United Republic of Tanzania

Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata ©Ron Eggert Website
Birding Tanzania

Tanzania is a country located in East Africa. To the north it borders Kenya, to the south Lake Malawi and Mozambique, to the west lake Tanganiyka and Uganda and to the east its shores ride on the Indian Ocean. It’s a vast unspoiled wilderness and has the second largest lake in the world; Lake Victoria (a freshwater lake, home to 400 species), and one of the seven summits, Mount Kilimanjaro, and is the best place in the world for wilderness viewing at Arusha, Serengeti, Norongoro Crater, Tarangire and Manyara National Parks.

The geography is diverse leading to various climates. Although in the tropics, the higher areas are reasonably cool. Because it straddles the equator there are just two seasons – wet and dry. Tanzania’s variety of species of birds, over 1000, vary in each location due to the nation’s geographic diversity. From mountain forest to tropical coast, every conceivable altitude range: deserts, open savannah grassland, lowland forest, bush and scrub, lakes and mudflats.

The National Parks have open savannah grassland, bush and scrub with large rivers running through them. Top species include: Secretary Bird, numerous vultures, eagles and hawks, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Gabon Nightjar, Lilac-breasted Roller, Ground Hornbill, Red-throated Tit, Sooty Chat, and a wide variety of larks, pipits and widowbirds. The thick riverine forest bordering the Mara and Talek rivers, hold African Finfoot, Livingstone’s & Ross’s Turaco, Giant Kingfisher, Blue Flycatcher, Double-toothed Barbet and the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl. The alkaline Lake Natron is also located near the National Parks; feeding ground for over one million [exceptionally two million] Lesser Flamingo. Greater flamingo are also found, in far smaller numbers. Mt. Kilimanjaro has three vegetation zones: Rain forest, Alpine Forest, and Moorland, making for species diversity.

This page is sponsored by Birding Ecotours

Top Sites
  • 12 Top Birding Locations in Tanzania

    1. Serengeti National Park 2. Noronogoro Crater 3. Arusha National Park 4. Ruaha National Park 5. Rubondo Island National Park 6. Lake Victoria 7. Lake Natron 8. Lake Eyasi 9. Lake Manyara 10. Lake Tanganyika 11. Usambara Mountains 12. Mt. Kilimanjaro
  • Arusha National Park

    WebpageMap
    ...rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes, each one a different hue of green or blue. Their shallows sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos, the lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl, and shaggy waterbucks display their large lyre-shaped horns on the watery fringes. Giraffes glide across the grassy hills, between grazing zebra herds, while pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into scrubby bush like overgrown hares on spindly legs.
  • Lake Victoria

    Satellite View
    Home to over 400 species that can be seen in just a couple of days. White and pink-backed pelican, cormorant and long tailed cormorant, little bittern, goliath, purple and squacco heron, little, yellow-billed and great-white egrets, hammerkop, yellow-billed stork, sacred ibis, African spoonbill, fish eagle, black crake, Allen's and purple gallinules, jacana and pied and malachite kingfishers are all resident. For the Lake Victoria experience you do not need a formal safari as you can arrange to visit Mwanza and stay right on the lake.
  • Mount Kilimanjaro

    Satellite View
    Highland species include several extremely uncommon birds such as Green Ibis, Rufous Sparrowhawk, Mountain Buzzard, Crowned Eagle, Jackson's Francolin, Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-fronted Parrot, Hartlaub's Turaco, Scarce Swift, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Moustached Green Tinkerbird, Montane Oriole, Alpine Chat, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Sharpe's Longclaw, Slender-billed Chestnut-winged Starling and 13 species of sunbirds; including the Northern Double-collared, Golden-winged, Tacazze, Green-headed and Scarlet-tufted Malachite.
  • Serengeti National Park

    InformationMap
    Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve across the border in Kenya, protect the greatest and most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife on earth, and one of the last great migratory systems still intact. The Serengeti is the jewel in the crown of Tanzania's protected areas, which altogether make up some 14% of the country's land area, a conservation record that few other countries can match.
  • Usambara Mountains

    InformationMap
    The Usambara Mountains are fairly unique in East Africa with their natural regions still covered in tropical forests, which otherwise continentally remain primarily in Western Africa. Considered tremendously significant ecologically and a Biodiversity hotspot. There are many protected zones throughout the range, which are being expanded and contributed to by the Tanzanian government, associated NGO's and research teams, and donor countries.
Contributors
  • Denise Bennett

    | ujamaatravel@yahoo.com

Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 1050

    (As at September 2018)
Endemics
  • Number of endemics: 23

    Udzungwa Partridge Xenoperdix udzungwensis, Grey-breasted Francolin Pternistis rufopictus, Pemba Scops Owl Otus pembaensis, Usambara Eagle-Owl Bubo vosseleri, Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill Tockus ruahae, Yellow-collared Lovebird Agapornis personatus , Beesley's Lark Chersomanes beesleyi , Usambara Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigula, Mrs Moreau's Warbler Bathmocercus winifredae, Usambara Thrush Turdus roehli , Pemba White-eye Zosterops vaughani, Usambara Akalat Sheppardia montana, Iringa Akalat Sheppardia lowei, Rubeho Akalat Sheppardia aurantiithorax, Banded Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques, Loveridge's Sunbird Nectarinia loveridgei, Moreau's Sunbird Nectarinia moreaui, Pemba Sunbird Cinnyris pembae, Rufous-winged Sunbird Nectarinia rufipennis, Tanzanian Seedeater Serinus melanochroa, Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda, Kilombero Weaver Ploceus burnieri, Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli
Checklist
  • iGoTerra Checklist

    iGoTerra Checklist
    Fatbirder Associate iGoTerra offers the most comprehensive and up to date birds lists on the web
Useful Reading

  • Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania

    | By Dale Zimmerman, Don Turner, David Pearson, Ian Willis and Douglas Pratt | Christopher Helm | 1996 | Hardback | 740 pages, 124 colour plates, line drawings, 1,000 maps | ISBN: 9780713639681 Buy this book from NHBS.com
  • Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa

    | (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi) | By Terry Stevenson, John Fanshawe, Brian E Small & John Gale | Christopher Helm | 2004 | Paperback | 604 pages, 287 colour plates, distribution maps | ISBN: 9780713673470 Buy this book from NHBS.com
  • Field Guide to the Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania

    | By Dale Zimmerman, Donald A Turner, Doug Pratt, David J Pearson & Ian Willis | Christopher Helm | 2005 | Paperback | 576 pages, 124 colour plates, b/w line drawings, 800 distribution maps | ISBN: 9780713675504 Buy this book from NHBS.com
  • Important Bird Areas in Tanzania

    | By Elizabeth Baker & Neil Baker | RSPB | 2002 | Paperback | 303 pages, line illustrations, tabs, maps | ISBN: 9789987558049 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Organisations
  • African Bird Club

    Website
    Tanzania has Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, some of the best areas for watching game in the world, friendly people and a good tourist infrastructure. It also has a bird list of over 1,000 species which includes a host of endemic and near endemics so there is something of interest for all birdwatchers in Tanzania…
  • Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania

    Website
    The Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania's mission is to work towards the conservation of the flora, fauna, and environment of Tanzania for the benefit of mankind. The Society was founded in 1988 and is Tanzania's only national conservation organization. WCST's Arusha Branch was revived in 2002 after about eight years of dormancy. The Branch was revived in order to revitalize WCST's efforts to achieve its mission in the northern part of the country and to respond to pressing conservation issues in the region as perceived by a growing number of past and present WCST members.
  • Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania

    Website
    We work to protect Tanzania’s unique biodiversity and rich natural heritage through science, landscape level interventions, community support, species conservation and addressing key global challenges. wcstanzania@wcs.org
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • CA Ngorongoro

    InformationSatellite View
    The area is named after Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera within the area. The conservation area is administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, an arm of the Tanzanian government, and its boundaries follow the boundary of the Ngorongoro Division of the Arusha Region.
  • GR Selous

    InformationSatellite View
    The Selous Game Reserve is a protected area in southern Tanzania. It covers a total area of 50,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi) and has additional buffer zones. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to its wildlife diversity and undisturbed nature. Some of the typical wildlife of the miombo inhabits the reserve, such as African bush elephant, black rhino, hippopotamus, lion, East African wild dog, Cape buffaloes, Masai giraffe, Plains zebra, and Nile crocodile.
  • GR Uwanda

    InformationSatellite View
    Uwanda Game Reserve also known as Uwanda Rukwa Game Reserve is a reserve of the Rukwa Valley of southwestern Tanzania. It is an extension of Katavi National Park and covers an area of 4100 square kilometres. It includes almost half of Lake Rukwa...
  • IBAs

    WebpageSatellite View
    Tanzania is a very important country ornithologically. It has one of the largest species lists of any African country, over 1,000 of which over 800 species are resident and nearly 200 are regular migrants. 56 species are of global conservation concern of which 21 are endemic to Tanzania and a further 43 species occur in only one or two other countries…
  • NP Arusha

    InformationSatellite View
    Arusha National Park covers Mount Meru, a prominent volcano with an elevation of 4566 m, in the Arusha Region of north eastern Tanzania. The park is small but varied with spectacular landscapes in three distinct areas. In the west, the Meru Crater funnels the Jekukumia River; the peak of Mount Meru lies on its rim. Ngurdoto Crater in the south-east is grassland. The shallow alkaline Momella Lakes in the north-east have varying algal colours and are known for their wading birds.
  • NP Gombe Stream

    InformationSatellite View
    Gombe is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania, with only 13.5 square miles (35 km2) of protected land along the hills of the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. The park is also home to over 200 bird species.
  • NP Jozani Chwaka Bay

    InformationSatellite View
    The Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is a 50 km2 (19 sq mi) national park of Tanzania located on the island of Zanzibar. It is the only national park in Zanzibar. 50 species of butterfly and 40 species of birds are known to reside there.
  • NP Katavi

    InformationSatellite View
    Katavi National Park is a very remote park that is less frequently visited than other Tanzanian national parks. It is approximately 4,471 square kilometers (1,726 sq mi) in area, which makes it the third largest national park in Tanzania. The park encompasses the Katuma River and the seasonal Lake Katavi and Lake Chada floodplains.
  • NP Kilimanjaro

    InformationSatellite View
    The park includes the whole of Mount Kilimanjaro above the tree line and the surrounding montane forest belt above 1,820 metres (5,970 ft). It covers an area of 1,688 square kilometres (652 square miles).
  • NP Kitulo Plateau

    InformationSatellite View
    Kitulo National Park is a protected area of montane grassland on the Kitulo Plateau in the southern highlands of Tanzania. The park is at an elevation of 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) between the peaks of the Kipengere and Poroto mountains and covers an area of 412.9 square kilometres (159.4 sq mi). In 2005, field scientists from the WCS discovered a new species of primate on and around Mount Rungwe and in the Livingstone Forest area of the park. Initially known as the Highland Mangabey, later changed to its Tanzanian name of Kipunji, it is one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world.
  • NP Lake Manyara

    InformationSatellite View
    Lake Manyara National Park is known for the flamingos that inhabit the lake. During the wet season they inhabit the edges of the lake in flocks of thousands but they are not so present during the dry season. The park consists of 330 km2 (130 sq mi) of arid land, forest, and a soda-lake which covers as much as 200 km2 (77 sq mi) of land during the wet season but is nearly nonexistent during the dry season. More than 400 species of birds inhabit the park and many remain throughout the year. Because of this Lake Manyara National Park is a good spot for bird watching. Visitors to the park can expect to see upwards of 100 different species of bird on any day.
  • NP Mahale Mountains

    InformationSatellite View
    Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Kigoma Region, Tanzania. Named after the Mahale Mountains range that is within its borders, the park has several unusual characteristics. First, it is one of only two protected areas for chimpanzees in the country.
  • NP Mikumi

    InformationSatellite View
    The Mikumi is bordered to the south with the Selous Game Reserve, the two areas forming a unique ecosystem. Two other natural areas bordering the national park are the Udzungwa Mountains and Uluguru Mountains. More than 400 different species of birds inhabit the park.
  • NP Mkomazi

    InformationSatellite View
    The park covers over 3,234 square kilometres (323,400 ha), and is dominated by Acacia-Commiphora vegetation; it is contiguous with Kenya's Tsavo West National Park.
  • NP Ruaha

    InformationSatellite View
    Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania. The addition of the Usangu Game Reserve and other important wetlands to the park in 2008 increased its size to about 20,226 square kilometres (7,809 sq mi), making it the largest park in Tanzania and East Africa. More than 571 species of birds have been identified in the park. Among the resident species are hornbills. Many migratory birds visit the park...
  • NP Rubondo Island

    InformationSatellite View
    Rubondo Island National Park is one of two Tanzanian National Parks located on an island in Lake Victoria (the other being Saanane Island National Park). The island attracts a small number of visitors each year, mainly game fishermen and bird enthusiasts. Over a four-year period (1966–1969) Professor Bernhard Grzimek of the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) released 17 chimpanzees in four cohorts onto Rubondo Island. In addition to chimpanzees, seven other species were introduced to the island: Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) and rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) both now extinct, Suni antelope (Neotragus moschatus), elephants (Loxodonta africana), twelve giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), 20 black-and-white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza), and grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) confiscated from illegal trade.
  • NP Saadani

    InformationSatellite View
    Saadani National Park is Tanzania's 13th National Park. Tourists can view animals basking along the Indian Ocean shores. It has an area of 1062 km2 and was officially gazetted in 2005, from a game reserve which had existed from 1969. It is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania bordering the sea.
  • NP Serengeti

    InformationSatellite View
    Over 350 recorded bird species include 34 species of raptors, six vultures, kori bustard Choriotis kori, ostrich Struthio camelus and lesser flamingo Phoenicopterus minor (LR); and several with a comparatively restricted distribution such as rufous-tailed weaver Histurgops ruficauda…
  • NP Tarangire

    WebsiteSatellite View
    The Tarangire National Park is located between the meadows of Masai Steppe to the south east and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley to the north and west. Among the rolling area where the park lies, it occupies an area of 2,600 square kilometers. The perennial Tarangire River takes over the northern part of Tarangire. Through the cut ditches, the River flows upwards up to when it leaves the corner of the park, in the North West flowing into Lake Burungi. There are a number of wide swamps which dry into green plains during the dry season in the south.
  • NP Udzungwa Mountains

    InformationSatellite View
    The habitats contained within the national park include tropical rainforest, mountain forest, miombo woodland, grassland and steppe. here are more than 400 bird species, 2500 plant species (25% of which are endemics) and 6 primate species. It has the second largest biodiversity of a national park in Africa.
Guides & Tour Operators
  • African Birding Expeditions

    Tour Operator
    We offer excellent Uganda Birding Tours, Birding safaris in Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and entire East African region. With a professional and passionate team in organizing Birding safaris in Uganda, our birding tours and Africa birding expeditions are top rated in the region, giving travelers unique insights into the over 1000 bird species in East Africa including hard-to-find shoebill storks communicated in a deeply infectious manner that leaves you in awe and with a new found respect for these gentle vertebrates.
  • Beads Safaris Collection

    Tour Operator
    Beads Safaris Collection is a Destination Management Company operating tours and travel services all over Eastern Africa destinations including: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar. We specialize in offering the best and most unique properties and locations for our guests’ safety, enjoyment and tailor-made to their needs.
  • Birding & Beyond Safaris

    Tour Operator
    We invite you to read through our web-pages in order to be able to come up with the actual desired Holiday of your lifetime. We always have one more lifer for you
  • Birding Ecotours

    Tour Operator
    We have designed this mega-tour (31 days) to try and get to the magic 900! Taking in Kenya, coupled with areas just over the border in Northern Tanzania, Eastern Uganda and Rwanda, our trip will certainly be the birding trip of a lifetime.
  • ConQuest Adventures

    Tour Operator
    ConQuest Adventures Ltd is a specialist tour operator in East Africa, offering top class bespoke, birding safaris, bird photography, and wildlife tours in Kenya , Uganda and Tanzania We are well-known for great birding in East Africa; we offers and organize unrivaled Day Birding tours, as well as wholly-inclusive multi-day birdwatching, wildlife and photography safaris across East Africa.
  • East African Safari & Touring Co

    Tour Operator
    East African Safari & Touring Co Serengeti, Ngorogoro Crater, Selous, Tarangire, Lake Manyara - evocative names that, for most people, define the safari experience as surely as the wildlife that inhabits them. If your previous travel experience was with the Discovery Channel or if you have tried safaris elsewhere, but believe there is still more to experience, Tanzania offers unparalleled game-viewing across as diverse a range of habitats and eco-systems as exist on the continent of Mother Africa. The wealth of options available within the major Tanzanian parks defies comparison with anywhere else on the continent or, indeed, the planet.
  • Fish Eagle Safaris

    Tour Operator
    Small groups, small camps and finely honed, leisurely itineraries result in an Africa safari which adds up to more than just looking at game
  • Hoopoe Safaris

    Tour Operator
    Most probably it will be images of Tanzania and surrounding East Africa. Perhaps the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, or vast plains teeming with wild animals co-existing with the colourful Maasi herdsmen in the Serengeti and the lush valleys of the Maasi Mara.
  • MOAK Tanzania Safaris

    Tour Operator
    We are more than just a Travel Company. We believe that, a safari is a chance to get to know more of the African wild side and an opportunity to be imparted with infinite local knowledge, with personal tales of the places we love so much.
  • Natural High Tanzania

    Tour Operator
    We specialise in tailor-made African safaris to Tanzania, East Africa. This site contains in-depth information on all game parks in Tanzania, the best Safari Camps and Lodges and the different types of safari available…
  • Nature's Wonderland Safaris

    Tour Operator
    We proudly present a selection of exciting Birding safaris, Wildlife safaris, Adventure tours and Camping safaris through the Eastern part of Africa ranging from 4 - 37 days, many of which can be combined with a relaxing interlude on the coast
  • Rockjumper

    Tour Operator
    Usually combined with Kenya…
  • Tanzania Adventure

    Tour Operator
    Tanzania Adventure - we offer tailor made private Safaris in East Africa for the discerned traveller, Kilimanjaro climbs and Zanzibar holidays…
  • Twinspot Tours

    Tour Operator
    Twinspot Tours and Travel specializes in providing exceptional birdwatching experiences in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda showcasing the diverse avian life that our beautiful region has to offer.
Trip Reports
  • 2014 [02 February] - Terry Stevenson - East Africa Highlights: Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our 2014 East Africa Highlights tour followed our well-tried route visiting many of the best areas of Kenya and Tanzania in just 21 days. In total contrast to our other departure just two months previously, Tanzania was now lush and green, Kenya dry, but with the Rift Valley lakes still at record highs…
  • 2014 [05 May] - Callan Cohen

    PDF Report
    ...Upon entering the park, we had our first taste of mammal viewing in a grassy plain where PlainsZebras, Giraffes, Warthogs and a few secretive Bushbucks gave as a small taste of the superbgame viewing later in the trip. Red-billed Oxpeckers joined the zebras while Spot-breasted Barbetand Chinspot Batis were the trees above us....
  • 2015 [07 July] - Terry Stevenson - Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our July 2015 Kenya Highlights tour began, as always, at the Ole Sereni Hotel overlooking Nairobi National Park. We then went south to Lake Magadi (near the Tanzania border), north to Mount Kenya and the arid lowlands of Samburu, west to Lake Baringo in the Great Rift Valley, and further west to Kakamega Forest and Lake Victoria, before returning to the Rift Valley at Nakuru and back to Nairobi. The final leg involved flights to and from the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve -- the jewel of Kenya's wildlife parks.
  • 2015 [11 November] - Stefan Lithner

    PDF Report
    Among birds we found trilling-and red-faced cisticolas, red-rumped swallow, eastern black-headed oriole and African jacana. After supper, between 21 and 22 Fiona and I made a spotlighting tour by car on the land belonging to Fiona ́s Birders Cottage. By far the commonest bird on the road was square-tailed nightjar, but also one or two slender-tailed nightjars were there. During the drive we also found four or five impala, two Thomson ́s - and four Grant ́s gazelles, six Kirk ́s dik-dik and one bush duiker. When we returned to the cottage a white-bellied hedgehog crossed the lawn. During late evening the galago, the palm civet and the fruit bats were heard again.
  • 2016 [02 February] - Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our January-February 2016 East Africa Highlights tour benefitted from exceptional rains across most of the region from early December onwards. This unexpected, prolonged period of rain meant that many birds were still breeding, and one of the tour highlights was seeing a displaying African Broadbill at Kakamega. Additionally, a good variety of sunbirds, weavers, widowbirds, and bishops were in full breeding plumage -- with Northern Red Bishop at Bogoria being simply stunning!
  • 2016 [05 May] - Markus Lilje - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    ...The highlights are really too diverse to mention briefly, but includedwatching African Elephant under Baobabs and in front of Mount Kilimanjaro, thunderstorms over theNgorongoro and the Serengeti as it was covered in Wildbeest, walking the forest on the slopes of MountKenya and exploring the dry Doum Palm and Acacia savannah of the dry northern reserves. Somewildlife included flocks of Vulturine Guineafowl, a Leopard with 2 adult cubs, very close Cheetah playingand surveying thier surroundings, 3 species of Courser, Heuglin’s Bustard, Saddle-billed Stork, thedazzling Golden-breasted Starling, Hartlaub’s Turaco, diverse waxbills, barbets, hornbills, raptors, beeeatersand so, so much more…
  • 2017 [02 February] - Terry Stevenson - Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our January 2018 East Africa Highlights tour was a tour of great contrasts - Tanzania was receiving good rains, with lush grass and flowering trees throughout much of the region. The Wildebeest had arrived in the Serengeti in huge numbers, which together with other plains game attracted the big cat predators - lion, leopard and cheetah were all seen. Due to the presence of dangerous mammals much of the Tanzania portion of our tour was done from a specially adapted Safari Landcruiser. Kenya by contrast was dry as a bone, with lakes and small water bodies attracting both waterbirds and passerines.
  • 2017 [04 April] - Wayne Jones - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    East Africa is one of the world’s iconic wildlife destinations, in particular, places like Amboseli National Park, the vast Serengeti Plains and marvellous Ngorongoro Crater. The mammals are spectacular, the birding easy yet rewarding and the scenery is breathtaking. Throw in added attractions like Africa’s two highest mountains, world-renowned geological site Oldupai Gorge and a glimpse into the fascinating Maasai culture and this could easily qualify as the trip of a lifetime!
  • 2017 [07 July] - Terry Stevenson - Kenya & Tanzania

    Report
    Our July 2017 East Africa Highlights: Kenya & Tanzania tour took place in one of the driest seasons on record in northern Tanzania, but shortly after unusual July rains in Kenya. With global climate change, just which are the best months to visit these days comes largely down to luck, but luck, together with many years of experience in running tours in this area certainly helped this time. Just a few of our highlights were Lion, Leopard and Cheetah two days running in the Serengeti, Black Rhino - our very first day in Nairobi National Park, and of course a whole bunch of other mammals ranging from monkeys to ground-squirrels, Spotted Hyaena, elephant, zebra, giraffe, hippo, and a fabulous variety of antelopes and gazelles.
  • 2017 [11 November] - Ralf Jahraus

    PDF Report
    This report is based on a 5 week, self-organized trip to Tanzania using public transport, which concentratedon a few sites south-west of Dar-es-Salaam (Udzungwa, Uluguru, Mikumi, Iringa). I also visited Amani NR and Zanzibar.
  • 2018 [02 February] - Peg Abbott

    PDF Report
    The time had finally come to begin our African safari! Preston and our two that had explored Kenya on the pre-tour, Jan and Susan, met up at Amboseli Gate in Kenya with Rob and Anita, who were coming from time at a private reserve, and they all had a fun morning in Amboseli National Park seeing an incredible array of water birds and many Elephants...
  • 2018 [05 May] - Gareth Robbins - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    Our tour started at the stunning Ngarasero Lodge, on the outskirts of the bustling city of Arusha. The first bird we saw for the trip was a vocal Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, which was calling from a comfortable perch in a large tree in the centre of the garden. ..
  • 2018 [05 May] - Heinz Ortmann - Kenya & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    The East African countries of Tanzania and Kenya never disappoint with the amazing overall wildlifeexperience that they offer, and this particular tour was no different. The guests were spoilt withincredible bird and big mammal sightings, with over 470 bird species and a staggering 54 mammalspecies seen during our 18-day journey through the northern parts of Tanzania and various parts ofsouthern and central Kenya. Added to the many special birds and mammals were, of course, theexperiences of Mt Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, vast open plains of the Serengeti, iconicAmboseli landscapes and a visit to a Maasai village – to name but a few of the wonderful parts of thisincredible safari.
  • 2018 [10 October] - Dani Lopez-Velasco

    PDF Report
    Our 2018 “Tanzania: Ultimate Eastern Arc” tour, including an Udzungwa Mountains extension, turned out to be a fantastic adventure that way-surpassed our expectations.
  • 2019 [03 March] - Terry Stevenson

    Report
    Our March 2019 East Africa Highlights tour was one of total contrasts, with Tanzania being lush, wet, and green, while Kenya was dry to the extreme. All this made for some unusual and interesting bird and mammals sightings, as we traveled from Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, to Tarangire, Lake Nakuru, Kakamega Forest, Baringo and Mt. Kenya.
  • 2019 [04 April] - Nik Borrow - Northern Tanzania

    PDF Report
    This incredible tour through Arusha and Tarangire National Parks, the Ngorongoro Crater and finally over the seemingly endless plains of the Serengeti surely has to be the ultimate wildlife travel experience out of anywhere in Africa if not indeed the whole world!
  • 2019 [07 July] - Mike Bowman

    PDF Report
    Dar had certainly changed a lot in the 16 years that had elapsed since last I was in Tanzania. Back in 2003 there had been one high rise in the city but now dozens adorning the city centre. As it was such a long time since I had been in East Africa I was looking forward to make contact again with the bird life of the Swahili coast.
  • 2020 [02 February] - Peg Abbott

    PDF Report
    On arrival, Arumero Lodge was most welcoming, and we arrived in time to walk the gardens, looking at several pair of very tame Dik-Dik. We found Ashy Flycatcher, Gray-backed Camaroptera, and had a lot of fun watching a courting pair of Hamerkop...
  • 2020 [02 February] - Peg Abbott - Wildlife & Birding

    PDF Report
    ...On arrival, Arumero Lodge was most welcoming, and we arrived in time to walk the gardens, looking at several pair of very tame Dik-Dik. We found Ashy Flycatcher, Gray-backed Camaroptera, and had a lot of fun watching a courting pair of Hamerkop...
  • 2022 [03 March] - Eric Shaw

    PDF Report
    This was my fifth trip to Africa. I wanted to see my last two African families (Hyliotas and Spot-throat/Dapple-throat), a quest that was achieved on this trip. I also wanted to see as many Tanzanian endemics as possible. I was inspired to visit Tanzania by Thomas Pettersson, who was part of my Kenya group in 2021 and who had published an excellent trip report
  • 2022 [07 July] - Bill Simpson

    PDF Report
    This trip was put together quickly and at short notice based on 2 excellent trip reports from Barry Reed 2019, and Nick and Russell Gardner 2020.
  • 2022 [08 August] - Rob Gordijin

    PDF Report
    Usambara, Uluguru, Udzungwa, Rubeho & Ukaguru – the names alone make you want to go there! Tanzania has a surprising number of country endemics within its borders due to islands of isolated forest mountains in the Eastern Arc chain stretching from Taita Hills (Kenya) to the Udzungwa mountains in Tanzania. With a short taste in Kenya earlier this year we couldn’t wait for more. Special thanks to Ross Gallardy for pre-trip information, David Moyer for contact with Elia and Elia Mulungu for his excellent guiding for a part of the trip
  • 2023 [01 January] - Isaac Kilusu

    E-Bird Report
    We were starting on a birding/wildlife safari throught Tanzania Birding. We stayed at Korona Villa, a very nice hotel in a fairly quiet neighborhood on the southern outskirts of Arusha.
Places to Stay
  • Emau Hill - Amani Forest Camp

    Accommodation
    Emau Hill is a comfortable and friendly base in the heart Amani Nature Reserve, East Usambara. Amani Nature Reserve is one Tanzania’s least known and yet most beautiful reserves. Built by an entirely local workforce and staffed by members of the community, Emau Hill, or Amani Forest Camp, was originally set up by an NGO working in collaboration with the local church. It has been developed with the aim of improving community livelihoods as well as providing a great place for visitors to the spectacular Amani Nature Reserve to stay.
  • Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

    Accommodation
    It is difficult to imagine a more spectacular setting for Lake Manyara Serena Lodge - on the edge of the Mto Wa Mbu escarpment, overlooking the Great Rift Valley and the stunning Manyara soda lake. Tree-climbing lions are but one lure.
Other Links
  • Gombe National Park Bird Checklist

    Website
    An annotated list of the birds of Gombe National Park, Tanzania.
  • Uluguru Mountains

    Wiki
    The Uluguru Mountains in eastern Tanzania are one of the most important mountains in Africa for the conservation of biological diversity. They are also the source of the water supply for the largest city in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, which has between 3 and 4 million people. In addition to these global and national values they are also home to over 100,000 people in the Luguru tribe who prefer to live on the mountains because of the favourable climate which allows them to grow crops through much of the year, including fruits and temperate vegetables which they can export to the townspeople of the lowlands.
Blogs
  • Derek Kverno - Birding Tanzania

    BLOG
    Reports, reflections and resources of an independent birder living in Tanzania… This blogger moved to Mexico 2011
  • James Wolstencroft - Birdman

    BLOG
    Lifelong Naturalist from Lune river, Britain. Livelihood as Buddhist nature guide Europe, Asia & Africa, let us put planet & people before personal gain.
Photographers & Artists
  • Photographer - Ron Eggert

    Gallery
    A website for bird and animal lovers with photos and photo stories from Kenya and Tanzania. See also: http://www.birdingafrica.net

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