Tanzania Endemics

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

We kick off with a full day in Arusha National Park! We will look out for Kilimanjaro White-eye, Taveta and Rufous-tailed Weavers, and the elusive Abbott’s Starling.

We'll head to the open plains of Engikaret to search for the critically endangered Beesley’s Lark. Then, we continue to Babati, near the Mbulu Mountains, for an overnight stay.

On this day, we will explore the Nou Forest, and we'll look out for two special birds: the Olive-flanked Robin-Chat (Mbuluensis), also known as the Mbulu Ground Robin and Mbulu White-eye. We will travel to Karatu in the late afternoon for an overnight stay.

Early in the morning, we will depart for Serengeti National Park, entering through Naabi Gate. We will enjoy a game drive and birding session through the southern Serengeti before settling into our accommodation in the central Serengeti.

At sunrise, we’ll set off on a birding and game drive in the Serengeti, searching for key species like Grey-breasted Spurfowl and Fischer’s Lovebird, the near endemics like Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Usambiro Barbet, and Maasai Apalis. Along the way, we may also encounter the Big Five. After lunch, we’ll continue birding with an evening game drive.

After breakfast, we will depart to the Ngorongoro Highlands, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, we’ll search for species such as Hunter’s and Lynes’s Cisticola, Jackson’s Widowbird, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Moorland Chat, and more. In the late afternoon, we will continue to Manyara for an overnight stay.

We will visit Tarangire, focusing on the Ashy starling, Yellow-collared lovebird, Northern Pied babbler, and Hildebrandt's starlings. Overnight at Tarangire.

We will spend the first half of the day birding and enjoying a game drive, then return to Arusha in the late afternoon 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 the Mkomazi National Park gate before heading to Magamba Forest in the West Usambara Mountains for the evening.

Full-day birding. We will explore the lush Magamba nature forest reserve in the West Usambara Mountains, looking for endemics such as the Usambara Akalat, Usambara Double-collared Sunbird, African Hill Babbler, Usambara Weaver, and Usambara Thrush.

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.

Over the next two days, we will focus on spotting key endemic species, including the Banded Green Sunbird, Usambara Akalat, Usambara Hyliota, Fischer’s Turaco, Mombasa Woodpecker, Spot-throat, Usambara Eagle-Owl, Tanzanian Illadopsis, Sharpe’s Akalat, Green-headed Oriole, Long-billed Tailorbird

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

We will explore the Tegetero section in the Uluguru Mountains, searching for the elusive Uluguru Bushshrike and Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird.

We will explore the Bunduki section for Mrs. Moreau's warbler and the Uluguru Mountain Greenbul.

We will take an early morning drive to one of the sections in the Uluguru Mountains to search for any species that may have been missed before traveling to Mikumi town for an overnight stay.

On this day, we will take a day trip to the Kilombero Floodplain, one of Africa's largest wetlands, spanning approximately 6,300 square kilometers (2,430 square miles), with a length of about 260 km (161 miles) and a width of up to 52 km (32 miles) at its widest point. Our primary focus will be spotting the Kilombero Weaver, Kilombero Cisticola, and White-tailed Cisticola. If time permits, we will also make a stop in the Hondo Hondo area to search for the elusive Lesser Seedcracker.

We will explore the Kilosa Road area, looking for species such as Hofmann’s Sunbird, Racket-tailed Roller, Cinnamon-breasted Tit, and Speckle-throated Woodpecker. Afterward, we will travel to Iringa, and birding along the way.

We will depart very early as we head to the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve – Uluti, birding en route. Our main targets will be 2 skuler residents: the Iringa Akalat and Rufous-winged Sunbird. We will also look for Swynnerton’s Robin, White-winged Apalis, Dapple-throat, and Moreau’s Sunbird. Overnight in Iringa town.

Another day, visit the case if we missed our target species.

We will travel to Udekwa, where we will search for the Kipengere Seedeater and Udzungwa Forest Partridge. Also, we will look out for other species like the Olive-flanked Robin-Chat (Grotei), White-chested Alethe, Yellow-throated Mountain Greenbul, and Moreau’s Sunbird. We will camp overnight.

Full-day birding. Camping overnight

We will return to Mikumi town for a well-earned rest and overnight stay.

On this day, we will visit the Ukaguru Mountains early in the morning, searching for Rubeho Warbler and Rubeho Akalat. We will also look out for like Yellow-throated Mountain Greenbul and Moreau’s Sunbird if missed in Iringa. We will stay overnight in Gairo town.

Travel back to Dar es Salaam and birding along the way.

We will fly to Pemba Island and begin birding as soon as we land. We will look out for Pemba Sunbird, Pemba Pigeon, and Pemba White-eye. Later in the evening, we will explore Ngezi Forest, searching for the Pemba Scops Owl.

Full-day birding for any missed island species, or relax and enjoy the tropical surroundings.

We will conclude our journey as we fly back to Dar es Salaam (DAR) for home departure. Depending on your departure time, we may enjoy bonus birding in Pugu Forest or Jangwani Salt Pans.