 1st ever African Olympic qualifier in the Kayaking Games in January 2008. What To Do... What To See... Where To Sleep... What To Do... Rafting is first on…
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