Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a special birding destination. This is partly because there are many north Kenya specials here, including the Somali ostrich, vulturine guineafowl and beautiful golden-breasted starling. In all, more than 350 bird species have been recorded in Lewa, making it a great place to go birding. If you’re here mainly for bird watching, consider booking a private vehicle and letting your operator or accommodations know that birding is the reason for your visit. Otherwise, most of the in Lewa focus on spotting large animals.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- Amethyst sunbird
- Blue-cheeked bee-eater
- Cinnamon-chested bee-eater
- Golden-breasted bunting
- Golden-breasted starling
- Golden-winged sunbird
- Harlequin quail
- Hartlaub’s bustard
- Hartlaub’s turaco
- Hildebrandt’s francolin
- Hildebrandt’s starling
- Hunter’s sunbird
- Mariqua sunbird
- Red-bellied parrot
- Scarlet-chested sunbird
- Shelley’s francolin
- Variable sunbird
- Vulturine guineafowl
- White-bellied bustard
- White-bellied go-away-bird
- Yellow-necked spurfowl
Best Time for Bird Watching
Lewa offers good bird watching year-round, but most lodges close in April and November due to heavy rain. The best time is from December to March when migrants are present (they arrive in November and leave around April). This partly coincides with the Wet season (October to May) when many species are in breeding plumage. The best time for general wildlife viewing is July to September, and December to February is also very good.