On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your Neste Uganda Safaris guide will greet you and
transfer you to your Nairobi hotel. Depending on your arrival time, visit Nairobi National Museum
grounds and Nairobi Arboretum, home to birds like the African paradise flycatcher, Hartlaub’s turaco,
and the Bronze sunbird. These sites offer easy birding in a green urban setting, perfect to warm up for
the days ahead.
In the late afternoon, enjoy a brief orientation and cultural introduction to Kenya’s ethnic groups at
Bomas of Kenya, a cultural center showcasing traditional music, dance, and homestead replicas. Here,
guests can experience colorful Kikuyu dances, high-energy Maasai jumping displays, and Swahili taarab
music. Dinner and overnight stay in Nairobi.

Depart Nairobi after breakfast and head northwest to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake in the Great Rift
Valley. En route, stop briefly at Escarpment Viewpoint for panoramic photos and a chance to spot Augur
buzzards, Rock martins, and White-necked ravens. Arrive in time for lunch and a guided birding walk
along the lake shore and gardens. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, spotting African
fish eagles, Goliath herons, Malachite kingfishers, Red-knobbed coots, and Great white pelicans. You’ll
also see hippos and possibly African jacanas walking on floating vegetation. At your lakeside lodge,
watch for birds like Black-lored babblers and Yellow-billed ducks in the garden before sunset.

Today starts with a morning birding and nature walk or cycle through Hell’s Gate National Park, a
dramatic landscape of cliffs, canyons, and volcanic towers. Bird highlights here include Verreaux’s
eagles, Nyanza swifts, Yellow-rumped seedeaters, and White-fronted bee-eaters nesting in rock
crevices. You may also spot mammals like zebras, elands, and rock hyraxes. In the afternoon, visit a local
Kikuyu or Maasai community, where you’ll engage in cultural exchange—learn about herbal medicine,
traditional crafts, and indigenous food preparation. Hear stories from elders and enjoy traditional tea or
a local meal. Return to Naivasha for dinner and overnight.

Depart Naivasha after breakfast and drive to nearby Lake Nakuru National Park, a designated Ramsar
wetland and a UNESCO-recognized site for bird conservation. After checking in at your lodge, begin
birding immediately along the shores and acacia woodland. Expect to see large numbers of Lesser and
Greater flamingos, Black-winged stilts, Yellow-billed storks, and Grey-headed gulls.
In the woodlands and escarpments, look out for Narina trogons, Levaillant’s cuckoo, Eastern honey-
buzzard, and African hoopoes. The park is also home to white and black rhinos, lions, Rothschild’s
giraffes, and leopards, which may be spotted between birding sessions. Overnight stay inside or near the
park.

After an early birding walk, depart Lake Nakuru and drive south toward the Maasai Mara National
Reserve, Kenya’s most celebrated wildlife area. Along the way, you’ll pass small towns and open
savannah where you might spot Long-tailed fiscals, Black-shouldered kites, and Northern anteater chat.
Arrive in time for a late lunch and afternoon birding/game drive. The Mara is excellent for spotting
grassland and raptor species such as Secretary birds, Lappet-faced vultures, Crowned plovers, Kori
bustards, and Temminck’s coursers. In the evening, visit a Maasai manyatta (village) to learn about
pastoralist traditions, their strong connection to wildlife, and vibrant beadwork culture. Return to your
lodge for dinner under the stars.

Spend the day exploring Maasai Mara with both birding and wildlife-focused game drives. Morning
hours are best for seeing Lilac-breasted rollers, Grey-crowned cranes, Bare-faced go-away birds, and
various sunbirds like Scarlet-chested and Variable sunbird. The riverine areas may reveal African pygmy
kingfishers, Yellow-throated sandgrouse, and Green pigeons.
Besides birding, you’ll also encounter lions, elephants, buffalos, cheetahs, and—if lucky—leopards
lounging in trees. You may have a bush picnic in the savannah while watching raptors circle above. Later,
return to camp for dinner and optionally join a night walk (if offered), where you might hear nocturnal
birds like Verreaux’s eagle-owl or Slender-tailed nightjars.

After breakfast and a final short birding walk near camp (watch for Red-cheeked cordon-bleus and
Yellow-crowned canaries), begin your journey back to Nairobi. Optionally stop at viewpoints or craft
markets along the way for souvenirs and last photos of Rift Valley landscapes. On arrival in Nairobi,
depending on your flight time, enjoy a farewell meal or relax at a hotel before your transfer to Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport. With over 300 bird species sighted and meaningful cultural exchanges
along the way, this safari concludes with unforgettable memories of Kenya’s natural and cultural
wonders.