5 Day Kenya Bird Photography Safari

This Kenya bird photography safari is made for photographers who love birds. It visits four Rift Valley lakes in five days, each with different habitats and species, and the drives between them are short, so you spend more time shooting.

Kenya has well over 1,000 recorded bird species. The Rift Valley lakes hold a big share of them, from water birds and raptors to the bright little bush birds that make perfect close-ups.

Why choose this Kenya bird photography safari?

Bird photography needs patience and the right position. Your guide knows where the birds feed and roost, and the vehicle is private, so you can wait as long as you need for a bird to land or take off.

• Lake Naivasha: boat rides close to African fish eagles as they swoop for fish.
• Lake Nakuru: flamingos, pelicans and rhinos on the same shoreline.
• Lake Bogoria: hot springs, geysers and, in good years, huge flocks of lesser flamingos.
• Lake Baringo: a freshwater lake with herons, kingfishers and cliff-dwelling owls.

Birds you can photograph

Expect lilac-breasted rollers, superb starlings, kingfishers, hornbills, weavers and many raptors. Water birds include goliath herons, pelicans, cormorants and jacanas. At Baringo, local bird guides know the roosts of owls and nightjars.

Flamingo numbers move between lakes depending on water levels, so your guide will check the latest reports. Read our Lake Bogoria guide and Lake Nakuru safari guide for more on each lake.

Best time for a Kenya bird photography safari

Birding is good all year. From October to April, migrant birds from Europe and Asia join the resident species, and many birds wear breeding colours during the rains. The dry months from June to September give easier roads and clear light.

Gear for bird photography

• A 150-600 mm or 200-500 mm lens is ideal. A teleconverter helps with small birds.
• Use a high shutter speed (1/3200 s or more) for birds in flight.
• Bean bags are provided in the vehicle. A small monopod is useful on the boats.

Prefer a classic birding trip without the photography focus? See our 5 day Kenya birding safari or all birding safaris. For background reading, the Nature Kenya website has helpful notes on Kenya’s birds.

How much does the Kenya bird photography safari cost?