Narrative and captions coming soon. This page will show highlights from an amazing trip with Ben Mugambi, owner of Ben's Ecological Safaris. In all, I spent almost 5 weeks in Kenya in January to early February, 2024. I was with my daughter for the first 3 weeks, followed by 2+ weeks of intensive birding on my own, guided by Ben. The itinerary was as follows:
With my daughter:
- One day in Nairobi, especially Nairobi National Park, to acclimatize and get an introduction for my daughter to East African wildlife.
- Laikipia Wilderness area, where we were so lucky to have several great looks at a black leopard, and lots of other great game, including several other "normal" leopards
- Samburu Game Reserve, one of the classic parks for seeing wildlife typical of drier, northern Kenya
- Ol Pejeta Coservancy, where the highlight is seeing rescued rhinos and chimps up close, and even feeding one of the rhinos, along with much other wildlife
- Lake Nakuru National Park, formerly known mostly for birds, but the tiny little park has fantastic wildlife as well, and is one of the best places in Africa to see both Black and White Rhinos
- Mara Game reserve, Kenya's most famous park, and one of the best places in Africa for "big game"
- Amboseli, the best place to see wildlife in front of the spectacular Mt. Kilimanjaro!
Intensive birding - on my own with Ben Mugambi:
- Tsavo National Park, West and East - Fantastic, huge park with tons of special birds and wildlife
- Taita Hills and Shimba Hills, two sets of cool hills rising out of the hot Tsavo plains and coastal lowlands, with lots of special birds (some interesting wildlife, but birds are the main attraction)
- Kenya Coast in the Malindi/Watamu area - bueautiful and interesting area, with some spectacular birds!
- Manda Island (in the Lamu archipelago). My "beach holiday" to end the trip. So much fun, and even a bit of great birding!
Because Kenya is so photographically spectacular, I took over 40,000 photos in total!! Because of this, I have just put some highlights here. You can go to the following links for mor photos from the various spectacular places visited:
Nairobi and central highlands (Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, and places in-between)
Laikipia Wilderness
Samburu
Mara and Amboseli
Tsavo
Taita and Shimba Hills
Watamu area
Manda Island
With my daughter:
- One day in Nairobi, especially Nairobi National Park, to acclimatize and get an introduction for my daughter to East African wildlife.
- Laikipia Wilderness area, where we were so lucky to have several great looks at a black leopard, and lots of other great game, including several other "normal" leopards
- Samburu Game Reserve, one of the classic parks for seeing wildlife typical of drier, northern Kenya
- Ol Pejeta Coservancy, where the highlight is seeing rescued rhinos and chimps up close, and even feeding one of the rhinos, along with much other wildlife
- Lake Nakuru National Park, formerly known mostly for birds, but the tiny little park has fantastic wildlife as well, and is one of the best places in Africa to see both Black and White Rhinos
- Mara Game reserve, Kenya's most famous park, and one of the best places in Africa for "big game"
- Amboseli, the best place to see wildlife in front of the spectacular Mt. Kilimanjaro!
Intensive birding - on my own with Ben Mugambi:
- Tsavo National Park, West and East - Fantastic, huge park with tons of special birds and wildlife
- Taita Hills and Shimba Hills, two sets of cool hills rising out of the hot Tsavo plains and coastal lowlands, with lots of special birds (some interesting wildlife, but birds are the main attraction)
- Kenya Coast in the Malindi/Watamu area - bueautiful and interesting area, with some spectacular birds!
- Manda Island (in the Lamu archipelago). My "beach holiday" to end the trip. So much fun, and even a bit of great birding!
Because Kenya is so photographically spectacular, I took over 40,000 photos in total!! Because of this, I have just put some highlights here. You can go to the following links for mor photos from the various spectacular places visited:
Nairobi and central highlands (Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, and places in-between)
Laikipia Wilderness
Samburu
Mara and Amboseli
Tsavo
Taita and Shimba Hills
Watamu area
Manda Island
