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This was the trip of a lifetime for us, a bucket list item, and an adventure. We had high expectations of the adventure, and it surpassed them all. We struggle to find words for what an amazing experience this was. The birds of the Masai Mara was like entering into a secret world, and one I wish we could return to again and again. Elsamere - what an amazing location, with the Joy Adamson history, museum, and animals coming right into the camp. Seeing giraffe and zebra wandering past your window is magical, as well as the wide range of birds right there on your doorstep. Basecamp Maasai Mara - what an incredible place - seeing mongoose, owls, snakes, monkeys and birds while walking around is magical. And a chorus of hyena at night, so many different sounds. The food was exceptional, and service (thank you, Brannigan) impeccable and friendly (he remembered our preferences and drink orders from day 1, for the whole stay). The same day laundry service was great - makes it much easier to be comfortable in the heat. We loved the combination of seeing Lake Naivasha from a boat, Hells Gate Park, walking the grounds of Elsamere, the Maasai Mara, and even spotting things on the roadside on the longer drives. We saw 238 different species of birds, plus so many big cats, herd animals, reptiles - seeing lion cubs eating from a kill, and a serval cat across the plain were my personal animal highlights. Bird highlights are probably eagles, secretary birds, hornbills, and shrikes - as well as seeing a lilac breasted roller eat a grasshopper bigger than its head. But we were spoiled for choice for our favourite birds. Seeing a pride of lions - males, females and cubs with a kill, while vultures and a jackal lurked nearby, was one of the greatest wildlife experiences I’ve had. It was especially good because unlike other times we’d seen big cats, there was not a huge mob of vehicles, the animal’s space was respected, and we were able to be part of that without disturbing them. John was amazing - he knew bird calls so well, he managed to find us so many different species. He knew just where to look for the birds we wanted to see, and was able to explain their behaviour. Whenever we spotted a bird, John would make sure every one of us had seen it. He requested, and was very open to feedback - adjusting how he shared information to make it easier for us to remember. Using the guidebook to show us pictures of the bird we’d just see was a great way to remember them. He also listened to our preferences, and adjusted what we saw in the Maasai Mara to meet our choices. Going through the checklist with him at the end of the day was great!
M.C. Midlothian, Nov24
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Birds of Kenya's Maasai Mara
Tour Code: KEN01Kenya is home to over 1,000 species of bird. This birdwatching safari explores two of its richest areas: Lake Naivasha, which sits within the spectacular Rift Valley, and the open grassy plains of the Maasai Mara.
£4,995
£4,295
Highlights
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Summary
Kenya is one of the world’s great ornithological hotspots and home to over 1,000 species of birds. This birdwatching safari explores two of its richest areas, Lake Naivasha, which sits within the spectacular Rift Valley, and the open grassy plains of the Maasai Mara. We start at Elsamere on the shores of Lake Naivasha, once home to Joy and George Adamson, but now home to Golden-winged Sunbirds, Superb Starlings and African Fish Eagles. We then move to the world-famous Maasai Mara where we stay for five nights at the luxury Basecamp Masai Mara. Martial Eagle, Kori Bustard, Crowned Crane, Carmine Bee-eater and Rosy-breasted Longclaw are all likely, plus a wealth of mammals including Elephant, Maasai Giraffe, Thomson’s Gazelle, Cheetah and Lion.
- Visit the world-famous Maasai Mara
- Exceptional birdlife of Lake Naivasha
- Spectacular Rift Valley scenery
- 2 nights at Elsamere, former home of Joy and George Adamson, authors of ‘Born Free’
- 5 nights at the luxury Basecamp Masai Mara
- Abundant birdlife
- Numerous African mammals including Elephant and Maasai Giraffe
- Lion, Cheetah & Leopard all possible
- Expertly guided by a local Kenyan ornithologist
Kenya is, to many people, the emotional heart of East Africa. It is the definitive safari destination, where game animals graze the acacia-dotted grassland in enormous numbers, all the time menaced by predators such as Lions and Cheetahs, while Elephants and Maasai Giraffes look on from on high. Some of these images have been ingrained in our consciousness by a host of memorable wildlife documentaries, but back in a gentler age, many were influenced by the charming story of Joy and George Adamson. These pioneering conservationists of the 1940s and 1950s raised an orphaned lioness called Elsa and released her into the wild. Joy Adamson's best-selling book Born Free spawned a TV series and feature film of the same name, as well as a conservation foundation that still thrives today.
Kenya is a remarkably rich country for birds. Over 1,100 species have been recorded, the second highest country tally in all of Africa, only the Democratic Republic of Congo's list is higher. But while birding, you can hardly overlook the wonderful abundance of mammals on offer too.
Following a night in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, we will spend two nights at Lake Naivasha, which sits within the spectacular East African Rift Valley. The scenery is awe-inspiring, especially on the approach road, and this superb, reed-fringed wetland is home to an unsurpassed abundance of birds including White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Yellow-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, Black Heron, Black Crake, Spur-winged Goose, Yellow-billed Duck, Long-toed Plover and Malachite Kingfisher. It also has a bumper Hippo population, and the wild, far-carrying cries of African Fish Eagles ring across the waters. Optional boat trips are available for those who wish to head out on the lake.
The woodlands sloping down from Elsamere and on to the shores of the lake are also excellent for birds, and we will wander through the trees here in search of species such as Klass's Cuckoo, Speckled Mousebird, Fischer's Lovebird, Green Woodhoopoe, Amethyst and Golden-winged Sunbirds, African Paradise Flycatcher, Superb Starling, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Spectacled Weaver and Red-cheeked Cordonbleu. In all, 350 bird species have been recorded in the area. Mammals, meanwhile, include Grant's Gazelle, Maasai Giraffe and ubiquitous troops of black and white Colobus.
For the latter part of our safari, we will move to Basecamp Masai Mara, which is set on the northern edge (but just outside) the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a rising grassland covering over 1,500 square kilometres. It is contiguous with Tanzania's huge Serengeti National Park and the animals freely roam between the two. The Maasai Mara is the temporary August to October home of the famous clockwise migration of 1.2 million Blue Wildebeest and 200,000 Plains Zebra! It is a proverbial 'mammal megafauna marvel', and during our five nights here we will look for Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, Warthog, Black-backed Jackal, Spotted Hyena, Plains Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Thomson's and Grant's Gazelles, Eland, Topi, Maasai Giraffe, Hippo and many others. Leopards are present too but are tricky to find. We will explore the Maasai Mara on a series of morning and afternoon game drives (with a siesta back at camp in between) and a full day's game drive on one day to allow us to head further afield.
The Maasai Mara's birdlife is so diverse as to defy description! Some of the more famous species include Ostrich, Grey Crowned Crane, Secretarybird, Kori Bustard, Southern Carmine Bee-eater (which sometimes perches on a Kori Bustard's back), Martial Eagle, Southern Ground Hornbill, Black-bellied Bustard and a plethora of herons, waders, raptors, barbets, finches, weavers, turacos, glossy starlings, sunbirds and kingfishers. A kaleidoscope of colour and diversity that is sure to remain in the memory long after we return to Nairobi Airport for our overnight flight home.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
In Nairobi we use a comfortable tourist hotel. For the 2 nights at Lake Naivasha we stay at Elsamere, the former home of Joy and George Adamson. Basecamp Masai Mara is a small permanent bush camp on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Additional information can be found in the detailed tour itinerary.
- Food:
Meals, except for dinner on Day 1 and lunch and dinner on Day 9, are all included.
Reviews
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The best Naturetrek trip of the four I have been on, and the bar was already set pretty high. I absolutely loved the combination of Elsamere and Maasai Mara! John deserves an A+ for both effort and attitude. He was relentlessly positive and worked almost without pause to help us see the fantastic wildlife in Kenya. John adjusted plans according to our interests - we spent more time on birds, and less on big game, but really managed to see an incredible array of wildlife. Although we came for the birds, observing an extended lion family feeding on an Eland they had taken down was absolutely unforgettable. Waking up to the beautiful calls of Fish Eagles at Elsamere was a special memory, and listening to the range of hyena calls at night at Base Camp Maasai Mara was truly amazing.
S.R. Switzerland, Nov24 -
I very much enjoyed my (first ever) birding holiday. How am I supposed to pick one highlight, when one night I was awakened by a giraffe, walking by our room, followed by a zebra, grazing in front of our window is such an impressive sight. Not sure that outshines seeing a lilac-breasted roller trying to swallow a giant grasshopper or a Secretary bird stampeding looking for pray. Not to mention witnessing a pride of lions with cubs devouring a Topi antelope. Our guide, John was very knowledgeable about his birds, but also other animals and plants were easily identified by him. I loved how every day before dinner, we would go over our species lists together, logging all the species we managed to see that day. During the drives, he was very accommodating, made sure we all saw a species before driving on and even re-positioning the car for optimal photography light.
D.H. Germany, Nov24 -
On the whole this was an excellent trip and we both had a great time... we saw some amazing sights and would recommend a Naturetrek trip to anyone.
J.A. Cheshire -
We did enjoy the trip and the company we were in, and the camp and lodge staff were excellent. We will probably use Naturetrek again!
S.B. Suffolk -
A fabulous trip which we both much enjoyed. Both Zac and John really knew their stuff and were really good guides. Mara was a mind-blowing experience.
P.C. Buckinghamshire -
The holiday was even better than I thought, with so much knowledge on a wide range of subjects from Zac and Peter, including plants, flowers, insects, animals and birds. Well done to Naturetrek for having the right guides!
K.F. Derbyshire -
Wonderful hosts. not forgetting the very helpful, polite and friendly staff. Would recommend this tour to anyone.
H.B. Norfolk -
I very much enjoyed my trip to Kenya. Birdwatching was first rate and the game viewing an added bonus. We saw lions, cheetah, and leopards. The staff took good care of us and were vigilant in ensuring our safety...Thanks to all concerned.
C.L. Dorset -
The two guides and two drivers were excellent allowing us the best views possible of the wildlife. Elsamere was lovely and very interesting, I’m glad we had two nights there as one would definitely not have been enough. Excellent cuisine!
H.M. Scotland -
The two drivers were excellent and were particularly good on the game drives. They seemed to know instinctively the best positions to take to anticipate leopards and cheetahs! The guides John and Douglas were first class. John was particularly good on calls and Douglas was like a walking encyclopaedia of Kenya.
T.M. Scotland -
A fabulous and unforgettable trip; guides, drivers and staff all made it a memorable experience.
G.H. Yorkshire -
Our drivers and guides planned our days to perfection.
A.M. Hampshire -
What an experience. Elsamere overlooked Lake Naivasha and at night we had zebras and hippos wandering round the lawn outside our bungalow. The food was amazing with homemade meals and cakes at teatime to die for.
J. & C.P. London -
Not only was the birding wonderful, but we were also very fortunate to see so many mammals. My first sighting of a hippo in the water will stay with me for a very long time - as will the lions, cheetahs, leopards, rhinoceros, African elephants etc. oh - and the birds, of course.
J.H. Lancashire -
John, the birdwatching guide was a star. Excellent knowledge of local birds both in finding and identifying them. The bird (and animal) life was amazing.
P.C. London
Dates & Prices
2026
2027
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