Tanzania birding Safari with Another World

Day 1 – 4/3/26 – Arrival to Arusha

Our tour begins at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, where we will meet our drivers and head towards Tarangire national Park. We will enter the park and immediately see our first Baobab trees, enjoy quality birds and big game such as Elephants, Waterbuck, Wildebeest, Giraffes and more. Late afternoon is also a good time for predators and we might get lucky with Leopard, Genet and Hyenas. We will arrive at our lodge around sunset. Night at Tarangire Sopa Lodge.

Day 2 – 5/3/26 – Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is one of my favorite parks in Africa. The park which is well known for its Baobab trees has one of the largest concentrations of Elephants in East Africa and it is also boasts an incredible list of birds. Birding will start before breakfast as the lodge grounds are teeming with nesting Little Swifts, loads of Go-Away Birds, Parrots and Sunbirds. We will spend the day exploring the park and should expect several species of Francolins and Spurfowl, many birds of Prey including the spectacular Bateleur, Tawny Eagles, Goshawks, Crane Hawk, Vultures, a couple of Owl species and more. The scrubby areas hold Bee-eaters, Barbets (including the range restricted “emin’s” Barbet), Sandgrouse, Shrikes, Longclaws and several species of Hornbills, Rollers and Starlings. During the day we will visit the famous Silale Swamp where we will enjoy a host of waterbirds including Northern Spur-winged Goose, African Fish Eagle and with luck maybe a Dwarf Bittern.
In Tarangire there are birds Everywhere and endemics such as Yellow-collared Lovebird, Ashy Starling and more are abundant.
Besides birds Tarangire is a very good park for Leopards and Lions and we have seen several on every one of our tours here.
Night at Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Day 3 – 6/3/26 – Tarangire to Manyara

Following an early breakfast, we will explore a few more areas in the park on our way back to the main park gate. We will visit a specific site that holds all 4 species of Whydahs as well as Bishops, Barbets and a wide variety of other songbirds. Following a quick lunch break we will drive towards Lake Manyara. Lake Manyara is one of the Rift valley lakes and in recent years is undergoing an interesting phenomenon. The Rift valley plates are slowly shifting, causing the water levels to rise at an alarming rate. Because of the rising water level, the once alkaline lake is now changing, causing many waterbirds to leave the area. We will check out some sites near the lake and with some luck should find Black and white Casqued Hornbills, Crowned Eagle and more.
Night at Manyara Wildlife resort

Days 4-5 – 7-8/3/26 – To the Serengeti!

Serengeti means “Endless Plains” in Maasai and indeed the vastness of the plains will take your breath away. The plains are the stage for the biggest mammal migration in the world. Hundreds of thousands of Wildebeest and Zebras follow the rains in the region in search of green grass. The migration takes place for most of the year. Everything begins in early March in the Ndutu plains, where the Wildebeest give birth to hundreds of calves every night. The young animals join their parents immediately and start their migration north, into the Serengeti. The migration is amazing and the volume of wildlife is staggering. We will spend 2 full days in the Serengeti, exploring the savannahs, the scrubby areas and the Kopis, the famous rock formations rising from the plains. Serengeti has large numbers of Vultures, Eagles and birds of the plains such as the Secretary bird, Lapwings, Larks, Cisticolas, Sandgrouse, Bustards of several species, Rollers, Shrikes, Weavers, Starlings and more. The riverbeds and waterholes attract Plovers, Herons, Storks (including the amazing Saddle-billed Stork) and many more. Besides birds which will occupy us all the time, the park is arguably the best place in East Africa to find large numbers of Lions, many Cheetahs and Leopards, Hyenas and other predators.
The Serengeti is huge and natural wonders lie everywhere, with 2 and a half full days we will surely benefit from many memorable wildlife moments!
Nights at Serengeti Wildlife Safari lodge or similar.

In the evening we will head towards Ndutu in the southern Serengeti where we will spend the night.
Night at Kenzan wildlife Camp Ndutu.

Day 6-7 – 9-10/3/26 Southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains

The Ndutu plains in the southern part of the Serengeti is the place where the amazing migration begins. Early March is the calving season and thousands of Wildebeest congregate on the plains and females give birth to claves, hundreds are born every night. This is one of the most amazing spectacles in the natural world. The amazing numbers of Wildebeest and Zebras attract many predators and this is a great time to find big cats and other predators waiting for an easy meal. The Ndutu area has 2 impressive lakes, Ndutu and Masek, and these also attract large numbers of birds and other wildlife. The plains are not officially a part of the Serengeti so we are free to use many trails and paths to get close to birds and animals, within a respectful distance of course. We will have 2 full days around Ndutu and the area will surely be a highlight of our trip.

Nights at Kenzan wildlife camp.

Day 8 – 11/3/26 – Ngorongoro Crater

Following an early breakfast, we will drive east towards the amazing Ngorongoro Crater. The crater which was once a Volcano that collapsed is one of the highlights of any African Safari. We will search the crater rim forest for specialties such as Golden Winged and Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Olive (Rameron) and Green Pigeons, Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Mountain Grey Woodpecker, Grey capped Warbler and more. The rocky descent road hosts both Capped and Abyssinian Wheatear (Schalow’s), Yellow Bishop and Anteater Chats. The Ngorongoro Crater itself is a nearly complete cauldron hosting nearly all the animals of East Africa! Huge numbers of herbivores such as Zebra, Wildebeest, Elephant, Eland, Grant’s and Thompson Gazelles and more roam the vegetated areas. Spotted Hyenas and Lions are common here and this is the only place in Tanzania to find Black Rhinoceros. Birding in the Crater is fantastic as well. Good numbers of Kori Bustards and Grey crowned Cranes are present as well as several species of Cisticolas, Larks and Widowbirds. The crater lake (Lake Magadi) usually hosts thousands of Lesser and Greater Flamingos as well as good numbers of Herons, Storks, Ducks (including the rare Hottentot Teal and southern Pochards) Terns, waders and more. The Crater is home to many birds of prey and we should expect several species of Vultures (there is usually a fresh carcass somewhere), Martial Eagle, Augur Buzzard and more.
After a field lunch lunch in the crater we will head to our lodge.

Night at Manyara wildlife lodge.

Day 9 – 12/3/26 – Back to Arusha and Arusha National Park

Following an early breakfast we will head back to Arusha. After arriving in town we will head to the Arusha National park, situated at the base of mighty Mount Meru. The park includes a wide variety of habitats including lakes, open areas and a beautiful rain forest. We will explore the forest in search of the rare Black and White Colobus monkeys, and specialty birds such as Schalow’s Turaco, Bar-tailed Trogon and Kilimanjaro White-eye. We will take a nice walking safari through the park and should get up close and personal with Giraffes, Buffalo, Warthogs and more, an amazing experience on foot. After lunch we will explore the wetlands of the park and enjoy a large variety of waterbirds. In the afternoon we will head back to town, to the Kilimanjaro international airport, where our adventure sadly ends.

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Tour price:
$5235 per person sharing
Single supplement: $700

Price includes:

8 nights in fantastic Lodges within the national Parks.
All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on Day 9 (including some drinks)
4X4 Toyota Land cruisers for the whole trip
Bottled water throughout
All guiding and park entry fees
Visa to Tanzania ($50)
Tips to drivers – although it is customary to add something on your behalf

Price excludes:

International flights
Travel insurance
Alcoholic drinks and added refreshments
Prescription drugs and items of personal nature
Tips to guide (voluntary)