Bird shooting

Wild and Exotic sample itinerary for the ultimate bird shooting trip in Kenya

Day 1 Ol Donyo Wuas: Arrive in Nairobi and transfer for private charter flight to the Chyulu Hills to stay at Ol Donyo Wuas, a magnificent private lodge with exclusive access to a quarter of a million acres, and stunning views to the snow capped summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. There will be time for an evening shoot of Yellow-necked Spur fowl.

Day 2 Ol Donyo Wuas: Leave the Lodge early and drive to a sand grouse flight that usually begins at 7.45am.  The flight lasts for up to an hour, during which several different species of sand grouse come in to drink from all angles and at breathtaking speed. After the flight finishes enjoy a bush breakfast of barbequed sand grouse breast, before moving into the bush for a series of impromptu drives for yellow-neck and guinea fowl. Masai scouts may have located some big coveys during the morning flight that can be successfully ambushed soon after setting off. Normally guests return to the lodge in time for a late lunch and a siesta, before going out again at 4pm for some more walked-up or driven yellow-neck spur fowl shooting.

Day 3 Ol Donyo Wuas: Another early start to catch the sand grouse flight followed by more walked-up and driven yellow-neck and guinea fowl. Instead of returning to the lodge for lunch a picnic is taken in the bush, followed by a siesta beneath the shade of an Acacia tree. The afternoon is spent shooting Yellow-neck before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Day 4 Ol Donyo Wuas: A third day flighting sand grouse and walking up wild game on the lodge's 250,000. Some of the party may choose to go out on game drives, walking or riding instead, or be driven to Amboseli game park, famous for its large herds of elephant.

Day 5 Borana Lodge: Today we fly direct to Borana by private charter, which takes approximately one hour. Borana is an exclusive lodge built from natural materials on a private 35,000-acre game reserve overlooked by Mount Kenya. After lunch flight doves coming into wheat at an altitude of some 8000 feet, which is possibly the most testing and difficult shooting of the holiday. In the evening return to Borana for dinner and relaxation.

Day 6 Borana Lodge: Guests can enjoy an early morning ride through the bush or a game drive before breakfast, followed by a day relaxing at the lodge besides the pool.  Alternatively fly by private charter to fish for hard fighting rainbow trout in the clear waters of Lake Rutundu half way up the slopes of Mt Kenya, where there are comfortable log cabins should the party wish to extend their stay beside this beautiful lake.  Alternatively return in the afternoon to flight doves in the farmland below.

Day 7 Kalatcha Camp: Today we fly to Kalatcha Camp in Northern Kenya. This is an oasis in the Chalbi Desert and is home to the nomadic Gabbra tribe of Cushitic origin living in Northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. The flight takes approximately 90 minutes above dramatic semi-desert country, including the Mathews Range of mountains and the spectacular Ndoto Hills. The accommodation at Kalatcha is in reed thatched cottages, with a swimming pool to cool off in after the rigours of a hot morning. At Kalatcha the sand grouse shooting is beyond compare, with the additional attraction of an evening flight for Lichtenstein's sand grouse. These birds swoop in like snipe just as the light is fading, and only those with quick reactions will succeed in adding any to the bag.

Day 8 Kalatcha Camp: In the morning we flight sand grouse at a desert waterhole, before returning for lunch, preceded by a visit to the nearby Gabbra settlement or an expedition to climb one of the steep hills that lie beyond and examine the rock paintings there. After lunch relax in the swimming pool before another exciting evening flight, followed by dinner and a performance of the Gabbra women singing tribal songs for your entertainment.

Day 9 Kalatcha: After a morning flight depart by light aircraft for a fishing expedition to Lake Turkana, otherwise known as the Jade Sea. We fly across the spectacular desert landscape for 30 minutes before landing on remote South Island with fishing rods and a picnic lunch. As we begin to land huge Nile Perch, local Turkana tribesman appear out of the harsh lunar landscape to help fillet the catch. On the way home we touch down at Loiyangalani village for a  cold beer in the swimming pool of the bizarre Oasis hotel. We fly back in the evening in time for a final flight of Lichtenstein's sand grouse.           

Day 10 Kalatcha onwards: A final morning flight before flying back to Nanyuki by private charter in time to connect with the scheduled Tropic Air flight to Wilson airport in Nairobi and the end of the shooting safari.

Notes:

All shooting safaris are bespoke, and guests can choose between as little or as much shooting as they wish. Most incorporate other activities, such as riding, game viewing and fishing. As an example of the very best that Kenya has to offer the shooting enthusiast we have suggested the ultimate bird shooting safari for your consideration.

Price on application according to number of guests and duration. The cost will include all internal transfers, food, accommodation, drink, licences, (but not cartridges) and other activities based at the lodges, such as riding and game drives.

There are various other activities that can be incorporated at your request.  These include a visit to Amboseli National Park, where guests can spend the day game viewing after an early morning shoot at Ol Donyo Wuas. In northern Kenya visit Lake Rutundu, located on the slopes of Mt Kenya at high altitude, and enjoy superb fishing for rainbow trout. Lake Rutundu can be reached by light aircraft from either Kisima Farm where the dove shooting takes place, or from Borana Lodge. The two log cabins besides the lake there are comfortable, remote, and heated by log fires. Guests flying back down the Rift Valley from northern Kenya can call in at Lake Baringo, where it may be possible to shoot wild duck and enjoy lunch overlooking the lake before flying onwards to Nairobi.

Neither Wild and Exotic nor the operators or suppliers can accept any responsibility for changes to itineraries or dates that may arise due to weather or unforeseen circumstances such as changes, disruptions or delays to airline flights for whatever reason. This holiday is subject to Wild and Exotic's terms and conditions, a copy of which will be enclosed with your booking form.