Even the staid scientist are dazzled by the brilliance of one particular native to the Kenyan birds scene, and called it ‘the superb starling’ in recognition of its superlative appearance. Today most visitors will see superb starlings (except at the coast) in lodge, and hotel gardens, bush and savannah, and the Nairobi city centre. Some books even list “car parks” as one of the starlings preferred habitats.
As for the number of bird species on offer and the ease with which you can view them, Kenya ranks as one of the best birds watching venues in the world. Some 1,088 bird species have been recorded, nearly 12% of the world’s total, many of which are strikingly beautiful and big.
This fact coupled with a good infrastructure of roads and hotels, plus a range of excellent birding guides-books and trained naturalists makes bird watching indeed rewarding and within the reach of all.
SOME BIRDS TO LOOK FOR.
The world’s biggest Bird – the Ostrich, lives here.
Look for small groups of ostriches in open country, grassland, savannah, or thorn bush, often near large mammals. The common ostrich is found Norther Kenya and has pink skin on the neck and legs, while the Somali ostrich of the dryer north has blue skin.
The Marabou Storks.
This species of bird may be seen in snatching scraps from the lion’s kill, hanging out in the city centre, or soaring on mighty wings high above the plains. These big birds with their bare pink heads and necks are mainly scavengers, eating dead food, and have benefited much from the ever-increasing human settlements.
The Alkaline lakes of the Great Rift valley may seem to be edged by pink sand, but actually what you are seeing is a living mass of Pink birds – Th Flamingos. They feed on blue-green algae in the shallow, mineral-rich waters. Lesser flamingos are the most abundant and can be recognized by their dark beaks. Tall graceful greater flamingos have pink beaks with black tip.
To the British explorers of the 1800s, a large bird of prey striding purposefully over the grasslands looked just like a lawyer’s clerk of that time – grey jacket, black leggings and a quill pen stuck over its ear. So, they called it the secretary bird, and the name has stuck. Secretary birds hunt for rats, mice, lizards, snakes, and other prey in the grass.
Mouse Birds.
These birds scramble through the bushes just like little mammals; the unusual structure of their toes enabling them to hang from a branch and scratch their toes at the same time. Mouse birds are fairly small brown birds with long stiff tails and stiff crests, found only in Africa.
Oxpeckers.
Also called tickbird, it can often be seen on wild mammals, from elephant to Impala. They search the animal’s fur for ticks and other parasites. (The white cattle egrets that also associate with mammals may rest on an animal’s back, but they eat insects on the ground disturbed by the walking heard).
As for the tiny birds in shiny, iridescent colours that you will see flitting amongst the flowers, these are the Sunbirds. Their thin curved beaks probe into blossoms to suck out the nectar, or catch minute insects. Most male sunbirds are brilliantly colored, while the females are drab in appearance.
Bird’s nests hanging from the trees or nestled among acacia thorns are usually the works of the weaver birds. There are many different types of weavers, each with their unique building style. At the coast look for Golden weavers in noisy nesting colonies on islands and in garden pools.
Here is a book list that you can either use to select books to bring along with you or which you can purchase at any book’s selection store.
A photographic guide to the birds of East Africa. By Dave Richards.
Jonathan Scott’s Safari Guide to East African Birds. By Jonathan and Angela Scott, KENSTA, Nairobi, 1997.
Beautiful birds of Kenya. By John Karmali, Text Book Centre, Nairobi, 1993.
Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. By D.A Zimmerman, D.A Turner and D.J Pearson 1996 (hardback) and 1999 (reduced size), A. & C Black London.
Collins Illustrated Checklist: Birds of Eastern Africa. By Ber Van Perlo, 1995, HarperCollins.
Field Guide to the birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. By Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe, 2001, T &AD Poyser.
CURRENCY.
The unit of currency is the Kenya shilling (KSH). Bank notes are available in denominations of Ksh. 50,100, 200, 500 & 1,000 while Ksh. 1,5,10,20& 40 are available in coins format.
Currency can be exchanged in foreign exchange bureaus or banks. Banks operate between 9am to 5pm and 9am to 11amon the first and last Saturdays of the month. The easiest currency to exchange is US Dollars, Starling pounds and Euro.
A 16% Value Added Tax is levied on most of the items, but visitors can claim a refund on the levy.
CREDIT CARDS
Major international credit cards are accepted in Kenya and most automated Teller Machines (ATM’S) accept international VISA & MASTERCARD cards. ATM’s are found at Airports, bank branches, shopping malls, and petrol stations. Travelers’ cheques are probably the best and easy safest way to bring money with you to Kenya and most hotel and service providers accept them.
TIME ZONE
The standard time zone in Kenya is GMT +3 hours.
LANGUAGES.
The official language in Kenya is English and the National Language is Kiswahili. Most people in the urban areas speak English while the vast majority in both the urban and rural areas speak Kiswahili.
TRANSPORT.
AIR – The main airports are the Jomo Kenyatta international Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa and Eldoret International Airport (EIA) in Eldoret. Wilson Airport in Nairobi Handles light Aircrafts and quite a number of scheduled and chartered domestic flights. There are also a number of Airstrips located strategically countrywide connecting all part of Kenya to Nairobi.
RAIL – Kenya has only one train service run by Kenya Railways Corporation dubbed Madaraka Express. The first and second-class coaches have self-contained sleepers with a restaurant. Prior a reservation is required for the both classes. The third class has a shared washrooms per room. Trains schedule and booking portal can be accessed via their link at https://metickets.krc.co.ke/
WATER – Water transport is found only in the coast and the Lake regions. In the coast, ferry services are available at the Likoni ferry connecting the North coast and the South Coast. These services are free for the commuters but the vehicles are ferried at a fee.
ROAD – The extensive road network in Kenya make road transport the most used mode of transport. Travel within the cities and towns is by the 14-seater matatus and 25-seater minibuses. Transport between cities and towns are by well established bus companies that have regular schedules. Visitors can bring their personal cars to Kenya and will receive a 3 months free passage at the border.
CAR HIRE – Renting a car is pretty easy in Kenya and is good and convenient way of getting around the country. There are indeed many car hires in all major towns and cities and at all the major airports.
CAR HIRE – Renting a car is pretty easy in Kenya and is good and convenient way of getting around the country. There are indeed many car hires in all major towns and cities and at all the major airports.
CAR HIRE – Renting a car is pretty easy in Kenya and is good and convenient way of getting around the country. There are indeed many car hires in all major towns and cities and at all the major airports.
VISA REQUIREMENT – Visitors coming to Kenya from outside East Africa require a Visa. Full details of the requirements are available from the respective mission Offices. However, a single or multiple entry visa can be obtained upon arrival at the Airport.
SAFETY – Most hotels in Kenya have Safes for keeping valuables. It is advisable to avoid walking alone in isolated places and back streets during both day and night. It is also advisable not to adorn valuables or use your mobile phone while walking on the streets.
ART & CRAFT - Kenya is known for the Kiondos & Kikoi, and art and craft artifacts spread all over the country. The most popular craft materials are the beautiful woodcarvings, the Kisii soapstone carvings, various styles of bangles and bracelets, and traditional baskets, all of which make vey exquisite souvenirs. Others are musical instruments, tribal masks, sculptor, batik cloths as well as paintings. All of these materials are normally found in the numerous craft markets and gift shops throughout the main trading centres which are normally frequented by visitors.
CLIMATE – The weather in Kenya is generally good and pleasant all year round despite the different topographical regions which experiences distinct climate. By virtue of Kenya being an Equatorial country, there is little variation in weather throughout the year. The hottest period is between February and March while the coldest are between July and August. In the Coastal region, the weather is generally humid with temperatures ranging from 21 degrees to 32 degrees centigrade. The low plateau areas to the North & North East are the driest part of the country with average temperature ranging from 19dgerees to 37 degrees centigrade. The temperate highlands, including the city of Nairobi are generally cooler with temperatures between 13 degrees and 25 degrees centigrade.
LANDSCAPE, FLORA & FAUNA – Kenya offers startling contrasts of landscape and outstanding Natural beauty. There are natural Tourists attractions of the Savannah in the South, the Deserts in the North, Lake Victoria (the 2 nd largest fresh water lake) in the west, the topical beaches in the eastand the snowcapped peak of Mount Kenya. The country also boasts more than 80 major species of animals and over 1,000 species of birds.
There are more than 20 National Parks and Game reserves spread throughout the country – the home tour Kenya’s abundant wildlife. These includes the world reknown Masai Mara, The Tsavo East & Tsavo West National Park, The Amboseli National Park, The Lake Nakuru National park and the Nairobi National park which is the Only one in the world within the proximity of a capital city.
BEACHES, SEA & MARINE LIFE – Kenya has a coastline of approximately 536 Km fronting the Indian Ocean with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The long white sandy beaches are home to some of the most diverse marine life in the Oceans. There is abundance of beautiful bright corals as well as dolphins, butterfly fish, sharks and turtles complimented by the large number of yellow and red tuna and snappers.
If you are a discerning tourist planning to visit Kenya from any corner of the world, you will ultimately agree with me that Kenya is Indeed one of the pristine destinations to visit this year as a first timer or a repeat visitor.
Count on Blavals Adventures to plan your Tour itinerary to your preferences.
Email us on; info@blavals.com
Blavals Adventure recognoze that we receive inquiries from visitors all over the world with Varied budgets. This has necesitated us to draw packages with affordable yet value-packed, all-inclusive Kenya tours and safaris from all parts of the world. Read ahead to have an idea of our Budget, Mid-range and Luxury Package Safaris:
Budget Tour
A budget tour to Kenya will cost as low as $200 to $290 per person on a full board basis. This price is packaged based on two people travelling together for at least 3 days in the Masai Mara game reserve. USD 200 is the lowest possible for budget Kenya tours using a Safari van whereas using the luxurious safari land-cruiser, the price jumps to $290 per person.
The considerations here are; stay in nice, an all-incusive Kenya budget safari camps with tasty and fresh food, hot showers, and professional attendants. Exemptions includes international flights and items of personal nature like tips.
Mid-Luxury
A mid luxury tour to Kenya package ranges from from $290 to $500 per person sharing based on two people travelling together in a safari Landcruiser.
This guarantees you a full-board meal plan accommodation in a 4 star to 5-star hotels.
Luxury
A luxury tour to Kenya package will cost from $500 per person based on two people travelling together with game drives in open safari vehicles. The choices of Accommodations will be in super luxury safari lodges such as Entim in Masai Mara, Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi, The Cliff in Lake Nakuru, and more. Luxury activities such as hot air balloon rides, deep-sea fishing, private bush dinners are all part of the package.
You can check on our luxury safari packages based on an all-Inclusive meal plan.
The total cost is $4,000 based on two people travelling together on a luxury safari to Kenya.
The highlight of a Kenya safari Masai Mara package planned with us between July and November is witnessing the dramatic Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration.
The event is dumbed the largest land migration on earth, and it is one of the most thrilling, adventurous, and spectacular displays of wildlife behavior on earth.
During the annual event, over 1.2 million wildebeests, 200,000 zebras, and different species of antelope migrate from the Serengeti national park in Tanzania to the MaasaiMara in search of green pastures.
The migrating animals make a round trip from the southern edges of the Serengeti National Park, across the Grumeti and the Mara River into Kenyan Masai Mara before moving back to Southern Serengeti.
The actual Mara river crossing occurs between May and July, and it is incredibly awe-inspiring, magical, and indescribable. The Masai Mara Serengeti wildebeest migration is the must witness for lovers of Mother Nature.
If you will only plan one Maasai Mara package, it should be a Serengeti migration safari or Mara river crossing tour.
Compared to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the Mara offers the best view of the migrating animals as they make across the crocodile-infested river.
In 2007, the annual Masai Mara migration was declared one of the 8 wonders of the world. It is the largest overland migration on earth.
THE WILDEBEEST CALVING SEASON – DECEMBER TO END OF FEBRUARY
The animals migrate on a round trip in search of food. Between December and March each year, the animals will be on the southern edges of the Serengeti.
This is the calving season, and it climaxes around January to the end of February when about 8,000 calves are born daily.
The calving season attracts a lot of predators to the Southern plains of Serengeti as they eye an opportunity to make an easy meal for the vulnerable calves.
Driving around the plain in our luxurious 4×4 safari land cruisers, you will effortlessly spot 100s of hyenas, dozens of pride of lions, cheetahs, leopards, and other predators scattered in the Savannah grassland.
Hint: Masai Mara packages during these months are ideal for big 5 safaris. You will also see all the other animals. However, the wildebeest migration is the heart of your safari, Serengeti is the better option.
Quick Kills Are not a guarantee. The wildebeest use 3 strategies to protect their calves.
- First, they instinctively stick to the short grass plains of Southern Serengeti, allowing them to spot lions, cheetahs, and other predators easily.
- Second, the female wildebeest surround the birthing mothers, forming a barrier that protects the younglings when they are most vulnerable.
- Third, the massive calving within a short period puts the predators at a disadvantage. They consume a massive amount of wildebeest meat within a short time. This results in them becoming satiated and unable to prey on the young ones as much as they would if the calving happened over a long period of time.
The calving season provides the best chance of survival for the young wildebeest. Any calves born outside the calving season are far more likely to fall victim to predators.
WILDEBEEST CALVING SEASON.
Activity Approximate Time. Place.
| Calving | January To March (Low Season | Southern Serengeti |
| Intense Big Cat Action | January To March (Low Season | Southern Serengeti |
| Rutting | January To March (Low Season | Southern Serengeti |
| River Crossings | July to October (High Season) | Northern Serengeti - Masai Mara |
| Private Game Viewing (Tanzania) | June To August (High Season) | Grumeti |
| Private Game Viewing (Kenya) | August To October (High Season) | Mara Conservancies |
THE MASSIVE MOVE FROM SOUTHERN SERENGETI STARTING MARCH
As April approaches, the migration will have moved from the Southern end of Serengeti towards the center of the park.
The animals continue moving, and by around June, they will be looking to cross the Mara River into Masai Mara National Park in Kenya.
But how do the wildebeest determine the direction to follow? One popular theory is that the animals move in response to changes in weather and availability in pastures.
Around the end of the calving season, early March, the pastures in the southern Serengeti dwindle.
The animals then start the trip towards MasaiMara in response to the availability of green pasture and rain patterns.
Some behavior scientists argue that the Wildebeest, as well as other animals, are able to identify and react to thunderstorms and lightning.
Another popular theory is that the wildebeests instinctively know which path to follow.
According to this theory, the path to follow is hard-coded into their DNA through centuries of natural selection, and that is how the herd knows which route to follow.
The wildebeest that initially headed the wrong direction would have died long before they could give birth, and only the ones that followed the right route have lived to produce future generations.
Note that the great wildebeest migration does not move in a straight line.
Unless you plan your Masai Mara migration safari with local tour operators such as MasaiMarasafari.in or safari lodges within the Serengeti or Masai Mara, it can be hard to know when and where to see the herd.
If you have your eyes set on witnessing the Mara river crossing, book a long Kenya safari in Masai Mara such as this 13 days Kenya safari package.
You can also book shorter Masai Mara holiday packages, but wait till the animals have started crossing over to Masai Mara to travel to Kenya.
This 3 days Masai Mara budget safari is a good plan for those who want to travel on the cheap.
THE CROSSING
The crossing is the most exciting part of the migration. Millions of grazers advance north from western Serengeti and cross into the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya, in pursuit of the rains.
The Great Migration route is cut in various points by rivers.
These include the Mbalangeti and Grumeti rivers in Serengeti and the Mara River. For most of the year, these rivers remain placid, only becoming raging during the wet months.
When that happens, the resultant flooding presents major obstacles to the crossing herds.
But what makes the migrating herds dread these rivers and other few lakes within the Serengeti isn’t their sheer water volumes. Instead, it’s the hundreds of savage Nile crocodiles that rule the waters.
Besides, the vegetation around the rivers and lakes tend to comprise of high grass and thickets, just the perfect hideouts for some of the wildebeest’s fiercest predators.
However, the animals banish their fears and follow their instincts to cross over. Some of the lakes located in the south of Serengeti include Masek, Ndutu, and Lagaria.
As most of the migrating herds crossed these lakes en route to the Serengeti, the waters don’t really pose much threat to their journey back.
Also, natural selection dictates that those that didn’t make it further bolstered the herds’ gene pool.
As such, most of the animals that are priming themselves to cross over are stronger, healthier, and more adaptable to these harsh conditions.
In one of the documentaries that capture the essence of this iconic migration, titled The Year of the Wildebeest, the filmmaker, Alan Root, tries to paint a clearer picture of the entire situation.
Mr. Root narrates how he observed as thousands of wildebeests crossed Lake Lagaria.
In his experience, he noted that the crossing took over in various phases, with the first phase featuring the main body of the herd.
Our LandCruiser in Masai Mara
He also observed that the cows that became separated from their calves would instinctively turn back to look for them, urging them to take the plunge and swim over to the other side.
The same happened to the very old, the very young, and other strugglers.
This cycle repeated itself for up to a week until all the animals found themselves on the other side. Mr. Root also adds that the crossing claimed thousands of wildebeest in the lake.
Some were torn into pieces by the resident crocodiles, while others fell victim to the ensuing stampede.
However, Alan remarks that the fatalities pale in comparison to the size of the herds that managed to cross over, as well as the number of calves that were born on the other side.
In his view, the population of the wildebeest could spiral out of control if such unfortunate events didn’t occur.
The wildebeest proceed to the Mara River in their thousands, ready to cross.
But the spectacle doesn’t begin on the arrival of the first herds. For the most part, the animals would come to the river, drink, and wander away.
However, their numbers keep building up as they continue to graze near the river.
Eventually, the herds identify a crossing point, which is usually a rather placid stretch of water featuring less predator-concealing vegetation yonder.
However, the herds are known to commit grave errors, most times choosing deeper water spots that see them drown in their hundreds. Experts believe that this could be due to the fact that the crossing points remain genetically imprinted in the minds of the herds.
Also, it’s important to note that certain fords attract larger herds than others.
That could be due to the fact that they’re visible from afar, and the animals can see their kind in the process of crossing over.
Or, they feature more lush greenery on the other side, which is the main attraction of the herds anyway. Click here to see a list of the best Serengeti hotels to stay at during the migration.
Hint: Masai Mara safari cost is at its highest during the annual wildebeest migration. Try and book your safari 3 to 2 months in advance. Otherwise, you will miss the best hotels/rooms.
MASAI MARA MIGRATION – THE PREDATORS
As soon as the wildebeest make it to the Maasai Mara grasslands, they spend months grazing, fattening, and reproducing. The animals especially love the Mara for its scattered distribution of green pastures as well as fewer cases of rainstorms.
That makes them wander freely across the expansive park in search of good grazing areas. It remains mystical how wildebeest herds can wander miles away from each other but still reunite at specific grazing spots.
Wildebeests are physiologically designed to traverse vast stretches of land faster and more economically. That’s why you’ll see them mating on the move.
Besides, their calves are born ready to outrun some of the savannah’s fastest predators. So, it’s usually only a matter of time before they overrun every green pasture of the Mara.
Since the wildebeest herds are always on the move, they can also outmarch many of their predators. That’s because most predators are territorial, and will only hunt herds that graze within their patches.
Abandoning their territories in pursuit of the fast-moving herds would mean invading the territories of other predators.
Besides, most younger members of predatory animals depend on their mothers till they’re a couple of years old. That, again, makes it unrealistic for the mothers to hunt beyond certain stretches.
The 4 Best Things to Do During Tours in Masai Mara.
1. Game Drives – Morning & Evening Game Drives Vs Full Day Game Drives
The primary activity during a safari in Masai Mara safari is game drives. Our expert Masai guides will take you on game drives atop a custom-made safari land cruiser with an open roof for optimal game viewing.
They are vastly knowledgeable about the savannah and the animals that call it home- and they are happy to share this knowledge with you. Wildlife lectures are always part of our safari.
Most game drives will start early in the morning, which is a great time to view animals as they go out for breakfast. Bring your camera along; this is usually the best time to witness a hunt.
Depending on the day’s program your driver will return you to your camp for lunch and afternoon rest, before embarking on an evening game drive.
Ideally, morning and evening game drives with a return to the hotel are ideal for families traveling with kids below 5 years old.
Most people prefer a full day game drive with a picnic lunch. This allows them to venture deep into the Mara.
On a full day of game drive, we normally leave the hotel at 6:15 am after an early breakfast with packed lunch. We do the game drives, and around 1:00 pm, the driver finds a nice place, possibly under a tree, and we have the picnic lunch there.
We then continue with our game drives, till around 6:00 pm.
2. Great Wildebeest Migration – July to October
If you are touring the Masai Mara between July and October, without a doubt, the showstopper is the great wildebeest migration.
Be on the front row as millions of wildebeest, zebras, impalas, and antelopes make the dangerous crossing from the Serengeti into the Masai Mara.
The drama unfolds as they try to escape from the sharp jaws of hungry crocodiles in the water below.
3. Balloon Safari – USD 450 Per Person
Another must-do activity that we recommend that you include in your Masai Mara tour package is a balloon safari. It is one thing to see the greatness of the Mara from land, and quite another to see it from the air.
It is majesty that cannot be fully explained, only experienced.
At the end of the one-hour dawn balloon safari, you will indulge in a champagne breakfast, a fitting end to one of the most exhilarating adventures you will ever undertake.
4. Masai Village Visit – USD 20 to 30 Per Person
A Masai Mara tour package from Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, or any other part of India is not complete without interacting with the intriguing Masai people.
During your visit, we will take you to a Masai village where you can learn various things about their culture.
These include what they eat, how they construct their homes, their colorful beads, and of course, you must give the popular Masai jump a try.
