Birding sites within Nairobi

There are couple of places that are  close to the capital,which are productive and rewarding  in numbers of Birds species

1 Nairobi National Park- 117sqkm
Oldest Park in  Kenya over 60 years old, more than 500 Bird species have been recorded
The Park has four of the Big Five,and has its own migration, Most of the herbivores move outside the park in search of pasture during the dry season,
Roads are motorable throughtout the year and they are well sign posted
Park Entrances Charges Non Residents/Child & student USD 43/22, Residents/Child & student Ksh 1030/515 Citizens/Child & student Ksh 430/215
Gates open @ 6:30 am in the Morning
http://www.kws.go.ke/content/park-fees-and-accommodation

 2.Magadi Road

There are numerous stop overs along this road with the first one at Kona baridi(cold bend) ,The fun part of it, you do birding while walking as opposed to many areas where you confined into a vehicle

3 Gatamaiyu Forest

Gatamaiyu is part of the  larger Kereita forest, which is an extension of  southern- most end indigenous forest of the Aberdare Ranges, an ideal destination for Urban birding and hiking,Gatamaiyu is good for many afro tropical highland species,its one and half hour drive from Nairobi,

 Manguo Ponds

A wetland 30 minutes drive from Nairobi, a nice area for variety of Waterfowl and a localized Maccoa Duck,Its fresh water is a magnet for the water birds and other highland species such as the Malachite Sunbird, Hunters Cisticola,Ayres's Hawk Eagle,Migrant species,Spotted Crake,Ferruginous Duck,Southern Pochard,Northern Shoveler & Pintail,Garganey  have all been recorded.

                  5 Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost  was discovered in 1996 by coffee farmers in Kiambu. Paradise Lost has a beautiful scenery which oozes such beauty that the name fittingly benefits the surrounding and the nature

Paradise Waterfall

. The main attraction at Paradise Lost Resort in Kiambu which is a 54 acre farm is the Paradise Lost Resort caves  that are eroded by the nearby Gichi River in Kenya with their entrance screened by an impressive cascading Paradise Lost waterfall .

More than 100 species of birds may be seen on a good day. Entrance fee is at Ksh. 300 per person for adults and Ksh.250 for children.

Northern Pied Babbler

5 Karura Forest

Situated in the northern part of Nairobi city, Karura Forest is 1,041 hectares, making it one of the largest urban gazetted forests in the world. The forest holds nearly all the 605 species of Wildlife found in Nairobi, including three types of antelope.

 Karura Waterfall

The forest is home to a number different mammals including the Harvey`s Duiker, Bush Bucks, Sykes’s   & Vervet monkeys, Three horned Chameleon, Bird species includes ; Singing Cisticola African Goshawk, African Crowned Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Grey Cuckoo, Brown chested Alethe, Narina Trogon, Long Crested Eagle, White backed Duck, Malachite Kingfisher, Hartlaub’s Turaco, White headed Barbet, Slender billed Greenbul, African Black Duck, African Emerald Cuckoo, Yellow rumped Tinkerbird, Paradise Flycatcher, 

                                                    African Harrier Hawk

6 Ngong Road Forest

Ngong Forest Sanctuary is one of only very few forests in the world that exists within a city. Only 6 kilometers from Nairobi's central business district, the forest is a precious resource for Kenya's capital city.
The birds of Ngong Forest Sanctuary include bird’s characteristic of the indigenous dry evergreen forest of Nairobi, birds of the surrounding grasslands and gardens, and water birds  

African, Grey ,Mountain & Yellow Wagtail ,Grassland & Tree Pipits, Yellow-throated Longclaws Slender-billed Greenbul ,Cabanis’s  & Yellow-bellied Greenbul ,Common Bulbul ,White-starred Robin ,Cape & Ruppell’s Robin-Chats ,Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Common Stonechat ,Northern &Pied Wheatear ,Olive Thrush, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, Crimson rumped Waxbill, African Fish Eagle, White headed Barbet, Grosbeak Weaver, Singing Cisticola, Augur Buzzard, African Citril

                                                               African Goshawk

7 Uhuru Gardens

Located along Langata road, 15 minutes drive from the city center, is Uhuru Gardens, Kenya’s largest Memorial Park.

Uhuru is a swahili word meaning freedom.The gardens were officially declared a National Monument in 1966 because of their historical importance.

Of importance to note is that it is Kenya’s birthplace. This is where the first Kenyan flag was first raised and thus marking the very first year of independence on the 12th December 1963.Within the garden are two monuments commemorating Kenya’s independence, and a Mugumo (fig) tree.

                                           The Fig tree ( Mugumo)

Uhuru Gardens is close to Nairobi National park ,birds normally come to feed on the garden from it more than 100 species have been recorded here

Superb Starling

Fourteen Falls Kenya- Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

Fourteen falls is the name given to this 14 successive falls
of water on the Athi River in Thika, The falls are located about 70 kilometers
from Nairobi off the Thika  Garrisa
highway

Karura Waterfall

Karura Waterfall

Hot Geyser

Jackson's Golden Backed Weaver Photos

Photos of the Jackson's Golden-backed Weaver trying to have a drink on a dry tap, photos taken in the west of Rift Valley in Lake Baringo before the rains that are hitting hard in many parts of Kenya

Lesser Flamingos in Lake Bogoria

Lesser Flamingos back in Lake Bogoria

Bare faced Go Away Bird

Common in Maasai Mara ,Serengeti and Tarangire National Park,Alone or in small groups;restless and noisy,flight undulating

Caving Mount Suswa - A Mountain of red and yellow ochre

Mount Suswa is one of the most spectacular in the World. Mount Suswa has a unique double crater with a moat-like inner crater surrounding a tilted block of rock. The mountain is also known for its lava tubes on the northeast side of the outer crater. Mount Suswa is a double crater volcano with a shield-shaped cone covering an area of around 270 kilometers squared. The inner volcano soars to an altitude of 2357 meters

 This labyrinth of tunnels is one of the world's most composite systems of the lava tubes

This maze of tunnels is one of the world’s most complex system of lava tubes. - See more at: http://www.rupimangat.com/My-Stories/39#sthash.uHQK9Yxh.dpuf

This maze of tunnels is one of the world’s most complex system of lava tubes. - See more at: http://www.rupimangat.com/My-Stories/39#sthash.uHQK9Yxh.dpuf

                                            Entrance to the Baboon Parliament

Hanging fig tree roots which are used by the Baboons as they enter their roosting area

The caves have very interesting stories...its only 125 kilometers from Nairobi, To explore and discover Mt Suswa Caves, you  can do a day trip or camp in one of their campsites

Jewel- Arabuko Sokoke Forest

Arabuko-SokokeForest Reserve is the largest stretch of coastal dry forest, the ecosystem comprises three forest types, mixed forest, Brachystegia Woodland, and Cynometra, each containing different rare species of Birds, Mammals, Butterflies, and Plants. There are 270 birds, 261 butterflies, 79 amphibians, 52 mammals, and 600 plant species. The Clarke's Weaver is an endemic bird that breeds in the forest,  other unique and rare birds are; Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit, East-coast Akalat, Amani Sunbird, and Spotted Ground Thrush, Three mammals that are endemic species: - Aders Duiker, Sokoke Bush Tailed Mongoose, and Golden rumped Elephant Shrew. Situated 110km North of Mombasa

                                    Golden rumped Elephant Shrew

 

                                  Brachystegia Forest

                                   Mombasa Train

                                 Cynometra Habitat-preferred habitat for the Sokoke Scops Owl

                                  Land Crab

                                 Well marked Nature Trails

                                  Leaf Litter

                                 

                                   Brachystegia Forest

                                    Inside the Forest

                                  Brachystegia Woodland

                                 Elephant droppings

                                 

 

There are various accommodation facilities in Watamu from Budget to luxury, other areas worth visiting in the vicinity are; Gede Ruins, Mida Creek, Sabaki Estuary, Bio Ken Snake Farm, Kipepeo Butterfly House. The Warm climate makes it ideal for a visit any time of the Year. Travel is by Road or Air

Giraffe Facts

Giraffe

Height-18 feet tall, Weight up to 1360kg, Lifespan 15 to 20 years,

Gestation: 14 Months, Size at birth: 6 feet tall, 45-68kg

Age of maturity- 3-5years

A group of Giraffes- A tower of Giraffe

Heart weighs- 14 kg

Gives birth while standing up, the tall and impact on ground functions to kick start the Calf’s lungs and heart

They sleep for 1-12 minutes at a time

Tongue is 20 inches long which is blue black in colour to prevent it from getting sunburn

Feet are like dinner plate-12 inches across, tail -2.4 metres  

  www.africanpremieradventures.com

Bird having a drink

Like all animals, birds need water to survive. Though they can extract some moisture from their food, most birds drink water every day. Birds also use water for bathing, to clean their feathers and remove parasites. After splashing around in a bath for a few minutes, a bird usually perches in a sunny spot and fluffs its feathers out to dry. Then it carefully preens each feather, adding a protective coating of oil secreted by a gland at the base of its tail.

Bronze Mannikins

Bronze Mannikins
and Village Indigobirds, small birds typical of open savanna,bush and forest
clearings, they are granivorous, feeding mainly on grass seeds,Indigo bird is a
parasitic brooder.

Red Elephants Of Tsavo

Elephant Trunk
An elephant’s trunk is not only long; it is packed with five times more smell receptors than humans. Research has found that  African elephants have the greatest sense of smell among mammals. This is the Elephants nose; they have an amazing sense of smell. However the trunk is much more than just a nose it contains about 100,000 different muscles units but six major muscle groups, it can grow to 2 meters long and weighs up to 140 kgs. This long nose is used not only for smelling, but also to breathe with, siphoning water to allow them to squirt it into their mouth to drink, dushing themselves, and exploring things with. Also, a very important function is eating with it, they can pull down branches with them but also very delicate movements like picking a berry. They also use them to great and touch each other. It is like a human hand they even have two fingerlike features on the end of their trunk that they can use to grab small items. Elephants also use their trunks to help lift or nudge babies over an obstacle or rescue an elephant stuck in the mud