It is another long drive as we headed through the Loita Plains and across the Rift Valley to Nairobi. It is mainly an open landscape with a few Maasai bomas (above), punctuated with stands of acacias. Along the way we saw Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Usambiro Barbet, Silverbird and paused for a group of vultures on a cattle…

We awoke to the sounds of calling Montane Nightjars and Hyaena’s. At first light three Oribi (above), an uncommon small antelope in Kenya, watched us walking to breakfast. Ahead of us we had a long day, having to traverse the Mara. The morning began with a handful of raptors, Gabar Goshawk, African Goshawk, Black-shouldered Kite,…

Set on the Oloololo Escarpment the Mara West tented camp overlooks the Maasai Mara (above). Below us wildebeest dot the northwestern plains. The spectacle of migration is extraordinary, and there is a tremendous concentration in this part of the Mara Triangle. A herd of Elephants is spotted walking along a croton thicket on their way…

Kisumu, the countries third largest city, lies on the eastern side of Lake Victoria. We made two stops that took the better part of 3 hours and were very successful. At Dunga Swamp a Papyrus Gonolek was tantalizing close but never showed. The equally stunning Black-headed Gonolek on the other hand showed well. Along the…

The road between Kapsabet and the turn off to Kakamega Forest has gotten worse and the short drive, which can not be much more than 20 kms, took almost an hour! Once in the Kakamega Forest Reserve we soon had the large canopy dwelling Black-and-white Casqued Hornbills flying over. Being late afternoon we headed straight…

The grounds of Baringo Club were alive with birds. Two owls to start the day is a good omen – a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl was by the pool, and behind our rooms, an African Scops Owl had settled in for the day. It is only a short drive from the club to the basalt cliff…

Heading north out of Nakuru, Kenya’s 4th largest town, we crossed the equator once more on our way to another of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes, Bogoria. Being at the lowest elevation of the trip so far, 3160 feet, as well as mid afternoon once we arrived, it was hot! There is only one poorly-conditioned…

Over the course of an afternoon and the following morning we did a full circuit of the lake and while the birding is excellent, here the mammals were heavily featured. As with Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru’s water level had receded tremendously making the anticipated Lesser Flamingo (below) show greatly diminished with fewer numbers. Sadly, the…

Lake Naivasha has suffered tremendously from the drought and the water level was considerably below normal (above). Consequently, we were only able to do the boat ride around the Crescent Island loop, nevertheless it was a most enjoyable hour and half. Of note, Crescent Island was where the non-predator mammal scenes in Out of Africa…

The stately Yellow-barked Acacias that adorn much of the Lake Naivasha County Club (above) grounds are truly a magnet for birds. Tropical Boubou, Fischer’s Lovebirds, Eastern Black-headed Oriole and Red-chested Cuckoo certainly were the most vocal. It is a wonderful location to see the emerald and white Klaas’s Cuckoo, and that did not disappoint. Red-faced…

Solio Plains with Aberdare Range in the background A slow drive across the bumpy dirt road that traverses the Solio Plains allowed us to enjoy many wonderful birds on this windy morning. A flock of Long-tailed Widowbirds, including several males in full breeding plumage, flew across the road and alighted on a wire fence. Along…

We arrived at Naro Moru River Lodge (above) in front of an approaching storm, but before it put a halt to the afternoons proceedings we did have a few excellent sightings. The grounds are lush and full of flowers making it a haven for sunbirds that included Tacazze, Bronze, Variable, both Northern Double-collared (below) and…