Kenya Parks
By Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
Tsavo East has an impressive checklist of over 500 bird species. It has many dry-country specials which are easy to spot, including the magnificent golden-breasted starling, golden pipit and vulturine guineafowl. The park is also the southernmost stronghold for the Somali ostrich. The park’s huge area is a significant wintering ground for migrant species from Europe. Migrant birds are present from November to April.
Notable Birds in Tsavo East
Common
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Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders
Best Time for Bird Watching
Tsavo East offers great bird watching that can be taken advantage of at any time of year. A lot of unusual specials are resident, making it easier to spot them with regularity, year-round. Migratory birds call the park home from November to April. The peak months in the short and long rains are November and April with heavy rain a possibility, leading to bird-watching activities being disrupted.
Best Parks for Birding –Including Birding Rating
The best wildlife viewing parks, such as the Masai Mara and Amboseli, offer a solid introduction to East Africa’s common birds. The Rift Valley Lakes including Lake Nakuru and Bogoria are the places to go to mark off many waterbirds, while the arid north, such as Samburu, offers many dry-country specials. Arabuko-Sokoke and Kakamega Forest are birding hotspots as well.
- Masai Mara NR 4.3/5 152 Birding Ratings
- Amboseli NP 4.3/5 90 Birding Ratings
- Lake Nakuru NP 4.3/5 114 Birding Ratings
- Arabuko Sokoke 4.3/5 8 Birding Ratings
- Kakamega Forest NR 4.4/5 15 Birding Ratings
- Samburu NR 4.3/5 54 Birding Ratings
- Saiwa Swamp NP 3.7/5 7 Birding Ratings
- Buffalo Springs NR 3.8/5 14 Birding Ratings
Want to Visit Tsavo East NP?
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Facts & Figures
