Inala's Kenya East African Tour

Leopard, African Lion, Savannah, Elephant, Rhino, Cape Buffalo.

Image:  Leopard by W. Wachira
Our guided wildlife tour in Kenya explores the rich diversity of species - from the lush forests of Mt Kenya to the African Savannah.
Duration:
12 days
Group Size: 
68 people
Tour Overview

Kenya is in equatorial East Africa; its savannah is famously depicted in documentaries and movies and the landscape that many people imagine when they think of Africa. However, the terrain rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean to mountains and plateaus at its centre. Most Kenyans live in and around the capital city of Nairobi which is in the highlands at an altitude of 1,700 metres.

This tour is being offered at a great time of year in terms of bird and wildlife viewing (breeding season for many species) and a comfortable climate. We will visit several different habitats, from the lush forests of Mt Kenya to the African Savannah which gives us the opportunity to see an extraordinary number of birds and wildlife. The arrangements have been made to maximise your safety and comfort, using good quality, comfortable accommodation throughout and travelling in open roofed 4X4 Toyota Landcruiser safari vehicles for the best viewing opportunities.
 

Funds will go towards sustainability projects in Kenya and to support the Kenya Women Birders Club and this tour has been designed to adjoin our Uganda tour (28 November to 13 December 2025) – discounts will apply for those taking both tours.

Climate Conditions

Warm to hot, cooler on Mt Kenya.

Tour Dates
Departure Date: 17/11/2025
Tour Finish:  28/11/2025
Guide:  Tonia Cochran
Price:  USD9,700 per person, twin share
Single Supplement:  USD1,1150
Additional Price Information:

A discount of USD$400 (AUD$600) will apply for those taking a Kenya and Uganda tour combination.

Adjoining Tours
Target Species

Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, White Rhino, African Buffalo), Lesser and Greater Flamingo, Secretarybird, turacos, Somali and Common Ostrich, sunbirds.

Booking Enquiry

Tour Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive Nairobi.

On our arrival at Nairobi Airport, we will be met by our local team and transferred to our hotel. We will meet for a welcome dinner tonight where we will discuss plans for our Kenyan adventure.

Accommodation: Nairobi Hotel, Nairobi (en suite rooms). Meals: D.

Day 2 & 3. Mount Kenya.

Today we will travel to Kenya’s highest mountain, Mt Kenya where we should see many species of birds. We will bird both along the forest edge and also deeper into the mountain forest in our vehicle. We will also scan the forest, rivers and grasslands for the montane specials. Birds we hope to find in this area include African Cuckoo-Hawk, Mountain Buzzard, Crowned Eagle, Alpine Swift, Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Mountain Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, Slender-billed Greenbul, Mountain Yellow-Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Black-throated Apalis, Black-collared Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, White-browed Crombec, Hunter’s Cisticola, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, African Black Duck, Red-fronted Parrot, Spectacled Weaver, Scaly Francolin, Rüppell's Robin-Chat, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Malachite Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Black-headed Waxbill, Olive Ibis, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Slender-billed Starling, Abbott’s Starling, Sharpe’s Starling, Waller’s Starling, Kikuyu White-eye, Fine-banded Woodpecker, White-headed Wood-Hoopoe, Bar-tailed Trogon, Yellow-crowned Canary, Dusky Turtle Dove, African Green Pigeon, Lemon Dove, African Olive Pigeon and Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon. Montane mammals are also likely, including monkeys, antelopes, mongooses, genets, pigs, hogs and squirrels.

Accommodation: Lodge on the slopes of Mt Kenya (en suite cabins) for 2 nights. Meals: B, L, D both days.

Days 4 & 5. Buffalo Springs, Shaba and Samburu National Reserves.

We shall leave early for Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs. Here we will spend time birding and enjoying the local mammals such as Leopard, Cheetah, Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Lion and African Savanna (Bush) Elephant.
We can also expect to see many birds here, including Somali Ostrich, Somali Courser, Golden Pipit, Golden-breasted Starling, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Pringle’s Puffback, Northern Puffback, Northern White-crowned Shrike, White-headed Mousebird, Hunter’s Sunbird, Black-bellied Sunbird, Shining Sunbird, Red-billed Hornbill, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Fire-fronted Bishop, Somali Bee-eater, Stone Partridge, African Orange-bellied Parrot, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Northern Crombec, Northern Grey Tit, Black-capped Social Weaver, Northern Brownbul, Buff-crested Bustard, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Somali Sparrow, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar, Dusky Nightjar, Vulturine Guineafowl, Rufous Chatterer, African Mourning Dove, Egyptian Vulture, Bateleur, Martial Eagle and Tawny Eagle. This is an amazing part of Kenya and allows for excellent dry country birding. Many of the typical North-East African dryland birds are present here and the habitat will provide a huge species list. Accommodation: Safari Lodge at Buffalo Springs for 2 nights. Meals: B, L, D both days.

Days 6 & 7. Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

We will enjoy some amazing game drives at East Africa’s largest Black Rhino sanctuary with mammalian possibilities including Cape Buffalo, Grevy’s Zebra, Savannah Elephant, Spotted Hyena, Beisa Oryx, African Wild Dog, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Black Rhino, White Rhino, African Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. The grassy plains of Ol Pejeta Conservancy are also a great habitat for various species of birds. Key birds here include the Grey Crowned Crane, Red-fronted Barbet, Long-tailed Widowbird, Black-lored (Nanyuki) Babbler, African Grey Hornbill, White-bellied Tit, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Speke’s Weaver, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Cape Crow, Wahlberg’s Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Secretarybird, Kori Bustard and White-bellied Bustard.
At Ol Pejeta Conservancy we also have a chance to visit the Northern White Rhino Sanctuary; after years of widespread poaching and civil war, this subspecies is considered to be extinct in the wild and there are now only two individuals left on Earth-both at Ol Pejeta. Their names are Najin and Fatu and they were moved to Kenya from the Czech Republic in 2009. In vitro fertilisation and stem cell technology are now being used here in a last ditch effort to save the subspecies. A Chimpanzee Sanctuary, established under agreement with the Kenya Wildlife Service and jane Goodall Institute is also located on the site.

Accommodation: Ol Pejeta tented camp (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D both days.

Day 8. Lake Nakuru National Park

We will leave early this morning and travel to Lake Nakuru National Park. This park is famed as the birdwatchers’ paradise, and indeed was the first national park in Africa to be set up with an avian conservation objective. Up to a million flamingos have been recorded in this park depending on their regional migration. Most of these are Lesser Flamingos with a smaller population of Greater Flamingos. Other birds include the Woolly-necked Stork, Arrow-marked Babbler, Little Rock-Thrush, Mocking Cliff Chat, White-browed Robin-Chat, Reed Cormorant, Pink-backed Pelican, Pied Avocet, Kittlitz's Plover, Blacksmith Plover, Coqui Francolin, Hildebrandt's Francolin, Black Cuckoo, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, African Cuckoo, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Cape Teal, Brimstone Canary, Hottentot Teal, Red-billed Teal, Dusky Nightjar and Montane Nightjar. Palearctic water migrants are seasonally also abundant here. The park is also a great sanctuary for rhinos (both Black and White Rhinoceros) and three other members of the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, and Cape Buffalo), and these may be encountered as we move around the park. Other mammals seen here include herds of grazing herbivores and the endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe. Accommodation: Lodge at Lake Nakuru (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

Days 9 & 10. Maasai Mara National Reserve

We will spend the next two days in the vast Maasai Mara in search of local birds and mammals. Described by many as the top reserve in Kenya, this area has lots to offer, from the Big Five, herds of grazing mammals, to the amazing birdlife. Mammals here include Common Hippopotamus, Elephant, Common Warthog, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Topi, Grant’s Gazelle, Bushbuck, Bohor Reedbuck, Silver-backed Jackal, Common Eland, Common Zebra, African Buffalo and Thompson’s Gazelle. We shall also spend time in the reserve birding in this vast savannah. Likely species include Southern Ground-Hornbill, Rufous-bellied Heron, Dusky Nightjar, Schalow’s Turaco, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Red-necked Spurfowl, Red-winged Francolin, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Rufous-chested Swallow, Lappet-faced Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Ruppell’s Vulture, Secretarybird, Grey Kestrel, Temminck’s Courser, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Green-capped Eremomela, Black Coucal, African Quailfinch, Kori Bustard, Melodious Lark, Flappet Lark, Athi Short-toed Lark, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Black-backed Cisticola, Long-tailed Cisticola, Pale Wren-Warbler, Usambiro Barbet, Familiar Chat, Sooty Chat, African Wattled Plover, Woolly-necked Stork, Saddle-billed Stork and Magpie Shrike. Accommodation: near Maasai Mara NR (en suite rooms) for 2 nights. Meals: B, L, D each day.

Day 11. Naivasha to Nairobi.

We will leave Maasai Mara early and drive straight to Naivasha, where we will be looking for more savannah, bushland and also shorebirds along the lake. Expected species include Mosque Swallow, Lyne’s Cisticola, Chestnut Sparrow, Abyssinian Wheatear, Nyanza Swift, Mottled Swift, White-fronted Bee-eater, Mocking Cliff Chat, Bearded Woodpecker, Plain-backed Pipit, Giant Kingfisher, Grey-backed Fiscal, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Brimstone Canary, Cape Teal, Pied Avocet, Black Heron, Goliath Heron, Lesser Flamingo, Maccoa Duck, Great White Pelican, Common Greenshank, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Hilderbrandt’s Francolin, Arrow-marked Babbler, Black-lored Babbler, African Fish Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Osprey, Hybrid Lovebird, Red-throated Wryneck, Golden-breasted Bunting, Buff-bellied Warbler, Grey Crowned Crane, Black Cuckoo and African Hoopoe. A boat ride on Lake Naivasha, will ensure you can reach more species in the middle of the lake, such as African Spoonbill, Squacco Heron and flotillas of Great White Pelicans. Wewill then make our way back to Nairobi for our final dinner together. Accommodation: Nairobi Hotel (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L,D.

Day 12. Depart Nairobi.

Today after breakfast we will transfer to Nairobi airport for our various onward travels. Those joining the Uganda tour would join Tonia on the short flight to Entebbe (not included in costing). Accommodation: None. Meals: B.

Additional Information:
Inclusions & Exclusions
Additional Information
Terms and Conditions
Inclusions:

12 night’s accommodation, specialist guiding and transport for day and night tours in private open-roofed 4WD safari Toyota Landcruisers with specialist licensed local guide and site guides/wildlife rangers as outlined in the itinerary, all meals (B, L, D snacks and bottled water), entry fees to National Parks, airport transfers and guided walks as outlined in the itinerary and all internal taxes and charges.

Exclusions:

Any international and domestic airfares, visas, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and expenses of a personal nature (travel and medical insurance, phone calls, laundry, tips etc.), personal & incidental expenses and any additional activities not mentioned in the above itinerary.

The above rates are based upon a group size of 6-8 people. If the tour does not achieve minimum numbers, we will offer you the option of continuing with a smaller group size at a small supplement (we would always discuss options with you beforehand).

Meals and drinks: Breakfast generally consists of an American style breakfast, which includes eggs. cereal, toast, fruit, and tea/coffee. Lunch will generally be a picnic style eaten in the field. Dinner is usually two course (starter and main or main and dessert). Drinks (soft and alcoholic) are generally not included.

Whilst we aim to follow the itinerary as planned, please note that the itinerary provided should only be used as a guideline. Depending on individual trip circumstances, weather, and local information, the exact itinerary may not be strictly adhered to. The guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary as they see fit.

For much of this tour we will be in a wonderful yet remote part of the world. Some of the roads are unsealed and rough. If you have medical conditions or health concerns, it is important you make us aware of these in advance of this tour.

There are terms and conditions relating to payments, cancellations, refunds, insurance and responsibility for our tours.

Learn more

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320 Cloudy Bay Road, Lunawanna
South Bruny Island 7150
Tasmania, Australia

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Phone: +61 3 6293 1217

Inala Nature acknowledge and pay respects to the palawa people as the traditional and original owners, and continuing custodians of this land, lutruwita, and acknowledges Elders - past and present. Inala Nature Tours and the Inala Foundation Inc are located on lunawanna- alonnah, also known as Bruny Island, the traditional land of the Nuenonne people.

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