PLEASE NOTE:

Caligo Ventures no longer offers a Kenya Tour. Please contact ORIGINS, our excellent ground operator in Kenya, for more information on a tour to this spectacular country!

Caligo Ventures is pleased to introduce you to one of Africa's finest birding and natural history tour operators - Origins Safaris. Origins grew out of East African Ornithological Safaris, a family-business based in Kenya. The company was founded in 1963 by Don and Margaret Turner specialising in wildlife safaris and birding. Their son, Steve Turner, runs the business today. The breadth of their special interest safaris has changed and grown but the family's fundamental commitment to "turning dreams into reality" is still the same. Origins seeks to open doors, to give visitors the opportunity to enjoy, understand and immerse themselves in the stunning natural heritage of East Africa.

This excellent guide firm has led thousands of ecstatic visitors across the wilds of Kenya for 40 years. Today Origins Safaris offers an exceptional value in their program entitled - BIRDVENTURES

This is a specialized 14-day birding safari, based on a minimum of only two participants, that also affords you the opportunity to observe and study the other spectacular wildlife of this incredible nation. This itinerary is especially designed for the "involved naturalist" who does not want to simply view the animals of Kenya from the confines of a vehicle. We start in the incredible dry wilderness of Meru National Park. With 500 species, it is home to one of the world's largest bird lists! Next you will walk in a mountain moorland at 11,000 feet, through the acacia bush habitat and lakes of the Great Rift Valley, and into the dense jungle-like forest of Kakamega. On this safari we hope to see 400 species of birds, as well as a great diversity of mammals, insects, spiders, fungi, orchids and other plants highlighted by our three full days in the fabled Maasai Mara.

We have monthly BIRDVENTURES trips departing from Nairobi on the second Sunday of every month throughout the year. Every passenger will have a window seat and each van is accompanied by one of the best birding-safari driver/guides in East Africa.

DO IT NOW!! Visit Kenya and enjoy one of the world's last truly great wildlife spectacles!

Our tour will visit several important ecosystems. We will start traveling east to Meru National Park home to Somali Ostrich, Pringle's Puffback, Golden Breasted Starling, Somali Golden Breasted Buntin, Fischer's Starling, Orange-bellied Parot, Vulturine Guineafowl, Red-fronted Warbler, Hunter's Sunbird, Red-winged Lark, Ashy Cisticola, and Pel's Fishing Owl. mammals abound as well - Grevy Zebra, Gerenuk, Guenther's DikDik, Reticulated Giraffe, Lesser Kudu, and Besia Oryx.

Then on to the slopes of Mt. Kenya, where our birdwalks will see us looking for turacos, sunbirds, and, in the alpine moorlands, unique flora such as the giant lobelias growing to over 10 feet tall. We will stay at the famous Mountain Lodge and thrill at the nightime parade of animals arriving at the waterhole directly beneath the viewing veranda; Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Bush Pigs, and rhinoceros.

Next, the famous lakes of the Rift Valley, where you can see hundreds of thousands of lesser and greater flamingos, along with Goliath Heron, Malachite Kingfisher, hornbills, and the bizzare Hamerkop. A boat trip from our hotel at Lake Baringo Lodge will introduce us to the Hippos and crocodiles that are common in these waters.

Our tour will also include a visit to the eastern-most remnant of African Rainforest - Kakamega. This remarkable habitat once stretched the width of the African continent. Today its flora and fauna remain fascinatingly distinct; Gray-cheeked Hornbill, Great Blue Turaco, Blue-headed Bee-eater, barbets, greenbuls and wattle-eyes along with Black-and-white Colubus Monkey and other interesting primates.

We will also visit the Maasai Mara, at the northern terminus of the fabled Serengeti, where, depending on the time of your tour, you can experience one of nature's greatest wildlife spectacles - the remarkable Wildebeest migration. Here we will also marvel at sightings of lion prides, cheetahs on the hunt, and the tens of thousands of plains animals - zebra, Kongoni, Topi, and Thompson's and Grant's Gazelles. Lilac-breasted Rollers, Verraux's Hawk-eagle and five species of vultures add variety to this already rich tapestry of wildlife.

DO IT NOW!! Visit Kenya and enjoy one of the world's last truly great wildlife spectacles!

Note: Prices do not include round-trip airfare to Nairobi or any extensions that you may wish to make.

Tour Price Includes . . .

• Guided Ground Transportation in specially built safari vehicles
• Accompanied by an expert, KPSGA certified, Naturalist-Guide
  (Guide holds a Diploma in Ornithology from National Museum of Kenya)
• Park and Museum Entrance Fees
• All Accomodations and Meals while on Safari based on double occupancy
• All government hotel taxes and service charges
• All porterage and Airport Assistance
• Bottled mineral water with meals and game drives
• Temporary Flying Doctor (AMREF), emergency evacuation to Nairobi.

We have monthly trips departing from Nairobi on the second Sunday of every month throughout the year. Every passenger will have a window seat and each van is accompanied by one of the best birding-safari driver/guides in East Africa.

We would be happy to help you by making the necessary air arrangements for this trip from the U.S. to Nairobi.