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© Isaac Kilusu

North Kinangop grasslands (Murungaru)

-0.54497 , 36.57407

Kenya

The Kinangop Grasslands IBA (Important Biodiversity Area) lies on the Kinangop plateau flanked by the Aberdares and the Rift Valley, near Lake Naivasha. These montane grasslands are part of the Kenyan Highlands Endemic Bird Area and harbour a distinctive avifauna that includes several species of threatened and endemic species, notably Sharpe's Longclaw Macronyx sharpei. These grasslands are rapidly being converted to cultivated fields and woodlots, and the unique grassland flora and fauna are threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentations. Rainfall averages c.1,000 mm/year, but the southern part is wetter than the north, which lies in the rain shadow of the Aberdares. The landscape is generally flat, sloping gently upwards to the base of the Aberdare mountains, but dissected by valleys bearing streams that drain into the Malewa and Karati rivers  .Originally, the entire plateau was covered with almost treeless, tussocky grassland, including many tussock bogs in the swampy valleys which still few remaining hosting birds like african snipe,lesser jacana,african spoonbill,highland rush warbler and yellow billed ducks

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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

Site name was changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) into "North Kinangop Grasslands (Murungaru)" (2021-08-17 15:14:31 )

Coordinates were set by Isaac Kilusu : -0.5450/36.5741 (2021-08-16 08:10:57 )

Site name was set by Isaac Kilusu as "Murungaru ,North Kinangop Grasslands" (2021-08-16 08:10:57 )

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-18 07:02:05
The Kinangop Grasslands IBA (Important Biodiversity Area) lies on the Kinangop plateau flanked by the Aberdares and the Rift Valley, near Lake Naivasha. These montane grasslands are part of the Kenyan Highlands Endemic Bird Area and harbour a distinctive avifauna that includes several species of threatened and endemic species, notably Sharpe's Longclaw Macronyx sharpei. These grasslands are rapidly being converted to cultivated fields and woodlots, and the unique grassland flora and fauna are threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentations. Rainfall averages c.1,000 mm/year, but the southern part is wetter than the north, which lies in the rain shadow of the Aberdares. The landscape is generally flat, sloping gently upwards to the base of the Aberdare mountains, but dissected by valleys bearing streams that drain into the Malewa and Karati rivers  .Originally, the entire plateau was covered with almost treeless, tussocky grassland, including many tussock bogs in the swampy valleys which still few remaining hosting birds like african snipe,lesser jacana,african spoonbill,highland rush warbler and yellow billed ducks

  • 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)

Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Dusky Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia lugens)
Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)
Lesser Jacana (Microparra capensis)
African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus)
African Snipe (Gallinago nigripennis)
African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)
Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates)
Cape Crow (Corvus capensis)
Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana)
Hunter's Cisticola (Cisticola hunteri)
Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens)
Stout Cisticola (Cisticola robustus)
Wing-snapping Cisticola (Cisticola ayresii)
Highland Rush Warbler (Bradypterus centralis)
Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula)
Angola Swallow (Hirundo angolensis)
Northern Yellow White-eye (Zosterops senegalensis)
African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta)
Golden-winged Sunbird (Drepanorhynchus reichenowi)
Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne)
Jackson's Widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni)
Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis)
Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis)
Sharpe's Longclaw (Macronyx sharpei)
African Citril (Crithagra citrinelloides)
Streaky Seedeater (Crithagra striolata)
Yellow-crowned Canary (Serinus flavivertex)

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:42:07)

Dusky Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia lugens) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:41:22)

Highland Rush Warbler (Bradypterus centralis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:40:22)

Angola Swallow (Hirundo angolensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:39:55)

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:39:02)

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:38:44)

African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:37:33)

Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:36:54)

Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:36:28)

African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:36:12)

Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:35:57)

Cape Crow (Corvus capensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:35:09)

Yellow-crowned Canary (Serinus flavivertex) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:34:29)

Streaky Seedeater (Crithagra striolata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:34:11)

Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:33:56)

Hunter's Cisticola (Cisticola hunteri) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:33:24)

African Citril (Crithagra citrinelloides) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:33:06)

Northern Yellow White-eye (Zosterops senegalensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:32:49)

Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:32:28)

Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:32:10)

Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:31:33)

Wing-snapping Cisticola (Cisticola ayresii) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:31:15)

Stout Cisticola (Cisticola robustus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:30:55)

African Spoonbill (Platalea alba) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:30:29)

African Snipe (Gallinago nigripennis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:30:06)

Golden-winged Sunbird (Drepanorhynchus reichenowi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:29:39)

Lesser Jacana (Microparra capensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:29:06)

Sharpe's Longclaw (Macronyx sharpei) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:28:22)

Jackson's Widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:27:48)

Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-18 07:27:26)

  • Timing and strategy

When you want to see the bizarre long tailed and Jackson's widowbird in full breeding atire come between march to late may ,but generally this site is good to visit anytime of the year.Walking is highly recommended through the grasslands with keen on the endangered long claw which nest on the ground.Start your birding at murungaru town looking for cape crows and streaky seedeaters,go up on your way to Aberdares Np just like 1.5km from the town just on the bridge turn left to the grassy area and start looking for the endemic Sharpe's longclaw,long tailed and Jackson's widowbird, levaillant's,wing snapping and Hunter's cisticolas,half a day is recommended on the site but even a full day will still be great.The villageweaverbirding@gmail.com takes a selection of birding tours to this site and all over kenya,you can still get intouch with john Gitiri who is a local bird guide here at+254 711 743727

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 Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-18 07:12
When you want to see the bizarre long tailed and Jackson's widowbird in full breeding atire come between march to late may ,but generally this site is good to visit anytime of the year.Walking is highly recommended through the grasslands with keen on the endangered long claw which nest on the ground.Start your birding at murungaru town looking for cape crows and streaky seedeaters,go up on your way to Aberdares Np just like 1.5km from the town just on the bridge turn left to the grassy area and start looking for the endemic Sharpe's longclaw,long tailed and Jackson's widowbird, levaillant's,wing snapping and Hunter's cisticolas,half a day is recommended on the site but even a full day will still be great.The villageweaverbirding@gmail.com takes a selection of birding tours to this site and all over kenya,you can still get intouch with john Gitiri who is a local bird guide here at+254 711 743727
  • How to get there

if you are coming from Nairobi on the Nairobi-Nakuru high way turn left on the petrol station point at Merlin building,(opposite the turn left to KWSTI campus or road to Naivasha town)you will see a sign board to Aberdares national park.You will follow that road up to an area called engineer,there is a junction there again ,take a left turn and the next town is murungaru.There are several public minibuses from Naivasha and Nairobi town(Aberdares sacco or lines)from naivasha on the merlin hotel juction will cost you 80ksh to 100ksh(1usd)then from Nairobi it will cost you around 350-400ksh(4usd)

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

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-18 07:19
if you are coming from Nairobi on the Nairobi-Nakuru high way turn left on the petrol station point at Merlin building,(opposite the turn left to KWSTI campus or road to Naivasha town)you will see a sign board to Aberdares national park.You will follow that road up to an area called engineer,there is a junction there again ,take a left turn and the next town is murungaru.There are several public minibuses from Naivasha and Nairobi town(Aberdares sacco or lines)from naivasha on the merlin hotel juction will cost you 80ksh to 100ksh(1usd)then from Nairobi it will cost you around 350-400ksh(4usd)

Friends of kinangop offers permits and basic Accomodation there but the murungaru area it is a private land you only need to pay the guiding fee for a local guide which will cost you from 50 usd to 80 usd per group

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 Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-18 07:22
Friends of kinangop offers permits and basic Accomodation there but the murungaru area it is a private land you only need to pay the guiding fee for a local guide which will cost you from 50 usd to 80 usd per group
  • Other attractions

walks on the cultivated fields and nearby villages, Aberdares ranges ,a visit to the kinangop dairy factory etc

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 Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-18 07:23
walks on the cultivated fields and nearby villages, Aberdares ranges ,a visit to the kinangop dairy factory etc

There are local bandas and camping sites at the friends of kinangop offices at a fee, but if you are looking for first class Accomodation better book a hotel or camp in naivasha area or near Aberdares Np

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 2021-08-18 07:25
There are local bandas and camping sites at the friends of kinangop offices at a fee, but if you are looking for first class Accomodation better book a hotel or camp in naivasha area or near Aberdares Np

The area is just fine with friendly people but always walk along with a local guide

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 Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-18 07:26
The area is just fine with friendly people but always walk along with a local guide
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North Kinangop grasslands (Murungaru) - Orniverse