Birding Tarangire, Birdwatching Tours in Tarangire Bird Safari and Accommodation

TARANGIRE PARK

It Neighbours with lake Manyara Park, ecosystem almost similar.Covers an area of 2600sqKm.With large herds of Elephants, Thomson and Grant’s Gazelles, Gerenuk and Oryx may be spotted.

SAFARI HIGHLIGHT:

Best for the famous Baobab tree, Maasai giraffe & a birders paradise. The endemic Bird species include Ashy starling, Yellow collared Love bird and the Rufous tailed weaver can be found here.Other specialities include Yellow breasted Apalis, Slender Tailed Night jar, Lilac breasted Roller,Black faced Sand grouse ,Coqui Francoline ,Magpie shrike and the Red and yellow Barbet.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

June through December and January to mid April

* Access : 2 Hours Drive from Arusha in a 4WD Vehicle.

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KILOMBERO FLOOD PLAINS SAFARI TANZANIA

KILOMBERO FLOOD PLAINS AND WETLAND:

We do include the Kilombero Flood plains and wetland on many of our Southern Tanzania bird tours. This is where the new un described species occur. The Kilombero weaver and Kilombero Cisticolas and several other specialities are found here. A visit to the Udzungwa Mountains or Mikumi National Parks can be combined with an excursion to the Flood Plains alittle further South.

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SAFARI TO KITULO NATIONAL PARK TANZANIA

KITULO PLATEAU NATIONAL PARK “the Garden of God”

Locals refer to the Kitulo Plateau as Bustani ya Mungu – The Garden of God – while botanists have dubbed it the Serengeti of Flowers, host to “one of the great floral spectacles of the world”. And Kitulo is indeed a rare botanical marvel, home to a full 350 species of vascular plants, including 45 varieties of terrestrial orchid, which erupt into a riotous wildflower display of breathtaking scale and diversity during the main rainy season of late November to April.

Perched at around 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) between the rugged peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto and Livingstone Mountains, the well-watered volcanic soils of Kitulo support the largest and most important montane grassland community in Tanzania.

One of the most important watersheds for the Great Ruaha River, Kitulo is well known for its floral significance – not only a multitude of orchids, but also the stunning yellow-orange red-hot poker and a variety of aloes, proteas, geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies and aster daisies, of which more than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania.
Big game is sparsely represented, though a few hardy mountain reedbuck and eland still roam the open grassland.

WHEN TO GO:

Wildflower displays peak between December and April. The sunnier months of September to November are more comfortable for hiking but less rewarding to botanists. Conditions are cold and foggy from June to August.

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LAKE VICTORIA TOUR

LAKE VICTORIA:

Shared between the three of the East African Countries – ( Tanzania,Kenya and Uganda ), Lake Victoria is the Largest Fresh water lake in Africa commonly regarded as Africa`s Inland sea. Famous Explorers like John Hanning Speke on their exploration of Africa discovered Lake Victoria in 1858.Though rarely visited by many Visitors to east Africa,we at Birding & Beyond Safaris, do include Lake Victoria on many our of trips so as to be able to catch up with the Lake zone specialities not found off the lake zone.

The red Chested Sunbird,Northern brown throated & Slender billed weavers, Night jars, Senegal and Blue Headed Coucal, Black headed Gonolek and a number of waders and shore birds to add onto your list ……. are restricted to lake Victoria. It is a shame for any keen birder to visit the Serengeti and not get as far west as Lake Victoria to catch up with these specialities.

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Birding Ngorongoro, Birdwatching Tours in Ngorongoro Crater Bird Safari and Accommodation

NGORONGORO CRATER:

Quote: "It could be a dream, out of the morning mist, men in red with spears suddenly appear as an Antelope crashes out of the forest while a herd of Buffaloes move towards a herd of indigenous Cattle led by a lonely Maasai herdsman and at a stone throw in the plains are Zebras, Wildebeest and Gazelles keeping an eye on a pride of Lions wallowing in the grass with a Hyena pretending to be watching a flock of thousands of pink coloured Flamingos on the crater lake…. We must be in the Garden of Eden." A safari member said in amusement. Come and see for your self the only Natural house in Africa where wild life concentration lives permanently.

This is popularly known as the "Eighth wonder of the world", Noah’s ark, the Eden of Africa… etc. This is the land of the Maasai pastoralists seen grazing cattle and Buffaloes, calves and Antelopes along side, it is land of the Maasai with their cattle, of their flora, and of their fauna. The protected area is home to over 30,000 Mammals, over 600 Bird species, the gigantic earth fracture, crater floor, volcanoes, plains, lakes, forests, archaeological site of Olduvai gorge, the great Rift valley wall- all combine to form the Ngorongoro conservation Area.

Caution! Double check your filming materials before descending to the crater floor, photo taking never seems to end at the Ngorongoro crater floor. floor. The Golden winged Sun bird ,the Tacazze Sun bird and the Living Livingstone’s Turaco, the Endemic Rufous tailed weaver and the Jackson’s Widow bird will be some of the special Bird species of the day to look out for while in the Ngorongoro.

BEST TIMES TO VISIT:

All year except the rainy April. Come and see for yourself.

* Access: 4 Hours drive from Arusha in a 4 WD Vehicle

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TOUR TO PEMBA ISLAND TANZANIA

PEMBA ISLAND:

Often forgotten on many birding or beach holidays is Pemba Island ,Pemba is a sister island to the famous Zanzibar. Pemba is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs of every form and description, beautiful smaller islands, deep channels and exotic white sandy beaches. In short, it is the “Forgotten Paradise” of Tanzania’s East Coast.

The island itself is covered by dense rainforest in the north and rich fertile soil where huge bananas and mangoes grow like weeds, together with coconuts, lychees and of course cloves. With its extremely rich species biodiversity it is an island of considerable scientific importance.

Pemba is a perfect place to start or end any bird tour, and even for non birders.The remote location of the island gives visitors a chance to explore old Africa through excursions such as village walks,cycling and of course the beach sports.

For birders , it is only on Pemba that you will catch up with 4 of the Tanzanian Endemics to include: The Pemba scops Owl, Pemba sun bird, Pemba White eye and Pemba Green Pigeon, yet the number of coastal specialities are un-beatable.v You could Fly to Pemba out of Dar es Salaam or Tanga before or after doing the Usambara mountains.

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Ruaha Birding Tour, Birdwatching Ruaha National Park Birds Tanzania

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK:

Ruaha National Park is Tanzania’s least accessible parks and poorly visted and as result it is totally untouched and remains one of the most exciting game reserves (almost as large as the Serengeti) in Tanzania. We do include Ruaha National park on many of our off track safaris.

Ruaha is exciting and regarded as a birdwatcher’s paradise as there are 350 species of bird that are not found in northern Tanzania and as the river runs through spectacular gorges and majestic trees it is specially appealing to photographers. The new Ruaha Redbilled( Tanzania Redbilled ) Hornbill, another one of the Tanzanian endemics is localized in Ruaha.

Most of the big game: elephant; buffalo; hippos; crocodiles; lion; cheetah; leopard; wild dog and lots of antelope; Greater and Lesser Kudu; roan and sable antelope; and Grants gazelles are found in the Ruaha. Ruaha’s unusually high diversity of antelope is a function of its location, which is transitional to the acacia savannah of East Africa and the miombo woodland belt of Southern Africa. Grant’s gazelle and lesser kudu occur here at the very south of their range, alongside the miombo-associated sable and roan antelope, and one of East Africa`s largest populations of greater kudu, the park emblem, distinguished by the male’s magnificent corkscrew horns.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

For predators and large mammals, dry season (mid-May-December) and for bird-watching, lush scenery and wildflowers visit in January through June.

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TOUR TO SAADANI NATIONAL PARK TANZANIA

SAADANI NATIONAL PARK – “where the beach meets the bush”

This is East Africa’s only National Park by the beach.At Saadani National Park, Palm trees sway in a cooling oceanic breeze. White sand and blue water sparkle alluringly beneath the tropical sun. Traditional dhows sail slowly past, propelled by billowing white sails, while Swahili fishermen cast their nets below a brilliant red sunrise.

Saadani is where the beach meets the bush. The only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa to boast an Indian Ocean beachfront, it possesses all the attributes that make Tanzania’s tropical coastline and islands so popular with European sun-worshippers. Yet it is also the one place where those idle hours of sunbathing might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or a lion coming to drink at the nearby waterhole.

Protected as a game reserve since the 1960s, in 2002 it was expanded to cover twice its former area and up garded to National Park status. Today, a surprisingly wide range of grazers and primates is seen on game drives and walks, among them giraffe, buffalo, warthog, common waterbuck, reedbuck, hartebeest, wildebeest, red duiker, greater kudu, eland, sable antelope, yellow baboon and vervet monkey.

Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with increasing frequency, and several lion prides are resident, together with leopard, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal. Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come with a high chance of sighting hippos, crocodiles and a selection of marine and riverine birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo, while the beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding sites on mainland Tanzania.

WHEN TO VISIT:
Generally accessible all-year round, but the access roads are sometimes impassable during April and May. The best game-viewing is in January and February and from June to August

ACCOMMODATION:
One luxury tented camp.
Campsites planned.

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Birding Mikumi, Birdwatching Tours in Mikumi Bird Safari and Accommodation

MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK:

This small Wildlife Jewel is dominated by Hills and Plains as well as part of the famous Miombo Woodlands, these varied habitat is an excellent spot of several special and rare Wildlife not seen any where in Tanzania.

SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS:
Rare Species such as the Wild Dog, Sable Antelope, Greater Kudu and Roan Antelope have been recorded in Mikumi National Park. Bird Watchers may be in position to spot Miombo woodland specialities such as Racket Tailed Roller,Pale billed Hornbill, Shelley`s Sunbird, Wood Hoopoes and Hoopoes. The Boem`s Bee-eater and the Miombo Rock Thrush are the few other Species to add on.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

Except March, April and May.

*Access:4 hours Drive in a 4WD from the Coast of Dar es salaam.

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