Birding Safari Tanzania

9 days Birding Safari Tanzania

  • Highligts: Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Tarangire
  • The most beautiful parks of Tanzania with many opportunities to spot unique birds
  • Duration: 9 days/8 nights
  • Best time: June-July
  • Start/finish: Arusha
  • Activities: Spotting birds, game drives, walking safari and cultural tour

Day 1: Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha lodge
Day 2: Arusha National Park – full day
Day 3: Arusha – Lake Manyara
Day 4: Lake Manyara – full day
Day 5: Lake Manyara – Serengeti South
Day 6: Serengeti South – hele dag
Day 7: Serengeti South – Tarangire
Day 8: Tarangire – full day
Day 9: Tarangire – Arusha

Day to day program

Details 9 days Birding Safari Tanzania

Day 1: Arrival Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha lodge

Your guide will be waiting for you at Kilimanjaro Airport and brings you in about 45-60 minutes to your lodge in Arusha.
Dinner and accommodation: Arumeru River Lodge

Day 2: Arusha – Arusha National Park

Distance: 50 km
Time/road condition: about 1,5 hour over partly paved roads.
In the morning your guide will collect you in Arusha and, with packed a picnic lunch, we depart for a full day in Arusha National Park. Over 400 species recorded in such a small park is quite an impressive count. Momella Lake is one of the best places in Tanzania to see waterbirds: flamingo, pelican, little grebe, a variety of heron, duck and wader are common. Augur buzzard, Verreaux’s eagle and other cliff-associated raptors can often be seen flying above Ngurdoto Crater. We start with a beautiful nature walk in Arusha National Park with an armed ranger (because of the animals). You can enjoy the impressive flora and fauna of this area, with waterfalls and huge fig trees. Depending on your condition and wishes the walk takes about 2-4 hours. Walking safaris can be as short or as long as desired.

Furthermore, we go for a game drive, spotting wildlife while enjoying the spectacular views of Mount Meru and the Kilimanjaro, waterfalls, lakes, swamps and steep cliffs. Driving around the Momella Lakes in the South Eastern part of the Park, surrounded by beautiful woodlands. The park is home to many varieties of smaller game as well as giraffe, elephant, Black and White Colobus monkey, water buffalo and bushbuck. Afterwards, we drive back to the lodge in Arusha. Optional: Excursion to Meru’s summit or a canoe safari.
Dinner and accommodation: Arumeru River Lodge

Day 3: Arusha National Park – Lake Manyara

Distance: 150 km
Time/road condition: about 3,5 hours on mostly paved roads.
After breakfast, you begin your drive to Mto Wa Mbu, where you will spend an hour or two wandering around this busy town. You’ll learn more about the life of the Masaai and the 100 or so other cultural groups living in this area (some in traditional huts). We visit plantations, local craftsmen, taste banana beer in an authentic bar and amble past the many market stalls with local produce. Lunch is served by a cheerful Tanzanian “mamma” who will delight you with tasty local dishes. Then it’s on safari in Lake Manyara National Park and afterwards drive to the lodge outside the park.
Dinner and accommodation: Gibbs Farm

Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park (full day)

Lake Manyara is perfect for viewing Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded. Even a first-time visitor to Africa can reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. A big array of water-associated birds including pink-backed pelicans, herons and storks, sacred and glossy ibis, and black egret are easily seen around the hippo pool. When the water level is right, the lake is also home to thousands of pink-hued flamingo. More than 50 birds-of-prey have been recorded including the crowned eagle and African hawk-eagle.

Before breakfast, we plan a game drive in the calm early morning park and with a little bit of luck, you will experience a beautiful sunrise over the lake with an abundance of flamingoes and hopefully spot lions close-bye. After midday heat, we take another game drive on a different route. Most animals are making their way down to the river for a much-needed drink … and at this time of day, the famous Manyara lions could be spotted in the trees! Optional: night game drive, guided walks, Tree-Top walkway.
Dinner and accommodation: Gibbs Farm

Day 5: Lake Manyara – Serengeti South

Distance: 210 km
Time/road condition: 6 hours, partly paved, mostly sandy and bumpy.
After an early breakfast, we take our lunchboxes and leave for Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a spectacular area with panoramic views over the crater hundreds of meters below. Today is also an adventurous safari day as a large part of this route is straight across the Serengeti National Park.
Dinner and accommodation: Ndutu Safari Lodge

Day 6: Serengeti South – full day

A full day in the Serengeti, the home of more than 500 bird species. The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of Africa’s Endemic Bird Areas (land important for habitat-based bird conservation), hosting five bird species found nowhere else. In Seronera area right in the middle of the park, the grey-breasted spurfowl is among the common roadside birds. Today we will try to find unforgettable moments and a glimpse of the way wild animals live and survive. This is a remote area of Serengeti, somewhat off the beaten track. A less visited area but you will experience the real wilderness.
Dinner and accommodation: Ndutu Safari Lodge

Day 7: South Serengeti – Tarangire

Distance: 225 km
Time/road condition: 6 hours, partly paved, mostly sandy and bumpy.
We depart early morning and begin an unforgettable morning drive in the Serengeti. At sunrise, while the bush is awakening and still peaceful, the carnivores are out in hunting mode and we are on their trail to once again be observers of another natural spectacle. At midday we return to the lodge for lunch and leave for our next lodge in Tarangire National Park.
Dinner and accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge

Day 8: Tarangire – full day

Driving in the park, observing elephants, sometimes very close to the lodge near the (dry bedding of the) river. Drive to Larmaku Swamp, a large swamp where you can find elephants and other animals, cooling down in the water and sheltering for the sun in the shadow of the acacia trees. The swamp has the most breeding birds species in one habitat anywhere in the world. The park also harbours several dry-country bird species at the extremity of their range, such as the northern pied babbler and vulturine guineafowl. Regarding encountering wildlife we can not guarantee anything, but the chance that you will see large herds of elephants in this park is 99,9%.
Dinner and accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge

Day 9: Tarangire – Arusha of Kilimanjaro Airport

Distance: 120 km
Time/road condition: Approximately 3 hours to a lodge or the airport in Arusha, about 4 hours (160 km) to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Depending on your itinerary, we will drive you to a lodge in Arusha, the Arusha Airport (for domestic flights e.g. to Zanzibar) or to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your return flight home. Late checkout is optional for additional charges.

Prices

Rates:

2 pax: from $ 4.165 per person sharing

4 pax: from $ 3.630 per person sharing

6 pax: from $ 3.480 per person sharing

Information and book

Included:

  • Breakfast 8x (day 2-8), lunch 8x (day 1-7), dinner 8x (day 1-7)
  • 8 overnight stays in accommodations according to program
  • Admissions, game drives and activities according to program
  • Transport in 4×4 safari car with a roof hatch
  • Transfer from and to the airport
  • Professional, English speaking guide
  • Bottled water in the car

Not included: international flights, optional activities, visa, cancellation and travel insurance, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and tips.

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