12-Day Classic 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.

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.

Overnight in Arusha

On this day we will 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.

On this day we will head to the open plains of Engikaret to search for the critically endangered Beesley’s Lark, estimated to be fewer than 70 to 200 individuals left. 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. In the late afternoon we will transfer to Karatu town

Full-day game and birding in the famous 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 the Ashy Starling, Hildebrandt’s Starling, D’Arnaud’s Barbet (Usambiro), Yellow-collared Lovebird, and Northern Pied Babbler.

Overnight in Karatu town

On this day, our birding adventure will lead us to the stunning Endoro Falls and the famous Elephant Caves in the Ngorongoro Highlands Forest. These remarkable caves have been naturally sculpted by elephants that visit the area to extract salt-rich minerals from the rock. 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 lodge in Karatu for an overnight stay.

Today we descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact and unflooded volcanic caldera, often called Africa’s Garden of Eden.

The crater is encased by towering walls that rise nearly 2,000 feet (600 meters) and stretch more than 16 kilometers, creating a natural sanctuary that sustains an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. It is one of the few places in Tanzania where you can still see a healthy population of critically endangered black rhinos, and a game drive here offers an excellent chance of seeing the entire Big Five. We will also look out for Jackson's Widowbird, Anteater Chat, Hildebrandt's Spurfowl and many more.

We’ll leave the crater after a fulfilling day of wildlife viewing and spend the night in the Ngorongoro area.

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

We will spend three full days birding and game viewing in the central and southern Serengeti, focusing on our target species, including the Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, 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.

Overnight in Serengeti

After breakfast, we will enjoy our final morning in the Serengeti. Depending on your scheduled flight or onward travel arrangements, we will embark on one last game drive, giving us a final opportunity to experience the park.

At the appropriate time, we will transfer to the nearest Serengeti airstrip for your scheduled flight. Whether you are returning home or connecting to another exciting itinerary in Tanzania, this will mark the conclusion of your remarkable Northern Tanzania adventure with us.

As we say goodbye, we sincerely thank you for choosing to travel with us. We hope you leave with unforgettable memories, a life list, photographs, and a lasting appreciation for Tanzania's extraordinary wildlife and natural heritage. We wish you safe travels and look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure in the future.