11-Day Birding Safari Northern Tanzania

You will arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will be welcomed and transferred to your accommodation in Arusha. You will have time to rest and prepare for the exciting birding adventure ahead.

On the first day of our adventure, we will head to the open plains of Engikaret to search for the critically endangered Beesley’s Lark. Also, it is the home to many other dry-country birds, like Short-tailed, Foxy, Sentinel, and Somali Short-toed Lark (Athi) Larks, Taita Fiscal, and many more. This place offers its wide horizons and a Maasai pastoral backdrop.

Overnight in Arusha. 

We will leave early in the morning with our packed breakfast and spend the day exploring Arusha National Park. We will begin at the main entrance gate, followed by a visit to the Ngurdoto Museum, and then we will head to Momela Lakes. Afterward, we will circle the lakes and, later in the evening, make our way up to the Fig Tree area, offering views of Mount Meru. During our exploration, we will be on the lookout for bird species such as the Kilimanjaro White-eye, Taveta Golden Weaver, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Pangani Longclaw, Hartlaub's Turaco, Swahili Sparrow, and Trogons and Starlings, among others.

We'll be heading to Tarangire National Park, renowned for its massive elephant populations and those instantly recognizable baobab trees scattered across the landscape. We will go on a full-day birding and game drive; and we will look out for species like Ashy Starling, Hildebrandt’s Starling, D’Arnaud’s Barbet (Black-capped), Yellow-collared Lovebird, and Northern Pied Babbler. Overnight in Karatu town.

On this day, we will depart for the Serengeti. As we head to the park, we will continue birding along the way. Overnight in central Serengeti.

We will spend two full days birdwatching and game viewing in the central and southern Serengeti, focusing on our target species, including the Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Usambiro Barbet, Fischer's Lovebird, and Maasai Apalis. Along the way, we may also encounter the iconic "Big Five"—lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, black rhino, and leopard. Depending on the season, there is also a chance to witness the awe-inspiring wildebeest migration, a breathtaking spectacle of nature.

Early birding in Central Serengeti, return for lunch, then drive to Ndutu area in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, overnight in Ndutu.

Full-day birding and game drive.

On this day, we will visit the Ngorongoro Crater for an exhilarating big game drive and birding experience. We will search for species such as Jackson's widowbird, Northern Anteater-Chat, Hildebrandt's Spurfowl, and more.

After an eventful day exploring the Ngorongoro Crater, we will continue to Karatu town for an overnight stay.

On this day, our birding adventure will lead us to the stunning Endoro Falls and the famous Elephant Caves. These remarkable caves have been naturally sculpted by elephants that visit the area to extract salt-rich minerals from the rock. Situated on the southern fringes of the Ngorongoro Forest, our journey will begin on a newly established trail near Gibbs Farm in Karatu.

We will be picked up from our accommodation and transferred to the trailhead to begin our birding excursion. As we trek through the forest, we will encounter various wildlife, including the tiny dik-dik, the world’s smallest antelope, as well as an impressive array of bird species. Key highlights to look out for include Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Moorland Chat, Brown-headed Apalis, Mbulu White-eye, and Schalow’s Turaco, among others

In the late afternoon, we will return to Arusha for an overnight stay.

On the final day of our tour, after breakfast, we will check out and depart early with a packed lunch and head out to explore the Mererani Maasai Steppes and the Shambarai Swamp. In Mererani, our focus will be on species restricted to the Maasai–Somali arid zones, many of which are endemic to northeastern Africa.

We will look out for Scaly Chatterer, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Hunter’s and Tsavo Sunbird, Somali Bunting, Acacia Tit, Starlings, Black-capped Social Weaver, Pringle’s Puffback, and White-headed Mousebird, among others. Later, at Shambarai, we will search for a variety of Herons, Plovers, Teals, Terns, Gulls, Sandpipers, Coucals, and Storks.

By around 3:00 pm, we will begin our journey back, with a drop-off at your airport or accommodation. This will be our moment to bid farewell as we close our unforgettable Tanzania adventure.

Please note: We highly recommend that your departure flight be scheduled for no earlier than 8:00 pm (JRO drop-off—reporting time will be approximately 5 pm) so that you can maximize your day. If you wish to rest and travel the following day, we will gladly assist in arranging an overnight hotel stay close to the airport.