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Where to Watch Birds in Western Kenya

Western Kenya Luxury Bird Watching

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Discover Top Western Kenya Top Birding Hotspots...

Another geographical zone of great interest in the Western Plateau the region around Lake Victoria. Sandwiched between the eastern and western branches of the African Rift system, this zone is fissured by numerous faults and escarpments with valleys in between. The last remaining equatorial rainforest in Kenya is located there. This zone is unique in that 80 species of birds in the Kakamega Forest are found nowhere else in Kenya. An exploration to the high altitude of the Kongelai Escarpment onto the Western Plateau adds to the diversity of bird species that are unique and therefore are restricted to this region. The dense Papyrus swamps and other lakeshore vegetation around Lake Victoria and its satellite lakes are home to specialty species. Moving a little to the north from Lake Victoria with its super aquatic species, the Busia Grasslands and the surrounding hills near the northeast shore of Lake Victoria is home to several localized bird species

Pure Luxury Bird Watching Safari in Western Kenya...

Western Kenya is well known for its natural beauty and wildlife alongside a plethora of avian life. Unfortunately, the avian biodiversity of Western Kenya is poorly beyond the Kakamega Forest that is perhaps the most popular destination in the entire Western Kenya.

Despite this uninteresting geography, the region is covered by five biomes including Somali-masai, Sudan guinea, Victoria basin, Highland and a Restricted Bird Area where the only endemic birds in Kenya are found. On the other hand, the lack of comprehensive studies on the region’s birds and low tourist number as a result of poor publicity have both negatively contributed to the regions general tourism growth.

Nonetheless, the swamps of western Kenya are recognized as local endemic bird areas due to the presence of the Lake Victoria’s biome-restricted birdspecies. Weavers, cisticolas, warblers, sunbirds and gonoleks are confined to Lake Victoria basin. The western region has overlapping vegetation zones that characterizes bird species that are not found anywhere else in Kenya.

The Sudan-guinea biome that cuts through northern half of Kenya from the North-western to the slopes and the foot of Mount Elgon has species such as the White Crested Turaco and many others.

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

Oluokos Signature specializes in birdwatching safaris in Western Kenya, focusing on rare and biome-restricted species in areas like the Busia Grasslands, Lake Victoria basin, and Kakamega Forest. Their tours often highlight unique species such as the 

Are you interested in a full species checklist for a specific site like Kakamega Forest or Lake Victoria, or would you like to know the best time of year to see these rare birds?

Experience Western Kenya Bird Watching Safaris with Oluokos Signature

Seasoned Ornithological Guides: Our hand-crafted selection of Nairobi luxury birdwatching holidays designed are not only with keen birders in mind, but with focus on prime habitats both within and outside protected areas, knowledgeable bird guides, and the best times of year for migration and breeding activity. Experienced guides with a deep knowledge of local bird species, habitats and behaviors are crucial for a successful African luxury birding safari.

Tailor-made Bird Watching Itineraries: For passionate luxury birding safari guests, Oluokos offer well-planned luxury Nairobi birding safaris that turn to be unforgettable experiences, offering the chance to spot rare and endemic species in some of the Africa’s most spectacular and diverse landscapes. Our luxury birding trips are customized to your specific birding interests, pacing, and desired comfort level, rather than following a rigid schedule or the birding traditions.

Private Vehicles and Flights: Traveling in private vehicles to ensures flexibility and minimizes the time we spent in transit. On our Nairobi luxury birding safaris, we offer high-end accommodations, exclusive use of a private safari vehicle, and expert guidance from seasoned bird guides to spot a wide variety of bird species.

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Inspirational Western Kenya Bird Watching Safaris with Oluokos Signature

Where to Watch Birds in Western Kenya

Why Book Your Western Kenya Birding Tours
With Oluokos...

Our guests tend to ask what the perfect 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 a Western Kenya 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 Western Kenya as a bucket list destination, but a rich birding experience with diversity, meaningful purpose to travel, cultural mosaic and of course, unmatched habitats that have given room to birds and wildlife. We have identified Western Kenya’s most intriguing bird watching hotspots that you should consider during your bird watching holiday planning when you’re around Western Kenya. 

Top Birding Hotspots
in Western Kenya...

Where to Watch Birds in Nairobi

Sandwiched in the lush, hills of Western Kenya, the Kakamega Forest stands as a verdant natural oasis, a biodiversity hotspot that lures nature enthusiasts and avid birders from all over the world. 

With an estimated 387 species of birds recorded within its boundaries, Kakamega Forest is a magnet for avian diversity. From the elusive species to the more widespread but no less captivating residents, this forest offers a birding experience that lasts forever.

One of the star attractions for birders visiting Kakamega is the striking Turaco species. The Ross’s Turaco (Musophaga rossae) and the Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata) that can be both found here, their vibrant plumage and distinctive crests make them a sight to behold as they flit through the canopy.

Another sought-after species is the Blue-headed Bee-eater (Merops muelleri), a stunning little bird with a distinctive blue head and red chin. These aerial acrobats are a delight to watch as they soar through the air, catching insects on the wing. 

Here is a list of some othe most notable birds of the Kakamega Forest; Blue-headed Bee-eater, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Turner’s Eremomela, Grey Parrot, Crowned Eagle, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Red-headed Bluebill, Uganda Woodland Warbler, White-chinned Prinia, Green Hylia, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Olive-Green Camaroptera,  African Broadbill, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Green-throated Sunbird, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, White-spotted Flufftail, Dusky Tit, Luhder’s Bush-Shrike, Black-crowned Waxbill, White-breasted, Negrofinch, Jameson’s Wattle-eye

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The Birders' Heartbeat

Kakamega Forest

In One With Nature at

Katotoi Hills

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.

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.

Best Hilltop Birding Hotspot

Aderema Hills

Explore Kenya's Last Frontier

The Oluokos Fair Acres at Mumias Adumai Hills

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.

The Alupe Grasslands are located not far from Busia town and not far from the beautiful Kakamega Forest Reserve and about 100km from Kisumu city in Western Kenya.

Though the larger part of Busia grasslands are surrounded by intensive agricultural plantations mainly maize and sugarcane plantations owned the locals; the grasslands are a home to a number of bird species including the Blue Swallow which is a global threatened intra-African migrant, and normally spotted from April to September. Fiery-necked Nightjar and Green Crombec, two Guinea–Congo Forests biome species are also recorded in this area.

The Abyssanian Ground Hornbill, both Purple and Bronze-tailed Starling, Western-banded Snake Eagle, Red-necked Falcon, Red-headed Lovebird  and Hartlaub’s Marsh Widowbird are some of the bird species that can be sighted here.

Development against Birding

Alupe Grasslands

The Cathedral of Nature

Yala Swamp

The striking freshwater swamp of Yala is located in Western Kenya, close to the shores of the world’s second biggest water body, Lake Victoria. The swamp is majorly composed of vast papyrus vegetation interspersed by irregular long water channels, periodic small lakes and floating islands.

The swamp supports diverse birds, plant, fish and wildlife adapted to wetland conditions, such as sedges, grasses, water lilies, and aquatic ferns. Ecologically, Yala Swamp lies roughly between a line from the mouth of the River Nzoia to Lake Kanyaboli and the northern limits of the Kadimo area in Yimbo.

Historically, the swamp has gone through several transformation with seasons, Yala Swamp covers an area of about 17,500 hectares and is one of the largest wetlands in Kenya’s history. The swamp is fed by the Yala River and other tributaries, which supply water to the wetland throughout the year. During the rainy season, the swamp may expand in size, inundating adjacent plains and providing valuable water and nutrients to the surrounding landscape.

Yala Swamp is a vital stopover for migratory birds traveling between Africa and Europe, making it an essential hub in the migratory bird network. Its strategic location and diverse habitats provide critical resting, feeding, and breeding grounds for countless bird species during their long journeys.

The swamp’s mosaic of open water, dense papyrus reeds, marshlands, and grasslands creates a thriving ecosystem that supports resident and migratory birds. This unique biodiversity hotspot is significant for ornithologists and conservationists working to preserve these fragile migratory pathways.

Yala Swamp, a sanctuary for over 300 bird species, provides unmatched opportunities for capturing breathtaking wildlife moments, especially during bird migration seasons. These ensure that your bird photography safari at Yala Swamp is rewarding and aligned with conservation efforts, leaving you with stunning images and unforgettable memories.

Papyrus Specialists Species Include: White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Greater Swamp Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Swamp Flycatcher, Red-chested Sunbird, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Carruthers Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, and Golden-backed Weaver

Kisumu city is not only renowned for its vibrant Luo culture but also for its breathtaking natural wonders and the laid-back atmosphere. Kisumu is Kenya’s third largest city and the only lakeside city in Kenya.

On the other side, Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water lake in the world and the only lake in Kenya where you can both watch the sunrise and sunset from the comfort of its many calm and inviting beaches.

Away from the bustling city that is dotted with bicycles taxis and the colourful three wheelers, the city is home to a good number of other attractions that should draw your attention. Kisumu city isn’t your ordinary tourist destination, it’s a gem and a city that has so much to offer even to the seasoned guests.

While bird watching tourism is very popular in other parts of Kenya, Kisumu seems to be lugging behind with avian tourism and Kisumu safari companies aren’t keen enough to promote birdwatching in Kisumu in spite of organizations like Nature Kenya and other nature conservation partners who have even offered training courses for the community tour guides at Dunga.

Bird watching on Lake Victoria is a very rewarding experience to birders considering that most of the Lake Victoria biome restricted bird species are found here. With its so many varied habitats. The most notable one being the papyrus swamps along the shores of Lake Victoria. This is home to several birds not easily found anywhere else. Your birding safari in Kisumu and on Lake Victoria will make you to spot some species like the Swamp Flycatcher.

Other Notable Birds Include: Papyrus Gonolek, Black-headed Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Woodland Kingfisher, Slender-billed Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Long-toed Lapwing, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-billed Barbet, African Marsh-Harrier, Blue-headed Coucal, Red-chested Sunbird, Purple-banded Sunbird, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Rufous-chested Swallow, Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle, Swamp Flycatcher, Greater Swamp Warbler, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Carruther’s Cisticola, Winding Cisticola, Red-faced Cisticola, Water Thick-knee, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Bird Watching in Kisumu City

Kisumu Waterfront and Lake Victoria

Scenic Beauty and Birding

Kongelai Escarpment

Tucked away in the outskirts of Kapenguria, Kongelai Escarpment is a hidden birding haven with more than 200 bird species having been recorded. The list ncludes the rare and endangered specialties, this little-known destination is a must for keen birders while they are birding in Western Kenya.

Kongelai, also known as the Kanyarkwat escarpment’s variety of habitats makes birding here highly rewarding and an experience of great value a change of species reflecting the changes of landscape.

Although many birders will only come for a day, we would strongly suggest 4-5 days to enable you cover all hotspots.

Other Notable Birds Include: Spotted Creeper, Black-billed Firefinch, West African Seedeater, Rock Pratincole, Familiar Chat, Southern Hyliota, White-crested Turaco, Eastern Plantain-eater, Fan-tailed Raven, Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, Bronze-tailed Glossy-Starling, Uganda Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Shrike, Hartlaub’s Marsh Widowbird, Heuglin’s Masked Weaver, Western Citril, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Pale  White-eye, Stone Partridge, Boran Cisticola, Green-backed Eremomela, Foxy Cisticola, Western Black-headed Batis, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Mocking Cliff Chat, Gambaga Flycatcher, Jameson’s Firefinch, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Freckled Nightjar, Short-winged Cisticola, Rameron Pigeon, Black-billed Barbet, Red-throated Wryneck, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Black-bellied Seedcracker.

A natural wonder, Lake Simbi Nyaima with a radius of 3 km, is located near Lake Victoria and enchants visitors with its breathtaking scenery and abundant birdlife. Renowned for its role in local folklore and as a sanctuary for flamingos, this picturesque lake offers a unique and memorable experience for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers equally.

Located close to Kendu Bay town, Lake Simbi is a tiny Crater of volcanic origin with no known inlet or outlet. Both Lake Simbi and adjacent Ondago sites support a substantial bird population.  

Traditional folklore allude that where the lake sits today existed a village which mysteriously disappeared in a violent storm when residents refused to shelter and feed an old woman who sought refuge there thus creating a large depression that formed what is called Lake Simbi Nyaima today.

Lake Simbi Nyaima, is a classical birdwatching destination, best known for hosting millions of migrating Lesser and Greater flamingos. The alkaline, nutrient-rich water attracts these nomadic birds, along with species like. 

The lake serves as a critical, albeit vulnerable, refuge for these birds, with many nesting in the walls of the crater. The best time for viewing is typically when the flamingos arrive, which can make the small lake appear covered in pink.

Notable Bird Species includeLittle Grebe, Little Egret, and Egyptian Goose, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Water Thick-knee  

Birding safari and History

Lake Simbi Nyaima Sanctuary

Nature's Tranquility

Ruma National Park

Ruma National Park, located in the western part of Kenya near Lake Victoria, is a hidden gem often referred to as the “Last Retreat of the Roan Antelope.” This park is the only protected area in Kenya where the rare roan antelope can be found, making it a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is also home to other species such as Rothschild giraffes, oribis, leopards, buffaloes, and a variety of birdlife, including the endangered blue swallow.

It lies on the flat floor of the Lambwe valley, bordered by the Kanyamwa escarpment to the south-east. The terrain is mainly rolling grassland, with tracts of open woodland and thickets dominated by species of acacia and balanites. The soils are largely ‘black cotton’.

Ruma National Park is a birding destination with over 400 species of birds recorded, making it an important bird area. The Montane Blue Swallow, a rare intra African migrant is one such avian species that call Ruma home. Ruma is the only protected area in Kenya where this African migrant bird, is regularly recorded. The swallows arrive in Kenya from the breeding grounds in southern Tanzania around April and depart in September. They depend on moist grassland for feeding and roosting.

There have been several recent reliable records of Cisticola eximius, a species thought to be extinct in Kenya, has also recently been rediscovered in Ruma and the park could be promising for more bird species.

Other Notable Birds Include: African Grey Hornbill, Montane Blue Swallow, Osprey, Bateleur, Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow, Scaly Spurfowl, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Black-headed Gonolek, Moustached Grass Warbler, Copper Sunbird, Banded Snake Eagle, Flappet Lark, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Southern Red Bishop, Slender-billed Weaver, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Black Bishop, Black-billed Barbet, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Croaking Cisticola, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Western Citril, Streaky-breasted Flufftail

Ibencho Hills – Kenya’s Last Signature… is an ultimate destination to chill out as you unwind from the traditional lifestyles. Expect the unexpected at the nature’s arena where the night sky is smothered by the stars, soothed by unmistakable sounds of the Spotted Hyena, bush babies, African Civet, nightjars and a collection of nocturnal insects.

Away from the foothill, the terrain changes to acacia riverine forest and a good size of the woodland along the sandy Tito River that snakes its way from the higher altitude while flwing to the west into Lake Victoria. With its heavily gullied banks, the site is a good habitat for bee-eaters, martins, kingfishers and a good number of water birds. During the rains, this habitat supports a good number of Grey-crowned Cranes (Balearica regulorum) alongside a good number of ducks and waders.

Ibencho Hills Sanctuary is an awesome private wildlife conservancy sitting on the borderline between Kenya and Tanzania at an altitude of 1,277 meters. Ibencho Hills boasts for a near perfect microclimate, over 200 species of birds and a reasonable population of resident animals calling Ibencho their home.

Other Notable Birds Include: Red-eyed Dove, Mocking Cliffchat, Rock-loving Cisticola, African Hoopoe, Ring-necked Dove, Namaqua Dove, Klaas’s Cuckoo, White-rumped Swift, White Stork, Hamerkop, Black-winged Kite, and Hooded Vulture.

A Loop Into Tanzania

Ibencho Hills Sanctuary

In the Oasis of Nature

Mount Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon National Park is a jewel of the Western Kenya bird watching circuit. Mount Elgon National Park is not only made up of Mountain Elgon, an extinct volcano that erupted over 20 million years ago for the first time but also an excellent birding site.

This being an extinct volcano, it has a caldera on the top that has a radius of about 40km. It used to be one of the highest mountains in Africa but with the rate of erosion in the area, it has been reducing and now stands at 4321m making it the fourth highest in East Africa. This mountain has a wide base of about 3840km.

The park encompasses a fascinating mix of habitats—montane forest, bamboo zone, wooded grassland, and alpine moorland—spread across the eastern slopes of Mount Elgon, this is Kenya’s second-highest mountain. Rising dramatically above the surrounding plains, Mount Elgon straddles the Kenya–Uganda border, offering exceptional birdwatching opportunities with species found nowhere else in the country.

Birders visiting Mount Elgon will encounter a wide variety of highland and forest species, many shared with Uganda’s Albertine Rift region. The park plays a vital role as a water catchment, feeding both the Nzoia River (flowing into Lake Victoria) and the Turkwel River (flowing into Lake Turkana).

Mount Elgon National Park has about 300 bird species with about 40 of them being almost limited to this mountain

Saiwa National Park is a vibrant oasis with nature’s tranquility and beauty. Saiwa National Park remains one of the few places in Kenya where you can see the elusive Sitatunga antelope in its natural habitat.

Birders can explore the park via a raised wooden boardwalk that meanders through the forest and across the extensive swamp. Along the trail, four elevated observation hides offer excellent vantage points to spot Sitatunga, monkeys, and a range of forest and wetland bird species.

The relatively small compared to other parks, Saiwa Swamp National Park is a remarkable birdwatching haven. Over 370 bird species have been recorded here, making it a rewarding all-year-round birding destination only on foot.

The park is particularly known for its Western Kenya bird specialties, including the stunning Ross’s Turaco and the secretive Grey-winged Robin-Chat. The early morning hours are the most productive for birding, as bird activity tends to slow down in the afternoon.

Other Notable Birds Include: Western Reef Heron, Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Bat Hawk, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Allen’s Gallinule, Ross’s Turaco, Blue-headed Coucal, Narina Trogon, Abyssinian Roller, Mustached Green Tinkerbird, Slender-billed Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin-Chat, African Thrush, White-browed Crombec, Black-throated Apalis, Black-throated Wattle-eye, African Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Shrike, Marsh Tchagra, Bronze Starling, Heuglin’s Masked Weaver, Hartlaub’s Marsh Widowbird, Dwarf Bittern, and African Green Pigeon.

Nairobi Luxury Birding safari

Saiwa Swamp National Park

At the Fronter of Kenya and Uganda

Busia Grasslnds

Busia Grasslands birding comprises a stretch of grassland ranges in western Kenya, including Mungatsi, Madende Creek, Alupe grasslands Busia grassland patches are surrounded by intensive agriculture, mainly maize and sugarcane, and are grazed by livestock owned by the locals. Blue Swallow, a globally threatened intra-African migrant, is a non-breeding visitor to Busia Grasslands from April to September.

The Blue Swallow feeds over grassland and over 100 have been recorded roosting at the flooded grassland patch near Mungatsi. The most important of them is Mungatsi, located 2 kilometers from Mungatsi market along the Mungatsi–Munami road.

This privately owned site lies on either side of a small stream (a tributary of the River Sio), that is fringed by riverine forest and scrub. The riverine forest and scrub at Mungatsi also hold several Sudan–Sudan-Guinea savanna biome species that are not found in other birding areas.

This is also the only Kenyan Important Bird Area in which Fiery-necked Nightjar and Green Crombec, two Guinea–Congo Forests biome species, are recorded. Regionally threatened species include the Western-banded Snake Eagle, Shining Blue Kingfisher (recorded at Mungatsi), and Hartlaub’s Marsh Widowbird which nests in flooded grassland.

Other Notable Birds Include: Senegal Coucal, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Red-headed Lovebird, Bamboo, Compact Weaver, Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Red-necked Falcon, 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

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.

Kenya & Uganda Frontier's Birding

Ochilata Wetlands & Malaba River

Pure Luxury Bird Watching Safari in Western Kenya...

Western Kenya birding safaris with Oluokos Signature are deeply personal, family-led experiences that focus on high-quality, sustainable birdwatching in the region’s “hidden gem” habitats. Unlike standard birding tours, our birding safaris often move beyond national parks to explore private lands and community-managed areas.

Oluokos Signature offers specialized, high-end, and responsible birding safaris in Western Kenya, targeting rich biodiversity hotspots like Kakamega Forest, Ruma National Park, Yala Swamp, Katotoi Hills, Aderema Hills, Kanyarkwat, Busia Grasslands, Ibencho Hills Sanctuary, Mount Elgon and Lake Victoria. These tailored trips feature experienced ornithological guides and local guides, focusing on rare and endemic species across varied habitats including rainforests, wetlands, and highlands nd villages.

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