Tanzania Birding Tour Itinerary at a glance with Pemba Island Endemics Option:
Day 1: Arrive Arusha/Kilimanjaro. Over night Arusha.
Day 2: Visit Arusha National park, birding & big game viewing. Evening return to Arusha for over night.
Day 3: Visit the lark plains North of Arusha and after the plains, we will drive to Tarangire National Park Birding and Big game on the way. Overnight.
Day 4: Day birding and big game viewing in Tarangire National Park.
Day 5: Return to Arusha, and on to Ndarakwai Ranch.
Day 6: Ndarakwai Ranch, Birding and night game drive.
Day 7 : Drive to the North Pare mountains, birding for dry country specialties, overnight at South Pare mountains.
Day 8: Morning birding the South Pare mountains area for dry country stuff and out of range species and on to the Usambaras. Overnight .
Day 9: Birding West Usambara Mountains for endemics, specialties, and rarities.
Day 10: Another day in the West Usamabaras.
Day 11: Transfer to Amani in the East Usambara mountains. Birding en-route.
Day 12: Birding lower forest and transfer to the Upper Amani forest.overnight.
Day 1: Arrival, Meet our Representative /Driver /Guide, Pickup from Point of entry (Kilimanjaro International Airport). You will be driven in a 4WD Minibus/Land Cruiser /Land Rover ,depending on group size, in either case the Safari Vehicles are specially designed for Safari with pop-up roofs for game viewing and a guaranteed window seat for each passenger .
Pick up and drop at Namanga the Kenya/Tanzania Border is possible and arrangements can also be made to pick up at Airport from Nairobi Kenya or arrange pick up in Nairobi by Shuttle bus, Nairobi – Arusha.
Transfer to Arusha Town with Dinner and Overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge.You will be briefed by your Tour Leader on arrival at the Lodge
* Extra Border Transfers shall be charged if arrivals shall any other than Kilimanjaro Airport. Enquire current transfer charges. Visas will also be required depending on Nationalities-you can acquire Visas on arrival at the Border crossing.
Day 2: The day begins with pre breakfast birding around the Lodge grounds, sighting fire finches, variable sunbirds, Bulbuls and Olive Thrush. Breakfast and head for Arusha national Park with our packed Lunches, visit the various crater lakes catching up with the Macoa ducks, Egyptian Geese, Hotentot teal, Comb duck and many unusual waders.
The forest may reward you with Trogons and orange bellied Parrots.After we have had our packed Lunches we then drive out of the Park to go out experiencing a walking safari north of Arusha, visiting Arusha`s only reliable site of White Fronted bee eaters, then go searching for the rare Spike heeled Lark.The evening seeing us back to our Lodge in Arusha for Dinner.
Day 3: Early breakfast with our Lunches packed, we drive the long journey to the Serengeti arriving in the evening. A variety of Sand grouses and guinea fowls will parading our way as drive to the Lodge. Dinner and overnight at Ikoma Bush Tented Camp.
Day 4: Pre breakfast bird walk, searching for Tanzanian endemics in the Serengeti to include; the Fischer’s Lovebird and Grey breasted spurfowl. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast we then go out for the rest of the day birding and game viewing; the Usambiro barbets and the Grey capped social weaver should be displaying as we drive along. Returning in the evening to your Tented Camp.
Day 5: After our breakfast, we drive out of the Serengeti into the Ngorongoro crater where our highlight will be the endemic Rufous tailed weaver. If chance avails the golden winged Sunbird should be spotted as well as large flocks of both lesser and greater Flamingos on the Soda Lake, a variety of Raptors such as Batleurs, Martial Eagles, Yellow billed Kites, Augur Buzards and Black winged Kites should be seen soaring above the skies. Many large mammals shall also be added on our list. Dinner and Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa lodge.
Day 6: Depart the Ngorongoro conservation area after breakfast, drive into the jungles of Lake Manyara, Lake Manyara is famous for her tree climbing Lions, large schools of Hippos at the Hippo pool and the Maji moto hot springs. You will then take your picnic Lunch at one of the many Picnic sites set aside by the park Authorities and then continue exploring the Lake Manyara jungles, where a good list of wild life will be added to your previous record. Drive out of the park boundaries in the evening into E Unoto Retreat Tanzania’s only true 5 Star Luxury Lodge set in a remote Maasai Country where bird walks can be arranged.
Day 7: We will have an optional Pre breakfast bird walk around E Unoto Retreat, after breakfast you will have the option to go out game viewing full day back in the Manyara Jungles or just relax at your Balcony where birding opportunities are superb. You can then later join in a walk exploring the local surroundings where again you will have further chances of birding for waders and a mix of dry country species as well as meeting up with the local people. Dinner at your Lodge.
Day 8: Day the begins with an early breakfast, then drive to Tarangire with our packed Lunches, the highlights of the day is searching for the Tanzanian endemics again that will include the Rufous Tailed weaver, Yellow collard Lovebird and Ashy Stirling. Dinner and overnight at the Tarangire Safari Lodge.
Day 9: Full day exploring Tarangire Plains. In addition to the many Birds spotted, Tarangire has the highest concentration of Elephants per square kilometer in East Africa .We will spend the entire day game driving within the park after which we will return to our Lodge for Dinner and Over night.
Day 10: Depending on flight arrangements, we may have an opportunity birding and game viewing in Tarangire before we return to Arusha for our Outbound connections.
END OF SERVICES
If there will be need to overnight in Arusha so a s to catch up with flights the next day, accommodation arrangements shall be made and clients will pay services direct to Hotel/Lodge in Arusha. Range of Hotel/Lodge in Arusha to be booked for the last night can be discussed on arrival.
16 Days Tanzania Birding Itinerary at a glance with Saadani Beach
Tanzania Birding Itinerary at a glance with Saadani Beach National Park Option:
Day 1: Arrive Arusha/Kilimanjaro. Over night Arusha
Day 2: Visit Arusha National park, birding & big game viewing.Evening return to Arusha for over night.
Day 3: Visit the lark plains North of Arusha and after the plains, we will drive to Tarangire National Park Birding and Big game on the way. Overnight stay.
Day 4: Day birding and big game viewing in Tarangire National Park
Day 5: Return to Arusha, and on to Ndarakwai Ranch.
Day 6: Ndarakwai Ranch, Birding and Night game drive
Day 7: Drive to the North Pare mountains, birding for dry country specialties, overnight at South Pare mountains.
Day 8: Morning birding the South Pare mountains area for dry country stuff and out of range species and on to the Usambaras. Over night.
Day 9: Birding West Usambara Mountains for endemics, specialties, and rarities.
Day 10: Another day in the West Usamabaras
Day 11: Transfer to Amani in the East Usambara mountains. Birding en-route.
Day 12: Birding lower forest and transfer to the Upper Amani forest. Overnight stay.
Day 1: Arrival, Meet our Representative / Driver / Guide, Pickup from Point of entry (Kilimanjaro International Airport). You will be driven in a 4WD Minibus / Land Cruiser / Land Rover, depending on group size, in either case the Safari Vehicles are specially designed for Safari with pop-up roofs for game viewing and a guaranteed window seat for each passenger .
Pick up and drop at Namanga the Kenya/Tanzania Border is possible and arrangements can also be made to pick up at Airport from Nairobi Kenya or arrange pick up in Nairobi by Shuttle bus, Nairobi – Arusha .
Transfer to Arusha Town with Dinner and Overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge.You will be briefed by your Tour Leader on arrival at the Lodge
Extra Border Transfers shall be charged if arrivals shall any other than Kilimanjaro Airport. Enquire current transfer charges. Visas will also be required depending on Nationalities-you can acquire Visas on arrival at the Border crossing.
Day 2: Our Day begins with a brief Bird walk around the Lodge gardens,then drive from Arusha via Moshi the base of Mt Kilimajanro through the dry country side of Hedaru where we stop for a local Bird walk with aims of finding dry country specialities such as the Taveta golden weaver and the Black bellied Bustard, we then transverse the old rock system of the Pare mountains into the famous Usambara ranges for Lunch at the Lawns Hotel Lushoto. After Lunch we straight go into hiking the Magamba Rain forest trails searching for the most rare and other Tanzanian endemics to include the Usambara weaver, Usambara Akalat,Dapple throat and many green bulls-We then aim at returning to our Lodge at dark with chances of finding the nocturnal and endemic Usambara Eagle Owl. Dinner and overnight at the Mullers Mountain Lodge.
Day 3: After breakfast we again do the forest trails aiming at finding species not identified the last evening, return to the Lodge for an early lunch, leaving as with time to drive to the Amani botanical gardens in East Usambara mountains. We arrive at Amani in the evening in time for dinner at the Amani Rest House.
Day 4: Full day East Usambara with exploration of the Tea Estates at Karamjje. East Usambara is home to many other un usual species which we will be discovering on one of our various forest walks; the Uluguru violet backed sun bird and the endemic Little green sun bird as well as the small Amani sun bird could be Identified. Others will include forest species such as a variety of Turacos, sunbirds, Brown bulls, Trogons and Green Bulls. Lunch, Dinner and Overnight at the Amani Rest house.
Day 5: After the excitement in the mountain forest, wedrive to Moshi for lunch at the Marangu hotel at the base of Mount Kilimajaro. If the weather is good, you may have chance to see the snow iced peak of Mt Kilimanjaro. The evening brings us back to Arusha at the IIboru safari Lodge for Dinner and over night.
Day 6: This day will be spent in Tarangire Park adding up the list on the Tanzanian Endemics with the Endemic Ashy Starling and the Yellow collard Lovebird. Lunch and dinner at the Tarangire Porini Luxury Tented Lodge.
Day 7: Full day exploring Tarangire Park for Birding. Dinner and Over. Night at your Lodge.
Day 8: Tarangire – Arusha and rest of the day spent in Arusha National Park depending on flight arrangements. PM Flight Home.
END OF SERVICES
If there is a need for an overnight stay in Arusha, you may take a flight the next day, accommodation arrangements shall be made and clients will pay services direct to Hotel/Lodge in Arusha. Range of Hotel/Lodge in Arusha to be booked for the last night can be discussed on arrival.
OFF TRACK TANZANIA DELUXE SAFARI BIRDING & BIG GAME
Day 1: Arrival Dar es Salaam International Airport. Meet and transfer to your Hotel. Depending on flight arrivals we may have a chance to visit adjacent Pugu Coastal forest or just spend the rest of the day by the beach where common coastal waders may be encountered. Overnight Beach Comber Resort.
Day 2: Will meet up for a drive to Mikumi National Park. On the way we may have chance to sample a number of bushes where chances may avail the Kurichane Thrush and a number of other southern dry country bird species. We will the arrive at our Luxury Tented Lodge for Lunch. After Lunch we will drive along a local track into the Miombo woodlands where an evening walking may reward us with the rare Pale billed Hornbill, the racket tailed roller and many more Miombo dry woodland species. Evening our Tented Camp for Dinner and Overnight.
Day 3: We will start with an early drive south wards through the Udzungwa mountains down further into the Kilombero flood plains looking out for the Endemic Kilombero Weaver, Kilombero Cisticola and the un named Melodious Cisticola, other specialties here include the Coppery tailed Coucal and Black egret may also be spotted. Depending on how much more time is left, we will return for an afternoon Game viewing in Mikumi National Park. Over night at our Tented Lodge.
Day 4: We will have a sunrise game drive in the park, searching out the big game in Mikumi National park as well as birding, return for breakfast .After breakfast the day scheduled for a flight to Pemba. Depending on request the flight could be scheduled or preferably a private Charter Air Craft from Mikumi to Pemba Island. On arrival we will be met and transferred to Manta Reef Lodge on the North coast. On our way we will have an opportunity to visit Ngezi Forest Reserve that is a habitat for some of the Tanzanian Endemics to include the Pemba Scopes owl, Pemba sunbird, Pemba green Pigeon, Pemba white eye and any other specialties. Over night at the Manta Reef Lodge.
Day 5: This day will depend on how successful the previous evening was in the forest, otherwise we will start an early breakfast and have another opportunity to visit the Forest for any species that might have gone dodgy species. We are scheduled to fly to Tanga this afternoon. Depending on arrangements we can use of the daily scheduled flights between Pemba and Tanga or preferably take a private Charter aircraft to Tanga. Upon arrival at Tanga, we will me met and transferred to Amani Forest Reserve. Dinner and overnight Amani Zigi Informational Guest House.
Day 6: The rest of the day will be spent birding the East Usambara mountains. While in the area we should be able to encounter the rare specialty, near endemic and Endemic birds of the East Usambara mountain forests. This should include the Green headed Oriole, Amani sunbird, Uluguru Violet backed sunbird, Mountain Greenbul, Cabanis bunting, Forest Batis, Usambara akalat, white chested ale, the Usambara eagle owl etc.
Day 7: After breakfast, we will transfer to the extensions of the Usambara Mountains into the Western Usambara mountains arriving in the afternoon at the Muller Lodge. The evening can be spent around the lodge grounds where the Waller’s Chestnut winged starling and a number of other highland species can be seen. Overnight at the Muller Lodge.
Day 8: The half of the morning will be spent birding the different forest trail in search for yet other Usambara Endemics and specialties to include: the Fullebourns Black Boubou, the Usambara weaver, the Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Black Fronted Bush Shrike and the red capped Forest Wabler. In the afternoon we will transfer to the Pare Mountains. The pare mountains are excellent for the Endemic South Pare white eye and many dry country the over-lap the Tsavo park in Kenya and the Mkomazi game Reserve can be spotted here. Over night at the Elephant Motel.
Day 9: Depending on how the previous evening was successful in the area however, we have another chance to explore the area bushes before driving to Arusha. We will arrive Arusha in the late afternoon for Dinner and over night at the Impala hotel.
Day 10: After a leisurely Breakfast at the Hotel, we will be departing for Tarangire national park.T arangire is famous for the Big game, a home to thousands of Elephants, Giraffes and many other mammals. Birdlife in Tarangire is Prolific too. The Endemic Ashy Starling, the rufous tailed weaver, the Yellow colored Lovebird… should all be encountered in the park. Over night at the Sopa lodge.
Day 11: We will spend the entire day Bird watching and Big game viewing in the park. Overnight at the Sopa Lodge.
Day 12: Early morning drive to the Serengeti, which is actually a continuation of the Masai Mara Eco System. You will be welcomed by the famous spectacular wildebeest migration where plenty of wildlife including Lions and other predators are seen taking advantage of the migrating prey. The Serengeti National Park is arguably the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world. “Serengeti” means “endless plains” in the Masai language, and within its boundaries are more than three million large mammals. About 35 species of plains animals can be seen here including the so called “big five” – elephant, rhino, lion (more than 2,000 of them), Leopard and Buffalo. Most of the plains game congregates in Southern Serengeti, followed by their attendant pred
ators. Other common species found here include hippo, giraffe, eland, impala and other antelope types, baboons, monkeys and a profusion of almost 500 bird species have been recorded on the Serengeti. Overnight at the Sopa lodge.
Day 13: You will then embark on a full day on the Serengeti Plains exploring the entire park and as well searching for the two Endemic birds on the plains which include the Grey Breasted Spur fowl and the Fisher’s Love bird. Overnight at the Sopa Lodge. Looking out over the seemingly endless Serengeti plains, the Serengeti Sopa offers a tranquil oasis set in thousands of square kilometers of National Park. This full service hotel has spacious rooms, all boasting the same fine view as the restaurant, pool and bar area. Each suite, with its own large balcony, has a full en-suite, fridge, air conditioning and comfortable double beds.
Day 14: After an early game drive and all the wildebeest migration excitement, you will then drive out of the Serengeti plains into the famous Ngorongoro Crater. Overnight at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site, the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest “caldera”. A caldera is the broad, crater-like basin of a volcano formed by the collapse of the central cone. Dominated by cliffs standing some 600 meters high and presenting a sheer drop down to a wide open space of some 264 square km, the crater is one of the most amazing sights seen anywhere. The Crater is home to 25,000 larger mammals, almost half of them zebra and wildebeest. There are also gazelle, buffalo, eland, hartebeest and wart hog. Such vast numbers attract predators a plenty, mainly lion and hyena but also cheetah and leopard. More than 100 species of birds not found in the Serengeti have been spotted here. Countless flamingos form a pink blanket over the soda lakes. Spread out along the upper most rim of the Ngorongoro Crater the Sopa offers breathtaking views of the crater floor far below. Gazing on the sight below you will be amazed at the wildlife when you actually make your way to the crater floor today or tomorrow – it is like no where else in the world! Each room of the Ngorongoro Sopa offers a fine view – unless the infamous fog shrouds the view in the early morning – with full en-suite, two double beds and one can enjoy the view from the pool, restaurant and bar as well.
Day 15: The entire day will be spent on the Crater floor taking your last wildlife pictures. Overnight at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.
Day 16: Today you will be transferred to Arusha arriving for an early lunch at the Impala Hotel. After lunch you will be transferred to Nairobi by a Public Tourist Shuttle Bus and to Nairobi Airport for your evening flight home, or you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport for your outbound flight depending on your flight arrangements.
