THE OVERVIEW

This birding adventure provides an incredible opportunity to discover more about diverse bird species in Tanzania. This fantastic Bird Watching tour in Tanzania begins and ends in Arusha, passing through the Mererani Maasai Steppe, Arusha National Park, Mkomazi National Park, and the east and western parts of the Usambara Mountains. You’re going to have access to some dry region specialties that are visually appealing, with the Golden-breasted Starling being a standout. It’s a beautiful combination of ecosystems and avifauna, ranging from bushland to high-altitude tropical forests. Anticipate an abundance of bird species, with endemics being a great highlight for any birder, as well as a high number of large mammal species, including the uncommon and elusive African Wild Dog, found at Mkomazi National Park.

The highlights of this Birding safari

• Game drives
• Bird walking safari
• Unlimited bird watching
• Scenic drives
• Guided nature walks and hikes
• Learning od special bird species

THE DETAILED DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to the lodge

Once you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, one of our driver guides will greet you and transport you to one of the lodges in Arusha for leisure time and dinner. The guide will go over the upcoming safari activities with you in full detail. Stay in the lodge for the night.

Meal plan: Dinner

Day 2: Birding in Mererani Masai Steppe

After an early breakfast, you will travel to Mererani Maasai Steppe, an untapped treasure of a birding spot located on the lower Maasai Steppe between Arusha and Manyara national parks, which is mostly dry Acacia thorn woodland with vernal wells occurring during the wet season, attracting many wetland species. Many of the species seen here belong to the region of the Somalia-Masai Region and come in a great array of colors and beauty, among them the Golden-breasted Staring, Hunter’s Sunbird, Black-bellied Sunbird, and Tsavo Sunbird being highlights. After a full exploration of this part of the Manyara Park, you will be driven back to the lodge in Arusha for dinner and a night stay.

Meal plan: All meals are included

Day 3: Full-day walking and birding safari in Arusha national park

After breakfast, the driver will pick you up from your hotel and transport you to Arusha National Park. The park boasts a remarkable variety of fauna and flora that will not disappoint. This region was also chosen by Hollywood to make the film “Hatari,” in which Hardy Kruger co-starred with the great John Wayne in the lead role. This day’s activities include a visit to the Ngurdo Crater, where you can see buffalo, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, and baboons year-round, as well as many different bird species. After that, proceed to the Momella Gate, where an armed ranger will accompany you on a walking safari that will allow you to get up close and personal with the wildlife. Just a handful of other national parks in Tanzania provide this kind of possibility, and it ought to be missed. After a picnic lunch, continue your safari vehicle excursion into the Arusha National Park before returning to the lodge in Arusha for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: All meals are provided

Day 4: Transfer to Mkomazi National Park

After breakfast, you will go to Mkomazi National Park, which is situated in northeast Tanzania near the Kenyan border. Mkomazi is less frequented compared to other national parks, which adds to its allure. Mkomazi National Park is an outstanding wilderness with amazing vistas of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, to the northwest. Then, to the south, the Pare and Usambara Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop, to the north, you’ll see Kenya’s massive Tsavo National Park, which borders with Mkomazi and serves as an intermediate point for migratory herds of Elephant, Besia Oryx, and Zebra during the rainy season. Arrive at the lodge for lunch, then go bird viewing in this park, which, along with Tsavo, forms one of the world’s largest and greatest protected ecosystems. You’ll see a wonderful mix of birds and wildlife as we take our time traversing this magnificent park and returning to the lodge for supper and a night’s stay.

Meal plan: All meals are included

Day 5: Full-day bird watching in Mkomazi National Park

After breakfast, you will be driven to the picturesque South Pare Mountains, in which you will see two rare bird species, the South Pare White-eye and the Usambara Double-collared Sunbird. Other regional species to keep an eye out for are the Bar-throated Apalis, Hunter’s Cisticola, Purple-banded Sunbird, and East Coast Boubou. Take your time here, soaking in the breathtaking surroundings and completing your lengthy checklist. Return to the lodge for dinner and a night’s stay in the evening.

Meal plan: All meals are included

Day 6: Drive to the Usambara Mountains for bird watching

After breakfast, you will be driven to the spectacular Usambara Mountains, from where you will begin birding on the West Usambara range. This chain of mountains originated around two million years ago as well as constitutes a component of the Eastern Arc Mountains that extend all through Tanzania and into Kenya. They constitute one of the most significant locations on the African mainland for the preservation of worldwide threatened birds, with an incredible 7 endemic species including Usambara Eagle-owl, Usambara Hyliota, Usambara Thrush, Usambara Weaver, Usambara Akalat, Usambara Greenbul, and Usambara Tailorbird, as well as other near endemics including Sokoke Scops Owl, Long-billed Tailorbird, Am You will go on a bird watching to see the birds described above, as well as many others. In the evening you return to the lodge for dinner and a night’s stay

Meal Plan: All meals are included

Day 7: Birding in the Eastern Usambara range

After breakfast, you head out across the Eastern Usambara range to see regional species such as: Usambara Hyliota, Usambara Tailorbird, Ayres’s Hawk-eagle, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Purple-banded Sunbird, Amani Sunbird, Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, Green Barbet, Spotted Eagle Owl, Usambara Eagle-owl, Half-collared Kingfisher, Gorgeous Bushshri among other species, after full day birding excursion return to the lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight

Meal plan: All meals are included

Day 8: Morning bird walking and transfer back to Arusha for departure

On the final day, you go for a bird walk early in the morning in order to look at any species that you might have missed the previous days. Depending on the time of your scheduled flight, you will be transferred back to Kilimanjaro International Airport or to the hotel in Arusha in the latter part of the day, bringing this birding safari tour to a close.