Tour overviewTanzania, probably the most famous classic African safari destination, is a highly biodiverse country that contains a wide variety of animal habitats, including the famous central savanna plateau, forested highlands and a long coastline. Tanzania is home to about 310 mammal, 130 amphibian and over 275 reptile species, many of them strictly endemic.
It is also a very important country ornithologically. It has one of the largest species lists of any African country, almost 1,100, of which over 800 species are resident and nearly 200 are regular migrants. 21 species are endemic to Tanzania and a further 43 species are near-endemic.
Tanzania’s 80 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) cover a total of more than 167,000 km2 or about 18% of the land area, and the country also boasts 16 national parks and wildlife reserves. In fact, an incredible 38% of Tanzania’s land is protected in parks and reserves!
On this 15 day tour we will not only visit some of the best birding hotspots in the country, but also enjoy classic “Out of Africa” landscapes, fantastic Big Five wildlife, geological wonders, cultural richness and amazing Afro-Arab-Indian cuisine. Let’s go birding!
Get more detail about what to expect on this tour: Go to full itinerary
Safari starts and ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha
Tour duration: 15 days / 14 night
Type of accommodation: Comfortable, Mid-range
Next departure dates: September 2025
Spaces available: Yes
East and West Usambara Mountains-
Incredibly scenic and the “Galápagos of Africa” in terms of species diversity, especially the avian kind
Mkomazi National Park-
Semi-arid park known for Black Rhino and African Wild Dog conservation, as well as 450 species of birds
Ngorongoro Conservation Area-
UNESCO World Heritage Site and filled with fauna and flora from crater rim to floor
Lake Manyara National Park-
Stunning scenery, lots of flamingos, and much more
Tarangire National Park-
Dry season wonderland of elephants, Baobab trees, termite mounds and special birds
Top Birds:
• Usambara Eagle-owl
• Sokoke Scops Owl
• Usambara Hyliota
• Rufous-tailed and Usambara Weaver
• Usambara Akalat
• Usambara Thrush
• Beesley’s Lark
• Yellow-collared Lovebird
• Amani Sunbird
• Banded Green Sunbird
• Usambara Double-collared Sunbird
• Long-billed Forest Warbler
• Ashy and Superb Starling
• Red-throated Tit
• Spot-throat Tit
Top Mammals:
• African Elephant
• African Buffalo
• Lion
• Leopard
• Black Rhinoceros
• African Wild Dog
• Cheetah
Optional Activities:
Night walk for chameleons at Amani Nature Reserve
| ITINERARY OVERVIEW |
|---|
| Day 1 | Start of tour at Kilimanjaro International Airport, transfer to Arusha |
|---|---|
| Day 2 | Arusha to Amani Nature Reserve (East Usambaras) |
| Day 3 & 4 | Amani Nature Reserve (East Usambaras) |
| Day 5 | Amani Nature Reserve to Lushoto (West Usambaras) |
| Day 6 | Lushoto (West Usambaras) |
| Day 7 | Lushoto to Same, birding along the way |
| Day 8 | Same (birding in Mkomazi National Park) |
| Day 9 | Same to Arusha |
| Day 10 | Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater |
| Day 11 | Ngorongoro Crater |
| Day 12 | Full day birding at Lake Manyara National Park |
| Day 13 | Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park |
| Day 14 | Tarangire National Park |
| Day 15 | Tarangire National Park to Kilimanjaro International Airport and Departure |
All our tours can be customised according to your specific requirements.
Get in touch with one of our team members for more information at info@naturetravelbirding.com