Northern Tanzania Safari

An 8-day small group birdwatching and wildlife safari to Northern Tanzania

Tanzania is globally known for its countless diverse wildlife, game reserves, and is home to various bird species, all within stunning landscapes. Tanzania is best known for its numerous game reserves and parks, Mount Kilimanjaro, and abundant mammals roaming in the vast plains.

Within this magnificent country, there is nowhere more diverse than the Northern  Tanzania Circuit. Tanzania is a splendid photo safari destination, with over 1000 bird species, many are open country birds that are easy to photograph. The Northern Tanzania birding and wildlife safari is packed with wonderful things from beginning to end

The renowned  Northern Tanzania birding and wildlife safari will explore the top and world-famous birding and wildlife hotspots in Tanzania which include; Tarangire National Park,  the vast Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara, and the equally famous Ngorongoro Crater; all of these places have the best wildlife opportunities in Africa. The congregation of wildebeest (or gnus) and zebras on the vast short grass plains of the southeastern Serengeti occur between January and April. The Northern Tanzania birdwatching and wildlife safari boasts an amazing opportunity to see a dazzling array of species. Our Northern Tanzania birding &wildlife tour is not only a magnificent safari but also a phenomenal mammal-watching adventure to be found  on the planet

Tanzania’s natural environment and geographical features make it one of Africa’s most exciting places to visit for birdwatching and wildlife safaris. Tanzania is a hidden gem for birders, a birding destination like no other; you can also combine our Northern Tanzania Birding with the Southern Tanzania Birding tour to create one amazing adventure!

Tanzania is a fascinating and bird-rich African country. The country has diverse habitats, a marvelous and extensive park, and reserves. Marvel the best Tanzania has to proffer in the top birding and wildlife parks, either in a small group or on a private guided safari. You will have the chance to see colorful rollers, bee-eaters, sunbirds, bishops, widowbirds, raptors, francolins, flycatchers, weavers, bustards, falcons, whydahs, waxbills, and lovebirds 

HIGHLIGHTS Northern Tanzania Birding and Wildlife Safari

• Most days involve a full day of birding in the park, usually with a picnic lunch in a prime birding spot
• Driving distances differ from short to moderate, and we make frequent stops during each day’s safari
• Expect abundant special and unique birds and wildlife.
• Top and best African mammals including elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, wolf
• Visit the unique Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park
• See the huge herds of Elephants and legendary Baobabs trees of Tarangire National Park
• Digest in the dazzling sights from the rim of Ngorongoro Crater.
• Experience some of Africa’s packed congregation of predators in Ngorongoro Crater
• Amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Mount Ol Donyo Lengai
• Excellent photo opportunities including birds, mammals, and stunning landscapes
• The Northern Tanzania Birding &Wildlife Tour can be extended upon request to endemic-rich Usambara Mountains and the fascinating Pemba Island

Hartlaub’s Turaco

Tour Concerns

Birding

The Northern Tanzania birding and wildlife safari shall begin early in the morning, usually having breakfast before dawn. Days will usually start at first light to catch activity in the morning before the day warms up and activity slows down

Food

Breakfast is generally buffet style with hot and cold choices, and also fresh fruit and juice. Lunches are usually picnic or boxed lunches that we eat in the field. Dinners will be a mix of buffets and served or plated meals with a variety of choices. Drinking water is available throughout the day

Driving

Most of the day will be spent in the Safari Jeep viewing delightful wildlife and birds in Tanzania. The vehicles are converted Toyota Land Cruisers, specifically made for safaris, in which the roof pops up, and big windows allow you to stand up fully and take unimpeded photos or view the wildlife. Tanzanian roads are generally good, travel inside the parks  will be on well-graded gravel roads but may be bumpy in some sections

Walking

There will be some early morning walks around the lodge compounds. Furthermore, there will be one upward walk of roughly an hour. Sturdy but comfortable walking shoes or light boots with jagged and ridged soles are recommended.

Accommodation

The Northern Tanzania birding and wildlife safari clients shall stay in good quality accommodations, often in excellent birding localities. Some accommodations may be ‘tented camps’, which are very pleasant walled tents with proper beds and private bathrooms.

Climate

Tanzania is a diverse country, and we shall visit montane forests, huge grasslands, arid plains, and expansive wetlands. Short heavy rainfalls can happen at any time. The sun can be intense, so sunscreen and a brimmed hat are advised. Wet weather protection is recommended with light waterproof pants and jacket ideal.

Day 1: Arusha- Engikaret Plains

You will be picked up from Arusha Airport and driven to Engikaret Plains. The Plains are famed for its endemic Beesley’s Lark and other dry country, the rich avifauna dry plains are located in the North of the famous Tanzania safari capital, Arusha town.

These dry plains attract a large array of specialist dry country birds so we’ll be very busy doing lots of birding while walking. The Engikaret or Larks plains are typically dry throughout the year, but experience heavy downpours from March to May allowing vegetation to quickly flourish and in turn, attract much amazing birdlife. The plains are on the leeward side of  Ol Donyo Sambu Mountain and extend to the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.  Notable birds in Engikaret Lark Plains; Taita Fiscal, Somali Short-toed Lark, Short-tailed Lark, Foxy Lark, Red-capped Lark, Long-billed Pipit, Pangani Longclaw, Alpine Swift, Southern Grosbeak Canary, Temminck’s Courser, Red-fronted Warbler, Pygmy Falcon, Red-throated Tit, African Bare-eyed Thrush, and  Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Day 2: Arusha National Park

Spend the whole day birding in Arusha National Park. The Park surrounds and includes Mount Meru, so it is a very varied park, albeit a small one by Tanzania standards. Much of it is forested and we will pay close attention to this forest as much of the safari will take us through more open savanna habitats. We will explore a variety of the biotopes protected within this montane park so that our first full day should introduce us to the exceptional biodiversity to be found in Equatorial East Africa.

Common Birds in Arusha National Park: Southern Pochard, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Narina Trogon, Mountain Buzzard, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Black-fronted Bushshrike, White-necked Raven, Moustached Grass Warbler, Striped-cheeked Greenbul, Kilimanjaro White-eye, Waller’s Starling, Abbott’s Starling, Maccoa Duck, Martial Eagle, White-eared Barbet, Trilling Cisticola, Taveta Golden Weaver, Ashy Flycatcher and Mottled Spinetail

Day 3: Arusha- Tarangire National Park

Our Northern Tanzania birding and wildlife safari starts early on this day we shall drive through Arusha National Park searching for what we may need or a species we missed in our previous birding tour later proceed to Tarangire National Park, where we shall spend the whole day in the park. Tarangire National Park has some of the highest population densities of elephants its sparse vegetation, scattered with gigantic baobab and acacia trees, makes it a striking and unique park to explore. The name of the park originates from the Tarangire River which meanders through the park. The Tarangire River is the main source of fresh water for the wildlife in the park. During the dry season the animals especially savannah elephants will congregate in huge numbers along the river for water and lush pasture. We shall explore the thickets and baobab park to search for species such as the Ashy Starling, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Saddle-billed Stork, Red-bellied Parrot, Magpie Shrike, Rufous-tailed Weaver, White-necked Raven, Double-banded Courser, Croaking Cisticola, Swahili Sparrow, Buff-crested Bustard, Flappet Lark, Marsh Owl, Black Bishop, Dwarf Bittern and Banded Parisoma.

Day 4: Karatu- Serengeti National Park

On this day our Northern Tanzania birding and wildlife tour shall depart to Serengeti National Park, driving through the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stopover on the magnificent viewpoint in Ngorongoro crater rim, to view the stunning views below if the day is clear, the stop will last for 20 minutes. Augur Buzzard, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Thick-billed Seedeater, Schalow’s Turaco, Crowned Eagle, Ayres’s Hawk Eagle, Bwron-headed Apalis, and Mbulu White-eye, may be seen in the craters viewpoint. Later proceed with the birding tour arriving at Naabi Hill Gate in the afternoon where the picnic lunch will be served. A short walk on top of the kopje around the gate to see the vast plains below, Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama will be seen basking on the big rocks on top of the hill. Afterward, we’ll check into the park and drive slowly watching wildlife, pride of lions on the kopjes, herds of elephants, Kori Bustard, hyenas, hippos, cheetahs, reedbuck, and Steinbok are some of the animals to encounter in the drive. Our accommodation will be in a small permanent facility in the heart of the vast central Serengeti

Notable Birds we may encounter: Brubru, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Capped Wheatear, Lappet-faced Vulture, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Southern Red Bishop, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Abdim’s Stork, Greater Kestrel, White-headed Vulture, Sombre Nightjar, African Cuckoo, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Temminck’s Courser, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Steel-blue Whydah, Blue-headed Coucal, Rosy-throated Longclaw, and Hartlaub’s Bustard, Karamoja Apalis.

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

The Central Serengeti, lying at the heart of this brilliant national park, is the most popular region in the reserve for its plentiful wildlife, large numbers of big cats, and classic Serengeti landscapes of acacia-studded savanna. Guests can decide on full days in the bush with picnic lunches or shorter birding and wildlife excursions returning to enjoy the tranquility of the camp. Birdwatching in Serengeti National Park is fruitful throughout the year. If you’d like to see the Serengeti National Park from the vantage point of a hot air balloon this thrilling activity is available at an additional cost. A Serengeti National Park safari is not complete without visiting the Maasai community. These magnificent people have called this area home for centuries The Maasai people have a rich culture and history which is interesting to learn. For avid photographers, Serengeti National Park is one of the best places in East Africa to see and photograph the sunset due to its deep dusty golden  shades and resplendent silhouettes, the vast open plains appear to go on forever and fan out  as the eye can see

Day 6: Serengeti- Ngorongoro Crater

Have an early breakfast in the morning, and leave for slowly driving through the park birding/game viewing as we head to Ngorongoro Crater. This will be a long drive to our accommodation which is on the rim of the crater. The drive will opportunity to see what may have been missed or any species required to be seen before leaving Serengeti. Lunch will be along the way in one of the many picnic sites.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater

Full-day exploring the plains, marshes, and shoreline of saline lakes in the floor of the  Ngorongoro Crater which teems with huge numbers of wildlife, the crater has a healthy population of the rare black rhino, wildebeest, impalas, grant gazelle, golden wolf, lion, and leopard. Ngorongoro Crater is justifiably one of the continent’s most famous safari destinations. Activities inside the Ngorongoro Crater are limited to game drives but there are a couple of picnic spots in the park where alighting from the vehicle is allowed. At around 19 kilometers in diameter and about 600 meters in depth, the Ngorongoro crater itself is the world’s largest, intact caldera. Additionally, it has resident wildlife year-round and some of Africa’s largest savannah elephants. Ngorongoro Crater is a nature-lover’s paradise, where you can experience spectacular landscapes and an incredible range of wildlife.

Day 8: Karatu- Lake Manyara National Park

Early morning breakfast and then depart for Lake Manyara National Park. The park covers an area of 330 square kilometers including a lake surface of 230 square kilometers. The word ‘Manyara” is a Maasai word for the Acacia Tortilis, which they usually use to make animal sheds to protect them from lion attacks on their Manyattas. Leopards are hosted within the forests and hills while the healthy population of lions that are widely known for their unique tree-climbing capability. A chance to explore the Lake Manyara tree-top walkway offers an opportunity to see different animals below plus magnificent bird species. Lake Manyara has incredible habitats and is an excellent birdwatching destination in Tanzania  In the afternoon look for a perfect picnic site have lunch and later on drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home. Our 8-day Northern Tanzania Birding and Wildlife safari  will provide evocative ceaseless memories that one will dote on for ages