Destination Overview
For birders who have a few days in Nairobi or who have a connecting flight and a few more hours, Lake Magadi birding is the best option. A bird enthusiast who is attending conferences or meetings in Nairobi and has a day or two off before flying home is another example.
If the weather is good, Kona Baridi (Cold bend), which is near the southern end of Ngong Hills, is the first stop on the Lake Magadi Road birding tour. It is dry, windy, and a little chilly in the morning. The Great Rift Valley and Nairobi City are clearly seen from here, and lower down are wonderful vistas of the Olesukut and Olorgesailie mountains, which are also visually stunning. The following bird species are likely to be seen: Grassland Pipit, Augur Buzzard, Red-faced Crombec, African Citril, Abyssinian Wheatear, as well as many more fascinating bird species. From here, we will search for birds in the plains below and on top of the Acacia trees dotting the area.
The environment and elevation shift to more acacia shrubs and woods as you begin to descend. After Kona Baridi, you can make three or more pauses along the route for Lake Magadi road birdwatching, where you can take a short stroll through the shrubs. Lesser Kudu are also seen on the hill to the left, while the rare Pringle's Puffback and Zanzibar Greenbul can be heard singing at Across Road. The Ol Kejo River, which can be reached by continuing south, is usually dry and a great area to look for Ashy Cisticola, Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, and Buff Crested Bustard. Somali Bunting and Small Cisticola were also spotted nearby. A community borehole with power is located just after the river. A communal borehole is located a short distance after the river, where the Taita Fiscal can be seen perched on the power wires and the Kori Bustard can be seen puffing on the nearby plains. It's possible to see coursers with two and three bands. Red-fronted Prinia are hyperactive on top of a solitary acacia tree on a dam before Oltepesi Town, and White-throated Bee-eaters are busily digging breeding holes in the dam's wall. A Swahili Sparrow is building a nest on a few remaining acacias beside the roadside in Oltepesi town. Drive down to Lake Magadi from here, where you can search for the local Magadi Plover, Chestnut-banded Plover, Dimorphic and black Little Egrets, flocks of Lesser Flamingos, Gull-billed Terns, Pied Avocets, White-winged Black Terns, and Cape Teals. You should keep an eye out for Eastern Chanting and Gabar Goshawks as you return to the top of the power poles. The Black-chested Snake Eagle can also be seen flying above. More than 100 bird species are known to exist on a good day. Anytime of the year is good for bird watching at Lake Magadi Road.
The second-largest trona deposit in the world, after California's Salton Sea, is found in Lake Magadi, which is one of the hottest spots in Kenya at 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level. Magadi experiences less than 500mm (20 inches) of rainfall annually and experiences temperatures that range from 15 to 41 C on average (59 and 105.8F) The yearly evaporation rate is 3500mm (120 inches). For astronomy enthusiasts, the entire stretch of Magadi Road from Corner Baridi is quite lovely for stargazing at night. Under a clear sky, Uranus, the Orion, the Pleiades—the Seven Sisters, and Nebula are visible clearly. Also, it is possible to watch Venus, Mars, the brilliant planet, and Saturn, the red planet.
