Tour Leader: Quinton Paul Josop
Tour price (Per person): USD7,495 * GBP5,964 * EUR7,186 * AUD11,990
Single Supplement: USD1,180 * GBP939 * EUR1,131 * AUD1,888
Flight costs: USD140 * GBP111 * EUR134 * AUD224
Kenya is well regarded as one of the finest safari destinations on the planet, and rightly so. Our 2-week Kenya Highlights tour traverses a wide range of habitat from coastal forest and woodlands, acacia savanna and central African rainforest to papyrus swamps and rolling grassy savanna as we target a mouth-watering array of Kenya’s most special birds. The game viewing will also be a significant highlight as we explore famous Kenyan game reserves such as Tsavo West, Tsavo East and Lake Nakuru National Parks!
Our tour begins with an exploration of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. Here we will endeavour to find some of the rarest birds in Africa, including the diminutive Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit, Fischer’s Turaco, Amani Sunbird and Clarke’s Weaver. We then travel through both Tsavo East and West Parks, offering excellent game viewing and a huge bird list. We will also take time to visit the isolated Taita Hills, with its critically endangered species. We then head across to western Kenya to the famous Kakamega Forest. Here a plethora of forest specials await, with the gorgeous Blue-headed Bee-eater, Turner’s Eremomela, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat and Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye being notable targets. After exploring the papyrus swamps and moist woodlands along Lake Victoria for the striking Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary and numerous other wetland specialties, we’ll make our way to the famous Lake Nakuru National Park, supporting populations of both species of African rhinoceros and several other megafauna.
Join us for what promises to be an extraordinary tour offering an incredible diversity of wildlife, superb scenery, wonderful lodges and tented camps, and super-friendly tribal people!
Blue-headed & Somali Bee-eaters; Sokoke Scops Owl; Sokoke, Golden & Malindi Pipits; Clarke's & Golden Palm Weavers; Amani, Plain-backed & Tsavo Sunbirds; Green-headed Oriole; Fischer's & Black-billed Turacos; Equatorial & East Coast Akalats; Taita & Black-headed Apalis; Taita White-eye; Taita Thrush; Golden-breasted & Magpie Starlings; Turner's Eremomela; Yellow-bellied & Jameson's Wattle-eyes; Brown-chested Alethe; Blue-shouldered & Grey-winged Robin-Chats; Grey-chested Babbler; White-headed Wood Hoopoe; Red-headed Bluebill; Papyrus Canary; Papyrus Gonolek; Red-naped Bushshrike; Three-streaked Tchagra; Pringle's Puffback; Red-throated Tit; Miombo Wren-Warbler; Pangani Longclaw; Steel-blue & Straw-tailed Whydahs; Red-throated Twinspot.
Lion; Leopard; Cheetah; African Elephant; African Buffalo; Black Rhinoceros; Lesser Kudu; Golden-rumped Sengi; Sable Antelope; Serval; Spotted & Striped Hyaena; Aardwolf; Gerenuk; Beisa Oryx; Maasai & Reticulated Giraffe.
lowland coastal forest, grasslands, estuaries, beaches, mangroves, acacia savanna, temporary and permanent wetlands, rivers, central African rainforest,
warm to hot, dry conditions mostly but humid along the coast, cooler at higher elevations and rain can be expected
6 with 1 Rockjumper Leader
Moderate. Some long travel days, forest birding can be challenging.
comfortable safari lodges and hotels
A mix of forest & savanna birding. Most savanna species provide good visuals in open conditions. Forest birding is more challenging with some low-density species.
Maasai people, African curios
Good to excellent in savanna habitat from vehicle. Typical forest orientated lighting difficulties & skulking species.
I've never been on a safari trip so I had no way of knowing what was involved. Due to my age (83) and slight incapacity (I use a cane, aka "stick," to maintain balance) the trip was more challenging than I had anticipated. But Stuart Elsom, our guide, and Jack, our expert driver and expert birder, made accommodations that made it possible for me to undertake and get the most out of the experience. 342 life list birds! All in all, an unforgettable experience. Thank you for the wonderful birding experience. I will definitely recommend Rockjumper tours to my younger friends and family members.
Heinz Ortmann was charming and funny, outstanding on the birds and other animals, and excellent in dealing with the logistics. I would be very happy to travel with Heinz again.
Stuart took my "hit list" and ensured that I saw as many as possible. Driver/guide Jack and local guides also helpful. Accommodation and food generally good. One negative was that Landcruiser was cramped and difficult to enter and exit, but apparently a 4X4 is necessary for this tour. Overall very happy with the tour and total list. Other participants also enjoyed it.
David Hoddinott and indeed the drivers and Alison were all amazing - making this a life-changing experience. Everything went far better than expected throughout the tour in my opinion. I do not see how it could have been improved. Well done to all!
This was a first-rate trip. Itinerary, accommodation, people and , of course, Glen's great leading and bird-finding were all excellent.
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Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game I 2024 - April 2024
Kenya - Birds & Big Game (Relaxed) II 2024 - February 2024
Kenya - Highlights II 2023 - November 2023
Kenya - Highlights I 2023 - October 2023
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game IV 2023 - April 2023
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game III 2023 - April 2023
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game I 2023 - March 2023
Kenya - Mega Birding Tour I 2023 - March 2023
Kenya - Relaxed 2023 - March 2023
Kenya - Highlights 2022 - November 2022
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game V 2022 - September 2022
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game II 2022 - April 2022
Kenya - Mega Birding Tour 2022 - March 2022
Kenya - Highlights I 2021 - December 2021
Kenya - Highlights III 2021 - November 2021
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game III 2021 - April 2021
Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game V 2020 - November 2020