17 Days Tanzania Bird Watching Safari

This 17 day bird watching safari is the perfect pick for birding enthusiasts. Tanzania is one of the finest bird watching destinations in Africa, with 1140 species including 200 migrants and 74 marine birds present. Tanzanian avian safaris are best in the rains for migrants and residents in breeding plumage. The preeminent birding locations include Arusha National Park, with 400 birds in a diversity of habitats contained in a small area. You may observe on a white-faced whistling duck, with its whistling three-note lament, or a dusky flycatcher. Tawny eagles and buzzards hover above Ngurdoto Crater, whilst the Momella Lakes is the place for water birds and waders. Lake Manyara National Park offers pink flamingos, pelicans, storks, cormorants, hornbills and many more with over 400 recorded species. Greater and lesser flamingos are also found in Ngorongoro Crater and millions mass on their breeding ground at Lake Natron

You may observe on a white-faced whistling duck, with its whistling three-note lament, or a dusky flycatcher. Tawny eagles and buzzards hover above Ngurdoto Crater, whilst the Momella Lakes is the place for water birds and waders. Lake Manyara National Park offers pink flamingos, pelicans, storks, cormorants, hornbills and many more with over 400 recorded species. Greater and lesser flamingos are also found in Ngorongoro Crater and millions mass on their breeding ground at Lake Natron

17 Days Tanzania Bird Watching Safari

Detailed itinerary

Itinenary

Day 1: Arusha National Park – Moshi

Our first birding day will be in the nearby Arusha National Park where we’ll sample some common African birds among different habitats from savanna, acacia woodlands, forest, and alkaline lakes. Ngurdoto Crater, Small and Big Momela Lakes offers a wide range of species that may include Lesser Flamingo, Maccoa Duck, Great Sparrowhawk, Mountain Buzzard, African Crowned Eagle, Narina Trogon, Silvery- cheeked Hornbill, White-eared Barbet, Forest Batis, Black-fronted Bush Shrike.Mammals include African Buffalo, Waterbuck. Later in the late afternoon we will drive to MoshiOvernight at a Park View Inn

Day 2: Moshi -Mkomazi Game Reserve

We’ll drive to Mkomazi National Reserve with stops along the way and spend bigger part of our day in the reserve birding on the dry savanna country. Birds may include Tawny, Long-crested Eagle, Pygmy Falcon, African Orange-bellied Parrot, African & Red-chested Cuckoos, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Pygmy Kingfisher, African Hoopoe, African Grey, Von der Decken’s, Trumpeter & Red-billed Hornbills.Overnight at Elephant Motel, Same

Day 3-4: West Usambara

Spend early morning birding along villages hoping to find other species with possible Taveta Golden Weaver. Later heading up the West Usambara Mountains where we expect a few range restricted and localized species and some Tanzania endemics.These may include Shelly’s, Mountain & Yellow-streaked Greenbuls, Usambara Ground Robin, Fülleborn’s Boubou, Black-fronted Bush Shrike, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Double Collared & Green Banded Sunbirds, Yellow-throated Woodland, Evergreen Forest & Red-capped Forest Warblers, Bar-throated & Black-headed Apalis’, Cabanis’ Bunting. At night we hope to locate the Usambara Nightjar.Overnight at Muller’s Mountain Lodge

Day 5 & 6: West Usambara – Amani Nature Reserve

We transfer to the eastern parts of the Usambaras. Hope to find the Usambara Eagle Owl, Uluguru Violet-backed & Purple-banded Sunbirds, among Half-collared Kingfisher, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, White-eared Barbet, Kurrichane Thrush, Kenrik’s Starling, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Fischer’s Turaco among many others.Overnight at Amani Rest House

Day 7 & 9: Amani Nature Reserve -Tanga fly- Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Drive west of Arusha to Tarangire National Park characterized by Acacia wooded savannahs. Superb birding and big game. Birds may include endemics Ashy Starling & Yellow-collared Lovebird. Secretary Bird, Tawny, African Fish & Martial Eagles, Pigmy Falcon, Lappet-faced & White-headed Vultures, Magpie Shrike.Overnight at Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Day 10: Tarangire Nat Park – Lake Manyara National Park

Morning gamedrive en-route Lake Manyara National Park huge concentrations of waterfowl including Lesser Flamingo, Spur-winged & Knob-billed Ducks. Later in the day heading for Ngorongoro Crater whose forest gallery may produce both Hartlaub’s & Shallow’s Turacos and the highland grassland with the Jackson’s Widowbird, Capped Wheatear, Montane White-eye.Overnight at Lake Manyara Lodge

Day 11 & 12: Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

We’ll transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for 2 nights and an en-route gamedrive to our lodge for lunch and later driving along the rim of the crater. We will also spend a day inside the Ngorongoro Crater with huge concentration of big mammals.Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

Day 13: Ngorongoro Conservation Area

We’ll transfer to Lake Ndutu area, a good site for one of the Tanzanian endemics Grey-breasted Spurfowl. Lunch and dinner at the lodge.Overnight at Lake Ndutu Safari Lodge

Day 14 & 15: Ngorongoro Conservation Area -Serengeti National Park

After breakfast birding and big game drive en-route to Serengeti National Park and spending our next 3 nights in the park. The open plains filled with Wildebeest, Common Zebra, Topi, Kongoni, Impala, Grant’s and Thomson’s Gazelles are trailed along with the no less than species 5 vultures (African White-backed, Lappet-faced, White-headed Ruppell’s and Hooded) while other birds of prey may include Black-chested Snake, Martial, Bateleur, Long-crested Eagles, both Eastern and Pale Chanting Goshawk, , Magpie Shrike, Brown-crowned Tchagra.Overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge

Day 16: Serengeti National Reserve – Mwanza

After breakfast birding en-route to Mwanza located on the shores of the Lake Victoria for the papyrus endemics and specialties such as Papyrus Canary & Gonolek, Swamp Flycatcher, Caruthers’s Cisticola and others.Overnight at Speke’s Bay Resort.

Day 17: Mwanza – fly- Arusha

Whole morning birding on the shore of the lake and after lunch we will transfer to the nearby Mwanza Airport for a local transfer flight to Arusha. Dinner and transfer to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight

Safari Inlusives

Inclusives

  • Lodge safari according to the itinerary
  • Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
  • Professional, English-speaking guide
  • Overnight accommodation according to the itinerary
  • Meals according to the itinerary
  • Mineral water
  • All mentioned activities
  • All national park fees
  • Flying Doctors insurance (AMREF) during the safari

Exclusives

  • Flights
  • Optional activities
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Visa fees
  • Tips
  • Personal spending money for souvenirs etc
  • Travel insurance

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