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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06Feb 2017 by safarisense
Hiking Up Kirinyaga! [Jan – Feb]

Hiking Up Kirinyaga! [Jan – Feb]

Bird_watching, Camping, Extreme, Hiking, Mountain_climbing, Wildlife Safari
Mount Kenya, with its snow‑capped peaks 5,199 m. high, is Kenya’s highest mountain and certainly one of the most beautiful mountains anywhere. Its slopes are covered with rich deciduous and bamboo forests and open high altitude moorland just below the glaciers and snowfields. Wildlife resident within the forest includes elephant, buffalo and even lion, with several species of antelope and other smaller animals. Mount Kenya rises to the twin snow-covered peaks of Batian (5199 meters or 17058 feet) and Nelion (5188 meters or 17022 feet), the second and third highest peaks in Africa (topped only by Kilimanjaro's Uhuru peak in Tanzania, which rises to 5895 meters or 19340 feet). Both of Mount Kenya's peaks are named after Maasai laibon (ritual leaders) of the nineteenth century. According to legends of the…
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07Oct 2016 by safarisense
Off the Beaten Path: Camping at Thomson’s Falls [Sep – Dec]

Off the Beaten Path: Camping at Thomson’s Falls [Sep – Dec]

Bird_watching, Camping, Excursion, Game drive, Hiking, Wildlife Safari
Camping, birding, nature trails... Thomson’s Falls, named after Joseph Thomson, a Scottish geologist and naturalist who was the first European to see the falls in 1883, is a 73-meter sheer drop of the Ewaso Narok River over a ledge of volcanic rock. Thomson's Lodge was built in the 1930s by settlers as a private residence, and became a hotel in the 1960s. The nearby Lake Ol Bollosat is the source of River Ewaso Narok that is a key tributary to the Ewaso Nyiro River and has been designated as an IBA (Important Bird Area) since 2007. What To Do What To See Where To Sleep What To Do Reconnect with nature in a beautiful and serene setting while birdwatching. Spend a night at the campsite and visit Lake Ol Bollosat…
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19Sep 2016 by safarisense
Birdnificent©: Manguo Pond, Limuru

Birdnificent©: Manguo Pond, Limuru

Bird_watching, City Tour, Excursion, Hiking, Wildlife Safari
When? September - June A shallow, seasonal basin close to a major intersection, Manguo Pond can be viewed from roads on two sides. The water level fluctuates, but there is usually water enough to attract freshwater and marshland birds – sometimes in astonishing numbers. Activities Birdnificent© Activities Enjoy birdwatching at one of the most diverse ecosystems right outside Nairobi city. While at it, explore the ponds on an educational guided nature walk and test your knowledge on while having fun.  Birdnificent© Look out for…Maccoa Duck, White-backed Duck, Lesser Moorhen (in wet months), Madagascar Pond Heron, palearctic migrantsGuaranteed sightings…Of the many and varied ducks that visit Manguo Pond, Maccoa Duck is the rarest – and most interesting. Breeding pairs of White-backed Duck are often seen amid the floating vegetation. Migrant ducks are…
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19Mar 2016 by safarisense
Off the Beaten Path: Bird Watching, Hiking in Naivasha [Mar – May]

Off the Beaten Path: Bird Watching, Hiking in Naivasha [Mar – May]

Camping, Excursion, Fishing, Game drive, Hiking, Naivasha, Rock climbing
Bird Watching, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Fishing - Camp Carnelley’s What To Do... Explore... Look Out For.. Accommodation... What To Do... Activities include nature walks and boat trips to the lake. Trips to Hell’s Gate National Park, Mt. Longonot and other excursions can be arranged. The campsite is the highlight of the trip. Explore... The nearby Hells Gate is best known for its jagged cliffs and striking gorge, and offers excellent rock climbing for all abilities, from easy routes on East Rib, ideal for beginners, to the more challenging 37m Groove, on Fischer’s Tower named after German naturalist Gustav Fischer. Hell’s Gate is one of the few national parks that is safe to walk in. The 68-km2 park was gazetted in 1984. Take a hike down Njorowa Gorge, or mountain bike past…
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11Oct 2015 by safarisense
Essential Destination: Naivasha

Essential Destination: Naivasha

Excursion, Game drive, Naivasha, Wildlife Safari
Lake Naivasha is home to resident hippos, and at times, the largest water fowl population in Kenya, and is the ideal safari destination for birdwatchers. The waters of Lake Naivasha draw great array of game to the shoreline. Buffaloes wallow in the swamps, while the large hippo population laze their days away in the shallows. Giraffes wonder among the acacia; Colobus monkeys swinging from the canopies above. Wherever you visit the lake, you’ll find a boat ride a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, as you ride past families of hippos, lazily swimming with just the tip of the heads out of the water. Serious birders can enjoy Naivasha’s spectacular bird life during an early morning boat ride. Day Trip Itinerary Deart 0800 HRS Depart at 0800 Hrs and drive…
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11Jun 2015 by safarisense
Off the Beaten Path: Game Drives & Sundowners at the banks of Ewaso Nyiro [Jun – Oct]

Off the Beaten Path: Game Drives & Sundowners at the banks of Ewaso Nyiro [Jun – Oct]

Bird_watching, Game drive, Wildlife Safari
Game Drives, Game Walks, Bird Walks, Picnics, Sundowners - El Karama El Karama looks out on a saltlick at the banks of Ewaso Nyiro that attracts plenty of game. Its been owned by the Grants family since the 1970s. What To Do... What To See... Where To Sleep... What To Do... You have a broad range of activities to choose from with the emphasis being getting out and enjoying the freedom of this incredible wildlife area. You have a choice of guided game walks – including long tracking activities and half day treks all with professional guides; game drives, night drives; and bush meals under the stars… What To See... The main activity here is bird watching as well as wildlife safari, where you would be able to meet 4…
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09Jun 2015 by safarisense
Birdnificent©: Nairobi Arboretum

Birdnificent©: Nairobi Arboretum

Bird_watching, Camping, Excursion, Game drive, Hiking, Wildlife Safari
When? All year round A 40-ha expanse of attractive open parkland and woodland within 2 km of the City Centre, the Nairobi Arboretum (founded in 1907) offers a tranquil setting in which to appreciate a surprising variety of local garden birds. As one of few remaining Nairobi’s Urban Green Spaces, it owes its existence to the construction of the Kenya-Uganda Railway. Founded by Mr. Batiscombe as a trial plot for new fast growing forestry trees that would supply the high demand of fuel wood for the Kenya-Uganda railway line,  most of its trees are exotic and not native to Kenya. It was gazetted as a national reserve in 1932 and is now under the management of the Kenya Forest Service with the help of Friends of Nairobi Arboretum Activities Where…
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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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