AABS 004: PLOVERS SPECIAL BIRDING

8 Nights/9 Days Nairobi - L. Magadi - L. Naivasha - L. Nakuru - L. Baringo - Samburu - Mt. Kenya - Nairobi

Day 01: Arrival
On arrival you will be met at the airport by our representative and transferred to a Nairobi Hotel where you will spend your overnight stay. We shall then head out for an orientation tour of the town before paying a visit to the National Museum bird's gallery for a lecture on birds before dusk engulfs us at our Hotel.

Day 02: Nairobi - Lake Magadi
After breakfast we leave Nairobi and then drive to the southern side of Kenya with a picnic Lunch and to Lake Magadi located deep in the heart of Southern Kenya's Masai land. The lake covers an area of 104 sq. km Soda Lake and is completely surrounded by vast natural salt flats. These sweltering plains prevent any animals from reaching the alkaline lake at its center. For this reason, thousands of flamingos descend on the Lake each year to feed on the algae and crustacea at the lake's shore safe from any potential predators such as Fish eagle. Freshwater springs at the Lake's shore attract a host of other birds like the specialty of this lake the Chestnut Banded Plover, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper to name a few. Later in the afternoon we return to Nairobi arriving late evening. Dinner and Overnight stay will be at our Nairobi Hotel.

Day 03: Nairobi - Lake Naivasha
After breakfast we depart from our Nairobi hotel for a scenic drive through the great North road to Lake Naivasha. Stop en-route at the viewpoints of the Great Rift Valley for stunning views arriving Lake Naivasha by midmorning for bird walk before time for lunch at Lake Naivasha Lodge. Lake Naivasha being a fresh water lake on the Rift floor is home to an incredible variety of species. Over 450 species have been recorded here. An afternoon option of either a boat ride or a visit to Hell's Gate National Park before returning for dinner and overnight stay at Lake Naivasha Lodge.

Day 04: Lake Naivasha - Lake Nakuru
This morning we leave Naivasha and head for Lake Nakuru Park, regarded by avid birders' as the greatest World ornithological spectacle on the Earth. The park is famous for its millions of pink flamingoes, arriving by mid morning at Lake Nakuru for a game drive en route before checking-in at Lake Nakuru Lodge for Lunch. Afternoon game drive followed by a walk along the shores which will also allow us to see the many wild animals in the park and especially the park is the Sanctuary to the Black Rhino, White Rhino and the Rothschild Giraffe. Here we'll have the chance to look out at some of the common species like the Lesser and Greater Flamingoes, African fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Green Wood Hoopoes, Cliff Chat, Great White and Pink Backed Pelicans plus other intra- African Migrants. Dinner and Overnight stay today will be at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Day 04: Lake Nakuru
Today we will spend the whole day bird watching at the park and if lucky enough we have the chance to see the shy cat "the Leopard" mostly seen in this park before returning for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon we have some time to relax before embarking on our late afternoon game drive to try and capture what was not seen during the day before the dusk engulf us. Dinner and Overnight stay will be at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Day 05: Lake Nakuru - Lake Baringo
We depart today in the morning after breakfast and drive further North to Lake Baringo, arriving in time mid - morning bird walk around the lodge before time for Lunch. Lake Baringo is fresh water has it own share of bird life species like the White Faced Scopes Owl, Brimstone Canary, Bristol Crowned Starling, Goliath Heron, Little Weaver, Jackson's and Hemprich's Hornbill. We'll check-in at Lake Baringo Country Club a superb and compact hotel set at the shores of Lake Baringo. After a relaxed lunch we'll descend down on to the cliffs to look for the white faced Scopes owl, Black throated barbet, mouse collared tit before returning at the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay tonight will be at Lake Baringo Country Club (BLD).

Day 06: Lake Baringo - Samburu
We leave Baringo after breakfast and head Samburu, a place of endless skies, dust-red plains and palm-fringed rivers, Samburu National Reserve lies on the fringes of the vast and arid desert once known as the Northern Frontier District, whose heat-scorched scrublands extend all the way to the jade-green waters of Lake Turkana and beyond. Physically dramatic, the 104 sq kilometres landscape of the Reserve features rocky battlements, craggy scarps, dry river beds and fallen boulders rising out of the thorn scrub against a backdrop of the far-distant hills and the great red table mountain known as Lololokwe. As for wildlife, Samburu provides one of the few sanctuaries in Kenya for the endangered Grevy's zebra, the rare Beisa Oryx, the long necked antelope "Gerenuk" and the Blue-shanked Somali ostrich whilst large herds of elephant roam the gaunt hills during the day before returning to bathe on the banks of the river in the evening. Birdlife in this reserve is not raging behind as it is profuse, and species such as Somali and white throated bee-eaters, golden pipit, Vulturine guinea fowl, White headed Mouse bird, Buff Crested Bustards, Black capped Social Weaver, Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow Weaver, Golden Breasted Starling among other dry land species. Lunch will be at Nanyuki Town before descending to the reserve and arriving at time for the evening Game cum bird viewing before checking -in at Samburu Lodge (BLD).

Day 07: Samburu
Today we will spend the whole day bird watching at the park. In the afternoon we have some time to relax before embarking on our late afternoon game drive to try and capture what was not seen during the day before the dusk engulf us. Dinner and Overnight stay will be at Samburu Lodge (BLD).

Day 08: Samburu - Mt. Kenya
We will spend the whole day birding at this Montane forest region. Rare species likely to be seen include; Green Ibis, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Harrier Hawk, Rufous Sparrow hawk, Ayre's Hawk Eagle. Black stork, Red Fronted Parrots, Green Ibis Common snipe, Mountain Buzzard, Bronze napped pigeon Mountain white-eye, Abbots Starling, Sharpe's Starling, Mountain Oriole and Thick-billed seedeater. Dinner and Overnight stay will be at Naro Moru River Lodge (BLD).

Day 09: Mt. Kenya - Nairobi - Fly
After breakfast, we drive back to Nairobi arriving in time for lunch at Ranger's Restaurant where you can enjoy some good food, later Check-in to a day room at Nairobi hotel. Farewell dinner Later early in the evening, will be hosted by our company at the world famous Carnivore Restaurant considered "Africa's greatest eating experience" (if you love barbecue it doesn't get better than this), and home to the "Simba Saloon" one of the cities most popular night clubs. Thereafter you will be transferred to the airport in time for your International departure flight.