Responsible Birding Safaris by Oluokos

Where to Watch Birds in Teso, Busia

Best Bird Watching Guide To Teso, Busia

Top Bird Watching Hotspots in Teso,
Busia...

The little visited Teso, Busia is host to some of the bird species are difficult ti find in Kenya. Stretching from the slopes of Mount Elgon in the North to banks the Lwakhaka River to the West, the expansive sugarcane farms to the East and to the the urban woodlands of Alupe in Busia. Teso, Busia borders Uganda and the border which is only seperated by 60 km lon river stretch with a thick papyrus fringe on its sothern part.

Best Day or Multi Days Bird Watching Tours in Teso, Busia...

Despite the richness of the region in birds, the region has not been a key destination for birders and avian tourism. Whereas the region is poorly studied, even the information known has not been available such as where to watch birds Teso, Busia. The only available records are scattered in various reports that are not in public domain. Therefore, the aim of this article is to collate and compile a comprehensive list of the birding hotspots of the region as a quick search for researchers and would be visitors.

With growing interest in the region’s biodiversity, we hope that the information provided by this article will benefit tourists, researchers, and nature enthusiasts and help to raise more enthusiasm that may enrich bird watching and bird conservation in future

Luxury Safaris Par Excellence

Go Birding on Private Custom Birding Trips in Tes0, Busia with Oluokos Signature

As a result of expansive sugarcane and corn farming, larger parts of Teso, Busia are shrinking at an alarming rate. However, the surrounding hills, marshlands, riverine forests and grasslands remain home to a number of bird species including the Bar-breasted Firefinch, Black-bellied Firefinch, White-crested Turaco, Whistling Cisticola, Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Blue Swallow which is a global threatened intra-African migrant, and normally spotted from April to September in Busia Grasslands. Fiery-necked Nightjar and Green Crombec, two Guinea–Congo Forests biome species are also recorded in this area.

Species like Western-banded Snake Eagle, Shining Blue Kingfisher in Mungatsi, and Marsh Widowbird are some of the regional threatened species that can be seen on your birding tour in Teso, Busia – Kenya.

Apart from the above mentioned species, the recent discovery of Bamboo Warbler on the Katotoi Hills. The Bamboo Warbler (Locustella alfredi) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae. It is sparsely distributed across central-eastern Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. This discovery open a new chapter of birding in the least known part of Western Kenya.

Why Book Your Teso, Busia Birding Trips & Safaris
With Oluokos

Our guests tend to ask what the perfect Western Kenya birding safari itinerary looks like and to be honest, we don’t have a straight-forward answer.

To answer you in brief, each guest has a unique taste when it comes to enquiring about an African birding safari and this could be based on personality that’s strongly influenced by expectations. We have given a few good to check itineraries to serve as bird watching travel inspirations.

We don’t offer Teso, Busia as a bucket list destination, but a rich hotspot with diversity, meaningful purpose to travel, cultural mosaic and of course, unmatched habitats that have given room to birds and wildlife. We have identified Africa’s most intriguing bird watching safaris that you should consider during your bird watching holiday planning.

5 Reasons For Booking With Us

Community & Tourism

Properties and experiences that uplift and empower local communities in our destinations.

Conservation & Tourism

Supports wildlife projects, protected areas and ecosystem regeneration through tourism.

Culture & Tourism

We strengthen intercultural understanding and relations, safeguarding cultural heritage.

Commerce & Travel

Commerce affects the sustainability of our destinations the people who live in these natural areas.

Concious Travel

The state of being aware of and responsive to one’s surroundings – as a business, our staff and guests.

Explore Kenya's Last Frontier

Bird Watching at Oluokos Fair Acres

Tucked away in the beatiful Adumai Hills, Oluokos Fair Acres for Nature offers so much more than just your ordinary holiday expectations! Briefly, Adumai is more than a cocktail of experiences. Expect more than the drive to get here, so, we don’t have game drives but preciously cherished walking options and it’s not just about game drives and the stunning landscapes that sweep beyond Kenya’s frontiers with Uganda! While you are with us, you can immerse yourself into the community, our culture, experience the villages’ serenity, superb views of Kenya’s second-highest mountain, Mount Elgon, hiking, walking safaris, bird watching, and amazing skies.

Target Bird Species An investigative birding along the rocky sections yields Foxy Cisticola, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, African Firefinch, Red-headed Lovebird, Whistling Cisticola, Compact Weaver, Steppe Buzzard, Black-crowned Waxbills and much more. Please find the Oluokos Fair Acres For Nature Ebird checklist for detailed species observations.

For those with some good number of days around birding the Northern sections of Busia County at the Katotoi Hills along the Malaba River valley that also marks the boundary between Kenya and Uganda will be rewarding. An investigative birding along the rocky sections yields Foxy Cisticola (this small bird was a great fit for the species; and lacked the eye-ring-look portrayed by Siffling Cisticola. This must have been a first record for the species in the locality, and more visits will help uncover more). Others notable species include the newly discovered Kenya’s species, the Bamboo Warbler, Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, African Firefinch, Red-headed Lovebird, Compact Weaver. Olive-bellied Sunbird, Whistling Cisticolas, Steppe Buzzard, Black-crowned Waxbills and much more.

In One With Nature at

Katotoi Hills

Best Hilltop Birding Hotspot

Aderema Hills

Located in the expansive hills of Amukura escarpment, the Aderema hills is part of a small rural village located in Busia County in Western Kenya. Climbing the heights of the pristine Aderema Hills is a perfect choice for many birders. The views are breathtaking and so is the biodiversity of the unbound nature. Aderema hills are part of the Kavirondo series rocks developed around Busia, Nambale and Butula while the granites dominate the Northern parts of the Busia County. The Northern part of the central region features granitic outcrops, which are essentially part of the peneplain and characterized by the presence of large granitic hills and tors such as Amukura and Chelelemuk escarpments. Birding in the Aderema hills is key as it highlights some of Western Kenya key target species namely Piapiac, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Whistling Cisticola, Black-bellied Firefinch, Compact Weaver, and much more. Please find the Aderema Hills Ebird checklist for detailed species observations.

For a brief remind, Patrice Émery Lumumba was the first Congo National Hero who was actively involved in DR Congo’s Independence before his assasination for on 17 Jan 1961. This is a full immersion and learning experience about the history of Congo, and mainly the independence war. We are going to enter the plane that brought him from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi, visit the location where he was shot dead and where he was buried before being dug up and transferred to Kolwezi where his body was burnt in acid to remove traces.

The Elusive Birds of Alupe

Alupe Woodlands

Kenya & Uganda Frontier's Birding

Ochilata Wetlands & Malaba River

These late rites and shallow incised swampy systems that are densely covered with Papyrus swamps and the hippo grass along the banks of Malaba River at the border with Kenya and Uganda often cap these. The area forms a colony of papyrus growth broken by irregular water channels and occasional small lakes with grassy islands. These are interspersed by a peneplain marked by low flat divides of approximately uniform height, often capped by lateritic and a shallowly incised swampy drainage system often creating seasonal floods plains. These moist grasslands, wetlands and swamps probably have close biodiversity connections with Ugandan ecosystems and hold key species that are not found anywhere else in Kenya. Here is the list of some target species Magpie Mannikin, Red-headed Lovebird, Senegal Coucal, Compact Weaver, Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Green Crombec, Blue Swallow, Purple Starling, Black-bellied Firefinch, Black-rumped Waxbill, Great Snipe, Yellow-backed Weaver, Brown Twinspot, Red-chested Sunbird, Marsh Tchagra, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Zebra Firefinch and much more.

This is a great place to learn about the history, culture, and art of the Congolese people. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in history and culture. The museum has a very rich ethnographic and entomological collection has been built up over the years, forming a reference heritage and the permanent collection of the museum which also hosts temporary thematic exhibitions. Brussels has a collaboration with the Museum of Lubumbashi for the development of this historical, artistic and cultural heritage of Katanga.

The Finest Congolese Art & History

Musée National de Lubumbashi

Back to Nature in the City's Outskirts

Muyambo Park

This stunning 500 hectare mini-safari park makes a good place to visit while passing through or visiting the city of Lubumbashi. While here, you can observe servals, giraffes, baboons, boas, pangolins, ostriches, zebras, kudus, camels, hyenas, gazelles, wildebeest, dik-dik, warthogs and more, on foot, by bike, by buggy or by jeep. The site also boasts an artificial lake where you can enjoy pedal alongside children’s playground.

With its large brick façade and square tower, the Saints-Pierre-et-Paul Cathedral in Lubumbashi is one of the most remarkable buildings in the city and is considered one of the most beautiful religious buildings. From a simple chapel in 1910, it became a cathedral in 1922 by the decision of Bishop Jean-Félix de Hemptinne and was fully completed in 1935. The Romanesque Revival church has a rich history, when the area was under Belgian colonial rule. It was elevated to cathedral status with the promotion of the Apostolic Vicariate of Katanga to diocesan status in 1959, by the Bull “Cum parvulum” of Pope John XXIII. It is under the pastoral responsibility of the Bishop Jean-Pierre Tafunga.

The Historical Roman Catholic Cathedral

Saints-Pierre-et-Paul Cathedral in Lubumbashi

Take on this challenging alpine route in Kananaskis Country, offering panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies, alpine meadows, and turquoise lakes.

Days 5 - 8

La Cloche Silhouette Trail

In The Heart of Nature Conservation

Jeunes Animaux Confisqués au Katanga in French, J.A.C.K

Jeunes Animaux Confisqués au Katanga in French, was founded in 2006 by Frank and Roxane Chantereau. The critical important conservation center accepts and cares for chimpanzees resulting from trafficking, poaching and deforestation. It is amongfour sanctuaries in the DRC, along with Lwiro (chimpanzees) in South Kivu, GRACE (gorillas) in North Kivu, and Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa. J.A.C.K. is home to around 40 chimpanzees and other primates that have fallen victim of wildlife poaching. Located right next to the zoo, J.A.C.K. is also an educational center to raise awareness among schools and visitors about forest protection and the fight against trafficking in young chimpanzees.

Other Trips

Book Your Tour

Browse our example trips and get in contact to start planning your very own adventure.

"Can Definately Recommend"

I had Joseph as my guide during a stay at Lake Elementaita, when the company was called Oluokos Expeditions. This man, he knows EVERYTHING about birds! I'm not particularly interested in birds, but he's so engaging that you can't help but to be curious about the birds in Kenya. Other than that he is also a very kind and friendly man, so all in all I can only recommend doing yours with him.

Lea K from Denmark

"Amazing!"

Our guide Joseph was the best. He showed us all animals, big and small. Knew every species of bird. A conservationist at heart. We told him where we wanted to go and our budget and he planned it all for us. We always felt very safe. I am from the UK, I taught in Kenya for a while and went on a few different safaris. This was definitely the best tour operator. I went with him several times. Recommend to all my friends traveling to Kenya!

Nia Gibson from United Kingdom

"Birding With Oluokos"

My friends and I had a blast spending the day birding around Malaba and Busia with Ouma Oluoko's guidance! Ouma is such a kind and friendly guide, not to mention very knowledgable on not only the birds of the area but also the landscape, cultures, and communities that we encountered. He and his wife Awuor (or Christine) clearly have very good relationships with the people who live in the areas we visited and are doing great work trying to educate locals on the importance of conservation and conserving the land themselves where possible. The Oluokos had us over to their home for a wonderful home-cooked meal (I unfortunately couldn't only eat so much as I was suffering from a stomach bug) and gracious hospitality that I haven't encountered with other guiding companies before. I can highly recommend using Oluokos Signature for your birding adventures in western Kenya and beyond!

Nathan M from USA

"Great Experience at Ruma National Park"

Our group was on a business trip to Kenya, and we were able to take a Saturday off from work and took a safari trip to Ruma National Park with Oluokos Signature Ltd. We had a great time! We had the pleasure of being the only tour group in the park on the day we went, and thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Ouma and Christine were so lovely, and made sure we enjoyed our day. Ouma happens to be one of the top birders in Kenya too!

Sarah G from USA

"Once In Lifetime"

What can I say? We had the most incredible safari trip of our lives. Ouma was polite, professional, friendly, thoughtful and extremely knowledgeable. He went to every effort to ensure we made the most out of our trip, and ensuring we were comfortable and happy throughout. He liaised with hotel staff to ensure everything was perfect ahead of our arrivals, he planned our route taking into account what we wanted to see and do, ensuring we never took the same road twice (!!) and he taught so much about the African wildlife, culture and landscape. He made the trip for us, and I have no doubt that had we have chosen another guide; we wouldn’t have had such an incredible and memorable experience. We felt very lucky to be in such capable hands. In addition, Big John, our driver - he was brilliant. We made quite the little team and we were very very sad to leave when the journey ended. Ouma was not just our guide, he was our friend and we can’t wait to come back and do it all again with members of our family. Thank you Ouma for giving us memories, which will last us a lifetime.

Charlotte from United Kingdom

"Best Birding Guide"

Great birding day on Lake Victoria and at the Impala Preserve! Oluokos was great with experienced and novice birders in our group. Very professional and bird knowledge was excellent.

Valerie M from USA

"Not Your Regular Safari/Tour Guide.... So Much More!"

I can't begin to describe what an incredible day I spent in Ruma National Park with Oluokos Signature and Mr. Ouma Oluoko recently. Ouma is way more than a safari guide. His knowledge of wildlife, birds and the region created not only a memorable experience but one where I learned a tremendous amount. The customised agenda for our day allowed us to make the most of our time in Ruma while also not feeling rushed. As we visited during low season for tourism, we literally had the park to ourselves and what a treat! I'm delighted to provide this review and wholeheartedly recommend Oluokos Signature and Ouma for any safari or other wildlife/outdoor adventure you may want to do while visiting Africa. I can't wait for my next trip!

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