More than 350 species have been recorded across the wider Laikipia Plateau, and many of these are found on Solio Ranch. It’s a great birding destination with many north Kenya specials and a mix of habitats. Solio’s proximity to the Aberdares also adds further possibilities in the ranch’s woodland areas. Private game drives and guided walks can be arranged. Let the guide know if birding is your primary interest.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- Abyssinian nightjar
- African finfoot
- Black-faced sandgrouse
- Buff-crested bustard
- Common ostrich
- Crowned eagle
- Donaldson Smith’s nightjar
- Egyptian vulture
- Four-banded sandgrouse
- Hartlaub’s bustard
- Hartlaub’s turaco
- Lesser kestrel
- Lichtenstein’s sandgrouse
- Martial eagle
- Pallid harrier
- Red-footed falcon
- Silvery-cheeked hornbill
- Slate-coloured boubou
- Sooty falcon
- Southern white-faced owl
- Spotted palm-thrush
- Verreaux’s eagle
- Von der Decken’s hornbill
- Vulturine guineafowl
Best Time for Bird Watching
Solio Ranch offers good bird watching throughout the year. The best time for birders is from December to February when the migrants from Europe and North Africa can be seen. The migratory species are present from November to April, but it’s best to avoid periods of peak rainfall. This partly coincides with the Wet season (October to May) when many species in breeding plumage are nesting.