Tanzania Endemics Birding Tour

Tour Overview

From Arusha to Serengeti National Park to the Eastern Arch mountains. Join us on a 27-day adventure to explore Tanzania's diverse ecosystems and uncover various avian species. More than 44 percent of the country's land area is covered with forest reserves and national parks, which are home to a beautiful 33 endemics. This tour takes you to some of the country's most popular and remote destinations, where you'll seek out and observe a remarkable array of the region's endemic and specialty bird species.

This tour can also be combined with the Pemba Birding Tour upon request.

Highlights

  • Explore the Eastern Arc Mountains, historical landmarks, Tanzania national parks, Nature forest reserves, and local towns, landscapes, history, and culture.

  • Bird species: Broad-ringed white-eye, Taveta weaver, Arbott's starlings, Beesley's lark, Schalow's turaco, Ashy starling, Yellow-collared lovebird, Hildebrandt's starlings, Somali bunting, Usambara thrush, Long-billed forest warbler, Loveridge's sunbird, Kilombero cisticola, Udzungwa forest partridge, Kipengere seedeater, Kilombero weaver, Loveridge's sunbird, Rubeho akalat, Uluguru greenbul and many more

  • Habitats: Montane forest, Lakes, Wetlands, Savannah, Semi-arid Scrubland, Eastern Arc Mountains, Miombo Woodland.

  • Mammals: Lion, Leopard, African bush elephant, Grant's zebra, Cheetah, Black rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, Maasai giraffe, Hippotamus, Impala, etc.

Itinerary

  • You will arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet our staff and be taken to your accommodation in Arusha area to recuperate and prepare for the Tanzania birding and adventure ahead.

  • You will visit Arusha National Park to look for the endemic Montane (Broad-ringed) white-eye, the restricted-range endemic Taveta weaver, the near-endemic Abbott's starling, and other species.

  • You will visit Lark Plains to seek for the rare Beesley's lark before traveling to Babati, near the Mbulu Mountains, for an overnight stay.

  • You will explore the Mbulu Mountains, focusing on the endemic Mbulu ground robin and near-endemic Mbulu white-eye. In the late afternoon, you will depart and begin your journey to Serengeti National Park via a remote and scenic route through Ngorongoro and small villages, taking in the landscapes. Enter Serengeti National Park from Naabi Gate in the south, where you will check in with the rangers before continuing into the park. You will leisurely explore southern Serengeti with a game drive before reaching your accommodations in central Serengeti for a relaxing evening.

  • You'll be up with the sun to begin your full day in Serengeti, experiencing the magic of the golden hour over the African savannah as you start your birding and game drive. You will search for target endemic and near-endemic species such as the Grey-breasted spurfowl, Rufous-tailed weaver, Grey-crested helmet shrike, Usambiro barbet, Karamoja apalis, and many more. You will also get the opportunity to see the "Big Five" of African wildlife: the lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, critically endangered black rhino, and the elusive leopard. After lunch and a midday break, you'll go off for an afternoon and nighttime excursion.

  • After breakfast, you will depart from camp with a packed lunch and head to Tarangire via the stunning Ngorongoro Highlands. You will stop to spot East African endemics such as Hunter's and Lynes's cisticola, Jackson's widowbird, Eastern double-collared sunbird, and Schalow's turaco. Later, you will continue to Tarangire National Park, where you will spend the night.

  • You will spend half a day in Tarangire, focusing on the endemic and near-endemic Ashy starling, Yellow-collared lovebird, Emin's barbet, Northern Pied babbler, and Hildebrandt's starlings. In the late afternoon, we will drive back to Arusha town for an overnight stay.

  • Drive to the South Pare Mountains via Nyumba ya Mungu dam, where you will search for Maasai arid zone specialties Acacia tit, Black-throated barbets, Golden-breasted and Fischer's starlings, Black-bellied and Tsavo sunbirds, Pink-breasted lark, Somali bunting. Overnight stay in Same town.

  • You will spend the morning birding near Mkomazi National Park gate before heading to Magamba Forest in the West Usambara Mountains for the evening.

  • Spend a full day in the enchanting Magamba Forest, where you will look out for endemic and specialty birds such as the Usambara double-collared sunbird, Usambara weaver, Usambara thrush, Usambara/Montane tiny greenbul, Usambara akalat, and other specialties. Overnight stay at a Mullers Mountain Lodge.

  • Enjoy morning birding in Magamba before transferring to Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains. Spend the evening birding in the botanical garden. Overnight stay at Amani Rest House.

  • Spend two full days birding in Amani Nature Reserve, searching for endemic and near-endemic species such as the Banded Green Sunbird, Usambara Hyliota, Usambara Bluebill, Tanzanian Illadopsis, Usambara Eagle Owl, Long-billed Forest Warbler, Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, Amani Sunbird, and many more.

  • Enjoy early morning birding before transferring to Morogoro for an overnight stay in Morogoro town.

  • Explore the Bondwa Peak, Uluguru Mountains focusing on endemics and near-endemics such as the Uluguru greenbul, Loveridge's sunbird, Winifred's warbler, the Uluguru race of the bar-throated apalis, dark batis, and other species.

  • Drive to the Mikumi-Kilosa road, searching for the endemic Hoffman's sunbird and other Miombo specialties. Overnight stay in Mikumi town.

  • After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Udekwa area in Kilombero Nature Reserve near Udzungwa National Park and bird around the camp in the evening. You will stay overnight at Udekwa Juu Special Campsite.

  • Two full days of birding, focusing on spotting the elusive Udzungwa forest partridge and the Rufous-winged sunbird, both highly sought-after by birders. You will also look for Moreau's sunbird, Kipengere seedeater, and other species in the area.

  • After a morning of birding in Udekwa, you will travel to Kisolonza. In the evening, you will look for the endemic Uhehe fiscal, White-lined barbet, and other species. You will spend the night at the Kisolonza Old Farm House.

  • You will start with early morning birding before transferring to Mufindi. There, you will search for the endemic Iringa akalat and Kipengere seedeater, if they were missed in Udekwa. You will stay overnight at Mufindi Highland Lodge..

  • Morning birding before transferring to Mikumi, Morogoro for an overnight stay.

  • You will travel to Ifakara to explore the Kilombero flood plains, looking for endemics and other specialties such as the Kilombero weaver, Kilombero cisticola, Iringa akalat, and Dappled-throated mountain robins.

  • Early in the morning, we will drive to Bunduki Camp in the Uluguru Mountains to search for any species that might have been missed at Bondwa Peak. We will spend the night at the Morogoro town.

  • On this day, you will visit the Tegetero section in the Uluguru Mountains, searching for endemic species such as the Uluguru bushshrike, Loveridge sunbird, Uluguru greenbul, Winifred's warbler, white-winged and Chapin's apalises, Bertram's weaver, and other species.

  • On this day, you will be transferred early morning to the Ukaguru Mountains, searching for endemic species such as Moreau's sunbird, Rubeho warbler, Rubeho akalat, and yellow-throated mountain greenbul. You will spend the night in Gairo town

  • Transfer to Dar es Salaam (DAR) for your flight back home, concluding your unforgettable Tanzanian birding adventure with a life list.

Tour Details

Price

1 Pax $17,284 4 Pax $7,794

2 Pax $10,954 5 Pax $7,159

3 Pax $8,839 6 Pax $6,859

Included

    • Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

    • Transportation to birding sites and to your accodation (Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle)

    • Budget & midrange

    • Small, locally owned lodges & resthouses

    • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free upon request)

    • Water

    • Local Tanzanian-based

    • The national park, Forest reserve, and Local village entry fees.

    • Air and Ground Ambulance evacuation services

Excluded

    • Essential toiletries, power bank, wet wipes, antibacterial gel, and prescription drugs.

    • Binoculars, field guides book, camera, hiking boots, sunglass, jacket, boonie hat.

    • Tipping is not mandatory, but we encourage our guests to consider tipping our team members if they exceed your expectations. A recommended range is between 5% to 10% of the package price per guest.

    • For US citizens, the visa fee is $100 for a one-year multiple-entry visa. For citizens of other countries, the cost is $50 for a single-entry visa valid for three months.

    • We highly recommend that you obtain travel, cancellation, and medical insurance.

    • Soda, beer, wine & spirit.

Group size

Max 6 pax

Pace

Own Pace

Photography opportunity

Medium

Fitness

Medium / High: This tour requires a good level of fitness, as most birding will be done on foot and may involve walking for several hours at a time. Some trails can be slippery, especially after rain. Many of the birding sites are in remote areas and may be far from medical facilities. If you have any physical limitations or medical conditions, please contact us to discuss the suitability of this tour for you.

Practical Information

  • This tour involves long drives, early and late birding sessions, and walking several miles, often on uneven terrain and up and downhill, especially in the Uluguru, Ukaguru, and Udekwa.

  • Some roads in Morogoro are in poor condition, so be prepared for extremely bumpy rides on those days.

  • Accommodations are generally comfortable, but in some areas, you will stay in very basic hotels with private rooms and potentially shared bathrooms. These are the only accommodations available within less than a half-day drive from our hotspots in that region. While there will be electricity and running water, be prepared for rustic conditions.

  • You will spend 2 nights camping in Udekwa, with accommodations consisting of ground-level mattresses in canvas tents.

Conservation and Sustainability

5% of tour profits are donated to NGOs / bird clubs committed to conservation and sustainability efforts in Tanzania. These funds directly contribute to protecting the country’s diverse biodiversity, species conservation, and community development initiatives.

Furthermore, our accommodation choices reflect our commitment to environmental stewardship. We partner with lodges that prioritize habitat preservation and support small hotels and restaurants owned by local families. This approach ensures that economic benefits directly support local communities while offering guests authentic cultural experiences.