Tanzania Birding Safari: Savanna Birds, Wildebeest Migration & Eastern Arc Mountain Endemics

Tanzania Birding Safari: Savanna Birds, Wildebeest Migration and Eastern Arc Mountain Endemics
April 2025/2026

Tanzania surely comes closer to what people expect of Africa than any other country; the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Africa’s highest mountain (Kilimanjaro) epitomize the continent. Our Tanzania birding tour allows one to see the wildebeest migration, big cats, an abundance of birds (East Africa is the easiest place on the continent to amass a huge bird list), and then a suite of Tanzanian endemics that lurk in the Eastern Arc Mountains and on Pemba Island (a more idyllic version of Zanzibar). Tanzania has lots of endemics and is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife havens, boasting varied and spectacular scenery.

Yellow-collared Lovebird is an incredibly striking Tanzanian endemic.

We start our Tanzanian birding safari in the famous (for wildlife) northern parts of the country near the Kenyan border. After arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, we head for Arusha on a journey that (weather-permitting) will give us good views of Africa’s highest mountain. We spend a good amount of time in the great parks such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, finding not only the great herds and accompanying predators, but also localized lovebird species, Grey-crested Helmetshrike and other Kenya/Tanzania endemics, along with birds like Grey-breasted Spurfowl that inexplicably don’t cross into similar habitat on the Kenyan side. Birdlife absolutely abounds, and we also find a lot of more widespread African species. We then head southeastward from mountain range to mountain range, looking for afromontane forest endemics (many of them Tanzanian endemics).

Eventually this epic Tanzania birding tour ends at the tropical Indian Ocean city of Dar es Salaam, from where there is the option of joining a short extension to Pemba Island for its four endemics and/or a “rough” extension to some of the more remote Eastern Arc Mountains for endemics we won’t see on the main tour. Please email us at if you are interested in either or both of these extensions.

Rufous-tailed Weaver – a highly range-restricted East African endemic.

Itinerary (20 days/19 nights)

Day 1. Arrival in Arusha

Our first day will be reserved for your arrival, and you may arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha at any time, as we have no fixed birding plans for the day. Once at the lodge, we will likely stroll around the grounds, which are often quite productive. We may see African Black Duck, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-eared and Brown-breasted Barbets, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Grey-olive Greenbul, Kenrick’s Starling, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Mountain Wagtail and the range-restricted Taveta Weaver.

Overnight: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, or similar, Arusha

The glamorous Purple Grenadier is delightfully common on this tour.

Day 2. Birding around Lake Manyara and transfer to Karatu

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, we plan to make our way towards Lake Manyara National Park, aiming to arrive at the park in the late morning. We can expect to get our lists off to a solid start, adding a variety of exciting species as we bird the diverse assemblage of habitats in the park. We will squeeze in a picnic lunch today, between our time spent birding the forests and open woodlands. Forested areas in the park may yield Narina Trogon, Grey Cuckooshrike, Mountain Wagtail, Crowned Hornbill and the huge Silvery-cheeked Hornbill. The open woodlands should produce a different suite of birds, including 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. Birds of prey are usually well represented in the park, and we will look out for Lappet-faced and White-backed Vultures, Bateleur, Crowned Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, African Goshawk, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl and the adorable Peal-spotted Owlet.

If conditions are favorable, we will visit the park’s shallow alkaline lake, where flocks of Greater and Lesser Flamingos should be in attendance, accompanied by Great White Pelican, the aptly named Goliath Heron, and various other waterbirds. After what promises to be an exciting first full day out, we will move on toward Karatu, where our comfortable lodge lies on the outskirts of town. We will settle into what will be our base for the next three nights.

Overnight: Karatu

Day 3. Exploring the Ngorongoro Crater

We will dedicate the entire day to exploring the Ngorongoro Crater and the surrounding rim, which is sure to be one of the highlights of the trip. As we descend the slopes toward the crater floor, we stand a fair chance of connecting with Lions and, of course, their prey, large herbivores. There are thousands of large mammals in this neatly intact caldera, including Black Rhinoceros and Hippopotamus, the latter of which can be seen in the water body in the crater’s center. Although we would consider ourselves lucky to encounter any of the smaller predators, we may see Serval, Bat-eared Fox, and African Golden Wolf, a species once thought to be closely related to the Eurasian Golden Jackal but now considered a closer relative of the Grey Wolf.

We hope to encounter Black Rhinoceros in the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater.

As expected, despite stopping for other wildlife, our primary focus will be the birds. We hope to add a large number of new species, including Lesser Flamingo, Grey Crowned Crane, Abdim’s Stork, Black-bellied and Kori Bustards, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Rosy-throated Longclaw and many more.

The combination of breathtaking scenery, herds of large African mammals, and exceptional avian diversity make this one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife experiences. The crater’s rim towers 2,000 feet (600 meters) above the plains in the center, spanning a diameter of 15 miles (24 kilometers). We will work forest patches along the rim for Golden-winged Sunbird, Brown-headed Apalis, and the unique Oriole Finch, in addition to 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.

Overnight: Karatu

Eastern Double-collared Sunbird is often seen in forest clearings.

Day 4. Forest birding along the Ngorongoro Crater rim

Our plan for today is to bird the Endoro section of the Ngorongoro Conservation area before visiting the delightful Gibb’s Farm for lunch and a few additional targets. We will walk along the Elephant Caves Trail, which presents opportunities for excellent forest birding. Some of the species we may encounter here include the likes of 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, African Hill Babbler, Mbulu White-eye, Grey-headed Nigrita and Red-throated Twinspot. Raptors such as Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Black Sparrowhawk and Augur Buzzard are worth watching out for and are often joined by Nyanza Swift overhead. The raucous calls of Schalow’s Turacos may lead us to sightings of these gorgeous birds.

After birding the trail, we will head over to Gibb’s Farm, a birdy establishment with a tranquil atmosphere. We will have lunch here before setting out to bird the property where species like 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 await us.

Overnight: Karatu

We stand a good chance of seeing Lion in the Serengeti.

Days 5-6. Serengeti: wildebeest herds, predators and savanna birding

We set off for the iconic Serengeti National Park this morning. This journey will likely be an unforgettable day for all participants, particularly those who have never been to Africa, as we will surely encounter an abundance of charismatic mammals like African Elephant and African Buffalo, in addition to a spectacular diversity of birds. Once in the Serengeti, we will experience the mind-blowing wildebeest migration, along with vast numbers of Plains Zebras and Thomson’s Gazelles. Other mammals we will be on the lookout for include Topi, Common Eland, Grant’s Gazelle, Bohor Reedbuck and Masai Giraffe. With the sheer abundance of prey here, it is no surprise that the Serengeti is one of the best places in the world to see predators. We stand a good chance of finding Lion, Leopard and Cheetah, and if we are lucky, we will find some of the smaller predators like Serval and Caracal. Vultures congregate around kills, and a number of species occur in the park, such as Rüppell’s, White-backed, Lappet-faced, White-headed and Hooded Vultures.

Several raptor species occur here, including the colorful Bateleur and stately Seceretarybird, the latter of which can be seen roaming the plains in search of their favored prey – snakes. These plains are also home to Common Ostriches; we shouldn’t have any trouble picking out these giant birds. Smaller birds are also abundant, many boasting striking plumages, such as Little Bee-eater, Purple Grenadier, Lilac-breasted Roller, Hildebrandt’s Starling and Beautiful Sunbird, among many others. Other plains targets and savanna birds include White-bellied Bustard, Coqui Francolin, Temminck’s Courser, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon and Pangani Longclaw.

Interestingly, we have a few range-restricted targets during our time in the Serengeti, one of which is the Maasai Apalis, a specialist of whistling-thorn thickets. This species only occurs here and extends marginally into neighboring Kenya. Other localized species include Red-throated Tit, Fischer’s Lovebird, Grey-crested Helmetshrike and Rufous-tailed Weaver, and we plan to invest a fair amount of time in finding these species. Additionally, we will search for two Tanzanian endemics here, Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill and Grey-breasted Spurfowl. We will also have another chance to see the impressive Kori Bustard on the Serengeti plains.

Overnight: Serengeti

One of our endemic targets – Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill.

Day 7. Transfer from Serengeti to Tarangire National Park

After two wonderful days in the Serengeti, we will make our way back through the herds and onwards to our next destination – Tarangire National Park. We plan to leave after breakfast and will be sure to target any species that have eluded us on the way out and savor some final views of migrating wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle.

Black-faced Sandgrouse is a regular feature in Tarangire National Park.

The drive to Tarangire National Park will take up most of the remaining day; however, upon arrival in this most breathtaking park, the long drive becomes all the more worth it. Elephants covered in the red soils of the park stroll among baobabs and savanna-clad hills while wild rivers intersect the park. It’s the type of place that leaves you in no doubt that you’re in Africa. Our main targets here will include localized and endemic species like Yellow-collared Lovebird, the unassuming Ashy Starling and the characterful Northern Pied Babbler, all of which we usually manage to find. We will work the Acacia woodlands for Von der Decken’s and Northern Red-billed Hornbills, Yellow-necked and Red-necked Spurfowl, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Bearded Woodpecker, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird and many more! Bustards feature well here, and we may see White-bellied, Hartlaub’s, and Buff-crested Bustards, along with other larger terrestrial species like Southern Ground Hornbill and Common Ostrich. Good rains in the area often produce an influx of seasonal wetland specials like Black Coucal and Dwarf Bittern. At the same time, giant baobabs are frequented by nesting Mottled Spinetails, which construct their nests in these unique-looking trees.

We will search for waterbirds, including White-faced Whistling Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Saddle-billed Stork, Hamerkop and Grey Crowned Crane along the Tarangire River.

Overnight: Tarangire National Park

Day 8. Full day in Tarangire National Park

This will be our final day in Tarangire National Park, and as usual, we will search for any species that we have not yet connected with. We are likely to be distracted along the way by the excellent wildlife-watching opportunities in Tarangire and plan to end our day enjoying a sundowner while overlooking the Tarangire River from the lodge’s balcony. Brazen Ashy Starlings may harass us for any morsels, and African Scops Owls will serenade us at dusk.

Although not included in the tour price, Tarangire offers exciting night drives, and you will have an opportunity tonight to join one of these excursions. Nocturnal species that may be encountered include Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Southern White-faced Owl, Bronze-winged and Three-banded Coursers, East African Springhare, Northern Lesser Galago and African Savanna Hare.

Overnight: Tarangire National Park

Ashy Starlings are endemic to Tanzania and are abundant in Tarangire National Park.

Day 9. Tarangire National Park and transfer to Lark Plains

We return to Arusha this morning, where we will dedicate the afternoon to birding the Lark Plains. This area is home to several lark species, perhaps the main target being the rare and super localized Beesley’s Lark (estimated at less than 200 individuals). In addition to this global mega, we stand a good chance of connecting with Fawn-colored, Short-tailed, Athi Short-toed, and Rufous-naped Larks, as well as Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark. It’s not all about larks, though, and other notable species here include Kori Bustard, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Greater Kestrel, Temminck’s and Double-banded Coursers, Yellow-throated and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Abyssinian and Capped Wheatears, Taita Fiscal and many others. We may enjoy distant views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, if the weather is favorable.

The unusual Short-tailed Lark will be one of many lark targets on the aptly named Lark Plains.

We are also likely to get additional views of many of the savanna species we encountered earlier in the Serengeti. Red-throated Tit is on the cards again here, as are some stunning barbets. While birding here, we also expect to see our first mousebirds: Speckled and Blue-naped Mousebirds are regular, with White-headed Mousebird only occasionally seen. Nubian Woodpecker, a widespread East African species, occurs here, as does the colonial Grey-capped Social Weaver. The woodland sections may further produce Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Red-fronted Prinia, Grey Wren-Warbler, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Spotted Palm Thrush, Beautiful Sunbird, Pale White-eye, Kenya Sparrow, Black-faced Waxbill and Southern Grosbeak-Canary. We them return to Arusha after a rewarding session in the Lark Plains.

Overnight: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, or similar, Arusha

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

Today we leave the north to seek a plethora of Tanzanian bird endemics of the beautiful (and off-the-beaten-track) Eastern Arc Mountains further south, starting with a drive to the South Pare Mountains. En route we’ll bird a site that allows us to find several arid-area Kenyan birds that marginally cross the border into Tanzania – these are Tsavo-type birds not often shown on the distribution maps for Tanzania! We’ll also start looking for endemics such as Usambara Thrush and Usambara Double-collared Sunbird.

Overnight: South Pare Mountains

Days 11 – 12. The next range: birding the West Usambara Mountains

We traverse some arid areas containing widespread African birds such as the beautiful Lilac-breasted Roller and a lot of others. Rocky slopes will be explored for Mocking Cliff Chat and Striped Pipit. The real targets are, however, the mountain-forest endemics once we reach our next destination, which will hopefully include Usambara Weaver, Usambara Akalat, and Spot-throat, among many others. Hartlaub’s Turaco, even more spectacular than many of the other turaco species and a classic East African mountain endemic, will hopefully be found without too many problems. The gorgeous Black-fronted Bushshrike with its strange calls, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler, and African Wood Owl are also often encountered here.

Overnight: West Usambaras

We hope to find the localized Green-headed Oriole in the Usambara Mountains.

Days 13 – 14. Birding in the East Usambara Mountains

We continue looking for Eastern Arc forest endemics, including 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 (another unique subspecies that could be split), and a lot of others. A few of these species are highly enigmatic, and some require immense luck. Pairs of Fischer’s Turaco are not too difficult to find, and Green-headed Oriole gives its presence away with its liquid calls emanating from the canopy.

Overnight: Amani

Day 15. Miombo woodland birding

Miombo (Brachystegia) woodland is a beautiful dry forest that boasts a lot of south-central-African endemics, extending from southern Tanzania to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Angola (see our blog on miombo birding). Since we’ll be in a completely new, very unique habitat, we’re bound to add a lot of new birds to our burgeoning list. Mikumi National Park is where we search for miombo-woodland birds – and we must be careful, as there are stacks of big game (some pretty dangerous) around. Racket-tailed Roller sits quietly on more concealed perches in thicker woodland than other rollers. Shelley’s Sunbird and various other more widespread sunbird species might be around. Miombo Rock Thrush sings beautifully from under the canopy. Pale-billed Hornbill, Böhm’s Bee-eater, Dickinson’s Kestrel, and a bunch of other brilliant birds will also be searched for.

A Böhm’s Bee-eater seen in miombo-type woodlands.

Leaving the national park and heading to our accommodation, we’ll stop if we see Black-winged Red Bishop (Fire-crowned Bishop being an alternate, nicely descriptive name for this species, which does look like it’s on fire), the stunning little Half-collared Kingfisher, a vulture that rarely eats meat, Palm-nut Vulture, and stacks more.

Overnight: Mikumi

Days 16 – 17. Sampling the vast Udzungwa Mountains

While the Udzungwa Mountain National Park warrants a mini-expedition to see some of the best endemics, such as Udzungwa Forest Partridge and Rufous-winged Sunbird (we can arrange this as part of the remote extension – please ask us), the more remote parts of the park are beyond the scope of the main tour. Instead, we focus on other quality birds, such as the brilliant Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Green Malkoha, Lesser Seedcracker, Green Barbet, and many other south-east-African birds.

Overnight: Udzungwa Mountains

Kilombero Weaver is one of a few recently described bird species from Tanzania’s Kilombero Valley.

Day 18. Undescribed species of the Kilombero Valley Floodplain

Today involves a lot of driving on a rough road, but it’s worth it, as the Kilombero Valley Floodplain is an intriguing place. The fact that it’s a mission to get to could explain why it has two very distinctive yet only recently described cisticolas (Kilombero and White-tailed Cisticolas) and the recently described, endemic Kilombero Weaver. All three of these birds are easy to find here, along with a range of other excellent water-associated species such as coucals (the massive Coppery-tailed Coucal being a highlight), herons, lapwings (such as the attractive White-crowned Lapwing), kingfishers, the localized Marsh Tchagra, etc. The beautifully colored Orange-breasted Waxbill can sometimes put in an appearance. The floodplain is heavily used by people for fishing and cattle-grazing, so it’s quite a scene to behold.

Overnight: Mikumi

Day 19. Transfer to Dar es Salaam 

We start the day by trying to clean up on the mountain birds before heading gradually to the tropical East African city of Dar es Salaam on the warm Indian Ocean. Here we’ll look for terns, shorebirds, and other species.

Overnight: Dar es Salaam

Day 20. Coastal birds and departure

We’ll bird until we take our flights for home or to one of the extensions.

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling or other factors.

Preparing for your tour to Tanzania

Step out into the vast open plains that dominate much of Tanzania and you suddenly feel very, very small. And so you should. You’ve just joined one of the largest, wildest animal populations in the world. Wildebeest, monkeys, big cats, and crocodiles might be encountered as we search for birds.

You will find that Tanzania’s people are so very friendly, despite the poverty experienced by the majority of the country’s inhabitants.

On our “Introduction to Africa” tour we visit the touristy north, which has a good infrastructure. On our 19-day tour in addition to the north we also go “off the beaten track” to find the endemics and specials of the mountains to the south. It is important to note that almost a third of this tour is in remote areas, sometimes with basic accommodation. If you are joining the extension to Pemba then you can experience a little time in a tropical paradise.

Full country name: United Republic of Tanzania

Area: 945,090 km² (364,879 mi²)

Population: 40 million +, with recent Census figures to be released

Capital cities: Dodoma and Dar Es Salaam

Languages: Swahili, English, and many local languages

Government: Republic (multi-party state)

GDP: USD7 billion

GDP per head: USD220

Inflation: 40%

Major industries: Tourism, agriculture, fishing, and mining

Major trading partners: India, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, South Africa, Kenya, U.K., Saudi Arabia, China, and the USA

DOCUMENTS

Please have your passports and air tickets handy on arrival. Visas are required by all and can be obtained on arrival in Tanzania. If you choose to get your visa on arrival, just complete the visa form/card at the immigration desk, pay cash (USD or EUR), and there you go. We recommend you also keep a photocopy of the important pages of your passport in a safe place in case of loss. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is now required for Tanzania and recommended for all of East Africa. Please also bring your travel insurance certificate. Kindly ensure you have visas for other countries in which you may be overnighting en route.

ARRIVAL

It is recommended to try to get near the front exit of your aircraft on arrival, so you do not end up at the back of a queue. The time taken to pass immigration with or without a pre-arranged visa is usually similar.

On arrival look for a driver with a Birding Ecotours sign.

MONEY AND BANKING

Each East African country has a different currency, but the majority of tourist services also accept US dollars and euros. If you do have US dollars you need to ensure that the notes are recent, as older notes are viewed with suspicion and may not be accepted. All USD bills should have been printed or issued after the year 2006.

Currency is TZS (Tanzanian Shillings).

Cash is obtainable at ATMs in most major towns en route, and there are exchange bureaus in the main cities and airports. Traveler’s Checks/Cheques are not accepted/used these days, and exchanging them is only generally possible at a few private bureaus. Some hotels will exchange cash too, but often at poor rates. VISA and MasterCard are widely accepted and can be used for drawing local cash.

Credit Cards are accepted at many tourist shops and at many hotels (for souvenirs, laundry, drinks, etc.).

TIPPING

In East Africa wages are low, and tips are generally very welcome (but not compulsory of course). Tips and gratuities are not part of the package price of our tours, so should a guest/client wish to give a tip to the driver and guides at the end of the trip or to individual crew at the accommodations it is received with thanks. Many lodges will have a tip box for all. However, there is no obligation to tip anyone.

Below is a sample tipping scheme as a guideline

Airport/hotel/lodge porter: USD2 or TZS2000

Room attendant: USD2 or TZS2000

Safari Driver/Guide/Tour Leader: many people give about USD5 per day but the amounts vary greatly. A lot of people tip nothing and that is also OK.

Site guide (if any): USD10 or TZS10,000

Quite often an entire group will tip USD5-30 per day for the driver and for the guide.

We only give these tipping guidelines because most people ask us to provide them – not because anything is expected.

COMMUNICATIONS

Cell phones/mobile phones are now very common throughout East Africa. They even work in the middle of remote reserves such as the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

This is a round-up of the bands available in the country Tanzania: GSM 900 and 1800 MHz; Limited 3G in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and Moshi

WEATHER

Weather patterns have become noticeably unpredictable in recent years, so the information below is just a vague overview of the seasonality of the region; it rains when it traditionally shouldn’t and sometimes doesn’t rain when it is expected….

January to March: dry season

April and May: short to long rains but not usually a problem, and these are two of the very best months for the wildebeest migration.

June to September: dry season

October to November: short rains

December: dry season

The rainy seasons can give a false impression; even in these seasons rains are not constant and might generally fall in short or consist of heavy showers in the late afternoon or evening, if at all. In the rainy season it usually rains at night or around dawn (of course, this is tough to predict, though, especially with the climate change that East Africa seems to have experienced recently – which affects the timing of the wildebeest migration profoundly).

On our tours there are big changes in altitude, and the higher you get, the more likely it is that rain will occur, and the temperature will also drop with altitude of course. In the highland areas rain is more frequent and can fall at any time. The Ngorongoro Highlands and the Usambara Mountains are good examples.

A lot of East Africa is quite high in altitude (Ngorongoro is at 2700 meters or almost 9000 feet, Arusha is at 1400 meters or over 4000 feet, etc.). This means it is often cooler than most people expect in Tanzania, especially in the evenings (day time average: 18-26 ^OC or 78 ^OF, sometimes dropping a lot at night).

ELECTRICITY

Electricity is 230-240V, 50Hz throughout the region.

Tanzania usually uses three-square-pin plugs (UK), but a three-round-pin plug is also used, ITA type G/D.

Power cuts (outages) are common, and several hotels have generators to counter this. The voltage can surge, so we would advise against using sensitive equipment whenever possible.

LAUNDRY AND LUGGAGE

There are laundry services at most of the larger hotels. Laundry can often be done on the same day if handed in early in the morning. It is of course best arranged at hotels where there are two-night stays. Small accommodations in the remote countryside may not have laundry services at all.

We ask all participants to try and keep their luggage to a minimum, as the luggage space in the vehicles is not large, at least when the tour is full or nearly full (5 or more participants). We also strongly recommend soft-sided bags/duffle bags such as the below if possible.

Don’t bring anything that you would mind getting dusty.

WHAT TO BRING

Clothing

You will need a range of clothes to suit the temperature and weather conditions mentioned above. Stout walking shoes or boots are recommended, although sneakers/trainers are perfectly adequate except in the dewy mornings or in damp or thorny areas. A sweater and/or a fleece are recommended for the cool early mornings and evenings, and light rainwear in case of rain. Otherwise a selection of long sleeved and T-shirts and shorts and long trousers/pants are advised, as well as a hat for protection against the sun.

Medicines and toiletries

Please remember to bring your regular medications, if any, and your personal toiletries, and we usually recommend putting an adequate supply in your hand luggage in case of loss/delay of luggage. Do not forget your malaria tablets.

Optics

We recommend that everyone bring their own binoculars. Spotting scopes are optional, and not required for most of the time, and are a matter of personal choice. There will be many photographic opportunities, and a lot of mammals can be captured using a “point and shoot” camera. Many birds also allow close approach in Tanzania but of course if you’re a serious bird photographer you’ll need a decent camera! We would recommend that you bring equipment to keep your optics clean, as Tanzania gets dusty, especially in the game parks.

The light in this part of Africa is fabulous for photography in the hours after dawn and before sunset; the light becomes “harder” during the middle of the day as the sun approaches and passes its zenith.

An “ordinary” 35mm camera is quite sufficient to take good wildlife shots, but also bring:

A good telephoto lens – 300mm should be sufficient, unless a professional 500mm is a choice for you.

Suitable filters. UV filters are very useful.

Basic cleaning materials.

A protective lightweight bag – the biggest problems are dust and bumpy roads. Rain might also be a problem.

Sufficient Memory cards (available in main centers and some lodges, but the choice may be limited and quite costly).

FIELD GUIDES

Birds

Please see https://www.birdingecotours.com/field-guides-to-africa-and-madagascar-what-to-take-into-the-field/ (scroll down to East Africa) for field guides and apps.

Mammals

The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (Princeton Field Guides) is recommended. This guide book is simply one of the best regional mammal guide books in existence. There is a pocket version of this guide which is very good, as is the larger (but nevertheless not massive) standard version.

BIRD CHECKLIST

We give each tour participant a copy based on the latest IOC taxonomy.

HEALTH

There are a number of potential health risks that you need to be aware of. Most are preventable by vaccination, protection against insect bites, and drinking bottled water while on tour. Please read  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania carefully.

Being on the equator, the sun is very strong. This is exacerbated by the fact that a majority of East Africa is very high above sea level. This means that sunburn occurs very quickly, even when it feels cool or is overcast. The best prevention of sunburn (and sunstroke) is to keep your skin covered and to treat exposed areas of skin with sun block (SPF 15 minimally). A hat is a sensible precaution, especially in the middle of the day. The light can be very bright, so we advise wearing sunglasses whenever possible.

SAFETY

The majority of visitors to East Africa have a trouble-free time, but there are various dangers, mostly from people. The guidelines below list these dangers. All are rare but should always be borne in mind. A majority of East Africans are friendly and open, and they are accustomed to tourists, and none of the situations below has ever occurred on our tours.

Robbery

This is unlikely to occur in a group situation. However, care should be taken when walking alone. Most hotels have their own compounds and security guards, so you should be safe within their grounds. If someone intent on robbery approaches you, do not attempt to resist. Avoid wearing jewelry and other displays of wealth and remember that you are in a poor country. Do not venture outside the hotel, especially at night, unless with the group. The locals generally abhor thieves.

Carjacking

This occurs sometimes in Dar es Salaam and is usually aimed at single people driving expensive new vehicles and therefore very unlikely to occur (and never has) on a guided tour.

Terrorism

The risk of being involved in a terrorist incident is extremely low, especially since the majority of the time on tour will be in remote places – but terrorism has unfortunately become a worldwide phenomenon.

Inter-tribal conflicts and political rallies

These are not uncommon and are not aimed at tourists, so are generally of little concern. They break out sporadically, usually involving cattle-rustling, and they die down fairly quickly. During the tour the leaders and drivers keep themselves informed of anything that might prove dangerous, and they would alter the itinerary to suit. We obviously avoid any political rallies (if any) on the route.

Large animals

There are obvious dangers with megafauna, but you are unlikely to come into close contact with them, except from the safety of vehicles.

However, hippos do graze on some lodge ground lawns at night. Avoid getting between these animals and the water.

The lodges on the crater rim at Ngorongoro have old, lonely elephant bulls, and buffalos can lurk on the hotel grounds – do avoid getting between them and the rooms and do accept the assistance of a guard to escort you to your room at night!

Also, do not venture too close to water – here, crocodiles wait for food.

We also visit forest areas which hold elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo, so stay close to the leaders and follow their advice if they sense any presence (uncommon – these animals certainly do try to avoid people where possible).

Baboons are quite common on lodge grounds and can be a menace; they should be avoided wherever possible. Always keep your lodge doors closed.

Small animals

Vervet monkeys are not uncommon and are fairly fearless, although they will generally keep out of your way unless food is about. They can and do bite, though, so don’t be tempted to offer them food, however cute they look.

Black/Yellow-billed Kites circle around several of the picnic sites and often steal sandwiches from people’s hands.

Snakes are unlikely to be seen, as they can sense your approach some distance away, but try to be aware of where you step. They will not usually bite unless trodden on or cornered; adders sometimes do not move even if they sense your vibrations.

Scorpions are unlikely to be seen unless you go turning over stones, but there is a very small possibility that you might see one at night. It is a sensible precaution to store your footwear above ground level and to shake it out before putting it on, as scorpions will see a shoe on its side on the ground as a nice hiding place.

Spiders are also unlikely to be seen or to be a danger. But do be aware. In general most people are surprised by how few insects and other invertebrates they see.

DELAYS AND ANNOYANCES

East Africa is third world, so do not expect the same services you receive at home. You are also traveling well away from towns, and a birding safari should be viewed as an adventure.

Road conditions can be poor, and this takes its toll on vehicles. Punctures are common.

All this, along with various local bureaucracies, can cause delays. Obviously we do our best to minimize these, and most tours go smoothly.

GIVING MONEY WHEN ASKED

East Africa is not a wealthy region. In towns and cities visitors may come across people genuinely asking for money or other items. While the giving of money is a matter of personal preference or conscience, in our opinion it is best to give a donation to a proper charitable entity, as opposed to freely giving cash to individuals. Please ask your tour leader/guide where it is accepted to give a donation or money.

FITNESS

This tour is fairly easy-going apart from a handful of days.

Should you have any fitness problems please consult your doctor before travel. Also note that participation in any day’s events is purely optional, with the obvious exception of days when activities take place en route from one location to another. Should you not be willing to participate in any tour activity let your guide know about this the evening before. This is your holiday!

THE DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

Typically (but not a hard and fast rule by any means) each day will often begin with either an optional bird walk in the hotel grounds at say 6:30, followed by a 7:00-8:30 birding session. Sometimes an early breakfast is indicated when we hope to get moving by 7:00 or so. In most forest areas we will opt for the early breakfast and hope to start birding by 7:30, as prior to this the birds don’t move much, as it is dark in the understorey. Daylight hours are around 6:30 – 19:00, and for safety reasons we try to avoid driving after dark wherever possible. Due to park regulations we do not drive before 6:30 and after 18:30 in the parks.

ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS AND DRINKS

Accommodations are generally good (but that is always relative); generally we of course try to provide en suite bathrooms. Accommodations have been carefully selected as the best for birding and big game opportunities for the tour.

Amani Rest House does not have proper showers but has flushing toilets.

Electricity is unreliable in Tanzania.

The exact times of arrival and departure at the lodges usually depend on how good the birding is before departure from an area.

All meals are included on our tours. Bottled water is provided in the vehicle. If you buy bottled water or other drinks at meal times it is for your own account.

Tap water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid drinking running piped water in the hotel rooms or tents. To avoid traveler’s diarrhea fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption, and beware of salads.

CHANGE OF ACCOMMODATIONS

During the months of December – March and July – September, the peak tourist visiting seasons, it may be difficult to get reservations at the accommodations mentioned in the itinerary. Thus we sometimes will have to book into the next-best available accommodation in the same range as the one originally planned and listed in the itinerary.

Unfortunately hotels may be overbooked or temporarily closed following a decline in tourism traffic or due to seasonal upgrading (often in the low tourism season when we run our birding tours). We thus sometimes are, again, forced to change accommodations.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Participation in this tour is subject to the standard terms and conditions shown on https://www.birdingecotours.com/about-birding-ecotours/terms-conditions/.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS

If you experience any problem on the tour please speak to the tour leader/guide immediately. Usually the problem can be fixed fast (we are usually able to do magic). It’s better to tell us immediately as we prefer to solve potential problems as they occur.

PARK REGULATIONS, ETC.

On tour, please do respect the authority of the guide/tour leader concerning national park regulations, local government laws, and social/cultural lives of the people of East Africa.

Conservation is very important to us. Our small groups help minimize disturbance, and we ask all participants to leave the environment as they found it, for others to enjoy. Our drivers are trained to do their utmost to minimize damage to the environment by vehicles, and they will always work within eco-guidelines and according to the national park regulations. 

PACKING LIST

LANGUAGE

English and Swahili are Tanzania’s official languages.

Quick Swahili guide:

Download General Information