Butterfly & Bird Watching Safari

Butterfly & Bird Watching Safari

Summary

This is 16 days/15 nights’ Butterfly watching and bird watching safari that also gives you adventure of the wild and the beach. It begins from Nairobi takes you to the Rift Valley Lake in Naivasha, up to Nyahururu, to Mt Kenya, we will also take you to a tea firm, then on SGR train to Taita Hills, down to Mombasa, further to Shimba hills in the South and you finish with Watamu. The trip can either end in Nairobi or Mombasa depending on how your flight is booked.

This provides an incentive for their participation in the conservation of a forest with high biodiversity and endemism.

Day 1:Nairobi-Naivasha

On arrival at JomoKenyatta International Airport, you will be met by our representative who will share with you the itinerary then you depart Nairobi on to Limuru ponds that may provide sights of Maccoa duck,Southern pochard,Northern shoveller, herons,egrets, Red knobbed coot,Moorhen and more.

You will then proceed on to the Rift Valley view point where you will have a clear view of the Rift Valley.You will then proceed to Lake Naivasha, the shores and forests of the lake are excellent birding territory as waters of the Lake obviously attract many waterbirds including the continent’s highest concentration of African Fish Eagles, many Goliath Heron, Jacanas, Pied and Malachite Kingfisher, Red-knobbed coot, Spoonbills, Little Grebe, rare Maccoa Duck, African Darters and Saddle Billed Stork.You can also enjoy a boat ride within the Lake.

You will go back to the lodge for lunch and later in the afternoon drive on to Hells gate National Park as cliffs of this Park are important nesting areas for many raptor species. Here you can see Black eagle, Augur buzzard,Schallow’s wheatear,Red capped and rufous naped lark. You will enjoy your drive around the park and you have a choice of doing a SPA Geothermal spa or do rock climbing both within the park.

You are expected at the lodge in good time for dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE LODGE.

Day 2: Naivasha-Lake OL Bolossat

After your breakfast, you will embark on a 2 hours trip through Gilgil to Lake Ol’ Bolossat in Nyandarua.

After your breakfast, you will embark on a 2 hours trip through Gilgil to Lake Ol’ Bolossat in Nyandarua.

You will arrive in good time to take a guided walk along the lake where as you enjoy the scenery, some wildlife and bird watching. You will return to the camp in good time for lunch and continue with your walks in the afternoon.

Return in the camp in good time for dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE PARK.

Day 3: Lake OL Bolossat-Mount Kenya National Park.

Today, after breakfast you will embark on a three and half hours’ drive through Nyandarua town, Ndaragua, Lamuria, NaroMoru and finally to Mt Kenya National Park. You are expected to arrive in good time for lunch and later take a game drive for bird watching but also see animals.

You are expected back to the lodge in good time for dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE LODGE.

Day 4 : Mount Kenya-Kiambethu Tea Firm

After your breakfast you will embark on your three and a half drive through Nyeri, Makuyu, Thika and finally to Nairobi. You will check in to a mall for lunch and later depart to Kiambethu Tea Firm.

On arrival you will be met and welcome with a cup of tea as you are given an insight into the tea making process beginning with the picking of tea leaves. You will also be shown how the plants were used traditionally as medicine. This will then be followed by an opportunity to see tea in the field by taking a walk through the tea plantations and the forests accompanied by the resident guide as you watch the Colobus monkeys and birds that are resident in the gardens and enjoying the sweeping views across the tea fields to the Ngong Hills.

You can are will depart in good time for you to head to the Carnivore restaurant for dinner and later be transferred to your hotel.

OVER NIGHT AT THE HOTEL.

Day 5: Nairobi-Taita Hills National Park

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the train terminal for your SGR scheduled train to Voi. In Voi you will meet with our representative who will transfer you to the lodge. You are expected in good timefor lunch and later take an afternoon Game drive.

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the train terminal for your SGR scheduled train to Voi. In Voi you will meet with our representative who will transfer you to the lodge. You are expected in good timefor lunch and later take an afternoon Game drive.

You are expected back to the lodge in good time for dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE LODGE

Day 6: Taita Hills

This day after breakfast you will depart to Chaiwa forest within the hills en route a game drive to a butterfly project tour.

Taita Hills are also a home to many of the flying beauties, the butterflies. As a matter of fact, there are three butterfly species that are endemic to these forests – found nowhere else on Earth. In Chawia forest in the Taita Hills, a group of youth is engaged in butterfly farming; they rear and sell butterfly pupae as one of its core livelihood activities. The group is determined to keep the forest conserved by encouraging the planting of indigenous trees.

You are expected back to the lodge for lunch, have the rest of the afternoon at leisure and later depart for an evening game drive. You will be back to the lodge for dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE LODGE.

Day 7: Taita Hills-Mombasa

After enjoying your breakfast, we again embark on another trip to the coastal town of Mombasa. We are expected in good time for lunch and have the rest of the afternoon at leisure either engaging in water activities of just enjoying your time at the beach.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL

Day 8: Mombasa Butterfly House

After breakfast, you will embark on your tour van as we take a tour of the city including Haller Park. We will visit the Fort Jesus - a historical, National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site houses the Mombasa Butterfly House.

This house presents you with a paradise of tropical butterflies, and unforgettable experience. The World Class Eco-tourism facility invites you to enjoy nature, learn about biodiversity and its importance to local communities living around coastal forests. It is a happy feeling to be exposed and experience nature & butterflies contributing to our well-being.

You will later check in to a mall for lunch and a chance for you to purchase any personal needs and later we visit the Haller Park.

Haller Park is the most beautiful natural recreation ground that offers you a chance to reconnect with mother earth and discover rare species of animals and birds. The park features a diversity of vegetation, from mangrove palms to coastal forests and each plant plays a vital role in harmonizing the ecosystem. You can do an escorted tour by a highly trained guide who will escort you around ensuring your visit is enjoyable and educational. We can arrange for a tree planting at the nature trail.

You will be expected back to the hotel in good time for dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL

Day 9: At Leisure at The Hotel

On this day, you will enjoy your stay at the hotel and you have the option of taking water sports activities or just relax at the hotel enjoying the facility the offer or at the beach.

Day 10: Mombasa - Shimba Hills National Reserve

After your breakfast, you will drive down for about 2 hours south Coast to the Shimba hills National reserve which is one of the largest coastalforests after ArabukoSokoke forest.You are expected to arrive in good time, have lunch and later take an afternoon game drive within the park.

This is an important bird area, and is frequently visited by specialist Birding safaris. Species of interest recorded here include the Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Fischer’s Turaco, Sokoke Pipit, East Coast Akalat, migratory Eurasian Cuckoos, red-necked-Spur fowl, Croaking Cisticola and Zanzibar Red Bishop

Other than bird watching, this park is a paradise of the Sable antelope and hosts the highest density of the African Elephants. It is here that you will also see the small five including elephant shrew, bushy tailed mongoose and fruit batsamong others. You are expected in good time to the lodge for dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

You return to the lodge in good time for dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL

Day 11: Shimba Hills National Reserve-Watamu

On this day, you will enjoy your breakfast and later embark on a four hours’ drive to Watamu.

The Malindi-Watamu area is very popular with specialist birding safaris. Mida Creek, along with the beaches of Watamu are a feeding area for Western Reef Heron, Lesser Crested Tern, and shorebirds such as the Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper and Greater and Lesser Sandplover. Offshore Whale Island is an occasional breeding ground for Roseate and Bridled Terns. To the North, the Sabaki river mouth attracts Madagascar Pratincole, Sooty Gull and the Lesser Crested and Saunder’s Tern. It is also home for ArabukoSokoke Forest home to Butterflies and birds.

You are expected to arrive in good time for lunch and have the rest of the day at leisure enjoying the amenities and activities at the hotel or just enjoying the beach.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL.

Day 12: Arabuko Sokoke National Park

Today after breakfast we will take 30minutes’ drive to the ArabukoSokoke National Park.

This park is a home to over 20% of Kenya’s bird species and 30% butterfly species. Among the endemics here is the SokokeScops Owl, the world’s rarest Owl, the rare Clarke’s Weaver, Fischer’s Turaco, Southern Banded Snake Eagle and the Amani and Plain backed Sunbirds.

There is a butterfly project in this park, the farmers and the butterfly conservationists have identified more than 263 species here of which 70 have commercial potential. Locals have been taught on how to breed the butterflies instead of going back to illegal logging and this has greatly saved the endangered forest.

You are expected back to the hotel in good time for lunch then have the rest of the afternoon at leisure enjoying the beach life or participate in water activities.

Day 13: The Mida Butterfly Farm

Today after breakfast, we will take a tour to the Mida Butterfly farm.

The firm specializes in the breeding of local Lepidoptera for the live pupae export market. The Farm has been in operation for over 18 years.Over 300 species of butterfly, many of which are endemic to the area, occur within a 15 km radius of Watamu. Some of the species found here are Papilio, Graphium, Charaxes, Euxanthe, Salamis, Amauris, Hypolimnus, Precis and a few Saturnids in this area. Specialties, exclusively bred by the Mida farm, include: Hypolimnususambara and anthedon, Salamis cacta and anacardi, Euxanthetiberias and several other coastal forest species.

You will return to the hotel for lunch them depart immediately to the Coral Garden in MalindiMarine Park.Here you will enjoy a glass bottom boat ride and you can opt for other water activities.

The Marine Park is endowed with magnificent resources such as fringing reef,-which is close to shore and exposed during low tide-, coral gardens in the lagoons, sea grass beds, mangroves, mudflats, marine mammals, turtles and various species of shorebirds. The fringing reef

You are expected at the hotel in good time for Dinner and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

Day 14: Leisure

This day you have it to yourself and you can enjoy the amenities at the hotels, the water sports activities or just enjoy your beach life.

Day 15: Leisure

This day you have it to yourself and you can enjoy the amenities at the hotels, the water sports activities or just enjoy your beach life.

Day 16: Watamu - Back Home

ON this day, you will either be transferred to Malindi airport for your local flight to Nairobi then connect to your flight back home or be transferred to Mombasa Airport where you can board your flight back home.

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