Planning a birdwatching trip to Kenya? Looking for the best birding tours in Kenya? You’ve come to the right place!
Taking guided birding tours in Kenya is a smart choice. Kenya’s vast landscapes and diverse habitats can be tricky to navigate on your own. Professional guides know exactly how to navigate these vast landscapes and find rare species.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to 7 excellent companies that offer birding tours in Kenya. We’ll look at what makes each company special and what kinds of tours they offer. Let’s explore these amazing tour companies!
Table of Contents
- Cisticola Tours
- Nature’s Wonderland Safaris
- Wild Birding
- Tana Birding and Wildlife Safaris
- ConQuest Adventures
- Gracepatt Ecotours Kenya
- Africa Adventure Vacations
- Final thoughts on birding tours in Kenya
Cisticola Tours
Cisticola Tours is a safari company in East Africa. They lead nature and birding tours in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. The company started in 2007 and now offers many types of tours across East Africa.
Their team consists of local guides from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. These guides know the area well and can share their knowledge about nature and local life. They keep their tour groups small, with no more than six guests per vehicle. This ensures everyone gets a window seat and personal attention.
Cisticola Tours offers something for every bird lover visiting Kenya. If you’re looking for a traditional experience, their Classic Birding Tours are perfect. Want to spot birds that live only in Kenya? Try their Endemic Birding Tours in Kenya. These trips are great for spotting unique species you can’t find anywhere else in the world.
For those who want to explore beyond Kenya’s borders, Cisticola offers Combined Country Tours. Imagine birdwatching in Kenya and then exploring Tanzania’s avian wonders. If you’re a photographer, you’ll love their special Bird Photography Tours. These tours are designed to help you get the best shots.
Traveling on a tight budget? No problem! Cisticola’s Budget Birding Tours let you enjoy the wonders of Kenyan birds without breaking the bank. They also have Special Bird Tours to unique places like Manda Island in Lamu.
Short on time? Cisticola’s Day and Half-Day Tours are perfect for quick birding adventures. And if you have something specific in mind, don’t worry. Cisticola is happy to create custom tours just for you, based on the birds and places you most want to see.
Cisticola Tours aims to give birders a great experience while also helping nature and local people. They can adapt tours to fit different interests and skill levels, from beginners to expert birdwatchers. They also support local groups that work to save wildlife habitats.
Nature’s Wonderland Safaris
Nature’s Wonderland Safaris is a registered Kenyan travel company that started in 2003. They are based in Nairobi and known as one of the best travel companies in Kenya. They are a member of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO).
The company offers birding tours in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. They have their own safari vehicles that are well-equipped. These vehicles have radios, comfortable seats, and pop-up roofs for better viewing.
Nature’s Wonderland Safaris is proud of its guides. These guides speak various languages and know a lot about birds and wildlife. They have special training in tour guiding and bird watching. Some even take part in research projects with the Ornithology Department of Kenya.
The company offers several types of tours. If you’re looking for a well-planned adventure, their curated tours might be perfect for you. These trips are all set up and ready to go. But what if you have a specific idea in mind? No problem! They can create a tailor-made trip just for you. They’ll work with you to plan a journey that matches exactly what you want to see and do.
New to the world of birdwatching? Don’t worry, they’ve got you covered too. Their beginner tours are designed to introduce you to this fascinating hobby. You’ll learn the basics of birdwatching with guidance from their experienced guides.
Whatever your experience level or interests, Nature’s Wonderland Safaris aims to give you an unforgettable adventure in the beautiful landscapes of Kenya.
Wild Birding
Wild Birding is a tour company that specializes in birdwatching trips. They offer birding tours in Kenya and many other African countries. They are now also expanding to India, Latin America, and Asia. The company started in 2016 under a different name and changed to Wild Birding in 2024.
Sam Ferguson, the founder of Wild Birding, has loved birds since childhood. He grew up in the UK but fell in love with African birds during a trip in his twenties. Sam has lived in East Africa for 15 years. He has a home near Lake Naivasha in Kenya, where he often sees wildlife right outside his door.
Wild Birding offers three main types of tours. Let’s start with the Signature Birding Tours. These are the cream of the crop. They are carefully designed to showcase the most captivating birds Kenya has to offer.
But what if you have a specific birding dream? That’s where their custom-designed tours come in. Whether you’re traveling alone or with a group, and no matter if you have a long weekend or a month, Wild Birding can create a journey for you. It’s like having a tailor-made suit, where they stitch together the perfect birding experience.
For those who like to meet fellow bird enthusiasts, there are the Small Scheduled Group Birding Tours. These happen at the same time each year, like clockwork. They’ll take you to some of the top birding sites, where you can share the thrill of spotting a rare species with new friends who share your passion.
Last but not least, Wild Birding cares about nature and local communities. They try to make their trips good for the environment. They also support local projects that protect birds and their homes.
Tana Birding and Wildlife Safaris
Tana Birding and Wildlife Safaris is a Kenyan company that offers many types of tours. They do different kinds of trips, including birding tours in Kenya. The company wants to become Africa’s top travel agency. It also helps local communities through its work.
Their guides are well-trained and experienced. They know a lot about birds, wildlife, and how animals behave. Their safari vehicles are perfect for watching birds and taking photos. They have pop-up roofs so everyone can get a clear view. They also have radios for communication and first aid kits for safety.
Tana Birding offers tours to many beautiful places in Kenya. These include Funzi Island, Wasini Island, Kwale, Maasai Mara, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Tsavo. They also offer tours to some places in Tanzania.
They have 10 different pre-arranged birding tours in Kenya. These tours can be as short as one day or as long as 12 days. They make tours for all kinds of people, including families with children, teenagers, and honeymoon couples.
Each tour is designed to give visitors a special experience. Whether you want to spot birds, explore different parts of Kenya, or combine bird watching with other activities, Tana Birding aims to make your safari memorable.
ConQuest Adventures
ConQuest Adventures is a Kenyan tour company that offers birding tours in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The company believes in responsible tourism and helps local communities. They even plant indigenous trees after each tour to help protect nature.
Their guides are local experts who really love birds and know a lot about them. They know about local wildlife, culture, and history. They are also patient, kind, and good at spotting rare birds, even in dense forests. The company also works with community guides who know all the best spots for seeing specific birds.
ConQuest Adventures offers several types of birding tours in Kenya. Are you pressed for time but still want to see some amazing birds? Their Day Birding Tours might be what you need. If you can stretch your stay a bit longer, why not try their 3-day Forest Birding tour? It’s a wonderful chance to explore Kenya’s lush forests and their feathered inhabitants.
Traveling on a budget? Their 6-day Kenya Budget Birding Trip lets you enjoy great bird watching without spending too much. For those who want to dive deep into Kenya’s bird life, there are two great options. The first is the 15-day Kenya Coastal Birding Tour, where you can spot unique birds along Kenya’s beautiful coast. The second is the 20-day Kenya Birding Safari, which gives you the most complete birding experience.
But that’s not all. If you’re a photographer hoping to capture perfect shots of birds in their habitat, their Bird Photography Tours are just for you. They also create custom tours based on what you want to see. Groups are kept small, usually 6 to 12 people, so everyone gets personal attention from the guides.
Gracepatt Ecotours Kenya
Gracepatt Ecotours Kenya is a local tour company based in Kenya. While they mainly offer general safari tours in Kenya and Tanzania, they do have a special birding tour for bird enthusiasts.
Their guides are well-trained and friendly. Each guide knows a lot about the local area and wildlife. The company also offers 4×4 safari land cruisers and customized vans for hire. Every vehicle comes with an experienced driver-guide who stays with you throughout your trip.
For birdwatchers, Gracepatt offers a 9-day Birding Safari in Kenya. Your journey begins in the bustling city of Nairobi. From there, you’ll head to the legendary Maasai Mara, where you can spot various types of bustards, including the large Jackson’s bustard.
Then comes a string of amazing lakes, each with its own special birds to discover. At Lake Naivasha, you might spot fish eagles swooping down for their catch. Lake Nakuru often turns pink with a lot of flamingos, while Lake Baringo is a sanctuary for goliath herons and verreaux’s eagles. At Lake Bogoria, you’ll have another chance to see flamingos.
The adventure continues with a unique stay at Treetops, where you can watch birds right from your room. Your final destination before heading back to Nairobi is the wild Samburu region. There, you can find helmeted and vulturine guinea fowls.
This nine-day journey takes you through some of Kenya’s finest birdwatching spots. Each spot offers different species and landscapes. It’s like taking a greatest hits tour of Kenya’s bird life, all in one amazing trip.
Africa Adventure Vacations
Unlike the other tour companies that are based in Kenya, Africa Adventure Vacations is based in Uganda. They offer birding tours in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The company focuses on making bird watching fun and educational for everyone.
Their guides know a lot about birds and have plenty of experience leading tours. They help make sure each trip is enjoyable, whether you’re just starting out in bird watching or have been doing it for years.
Africa Adventure Vacations offers many different birding tours in Kenya. Let’s start with their short tours. These are perfect if you’re tight on time but still want to experience Kenya’s amazing bird life. You could spend a day combining bird watching with photography. Or, you could extend your adventure to two, three, or four days of pure birding excitement.
Got more time to explore? Their medium-length tours offer even more opportunities to discover Kenya’s feathered friends. The 5-day tour is designed for photographers who want to capture perfect bird shots. Or choose from their 6, 7, 8, or 9-day tours, each offering different routes and chances to see various bird species.
For the ultimate bird watching experience, their 14-day tour is hard to beat. This comprehensive journey gives you plenty of time to explore Kenya’s diverse bird habitats. You may also add many new species to your life list.
The best part? Every single one of these tours can be adjusted to match exactly what you want to see and do. Besides bird watching, they also offer other types of tours like gorilla safaris, fishing tours, and golf tours. The company cares about nature and local communities. They work with local people and help protect birds and their homes.
Final thoughts on birding tours in Kenya
We’ve explored seven excellent companies that offer birding tours in Kenya. Each company has its own features. They all offer trips to nearby countries too.
When picking a tour, think about what birds you want to see. This might help you choose between different tours and locations. Think also about your budget and how long you can stay in Kenya.
Remember, the best birding tours in Kenya aren’t always the most expensive ones. Look for tours that match your needs and interests. We hope this article can help you find the right tour company for your Kenya birding adventure.