KARURA FOREST BIRDING TOUR
Our Karura Forest Birding Tour visits one of the largest urban forest reserves in the world, standing in at 1,041 hectares. Karura Forest is a wonderful birding location, located very close to the Nairobi city centre, thus making it ideal for a day birding outing.
Karura Forest is divided into two sections – Sigiria Block and Karura Main Block. Most of the birding is done on the Karura Main Block section, because it is larger and has better birding trails.
Once at the forest, we shall walk along the designated forest roads and paths, as we enjoy the many birds on offer here. The main forest paths are easy and on flat terrain, allowing a relaxed walking pace.
We shall also visit some of the wetlands around the forest, such as Gitathuru River, Turaco Stream, Karura River, Ruaka River, Turaco Swamp, Butterfly Pond and Lily Lake. There is a beautiful waterfall (Karura Waterfall) located along the beautiful Karura River. Near here, there are some historic caves, known as Mau Mau Caves.
Forest mammals will also be abundant, and we can expect to see some antelopes, squirrels and monkeys near the paths.
In the afternoon, we shall return to the hotel, marking the end to our lovely Karura Forest Birding Tour.
Highlight birds
Kikuyu White-eye, White-backed Duck, African Jacana, White-bellied Tit, Klaas’s Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Spot-flanked Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, White-headed Barbet, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, Narina Trogon, Bronze Mannikin, Eastern/ Green-backed Honeybird, Lesser Honeyguide, Dark-capped/ African Yellow Warbler, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-collared Apalis, Singing Cisticola, Red-faced Cisticola, Red-billed Firefinch, Black Saw-wing, White-rumped Swift, Amethyst Sunbird, Bronze Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Tropical Boubou, Black-backed Puffback, African Paradise Flycatcher, African Black Duck, Brown-backed Scrub Robin, White-starred Robin, Brown-chested Alethe, Abyssinian Thrush, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Ruppell’s Robin-Chat, Long-crested Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher
Highlight mammals and others
Harvey’s Duiker, Bushbuck, Suni, Syke’s Monkey/ Mt. Kenya Kolb’s Monkey, Mt. Kenya Guereza Colobus Monkey, Angolan Collared Fruit Bat, Ochre Bush Squirrel
Habitats covered
Wetlands, Dry Upland Forest
Photographic opportunities
Excellent
Special moments
Forest walk, Waterfall, Mau Mau Caves
