13 Days 12 Nights Birding Adventure Udzungwa, Rubeho & Mikumi CLASSIC BIRDING IN RUBEHO & UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS Overview: This incredible tour takes
Northern Tanzania and Eastern Arc Mountains
Join us on an unforgettable 27-day birding journey across Tanzania, where we’ll track down the country’s most elusive and endemic species. From lush mountain forests to open savannas, expect incredible birdwatching moments with species like the Udzungwa forest partridge, Usambara eagle-owl, Grey-breasted spurfowl, White-chested alethe, Usambara hyliota and many more.
Along the way, soak in breathtaking landscapes and encounter diverse wildlife. This is the ultimate adventure for passionate birders!
Upon your arrival at the airport, you will find our driver holding up a sign reading Charles Tours and your name. Then you will take a short drive to your hotel in Arusha to relax after your long flight.
You bird for endemics such as the Abroad-ringed white eye and the restricted range endemic the Taveta weaver and the near-endemic Abbott’s starlings and other species. You overnight in Arusha.
You head to Lark plains for the endemic Beesley’s lark and other dry county specials, such as the near endemic Southern grosbeak-canary, Red-throated tit, and Athi short- toed lark, then after lunch, you drive to Babati near Mbulu mountains for a hot dinner and overnight at the hotel.
In the early morning, you head up the Mbullu mountains for the endemic Mbulu ground robin and the near-endemic Mbulu white eye. Later in the mid-morning, you transfer to the Serengeti via Ngorongoro, arriving late in the evening. We overnight in a tented safari lodge in central Serengeti.
You spend your first full day in the Serengeti looking for endemics such as the Grey-breasted Spurfowl and the Rufous-tailed weaver, the near-endemic Grey-crested helmet-shrike, and the Usambiro barbet. We will also look for the highly sought out Karamoja apalis, which is endemic to East Africa.
You overnight in Central Serengeti.
We leave the grassy plains of the mighty Serengeti National Park very early in the morning with picnic lunches on hand, making a stop at the Ngorongoro Highlands to look for the East African endemic Hunter’s and Singing cisticola, and Jackson’s widowbird, Eastern double-collared sunbird and Schalow’s turaco. Later we go on to Tarangire National Park and overnight at a lodge.
We spend a half day in Tarangire looking for the endemic Ashy starling, Yellow-collared lovebird, Emin’s barbet, the near-endemic Northern pied babbler, and the East African endemic Hildebrandt’s starling, which are fairly common here. After lunch, we drive straight to Arusha for a well-prepared dinner and overnight at the lodge
We drive to the South Pare Mountains via the Nyumba ya Mungu Dam for the Maasai arid zones’ specials such as the Black-throated barbet, Golden-breasted and Fischer’s starlings, the Black-bellied and Tsavo sunbirds, Pink -breasted lark and the Somali golden-breasted bunting.
We stop for a picnic lunch and then drive on to our hotel in Same town for check-in. Then we take an early evening drive up the South Pare Mountains in search of the endemic South Pare white eye and the distinctive Race Parensis or the Bar-throated apalis. The East coast boubou can also be seen up there. We overnight in Same town
Morning birding near Mkomazi Np and transfer to Magamba forest in West Usambara mountains for great birding tour in the evening
Overnight at the lodge.
We will bird for the endemic Usamabara Double collared sunbird, Usambara weaver, Usambara thrush, Usambara Akalat and other specialities. Overnight at the lodge in Magamba.
We spend the morning birding in Magamba and transfer to the Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains and bird in the botanical garden late into the evening. We overnight at the Amani Rest House.
We will bird for the endemic Banded green sunbird, Usambara hyliota, Usambara bluebill, Tanzanian illadopsis , Usambara eagle owl, and the Long-billed forest warbler. We will also look for the near–endemic Uluguru violet-backed and Amani sunbirds and other interesting birds, including the Mombasa woodpecker, Fischer’s turaco, Plain-backed sunbird, Cabanis’s bunting, Krestchmer’s longbill, and many many more. We overnight at the Amani Rest House
We begin birding early in the morning then transfer to Morogoro for an overnight at the hotel
We will bird for the endemic Uluguru greenbul, Loveridge’s sunbird, Winifred’s warbler, the endemic Uluguru race of Bar-throated apalis, and other good birds such as the White-winged and Chapin’s apalis, Bertram’s weaver, and many more. We overnight at the hotel.
We do more birding, if necessary, then drive to Mikumi Kilosa Road for the endemic Hoffman’s sunbird and other Miombo specialties such as the Miombo double-collared sunbird, Black- eared seedeater, Yellow-bellied hyliota, and plenty more. We overnight at the hotel in Mikumi.
We transfer to Udekwa in Kilombero Nature Reserve near Udzungwa National Park and bird around camp late into the evening, camping overnight.
We will bird for the shy endemic The Udzungwa forest partridge and the Rufous-winged sunbird. Other birds include the Usambara weaver and nightjar, Sharpe’s akalat, the Black-lored, wing-snapping and churring cisticolas .
We camp overnight.
In Kisolonza, we will spend the morning birding in Udekwa and then tranfer to Kisolonza and bird in the evening for the endemic Uhehe fiscal and White-lined barbet, and many more species.
We overnight at The Old Farmhouse at Kisolanza.
We spend the morning birding and then transfer to Mikumi for overnight at the hotel.
We will drive to Ifakara to look for the three endemics: the Kilombero weaver and the Kilombero and White-tailed Cistcola. We spend the night at the hotel in Mikumi.
We take an early morning drive to Bunduki Camp in Uluguru for what we might have missed at Bondwa Peak. We overnight at a hotel in Morogoro.
We will go here specifically to see the endemic Uluguru bushshrike but will also look for other endemics such as the Loveridge sunbird, Uluguru greenbul and Winifred’s warbler, which also call this place home. We overnight in Morogoro.
We make an early morning transfer to the Ukaguru Mountains and start birding in the mid-morning for the endemic Moreau’s sunbird, Rubeho warbler, Rubeho akalat ,and the Yellow-throated mountain greenbul. We overnight at Gairo.
Transfer to Dar es Salaam for your flight back home.
We spent two nights birding in Pemba Island, focusing on its rare endemics: the Pemba White-eye, Pemba Green Pigeon, Pemba Scops Owl, Pemba Sunbird and other beautiful birds. A true paradise for bird lovers!
Day 30: Transfer to the airport for your international flight to your next destination.
| Arusha NP | Lark Plains | Tarangire | Ngorongoro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taveta Golden Weaver | Beasley’s Lark (endemic) | Yellow-collared Lovebird | Golden-winged Sunbird |
| Hartlaub’s Turaco | Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark | Rufous-tailed Weaver | Secretary Bird |
| Bar-tailed Trogon | Rosy-patched Bushshrike | Ashy Starling | Kori Bustard |
| Broad-ringed White-Eye | Red-capped Lark | Silvery-cheeked Hornbill | Tacazze Sunbird |
450+ Species Possible: Target endemics like the Yellow-collared Lovebird and rarities like Beasley’s Lark.
Dual Focus: Birds and Big Five – lions, elephants, and leopards share the spotlight.
Exclusive Access: Private birding walks in Ngorongoro’s highlands (Endoro Trail).
Conservation-Driven: 5% of profits fund Lark Plains habitat conservation.
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At Charles Tours, we are more than just a Tanzanian tour company—we are a team of passionate professionals and experienced guides who know our country Tanzania inside and out. Based in Arusha in northern Tanzania, we specialize in memorable birdwatching safaris, wildlife adventures, Kilimanjaro trekking, and Zanzibar beach vacations, offering you an authentic and immersive experience in one of Africa’s most breathtaking destinations.
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