IMG
© Isaac Kilusu

Tawi Conservancy

-2.73009 , 37.40054

Kenya

Known as the bird hide of Kenya, Tawi conservancy is located near the famous Amboseli NP, on the east is Kimana sanctuary and to the south is Satao elerai conservancy. Located on a 6000 acre property, it is just ten minutes' drive from Amboseli Kimana gate, inside the conservancy is tawi lodge, a small luxury lodge with uninterrupted views of the snowcapped mount Kilimanjaro. This is undoubtedly the best place to do bird photography in Kenya, the bird walks here are always rewarding, and logging a 100 species in an hour is not unusual. The superb acacia woodlands host a number of birds which are only found in the somali-maasai arid zones. Visitors can book a stay at tawi lodge to enjoy this magnificent place. Having a checklist of 400 bird species, Tawi conservancy is truly a bird haven. Staying at Tawi lodge can also be a good gateway to other birding sites in the area.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were changed by Stephen Matthews : -2.7301/37.4005 (2025-11-02 12:59:25 )

Site name was changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) into "Tawi Conservancy" (2021-02-06 14:48:13 )

Coordinates were set by Isaac Kilusu : -2.7301/37.4005 (2021-02-06 14:40:27 )

Site name was set by Isaac Kilusu as "Tawi Conservancy" (2021-02-06 14:40:27 )

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 12:59:25
Known as the bird hide of Kenya, Tawi conservancy is located near the famous Amboseli NP, on the east is kimana santuary Kimana sanctuary and to the south is satao Satao elerai conservancy. Located on a 6000 acre property, it is just ten minutes' drive from amboseli kimana Amboseli Kimana gate, inside the conservancy is tawi lodge, a small luxury lodge with uninterrupted views of the snowcapped mount kilimanjaro.Kilimanjaro. This is undoubtedly the best place to do bird photography in Kenya, the bird walks here are always rewarding, and logging a 100 species in an hour is not unusual. The superb acacia woodlands host a number of birds which are only found in the somali-maasai arid zones. Visitors can book a stay at tawi lodge to enjoy this magnificent place. Having a checklist of 400 bird species, Tawi conservancy is truly a bird haven. Staying at Tawi lodge can also be a good gateway to other birding sites in the area.
Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 12:55:06
known Known as the bird hide of kenya tawi Kenya, Tawi conservancy is located near the famous amboseli NP,on Amboseli NP, on the east is kimana santuary and to the south is satao elerai conservancy,located conservancy. Located on a 6000 acre property,it property, it is just ten minutes minutes' drive from amboseli kimana gate,inside gate, inside the conservancy is tawi lodge,a lodge, a small luxury lodge with uninterrupted views of the snowcapped mout kilimanjaro.mount kilimanjaro. This is undoubtedly the best place to do bird photography in kenya,the Kenya, the bird walks here are always rewarding,logging rewarding, and logging a 100 species in an hour is not unusual.unusual. The superb acacia woodlands host a number of birds which are only found in the somali-maasai arid zones.visitors zones. Visitors can book a stay at tawi lodge to enjoy this magnificent place,Having place. Having a checklist of 400 bird species ,tawi species, Tawi conservancy is truely truly a bird haven.haven. Staying at tawi Tawi lodge can also be a good gate away gateway to other birding sites in the areaarea.
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:36:35
known as the bird hide of kenya tawi conservancy is located near the famous amboseli NP,on the east is kimana santuary and south is satao elerai conservancy,located on a 6000 acre property,it is just ten minutes drive from amboseli kimana gate,inside the conservancy is tawi lodge,a small luxury lodge with uninterrupted views of the snowcapped mout kilimanjaro.This is undoubtedly the best place to do bird photography in kenya,the bird walks here are always rewarding,logging a 100 species in an hour is not unusual.The superb acacia woodlands host a number of birds which are only found in the somali-maasai arid zones.visitors can book a stay at tawi lodge to enjoy this magnificent place,Having a checklist of 400 bird species ,tawi conservancy is truely a bird havenhaven.Staying at tawi lodge can be a good gate away to other birding sites in the area
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:06:01
known as the bird hide of kenya tawi conservancy is located near the famous amboseli NP,on the east is kimana santuary and south is satao elerai conservancy,located on a 6000 acre property,it is just ten minutes drive from amboseli kimana gate,inside the conservancy is tawi lodge,a small luxury lodge with uninterrupted views of the snowcapped mout kilimanjaro.This is undoubtedly the best place to do bird photography in kenya,the bird walks here are always rewarding,logging a 100 species in an hour is not unusual.The superb acacia woodlands host a number of birds which are only found in the somali-maasai arid zones.visitors can book a stay at tawi lodge to enjoy this magnificent place,Having a checklist of 400 bird species ,tawi conservancy is truely a bird haven

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)
Black-faced Sandgrouse (Pterocles decoratus)
Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana)
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar (Caprimulgus donaldsoni)
Double-banded Courser (Smutsornis africanus)
White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus)
Abyssinian Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus minor)
Red-fronted Barbet (Tricholaema diademata)
Bearded Woodpecker (Chloropicus namaquus)
Eastern Black-headed Batis (Batis minor)
Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo)
Rosy-patched Bushshrike (Rhodophoneus cruentus)
White-bellied Tit (Melaniparus albiventris)
Somali Tit (Melaniparus thruppi)
Red-throated Tit (Melaniparus fringillinus)
Mouse-colored Penduline-Tit (Anthoscopus musculus)
Northern Crombec (Sylvietta brachyura)
Red-faced Crombec (Sylvietta whytii)
Tiny Cisticola (Cisticola nana)
Rufous Chatterer (Argya rubiginosa)
Scaly Chatterer (Argya aylmeri)
Shelley's Starling (Lamprotornis shelleyi)
Black-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides)
Gray-headed Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi)
Black-faced Waxbill (Brunhilda erythronotos)
Parrot-billed Sparrow (Passer gongonensis)
Reichenow's Seedeater (Crithagra reichenowi)
Southern Grosbeak-Canary (Crithagra buchanani)

Gray-headed Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:19:24)

Donaldson Smith's Nightjar (Caprimulgus donaldsoni) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:17:53)

Shelley's Starling (Lamprotornis shelleyi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:17:35)

Black-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:15:44)

Black-faced Waxbill (Brunhilda erythronotos) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:15:01)

Parrot-billed Sparrow (Passer gongonensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:14:35)

Southern Grosbeak-Canary (Crithagra buchanani) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:14:00)

Abyssinian Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus minor) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:12:56)

White-bellied Tit (Melaniparus albiventris) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:12:07)

Red-throated Tit (Melaniparus fringillinus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:11:48)

Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:11:30)

Bearded Woodpecker (Chloropicus namaquus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:10:52)

Red-fronted Barbet (Tricholaema diademata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:10:33)

Reichenow's Seedeater (Crithagra reichenowi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:10:11)

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:09:24)

Tiny Cisticola (Cisticola nana) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:08:48)

Rufous Chatterer (Argya rubiginosa) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:08:33)

Scaly Chatterer (Argya aylmeri) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:08:19)

Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:07:24)

Eastern Black-headed Batis (Batis minor) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:07:04)

Double-banded Courser (Smutsornis africanus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:06:38)

Red-faced Crombec (Sylvietta whytii) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:03:56)

Northern Crombec (Sylvietta brachyura) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:03:34)

Black-faced Sandgrouse (Pterocles decoratus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:03:08)

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:02:42)

White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:02:23)

Rosy-patched Bushshrike (Rhodophoneus cruentus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:02:05)

Mouse-colored Penduline-Tit (Anthoscopus musculus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:01:32)

Somali Tit (Melaniparus thruppi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-06 17:00:54)

  • Timing and strategy

All year round Tawi conservancy is worth a visit. You can book a 3-night stay at tawi lodge which will also be a gateway to other nearby birding spots such as oloitoktok forest, amboseli np, oloitoktok forest and mandegee farm. Guides at Tawi lodge are good birders but still you might need to come with a bird expert to really enjoy this place.

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 12:56
All year round Tawi conservancy is worth a visit. You can book a 3-night stay at tawi lodge which will also be a gateway to other nearby birding spots such as oloitoktok forest, amboseli np, oloitoktok forest and mandegee farm. Guides at Tawi lodge are good birders but still you might need to come with a bird expert to realy really enjoy this place.
Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 12:55
All year round tawi Tawi conservancy is worth a visit.you visit. You can book a 3 night 3-night stay at tawi lodge which will also be a gate away gateway to other nearby birding spots such as oloitoktok forest, amboseli np, oloitoktok forest and mandegee farm.farm. Guides in tawi at Tawi lodge are good birders but still you might need to come with a bird expert to realy enjoy this placeplace.
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:10
All year round tawi conservancy worth a visit.you can book a 3 night stay at tawi lodge which will also be a gate away to other nearby birding spots such as oloitoktok forest, amboseli np, oloitoktok forest and mandegee farm.Guides in tawi lodge are good birders but still you might need to come with a bird expert to realy enjoy this place
  • How to get there

Tawi conservancy is approximately 270 kms from Nairobi. Once you take the emali - loitoktok road, just past kimana town on your right you see a big sign board to amboseli np. Drive another 15 km, on your right again you will see a sign board to tawi lodge and conservancy. At the conservancy there is also an airstrip or you can fly from wilson airport to amboseli airstrip then you will be picked by tawi lodge guides.

You can also take a taxi from kimana or take public transport which is only available on Tuesday.

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 12:56
tawi Tawi conservancy is approximately 270 kms from nairobi,once Nairobi. Once you take  the take the emali - loitoktok road,just road, just past kimana town on your right you see a big sign board to amboseli np,drive np. Drive another 15 km km, on your right again you will see a sign board to tawi lodge and conservancy.conservancy. At the conservancy there is also an airstrip or you can fly from wilson airport to amboseli airstrip then you will be picked by tawi lodge guides  you guides. You can also take a taxi from kimana or take public transport which is only available on Tuesday.
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:34
tawi conservancy is approximately 270 kms from nairobi,once you took take  the emali - loitoktok road,just past kimana town on your right you see a big sign board to amboseli np,drive another 15 km on your right again you will see a sign board to tawi lodge and conservancy.At the conservancy there is also an airstrip or you can fly from wilson airport to amboseli airstrip then you will be picked by tawi lodge guides  you can also take a taxi from kimana or take public transport which is only available on Tuesday.
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:16
tawi conservancy is approximately 270 kms from nairobi,once you took the emali - loitoktok road,just past kimana town on your right you see a big sign board to amboseli np,drive another 15 km on your right again you will see a sign board to tawi lodge and conservancy.At the conservancy there is also an airstrip or you can fly from wilson airport to amboseli airstrip then you will be picked by tawi lodge guides  you can also take a taxi from kimana or take public transport which is only available on Tuesday.

Tawi conservancy is open all year round for visitors. Check www.tawilodge.com

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 12:58
Tawi conservancy is open all year round for visitors.check Check www.tawilodge.com
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:24
Tawi conservancy is open all year round for visitors.check www.tawilodge.com
  • Other attractions

Guided bush walks, visit to maasai village, maasai museum, camel rides, beautiful landscapes, big herds of impalas, lions sometimes roam the conservancy, elephants are guaranteed here every time, zebras, giraffes, Grant's and Thompson's gazelles and many more.

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 12:57
guided Guided bush walks,visit walks, visit to maasai village,maasai museum,camel ride, village, maasai museum, camel rides, beautiful landscapes,big landscapes, big herds of impalas,lions impalas, lions sometimes room roam the conservancy, elephants are guaranteed here every time ,zebras,girrafes,grant time, zebras, giraffes, Grant's and Thompson's gazelles and many moremore.
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:27
guided bush walks,visit to maasai village,maasai museum,camel ride, beautiful landscapes,big herds of impalas,lions sometimes room the conservancy, elephants are guaranteed here every time ,zebras,girrafes,grant and Thompson's gazelles and many more

check www.tawilodge.com

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:27
check www.tawilodge.com

Tawi conservancy is always safe, you will be escorted by your maasai guide or ranger on your bushwalks, no dangerous game except the african elephant.

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 12:58
tawi Tawi conservancy is always safe ,you safe, you will be escorted by your maasai guide or range in ranger on your bushwalks,no bushwalks, no dangerous game except the african elephantelephant.
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-06 15:29
tawi conservancy is always safe ,you will be escorted by your maasai guide or range in your bushwalks,no dangerous game except the african elephant
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

Gallery

Reports

Season:
to
Species:
no reports found
Tawi Conservancy - Orniverse