New Bird Tours

Birding & Beyond Safaris now operates Budget bird tours to Tanzania and Kenya. These tours can depart anytime depending on availability of guides and accommodations. The Tour can also be taken as a combination of Kenya and Tanzania.

Tour Price depends on Time of the year and group size. Maximum group size is 6 persons.

Click on the country links below to read through the tour.

TANZANIA BUDGET BIRDING TOUR:
SOUTHERN TANZANIA SPECIALS - BIRDING THE ENDEMICS AND SPECIALITIES, BIG GAME VIEWING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

TOUR FEATURING: EASTERN ARC MOUNTAINS – USAMBARA MOUNTAINS (AMANI NATURE RESERVE AND LUSHOTO), UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS, KILOMBERO FLOOD PLAINS,MIKUMI AND RUAHA NATIONAL PARKS. WITH SPECIAL PEMBA ISLAND EXTENTION

This off the regular route Tour is fully guided with our Top local bird guide.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE:

Day 1: Flights for this Tour,should be arriving through Dar es Salaam International Airport. Day 1 of this Tour is the date of arrival into Tanzania marking commencement date on the Tour as per the dates schedule chosen. Day 12 of the tour is the Date you Fly out of Tanzania without doing the Pemba extentions,yet day 13 and 14 are the 2 nights extentions in Pemba for those who will take the extention Option. Therefore you are advised to plan your arrival and departure flights accordingly. Depending on Flight and time of arrival,you will be met and transferred to Mediterraneo Restaurant & Hotel in Dar es salaam,this is a unique resort style hotel located on the coast of Dar es Salaam. From the moment you arrive, you will appreciate the unique and luxurious ambiance that sets new standards for Dar es Salaam hotels. All suites are equipped and furnished with first class design materials and feature natural stonetile floors, solid wooden doors, and wrought iron furniture with a selfcontained bathroom with a bathtub in a classic African style.
For those who want to be active during their stay at Mediterraneo, the resort has sports facilities on the premises. For relaxation there is the beach within walking distance, tennis courts, sand volleyball and even a swimming pool and of course excellent opportunities for birding the grounds for coastal specialities and a scope away for waders and other shore birds.( services are Bed and Break fast only )

Day 2: The day starts early this morning with a drive off the coast into inland rural Tanzania. We will trans pass the slopes of the Uluguru Mountains through Mikumi National Park Birding and big game viewing through Mikumi into the dry country acacias with further opportunities for birding the dry country birds including the Southern specialities. We will then encounter our first Mammals. The evening will see us at the highly elevated Iringa town in the Southern Highlands. Dinner and Over night.

Day 3: Today we will drive through the Miombo dry country,birding enroute through a dirt Road leading to Ruaha National Park. There are high opportunities birding on the way Ruaha, arriving for Lunch. After Lunch we will embark on the Ruaha adventure birding. Over night at Ruaha National Park Bandas.

Day 4: We are scheduled to spend a full day game viewing,photography and birding in the Ruaha National park. We should be able to encounter all the Big game in the park as well as birds and Repitiles.Over night at the Ruaha National Park Bandas.

Day 5: After the excitement in Ruaha,we will have an optional pre breakfast bird walk around the camp before checking out of Ruaha to the Udzungwas. Enroute, we will have more opportunities birding as we drive again East words into the mountains.Depending on time of arrival in the Udzungwa mountains, we will join in one of the trails up the mountain,birding for Coastal forest species including Trumpeter Hornbills. The evening will see us at the Udzungwa View Mountain Lodge for Dinner and overnight.

Day 6: To day we are scheduled to drive to one of the highlight sites of this Tour. The Kilombero Flood plains further South East.This is where new bird species have been recorded in the recent years.The Kilombero Weaver, Kilombero Cisticola, white tailed Cisticola and one other un named-un described Cisticola species are found in this flood plains. Others are the Coppery tailed Coucal and the stunning Zebra waxbill. After the excitement here, we will drive back to Mikumi arriving in the late evening for dinner and overnight at the Genesis Motel.

Day 7: The day will be spent birding and big game viewing and Photography in Mikumi National Park.The park offers excellent birding and Big game viewing with opportunities for birding the Miombo wood lands for further specialities. The evening will see us in Morogoro at the foothills of the Uluguru mountains for dinner and over night at the Kola hill Hotel.

Day 8: This morning we are set to drive to what should be the most highlight of the trip - the Usambara mountains. We will begin with a visit to the west Usambara Mountains in Lushoto and thereafter a couple of days transfer to the East Usambara at Amani Nature Reserve. On the way to the west Usambara mountains, we will have anumber of un official breaks sampling bushes and marsh areas for birds missed elsewhere as we go. Depending on time of arrival we are expected to bird the forest reminants for the Usambra specialities and endemics. Over night at the Mullers Mountain Lodge.

Day 9: We are scheduled for a full day birding in the area.We will be combing - off all the forest reminants in the west Usambara searching for the Usambara specialities and endemics. Meals and overnight at the Mullers mountain Lodge.

Day 10: We will start the day with an optional pre breakfast birding before we transfer to the East Usambara mountains at Amani Nature reserve. Depending on time of arrival, we will bird the lower forest edges of Amani Nature reserve before we arrive at our basic accommodation at the Amani Rest House for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 11: The day is scheduled for a full day birding in the East Usambara area. We will be combing- off all the forest reminants in the East Usambara including the Tea plantations and streams in the area searching for the East Usambara and Coastal forest specialities and endemics. Meals and overnight at the Amani Rest House.

Day 12: Today we will bird Amani for any birds that might have gone missing or dodgy in the last couple of days.After which we will transfer down the mountains to the coast at Tanga Airport for our flight to Dar es salaam or Pemba island for the extention.
Those who will be scheduled to Fly out of the country will be on an evening Flight from Tanga to Dar es Salaam connecting you to an evening International Flight back home. However those who will be joining the Pemba extention will Fly from Tanga to Pemba for a couple of days relaxing at a secluded romantic beach with higher opportunities for birding the Pemba endemics and mangroove forest specialities.

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KENYA BUDGET BIRDING TOUR:

TOUR FEATURING: NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK, THIKA, WAJEE BIRD SANCTUARY, MT KENYA, SAMBURU, THOMSON FALLS, LAKE VICTORIA AND KAKAMEGA FOREST,RIFT VALLEY LAKES OF LAKE NAKURU AND LLAKE BARINGO

This special Tour is fully guided with our Top local bird guide.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE:

Day 1: Arrive Nairobi at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Meet and Transfer to Kenya Comfort Hotel in Nairobi ( Bed & Break fast basis only )

Day 2: After Breakfast, drive to Nairobi National park join in the Nairobi National Parl Bird walk which should introduce you the Kenyan commoner birds and other forest species that may be difficult on the tour. After the walk,will continue our exploration into the park for birding & big game viewing. Evening return to the Hotel in Nairobi( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 2: Depart Nairobi for Thika, rest of the day birding the grounds around Thika Blue posts. In the afternoon, we will drive out of Thika to Wajee bird sanctuary. Wajee is the home of the Endemic Kenyan Hindes Barbler. We will arrive at Wajee in the late evening. ( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 3: We will be scheduled for 2 bird walks at Wajee, the morning and afternoon Bird walks. Return to Wajee bandas for the night and meals. ( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 4: Drive out of Wajee into Naromoru near Mount Kenya, the day will be spent around the Naromoru River lodge grounds, birding. ( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 5: We are scheduled to have a day trip to Mt Kenya, birding the slopes of Mt Kenya and return to Naromoru for the night. ( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 6: Today we will drive out of Mt Kenya area into the Arid North east of Kenya at Samburu National reserve. Over night at Samburu Lodge near the ewaso nyro River. Birding in Samburu is excellent ranging from Northern specialities like the Somali Fiscal, Somali Bea eater, Somali Ostrich and bunting together with an assortment big game and wild life restricted to the Arid north such as the Gerenuk, Grevy`s zebra and fringe eared Oryx.

Day 7: The day will be spent birding & big Game viewing and photography in the park.

Day 8: We will return towards Mt Kenya again with a night at Naromoru once again. ( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 9: After break fast, we will drive to Nyahururu birding enroute, we will stop to have a quick look around Thomson falls for a number of other specialities including the Slender billed Starling. We will then proceed to Nakuru for Lunch.

After Lunch,we will drive lake Nakuru National park, birding and Big Game viewing. Return to the Lodge in Nakuru. ( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 10: We are scheduled for Lakes Baringo. Lake Baringo has a number of specialities restricted to that far Northern part of Kenya, including the Bristle cowned starling, Yellowbilled and Jackson`s Hornbills. We will spend the day exploring the area. Will arrive for lunch at the Roberts Bandas( Bed & Break fast included), the after noon will be spent birding the grounds at Roberts Bandas and the neighbouring Lake baringo Country Club. ( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 11: We will spend the day exploring Lake baringo area birding for specialities. Over night at the Roberts Bandas. ( Bed & Break fast included)

Day 12: Today we are yet to see Kenya`s Top popular birding destination,that should not be mistakably missed on any Kenyan birding tour, we are scheduled to drive to Kakamega Forest. We will arrive late for Dinner and over night at the Isecheno Bandas in the heart of Kakamega forest.

Day 13: There are 2 Bird walks scheduled with Kakamega`s Top bird guide. We will have the Morning and afternoon Bird walks. Overnight at the Isecheno Bandas.

Day 14: We will drive to Kisumu on Lake Victoria,however,we will make de-tour to the Mumias Bridge for Kenya`s only reliable site for the Rock Pratincole before driving to Kisumu and lake Victoria. Later will get to Kisumu,and straight on to Lake Victoria where we hope to catch up with stuff such as the Redchested sun bird,Papyrus and Black headed Gonolek and anumber of bird species restricted to the lake zone.Over night at a lodge in Kisumu.

Day 15: Drive back to Nairobi, with evening Flight out of Nairobi.

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East Coast Birding - Tanzania and Kenya

Birding & Big Game viewing on the coast

Birding the East Coast of Africa is rarely offered as an independent Tour by many safari outfitters or birding specialized organizations, while still very few would think of taking an Independent trip just birding the Eastern Coast of Tanzania and Kenya and their adjacent areas. This tour gives an opportunity to explore the Eastern Arc Mountains as well as National parks and areas of endemism including the Arabuko Sokoke Forest of Kenya, East and West Usambara Mountains, South Pare Mountains, Lake Jipe Area and Tsavo East National park. You can take the tour as part of an extension from various major tours or from Mombasa Kenya as part of your Beach holiday.

Coastal Birding Itinerary 12 days:

Featuring : Eastern Arc Mountains – Usambara Mountains, South Pare Mountains, Taita Hills, Tsavo East National Park and Aarabuko Sokoke Forest Birding

Day 1: We will check out of our Resort at Diani Beach in Mombasa, driving a little bit off the coast, we will head South East into Tanzania, on the way we will stop for species that are possible along the bushes as we drive, such as the Zanzibar Red Bishop, African Golden Weaver, Golden Palm Weaver, Mombasa Wood Pecker, Blue Spotted Wood Dove and others. We will stop at the border and process our Visas into Tanzania then drive on to the Eastern Side of the Usambara Mountains, we will drive to the high elevation of Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambaras – the only true coastal forest remaining in Tanzania if not Africa's Eastern coastal strip. We hope to arrive Amani nature reserve in the early hours of the day. Depending on time of arrival we may locally bird around the lower forest of East Usambara mountains as we drive into the higher elevation of the East Usambara Mountains at Amani Nature Reserve Rest House where we stay. The Rest House offers basic accommodation originally designed for scientific researchers in Botany and Malaria and formerly the headquaters of IUCN. The Rest House, though basic has many of its bed rooms en suite with a warm running shower, a dining area to take a very limited number of people serving delicious fresh food stuff locally growing around Amani. A cold beer is always present-served at the dining area.

Day 2: We will spend the day birding the Amani area. The morning before breakfast should be well birded around the Malaria center where it is usually easier to see the sunbirds and the Green Headed Oriol. There are a number of green buls too. After breakfast, you may take the Mbomole trails which leads deep into the forest where species such as the White Chested Alethe, Usambara Akalat, Green Barbet, Fischers Turaco and Black Backed Weaver, Trumpeter Hornbill as well as an array of other forest specialities can be spotted, this morning, we may chance, the Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Wallers Chestnut Sterling, Kenricks Sterling, Black Bellied Glossy Sterling, Palm Nut Vultures, Cabanis bunting. etc
The afternoon will see us visiting tea plantaion where forest reminants and streams may reward us with some more specialities. Evening back to Amani.

Day 3: After local birding around, we will transfer to the Western side of the Usambara Mountains. We hope to get to the West Usambara Mountains in the late evening, the mountains rise up steeply from the surrounding plains and can only be entered from a few roads including the only Tarmac roads dating back in the old German and English Colonial times. From a distance, the mountains are a colorful mosaic. On the fertile slopes around the towns of Soni and Lushoto, farmers cultivate small plots. The view points on the southern and western side of Usambara are well known for the spectacular view of Mkomazi and Handeni plains. Because of its pleasant climate, the mountains were favored by the Germans and the English during Colonial times as is evidenced by the numerous historic buildings from the past. The Mullers Mountain Lodge itself where we stay is an old Residence of the German Chief who lived here during the colonial times. Muller Mountain Lodge is the only upper market accommodation in the area with superb service.You will not forget the great cookery at this home residence when you leave after a couple of nights here. Bon apetit.

Day 4: After an early breakfast you will explore some of the forest reminants in the area for the many rare and endemic species present in this area. The mountains offer a variety of Tanzanian Endemics and rarities to include: The Fullebourns Black Boubou, Usamabara Weaver, The Black Fronted Bush Shrike and the Grey Cuckoo Shrike, others include The Yellow Throated Woodland Warbler and an endless list of Greenbuls to include the tiny Greenbul and the mountain Greenbul, Shelly's Yellow Stripped Strip Chicked. The African Tailor bird ( a new species on record ) will be another bird to look out for here. Much of the Forest in the West Usambaras has been leveled for cultivation so much of the natural forest has been lost, however there are some good spots for birding such as the forest towards the sawmill and another small portion behind the Mullers lodge where birding is great. Evening return to the Mullers Lodge for Dinner and overnight.

Day 5: We will drive out of the Usambara Mountains and head to the same village, on the way we will be exploring dry country steppes, for possibilities of the Black Bellied Sun Bird and others, we then continue to the South Pare Mountains for a further exploration. Overnight at the Elephant Motel in same village.

Day 6: We will drive to the Taita Hills, crossing the border back into Kenya, once in the area we will bird locally targeting the Taita endemics including possibilities of the white eye and other country species. We will stay at the Salt Lick Safari Lodge. Salt Lick Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the privately owned at the foot of the Taita Hills, and consists of 96 rooms elevated on stilts and linked by raised walkways. Most of the guestrooms, as well as the restaurant and the terraced bar command spectacular views of the waterhole and surrounding grasslands, where elephant, buffalo and a variety of plains game can be seen throughout much of the year. The area is illuminated by floodlights to facilitate game viewing at night, and there is an underground tunnel and chamber allowing guests to closely and safely view wildlife at ground level. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Taita Hills Area birding and game viewing. Overnight Salt Lick Lodge.

Day 8: We will transfer to Voi and on into Tsavo East National park. Rest of the day birding & big game viewing in the area. Overnight at the Voi Safari Lodge.

Day 9: Full day birding & big game viewing. Overnight Voi Safari Lodge.

Day 10: Drive to Arabuko Sokoke Forest, birding the forest rest of the day. Overnight at a resort in Malindi.

Day 11: Birding Arabuko Sokoke and Mida Creek for waders such as the Crab Plover etc. Overnight at a resort in Malindi.

Day 12: Drive back to Mombasa, catch up with the various flights or rest at the beach.

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