Day 4 - To Nakuru

Today we departed Nairobi for the National Park that is Lake Nakuru. And departing Nairobi was a pleasure. While the hotel where we stayed was good with an excellent garden, the traffic and pollution of a big city like Nairobi was less endearing.

So our safari started and the first iconic new birds to fly past were a pair of Crowned Cranes. Soon we were at our first scheduled birding stop; Manguo Ponds. Here there were two main targets; White backed and Maccoa Ducks - which we quickly ticked off. New also were African Spoonbill and Jacana, Red-billed and Yellow-billed Teal and Duck respectively plus many others.

Birders at Gaitamayu forest plus Paul's bum

The next stop overlooked the Great Rift Valley to the west and here, with the view, we got aour first taste of the heavy sell as well as a few birds; including African Stonechat plus Sunbirds such as Golden winged and Eastern double- collared.

Rift Valley View

The Gaitamayo Forest was another site that we visited which was excellent for birds and, to set a pattern which would be re-visited many times, bad for roads. Jolting, thumping and banging along the road we actually got a few good species. The scenery alternated between forest, farms and tea plantations. A small pond enroute gave us our first African Dusky flycatchers, Black Saw wings and Cape Robin Chat.And the forest, when we finally arrived, was wonderful.

Golden winged Sunbird

Many species of Apalis, Weavers, Brown-chested Alethe, African Hill Babblers, Cabani's Greenbul, Five Star Robin, Grey Cuckoo Shrike and Black-fronted Bush Shrike were all new for our lists. Here, too, we got our first Black and White Colobus.

Streaky Seedeater

After another huge picnic lunch we were on to Nakuru Lodge, with Impala, Zebra, Giraffe and Buffalo on the way in. The hotel was excellent and all were immediately sorry that there would be only one night stay.

Male Jackson's Chameleon