Tanzania Birding & Wildlife Safari

Our Tanzania birding and wildlife safari begins at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where we will be met on arrival and transferred the short distance to KIA Lodge. The lodge grounds offer a pleasant introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife, with views towards Mount Kilimanjaro when the weather is clear.

We gather for dinner and an opportunity to meet our guide and discuss the adventure ahead.

Night: KIA Lodge.

After breakfast we set out for Mkomazi National Park, travelling east towards one of northern Tanzania’s least-visited and most scenically impressive protected areas. Lying against the Kenyan border and forming part of the greater Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem, the park protects a striking landscape of dry savanna, acacia scrub, open grasslands and rugged mountains.

For birders, Mkomazi brings an exciting new element to our safari. Its position within the Somali-Masai biome gives us access to a suite of dry-country and range-restricted species that are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere on our route. Among our principal targets are the dazzling Golden-breasted Starling and Golden Pipit, along with Vulturine Guineafowl, Three-streaked Tchagra and Pangani Longclaw. Seasonal wetlands and watercourses provide contrasting habitat, with possibilities including African Woolly-necked Stork and a variety of other waterbirds.

Mkomazi is equally interesting for mammals. The distinctive Gerenuk and Lesser Kudu are important targets here, together with a variety of more widespread East African game. The park has also played an important role in the conservation of African Wild Dogs and Black Rhinos.

Over two days we will explore a range of habitats, giving us plenty of time to search for the park’s bird specialties while enjoying its spectacular scenery and wonderfully uncrowded wilderness.

Nights: Babu’s Camp

After some final birding in Mkomazi, we travel west towards Arusha and the green foothills of Mount Meru. Our destination is Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, a beautiful historic property surrounded by mature trees, gardens and a clear mountain stream.
The change from Mkomazi’s dry country to lush evergreen vegetation brings a completely different selection of birds. Silvery-cheeked Hornbills are among the more conspicuous species, while the gardens, forest edge and waterways can produce sunbirds, kingfishers, flycatchers and other forest birds.

The following day we explore Arusha National Park on the lower slopes of Mount Meru. The park protects a wonderful mixture of montane forest, open glades, lakes and grassland, making it one of the most varied birding areas on the tour. We will look for Hartlaub’s Turaco, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill and Kilimanjaro White-eye, while African Pygmy Kingfisher and Green Malkoha may also be encountered. Narina Trogon is a more elusive possibility in the forest.

Momella Lakes provide another change of habitat, with Greater and Lesser Flamingos possible alongside Pied Avocets, Black-winged Stilts, Gray Crowned-Cranes, ducks and other waterbirds.

Arusha is also an excellent introduction to Tanzania’s larger wildlife. Maasai Giraffes can be particularly numerous, while African Buffalo, Plains Zebra, Bushbuck and Common Waterbuck may all be seen. The striking black-and-white Guereza Colobus is one of the characteristic mammals of the forest.

Nights: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge

Leaving the green foothills of Mount Meru, we travel into the warmer and drier landscapes of Tarangire National Park. Huge baobabs rise above open savanna and acacia woodland, while the Tarangire River, seasonal pools and extensive wetlands create important concentrations of wildlife.

Tarangire is an outstanding birding destination. Ashy Starling and Rufous-tailed Weaver are among the regional specialties we will look for, while colourful Yellow-collared Lovebird is another possibility. Buff-crested Bustard may occur in the drier areas and Hartlaub’s Bustard is possible in suitable grassland.

The park can also be rewarding for coursers and raptors, including Bronze-winged Courser and Bateleur, while African Scops-Owl may be found around the lodge. Wetlands and riverine areas add storks, herons, lapwings and kingfishers, along with colourful bishops and whydahs.

Tarangire is perhaps best known for its Elephants, which are often a dominant feature of the landscape. Lion, Giraffe, Zebra and a wide variety of antelope and other mammals add to the classic East African safari experience.
Our lodge occupies a superb position overlooking the Tarangire River, and the grounds themselves can be excellent for birds and wildlife.

Nights: Tarangire Safari Lodge

We leave Tarangire and travel towards the vast shortgrass plains of the southern Serengeti ecosystem. Around Ndutu, open grasslands alternate with acacia woodland, brackish lakes and marshy areas, producing one of the richest combinations of birding and mammal watching on the tour.

Several of northern Tanzania’s characteristic birds occur here. We will look for Fischer’s Lovebird, Gray-breasted Spurfowl, Secretarybird and Pygmy Falcon across the open plains. Around Lakes Ndutu and Masek, Chestnut-banded Plover and sandgrouse are possible, while the surrounding woodland and lodge grounds may add Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, starlings, sunbirds, weavers and other colourful species.

This is also one of the great wildlife landscapes of Africa. Depending on seasonal movements, immense numbers of Wildebeest, Zebra and gazelles may spread across the plains. These concentrations attract Cheetah, Lion, Spotted Hyena, Black-backed Jackal and other predators, making every game drive unpredictable.

Depending on our route and timing, we may also visit Olduvai Gorge and its museum, an important site in our understanding of early human history.

Nights: Ndutu Safari Lodge

From Ndutu we continue west across the plains and enter Serengeti National Park at Naabi Hill. The immensity of the landscape soon becomes apparent, with vast grasslands broken by acacia woodland, river valleys and massive granite kopjes.
The Serengeti is world-famous for its mammals, but the birding is equally rewarding. Gray-breasted Spurfowl, Fischer’s Lovebird and Coqui Francolin are among the species we will watch for, while Secretarybirds may be seen striding across the open plains.

Raptors are one of the great features of the Serengeti. Bateleur, Martial Eagle, snake-eagles, harriers and several species of vulture are possible, and the skies can remain busy throughout the day. Bustards, hornbills, rollers, starlings, weavers and numerous larks add further variety.

Large mammals are everywhere. Herds of Wildebeest, Zebra, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest and gazelles occupy the plains, while Klipspringers and hyraxes live among the granite rocks. The central Serengeti is also outstanding predator country, with excellent chances for Lion and good possibilities for Leopard and Cheetah. Spotted Hyena, Black-backed Jackal and smaller carnivores add further interest.

Nights: Intimate Seronera Camp

We have another morning to enjoy the Serengeti before turning east and beginning our journey towards the Ngorongoro Highlands.

The scenery and birdlife change noticeably as we leave the open plains and climb into cooler, greener country. Montane forest replaces savanna, bringing with it a very different selection of birds.

Around the crater rim and lodge grounds we will watch for highland species. Sunbirds are particularly attractive here, with Tacazze and Golden-winged Sunbirds among the possibilities, alongside Bronze Sunbird and other montane species. White-eyes, turacos, woodpeckers and a variety of forest birds may also be encountered.

Our lodge sits directly on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, with spectacular views across the vast caldera below.

Night: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Today we descend into Ngorongoro Crater for one of the great days of the tour.

The crater combines extraordinary scenery with an exceptional concentration of both birds and mammals. Grasslands, freshwater marshes, patches of woodland and alkaline Lake Magadi create a remarkably varied landscape within the crater floor.

Rosy-throated Longclaw is one of the distinctive grassland birds we will look for, while Kori Bustard, Gray Crowned-Crane and Ostrich may also be encountered. Around Lake Magadi we will search for flamingos, pelicans, terns and migrant shorebirds, with Chestnut-banded Plover another interesting possibility.

Freshwater wetlands support a different bird community, including rails, jacanas, storks, spoonbills, herons and other waterbirds. Raptors are also well represented, with eagles, harriers and vultures possible throughout the day.

The crater is equally remarkable for mammals. Wildebeest, Zebra and gazelles are abundant, with Lion, Spotted Hyena and African Golden Wolf among their predators. Large bull Elephants can occur around the swamps and woodland, and Ngorongoro provides one of our better opportunities for Black Rhino.

Late in the afternoon we climb out of the crater and continue through the highlands to our lodge for the next two nights.

Night: The Retreat at Ngorongoro

After many days largely spent birding from safari vehicles, today gives us an opportunity to explore the cool montane forests of the Crater Highlands on foot. We walk through the Endoro area along trails passing forest, clearings and streams. The shady, high-elevation forest supports birds quite different from those of the open plains below.

Schalow’s Turaco is one of the characteristic species here, while Mbulu White-eye, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher and Black-fronted Bushshrike are among the other birds we will seek. Mixed feeding flocks may also include African Hill Babbler, Brown-headed Apalis, Gray-capped Warbler, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater and a variety of sunbirds and cuckooshrikes. Sharpe’s Starling is another possibility, while the secretive African Broadbill is a more difficult bird that may be encountered in suitable forest.

We return to The Retreat with time to enjoy the lodge grounds and perhaps add a few final highland birds.

Night: The Retreat at Ngorongoro

We have one final morning to enjoy the cool highlands, with time for birding around the lodge and nearby habitats before a leisurely brunch.
We then begin our journey back towards Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport.

As we descend from the highlands, the scenery changes once more, taking us through farmland, woodland and drier country and giving us a final opportunity to enjoy the birds and wildlife of northern Tanzania.

Our Tanzania birding and wildlife safari concludes at Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for outbound flights.