20 Days Tanzania Bird Watching Safari For First Timers

20 Days Tanzania Bird Watching safari takes you to Lake Manyara, Norongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lark Plains, Usambara Mountains, Lake Eyasi, Lake Natron, Miombo Woodland in Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains.and Pemba Island

While in Tanzania, we begin the 20 days Tanzania birding safari in the north, close to the Kenyan border, an area well-known for its abundant wildlife. Upon touching down at Kilimanjaro International Airport, we will embark on a journey to Arusha that, (weather permitting) will offer us excellent views of Africa’s tallest peak.In addition to the large herds and accompanying predators, we spend a fair amount of time in the great parks like the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, where we see localized species of lovebirds, the Grey-crested Helmetshrike, and other endemics from Kenya and Tanzania, as well as birds like the Grey-breasted Spurfowl that mysteriously do not cross into similar habitat on the Kenyan side. In addition to the abundance of birds, we also locate many more common African species. We continue southeast, traversing various mountain ranges, in search of afromontane woodland endemics, including numerous species native to Tanzania.

This incredible 20 Days Tanzania Watching tour eventually comes to an end in the tropical Indian Ocean city of Dar es Salaam. From there, you can choose to extend your trip to Pemba Island for its four endemic species or take a “rough” extension to some of the more isolated Eastern Arc Mountains for endemics that aren’t included in the main itinerary. If you would like to pursue either or both of these extensions, kindly send us an email.

A Detailed 20 Days Bird Watching Safari in Tanzania

Day 1:Getting To Arusha – 20 days Tanzania Bird Watching Safari

You are welcome to arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha at any moment on our first day, as we do not have any set birding activities for that day.After arriving at the lodge, we will probably take a walk around the grounds, which are frequently very fruitful. The following species may be spotted: Kenrick’s Starling, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Mountain Wagtail, Black-throated Wattle-eye, White-eared and Brown-breasted Barbets, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, African Black Duck, and the range-restricted Taveta Weaver.

Overnight Accommodation: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, Arusha

Day 2: Lake Manyara National Park Birding – Transfer To Karatu

We intend to travel towards Lake Manyara National Park after having a leisurely breakfast, with the goal of reaching the park by late lunchtime. We can anticipate starting our lists strong and adding a number of fascinating species as we explore the park’s varied array of habitats. During our time spent birdwatching in the open woodlands and forests today, we will manage to fit in a picnic lunch. You might see the massive Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, the Narina Trogon, the Mountain Wagtail, the Crowned Hornbill, and the Grey Cuckooshrike in the park’s forested regions. Spotted Palm Thrush, Red-and-yellow Barbet, White-bellied Tit, Banded Parisoma, Rufous Chatterer, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Steel-blue and Straw-tailed Whydahs, and Purple Grenadier are some of the birds that should be seen in the open forests. The park typically has a good number of predatory birds, and we will be on the lookout for the charming Pearl-spotted Owlet, Bateleur, Crowned Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, African Goshawk, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, and Lappet-faced and White-backed Vultures.

If all goes well, we will go to the shallow alkaline lake in the park, where flocks of Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Great White Pelicans, the well-known Goliath Heron, and other waterbirds should be present. Following an exhilarating first day of exploration, we will continue our journey towards Karatu, where our cozy lodge is located on the outskirts of town. For the following three nights, we shall make ourselves at home in our base.

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater Bird watching – 20 days Tanzania Safari

One of the highlights of the trip will undoubtedly be our full day spent to discover the Ngorongoro Crater and its surrounding rim. There is a good probability that we may encounter lions and, of course, their prey, which are enormous herbivores, as we descend downwards toward the crater floor. This perfectly preserved caldera is home to thousands of huge creatures, such as black rhinoceroses and hippopotamus, the latter of which may be seen in the water body in the middle of the crater. Even though we would be fortunate to come across any of the lesser predators, we might spot African Golden Wolf, Bat-eared Fox, and Serval, a species that was formerly assumed to be the Eurasian Golden Jackal but is now thought to be more comparable to the Grey Wolf.
As you can think, we will stop to see other species, but the birds will be our main emphasis. We intend on introducing to our bird list numerous new species, such as the Rosy-throated Longclaw, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Black-bellied and Kori Bustards, Grey Crowned Crane, Abdim’s Stork, Lesser Flamingo, and Rufous-tailed Weaver, among many others.
This is one of the most amazing wildlife experiences in the world because of the stunning landscape, herds of enormous African mammals, and remarkable diversity of birds. The rim of the crater, which extends for fifteen miles (or twenty-four kilometers), rises two thousand feet (or 600 meters) above the central plains. Aside from the Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Dusky Turtle Dove, Grey-capped Warbler, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Mbulu White-eye, and Thick-billed Seedeater, we will monitor the forest areas along the rim for Golden-winged Sunbird, Brown-headed Apalis, and the unusual Oriole Finch

Overnight in Karatu

Day 4: Birdwatching in the forest around the edge of Ngorongoro Crater

We will visit the charming Gibb’s Farm for lunch and a few other sites after birdwatching the Endoro portion of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area today. Following the Elephant Caves Trail will put us in the path of some of the best chances of forest bird watching in the area. Here, we might see species like the Narina Trogon, Moustached Tinkerbird, Pallid and Scaly-throated Honeyguides, African Broadbill, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Brown-headed Apalis, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-headed Mountain Greenbul, Brown Woodland Warbler, Brown Hill Babbler, Mbulu White-eye, Grey-headed Nigrita, and Red-throated Twinspot. It’s important to keep an eye out for birds of prey like Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Black Sparrowhawk, and Augur Buzzard, which Nyanza Swift frequently joins overhead. We might see these beautiful birds if we listen to Schalow’s Turacos’ loud calls.

Following our birdwatching of the route, we will proceed to Gibb’s Farm, a peaceful birdwatching location. Lunch will be served here before we go birding on the property, where we might see the Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Dusky Turtle Dove, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Green-headed Sunbird, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Black-and-white Mannikin, Southern Citril, and Yellow-bellied Waxbill, among other fascinating birds.

Overnight In Karatu

Day 5 – 6: Serengeti Bird Watching – 20 days Tanzania Birding Safari

This morning, we embark on our journey to the world-renowned Serengeti National Park. We will undoubtedly come across a multitude of captivating mammals, such as African elephants and African buffalo, in addition to a remarkable variety of birds, making this trip likely to be an amazing day for all bird watchers, especially for those who are unfamiliar with Africa. When we reach the Serengeti, we will witness the incredible wildebeest migration, in addition to countless Thomson’s gazelles and Plains zebras. Among the other creatures that we will be keeping an eye out for are the Masai Giraffe, Bohor Reedbuck, Common Eland, Grant’s Gazelle, and Topi. The Serengeti is among the best sites in the world to watch predators, which is not surprising given the enormous number of prey found there. Lions, leopards, and cheetahs are likely to be sighted, and with luck, we may also spot some of the lesser predators, such as caracals and servals. The park is home to several species of vultures, including Rüppell’s, White-backed, Lappet-faced, White-headed, and Hooded vultures, which gather near kills.

Among the many raptor species found here are the vibrant Bateleur and the majestic Seceretarybird, the latter of which is sometimes observed foraging for snakes on the plains. Common ostriches also inhabit these plains, so we shouldn’t have any problem spotting these enormous birds. There are also numerous smaller birds with eye-catching plumage, like the Little Bee-eater, Purple Grenadier, Lilac-breasted Roller, Hildebrandt’s Starling, and Beautiful Sunbird, to name a few. Pygmy Falcons, Temminck’s Coursers, White-bellied Bustards, Coqui Francolins, and Pangani Longclaws are among the other plains and savanna birds that can be considered targets.

It’s interesting to note that during our time in the Serengeti, we encounter a few targets with limited range, such as the Maasai Apalis, a whistle-thorn thicket specialist. This species is unique to this area and only slightly spreads into neighboring Kenya. We also want to devote a considerable amount of time to locating the Rufous-tailed Weaver, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Fischer’s Lovebird, and Red-throated Tit, among other localized species. Also We will be keeping an eye out for two Tanzanian endemic species including Grey-breasted Spurfowl and the Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill. We will additionally have another opportunity to witness the magnificent Kori Bustard on the grasslands of the Serengeti.

Overnight In Serengeti

Day 7: Transfer To Tarangire National Park From Serengeti

Following two fantastic days in the Serengeti, we will return via the herds and continue on to Tarangire National Park, our next stop. After breakfast, we intend to depart, making sure to take aim at any species that have escaped our grasp and enjoying some last glimpses of migratory gazelles, zebras, and wildebeest.
The majority of the next day will be spent driving to Tarangire National Park, but the lengthy journey is made even more worthwhile once you arrive at this most magnificent park. While untamed rivers cut across the park, elephants coated in the red soils of the area walk among baobabs and hills covered in savanna. It is the kind of location that makes you certain that you are in Africa. Here, our primary goals will be indigenous and local species that we typically see, such as the characteristic Northern Pied Babbler, the little Ashy Starling, and the Yellow-collared Lovebird. Our target species in the Acacia forests will be the Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, the Bearded Woodpecker, the Abyssinian Scimitarbill, the Black-faced Sandgrouse, the Yellow-necked Spurfowl, the Red-necked Spurfowl, and Von der Decken’s and Northern Red-billed Hornbills, among many more. We can observe bigger terrestrial species such as the Common Ostrich and the Southern Ground Hornbill, as well as bustards such as the White-bellied, Hartlaub’s, and Buff-crested bustards. When the area receives good rainfall, seasonal wetland specialists like dwarf bitterns and black coucals frequently proliferate. Meanwhile, nesting Mottled Spinetails frequently visit enormous baobabs, building their nests in these unusual-looking trees.
Along the Tarangire River, we will look for waterbirds such as the Grey Crowned Crane, Grey-faced Whistling Duck, Saddle-billed Stork, Hamerkop, and Knob-billed Duck.

Overnight At Tarangire National Park

Day 8: Tarangire National Park Exploration

Being our last day in Tarangire National Park, we will continue our hunt for any species that we have not yet encountered. We anticipate getting sidetracked by Tarangire’s fantastic wildlife viewing chances along the way, and we intend to cap off the day with a sundowner from the lodge’s balcony, which overlooks the Tarangire River. At dawn, African Scops Owls will serenade us, and blatantly aggressive Ashy Starlings will chase after any food scraps.

Exciting night drives are available in Tarangire, and you’ll have the chance to join one tonight—but they’re not part of the safari cost. Among the nocturnal species that can be seen are the African Savanna Hare, the Northern Lesser Galago, the Bronze-winged and Three-banded Coursers, the Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, and the Southern White-faced Owl.

Overnight At Tarangire National Park

Day 9:Transfer To Lark Plains – 20 days Tanzania Bird Watching Safari

The afternoon will be spent bird watching the Lark Plains after our return to Arusha this morning. The uncommon and extremely confined Beesley’s Lark (estimated at less than 200 individuals) is possibly the primary target among the various lark species found in this area. Along with this worldwide giant, we have a strong chance of interacting with Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Fawn-colored, Short-tailed, Athi Short-toed, and Rufous-naped Larks. Other noteworthy species found here are the Greater Kestrel, Kori Bustard, Abyssinian and Capped Wheatears, Taita Fiscal, Temminck’s and Double-banded Coursers, Kori Bustard, and Yellow-throated and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse. If the weather permits, we might be able to capture distant views of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Additionally, we are probably going to see more of the savanna animals that we saw in the Serengeti earlier. Beautiful barbets and red-throated tit are expected to be sighted once more. We anticipate seeing our first mousebirds here while birdwatching: Blue-naped and speckled mousebirds are common, whereas white-headed mousebirds are sporadically sighted. Among the species found here are the colonial Grey-capped Social Weaver and the common East African Nubian Woodpecker. The Southern Grosbeak-Canary, Pale White-eye, Kenya Sparrow, Red-fronted Prinia, Grey Wren-Warbler, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Spotted Palm Thrush, Beautiful Sunbird, and Mouse-colored Penduline Tit may also be found in the forest areas. Following a fruitful session at the Lark Plains, we subsequently head back to Arusha.

Overnight: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, or similar, Arusha

Day 10: South Pare – start of our Eastern Arc birding

We depart from the north today to drive to the South Pare Mountains in search of a variety of Tanzanian bird endemics of the stunning (and lesser-known) Eastern Arc Mountains further south. While traveling, we will visit a location that enables us to locate a number of Kenyan birds from arid regions that enter Tanzania just a little bit; these are Tsavo-type birds that are rarely depicted on Tanzanian distribution maps! Additionally, we’ll begin searching for endemic species like the Usambara Double-collared Sunbird and Usambara Thrush.

Overnight: South Pare Mountains

Days 11 – 12. West Usambara Mountains Bird watching

We travel through dry regions that are home to several African species, including the stunning Lilac-breasted Roller. We will search for striped pipits and mockingbirds on rocky slopes. However, the true targets are the mountain-forest endemics when we get to our next location, which should include Spot-throat, Usambara Weaver, and Usambara Akalat, among many more.

Hopefully, Hartlaub’s Turaco, a traditional East African mountain endemic that is even more magnificent than many of the other turaco species, will be found with no difficulty. There are also frequent sightings of the African Wood Owl, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler, and the beautiful Black-fronted Bushshrike with its peculiar sounds.

Overnight: West Usambaras

Days 13–14. East Usambara Mountain Bird watching

We are still searching for endemic species of Eastern Arc forests, such as the Long-billed Forest Warbler, Sharpe’s Akalat, Banded Green Sunbird, Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, Usambara Hyliota, Dapple-throat, Tanzanian Illadopsis, Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, Montane Nightjar (an additional distinct subspecies that may be divided), and many more. Some of these species are very mysterious, while others need great luck. Fischer’s Turaco pairs are easy to locate, while Green-headed Orioles are easily identified by their liquid calls coming from the canopy.

Overnight: Amani

Day 15: Bird watching in Miombo woods – 20 days Tanzania Birding safari

The stunning dry forest known as Miombo (Brachystegia) woodland, which stretches from southern Tanzania to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Angola, is home to numerous endemic species of south-central Africa (see our blog on miombo birding). We will undoubtedly add many more birds to our growing list because we will be in a totally different and special area. We go to Mikumi National Park to look for miombo-woodland birds, but we have to be cautious because there are large wildlife (some of which are quite dangerous) in the area. Compared to other rollers, the racket-tailed roller rests peacefully on perches that are more hidden in dense forests. There could be Shelley’s Sunbird and several other more common sunbird species. The Miombo Rock Thrush performs a lovely song from beneath the canopy. We’ll also look for a number of other amazing birds, like Dickinson’s Kestrel, Böhm’s Bee-eater, and Pale-billed Hornbill.

On our way out of the park and towards our accommodation, we will pause if we spot the Black-winged Red Bishop, the beautiful little Half-collared Kingfisher, the Palm-nut Vulture, the vulture that rarely eats meat, and many more. Another name for this species is Fire-crowned Bishop, which is a more accurate description.

Overnight: Mikumi

Days 16–17. Exploring The enormous Udzungwa Mountains

The Udzungwa Mountain National Park offers a mini-expedition opportunity to observe remarkable endemics like the Udzungwa Forest Partridge and Rufous-winged Sunbird (this can be included in the remote extension – feel free to inquire). However, the more secluded areas of the park fall outside the main tour’s itinerary.Rather, we concentrate on other high-quality birds, including the remarkable Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Green Barbet, Lesser Seedcracker, Green Malkoha, and numerous more birds from southeast Africa.

Overnight: Udzungwa Mountains

Day 18: Unknown species found in the floodplain of the Kilombero Valley

There will be a lot of bumpy roads to travel on today, but it will be well worth it to see the fascinating Kilombero Valley Floodplain. Because it’s difficult to reach, it may have two very different but recently described cisticolas (Kilombero and White-tailed Cisticolas) as well as the just described endemic Kilombero Weaver. You can easily locate all three of these birds here, as well as a variety of other great water-associated species like coucals (the huge Coppery-tailed Coucal is a highlight), herons, lapwings (including the pretty White-crowned Lapwing), kingfishers, the indigenous Marsh Tchagra, etc. Sometimes the Orange-breasted Waxbill, which has a stunning hue, will show up. The sight is impressive because the floodplain is heavily utilized by humans for livestock grazing and fishing.

Overnight: Mikumi

Day 19: Transfer To Dar Es Salaam

We begin the day by making an effort to clean up the mountain birds before slowly making our way to Dar es Salaam, a tropical city in East Africa on the balmy Indian Ocean. We will search here for shorebirds, terns, among other species.
Resting place: Dar es Salaam

Day 20: Coastal Bird Watching and Departure For 20 days Tanzania Bird watching safari

We’ll keep birdwatching until it’s time to board the plane back home or to an extended safari