39 days, private, starts in Mwanza and ends in Dar es Salaam
39-Day Ultimate Tanzania Birding Expedition
From Lake Victoria, Northern Savannahs to Eastern Arc Forests & Southern Wilderness
Destinations: Lake Victoria, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Engikareti Lark Plains, Mererani, Mkomazi, South Pare Mountains, West and East Usambara Mountains, Uluguru Mountains, Mikumi, Kilombero Floodplain, Udzungwa, Kisolanza, Ruaha, Ukaguru Mountains, Nyerere National Park and Pugu Hills.
Discover Tanzania’s extraordinary bird diversity on this comprehensive 39-day expedition, spanning lakeshores, vast savannahs, dry country, wetlands, miombo woodland and the biodiverse forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains.
Designed for passionate birders, the route targets an exceptional range of endemic, near-endemic and sought-after species, including Beesley’s Lark, Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Usambara Hyliota, Usambara Akalat, Loveridge’s Sunbird, Mrs Moreau’s Warbler, Rubeho Akalat and Kilombero Weaver.
Along the way you enjoy spectacular landscapes and rewarding wildlife, from the Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Crater to remote mountain forests and the southern wilderness of Ruaha and Nyerere. With expert local guiding and dedicated time in every key habitat, it is a once-in-a-lifetime way to explore Tanzania’s remarkable birdlife.
Some of the birds to look for
Beesley’s Lark
Grey-breasted Spurfowl
Yellow-collared Lovebird
Usambara Hyliota
Usambara Akalat
Loveridge’s Sunbird
Mrs Moreau’s Warbler
Rubeho Akalat
Rubeho Warbler
Kilombero Weaver
Uhehe Fiscal
Tanzania Red-billed Hornbill
…and many more
Day-by-day itinerary
Times and drives are approximate. Your guide adjusts each day to the weather, the wildlife and you.
Day 1: Arrival at Mwanza Airport
Welcome to Tanzania. Your Charles Tours representative meets you at Mwanza Airport with a sign showing your name and drives you to your hotel to settle in and relax after the journey.
Overnight
Hotel in Mwanza
Meals
Dinner
Travel
Short transfer from the airport
Day 2: Mwanza to Speke Bay, Lake Victoria
After breakfast we drive to Speke Bay on the shore of Lake Victoria. After lunch we explore the lakeshore, nearby wetlands and savannah for Black-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher and other wetland and savannah specialists.
Overnight
Lodge at Speke Bay
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
About 2 hours
Day 3: Speke Bay to the Serengeti
We enter the Serengeti through the Western Corridor, birding on the way for Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Usambiro Barbet and other regional specialities.
Overnight
Camp or lodge in the Serengeti
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 4 to 5 hours with birding stops
Day 4: Full day in the Serengeti
A full day in the Serengeti’s grassland, acacia woodland and riverine habitats. Targets include Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Grey-crested Helmetshrike and Usambiro Barbet, and we search for the elusive Karamoja Apalis.
Overnight
Camp or lodge in the Serengeti
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
Game drives within the park
Day 5: Serengeti to the Ngorongoro highlands
We leave early with picnic lunches and bird our way to Ngorongoro. In the highlands we look for Hunter’s and Singing Cisticolas, Jackson’s Widowbird, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Schalow’s Turaco and other montane specialities.
Overnight
Lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim or in Karatu
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 5 to 6 hours with birding stops
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater
We descend about 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day on its grassland, wetland and woodland, with excellent birding alongside the crater’s famous wildlife.
Overnight
Lodge in Karatu
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
A full day in the crater
Day 7: Endoro Forest and the Elephant Caves
We walk the Endoro Forest trails for montane forest birds and local specialities, and visit the Elephant Caves before returning to the lodge for lunch and a relaxed afternoon.
Overnight
Lodge in Karatu
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
About 3 hours walking
Days 8–9: Tarangire National Park
Two days among the baobabs, acacia woodland and riverine habitats of Tarangire National Park. Targets include Ashy Starling, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Emin’s Barbet, Northern Pied Babbler and Hildebrandt’s Starling, with a strong supporting cast of other birds and big game.
Overnight
Lodge or tented camp in the Tarangire area
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
About 2 hours from Karatu on day 8
Day 10: Tarangire to Arusha
A final morning in Tarangire for anything we have missed, then we drive to Arusha with birding stops as time allows.
Overnight
Lodge in Arusha
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
About 2.5 hours
Day 11: Arusha National Park
We explore the montane forest, woodland and open country of Arusha National Park for Kilimanjaro White-eye, Taveta Golden Weaver and Abbott’s Starling, along with many other highland and forest birds.
Overnight
Lodge in Arusha
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 45 minutes each way
Day 12: Engikaret Lark Plains
A day on the open grassland of the Lark Plains, one of Tanzania’s most important dry-country sites. We search for the critically endangered Beesley’s Lark, Southern Grosbeak-Canary, Red-throated Tit and Athi Short-toed Lark, to mention just a few.
Overnight
Lodge in Arusha
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 1.5 hours each way
Day 13: Mererani and the Maasai Steppe
We bird the dry country of Mererani and the Maasai Steppe for Grey-headed Silverbill, Tsavo Sunbird, Hunter’s Sunbird, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Pink-breasted Lark, Golden-breasted Starling, Black-capped Social Weaver, Northern Crombec, Scaly Chatterer, Pygmy Batis and other regional specialities.
Overnight
Lodge in Arusha
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 1 hour each way
Day 14: Nyumba ya Mungu Dam to Same
We head for the South Pare Mountains, birding Nyumba ya Mungu Dam and the surrounding arid country for Black-throated Barbet, Golden-breasted and Fischer’s Starlings, Black-bellied and Tsavo Sunbirds, Pink-breasted Lark and Somali Golden-breasted Bunting.
Overnight
Hotel in Same, near Mkomazi National Park
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 4 hours with birding stops
Day 15: Full day in Mkomazi National Park
A full day in Mkomazi’s dry savannah, acacia woodland and semi-arid bush for East African dry-country specialities, combining dedicated birding with the park’s distinctive wildlife.
Overnight
Hotel in Same
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 30 minutes to the park
Day 16: South Pare Mountains to Magamba Forest
An early session in the South Pare Mountains for South Pare White-eye, Bar-throated Apalis and East Coast Boubou. We then drive towards Lushoto in the West Usambara Mountains, birding on the way, with an afternoon session in Magamba Forest.
Overnight
Lodge in the Magamba Forest area
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 3 to 4 hours with birding stops
Day 17: Full day in Magamba Forest
A full day in the montane forest of the West Usambaras for Usambara Double-collared Sunbird, Usambara Weaver, Usambara Thrush, Usambara Akalat and other Eastern Arc specialities.
Overnight
Lodge in the Magamba Forest area
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
Short drives and forest walks
Day 18: Magamba Forest to Amani Nature Reserve
A morning in Magamba, then we cross to Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains and bird the botanical garden and surrounding forest.
Overnight
Amani Rest House
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
About 4 hours
Days 19–20: Amani and the East Usambara Mountains
Two days in the outstanding forests of Amani for Banded Green Sunbird, Usambara Hyliota, Usambara Bluebill, Tanzanian Illadopsis, African Wood Owl and Long-billed Forest Warbler. Other targets include Uluguru Violet-backed and Amani Sunbirds, Mombasa Woodpecker, Fischer’s Turaco, Plain-backed Sunbird, Cabanis’s Bunting and Kretschmer’s Longbill.
Overnight
Amani Rest House
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Forest walks around Amani
Day 21: East Usambara to Morogoro via Chalinze
Early birding before the long drive to Morogoro, with stops in dry country, wetlands, farmland and riverine areas along the way.
Overnight
Lodge in Morogoro
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 6 to 7 hours with birding stops
Days 22–23: Uluguru Mountains
Two days in the forests and open country of the Uluguru Mountains, including the Bunduki area. Targets include Uluguru Greenbul, Loveridge’s Sunbird, Winifred’s Warbler (Mrs Moreau’s Warbler), the Uluguru race of Bar-throated Apalis, White-winged Apalis, Chapin’s Apalis and Bertram’s Weaver.
Overnight
Lodge in Morogoro
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
Up to 2 hours each way to the forest
Day 24: Miombo woodland and the Mikumi area
More birding where needed, then we move to the Mikumi–Kilosa area and explore the miombo woodland for Hoffmann’s Sunbird, Miombo Double-collared Sunbird, Black-eared Seedeater, Yellow-bellied Hyliota and other woodland specialists.
Overnight
Lodge in the Mikumi area
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 2 hours
Day 25: Full day in Mikumi National Park
A full day in Mikumi’s varied habitats for Broad-billed Roller, Purple-crested Turaco, Retz’s Helmetshrike, Eastern Nicator and Arnot’s Chat among many others, with good wildlife viewing throughout.
Overnight
Lodge in the Mikumi area
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
Game drives within the park
Day 26: Kilombero Floodplain to Mang’ula
Morning birding in miombo woodland, then we head to the Kilombero Floodplain for Kilombero Weaver, Kilombero Cisticola, Parasitic Weaver, Sedge Warbler and Allen’s Gallinule. We finish with an afternoon session around the farms at Mang’ula.
Overnight
Lodge in Mang’ula, near Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 3 hours with birding stops
Day 27: Udzungwa Mountains to Kisolanza
We start in the Udzungwa Mountains for Sharpe’s Akalat, Rufous-winged Sunbird, Eastern Crested Guineafowl, Livingstone’s Turaco, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Bearded Scrub Robin and Green Malkoha. Later we drive to Kisolanza Old Farm for dinner and the night.
Overnight
Kisolanza Old Farm
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 5 to 6 hours
Days 28–29: Kisolanza Old Farm
Two days on Kisolanza’s farmland, grassland and woodland for Western Miombo Sunbird, Reichard’s Seedeater, Fülleborn’s Longclaw, Miombo Wren-Warbler and Brown-headed Apalis. Other possibilities include Whyte’s Barbet, Montane Widowbird, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Piping and Long-tailed Cisticolas and Lesser Jacana, plus a late-afternoon visit to the Kiponzelo farm area.
Overnight
Kisolanza Old Farm
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Short drives around Kisolanza
Day 30: Kisolanza to Ruaha National Park
After breakfast we travel to Ruaha National Park, birding along the way as time allows, and settle in for two rewarding days in one of Tanzania’s great wilderness parks.
Overnight
Lodge or camp inside Ruaha National Park
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 4 to 5 hours
Day 31: Full day in Ruaha
A full day in Ruaha’s varied habitats for Tanzania Red-billed Hornbill, Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Mocking Cliff Chat, Red-necked Falcon, African Scops Owl, Senegal and Black Coucals, Miombo Wren-Warbler and Tabora Cisticola, alongside Ruaha’s big game.
Overnight
Lodge or camp inside Ruaha National Park
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
Game drives within the park
Day 32: Ruaha to Iringa
We leave Ruaha for Iringa, enjoying the changing landscapes and any birding opportunities along the way.
Overnight
Hotel in Iringa
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
About 3 hours
Day 33: Iringa to the Ukaguru Mountains
We drive to Gairo at the foot of the Ukaguru Mountains, with birding stops where conditions allow, and settle into a simple local guesthouse ahead of a day of forest birding.
Overnight
Simple guesthouse in Gairo
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
About 5 hours
Day 34: Full day in the Ukaguru Mountains
A full day in the montane forest for Rubeho Akalat, Rubeho Warbler, Chapin’s Apalis, Moreau’s Sunbird, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Oriole Finch, Uhehe Fiscal, Black-lored Cisticola, Striped Pipit and Olive-flanked Robin-Chat.
Overnight
Simple guesthouse in Gairo
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
Forest walks, some steep
Day 35: Ukaguru Mountains to Morogoro
A final morning in the Ukaguru forest, then we drive to Morogoro with birding stops as time and road conditions allow.
Overnight
Lodge in Morogoro
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
About 2.5 hours
Day 36: Morogoro to Nyerere National Park via Kisaki
We drive to Nyerere National Park via Kisaki, birding on the way, and settle into our lodge near the Mtemere area.
Overnight
Lodge in the Nyerere National Park area
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 5 to 6 hours with birding stops
Day 37: Full day in Nyerere National Park
A full day in Nyerere’s wilderness, riverine forest and woodland for White-fronted Bee-eater, Crested Barbet, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Black-bellied Starling, Broad-billed Roller and many more, combined with excellent wildlife viewing.
Overnight
Lodge in the Nyerere National Park area
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
Game drives within the park
Day 38: Nyerere National Park to Pugu Hills
After a final early session in Nyerere we travel to Pugu Hills, south-west of Dar es Salaam, and search for Tiny Greenbul, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Four-coloured Bushshrike, Dark-backed Weaver, Mouse-coloured Sunbird, Red-throated Twinspot, Bearded Scrub Robin and Zanzibar Boubou.
Overnight
Lodge in the Pugu Hills area
Meals
Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Travel
About 5 hours
Day 39: Pugu Forest and departure
A final morning in Pugu Forest for any remaining targets, then we transfer you to Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam in good time for your flight.
Optional extension: add two days (days 40 and 41) birding on Pemba Island for its distinctive island birds. Afterwards you connect through Dar es Salaam on day 42, or we can arrange a domestic flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Overnight
—
Meals
Departure day
Travel
About 1 hour to the airport
What’s included
Included
Private 4x4 with pop-up roof, just for your group
Specialist bird guide throughout
All park, conservation and forest reserve fees
Accommodation and meals as listed
Drinking water in the vehicle
Pick-up at Mwanza Airport and drop-off at Dar es Salaam Airport
Not included
International flights and visa
Travel insurance
Tips for your guide and lodge staff
Drinks at lodges
The optional Pemba Island extension
Price
We quote per person, based on your group size, season and accommodation level. Send an enquiry and you’ll have a full price and detailed itinerary within 24 hours.
Good to know before you book
Getting here: Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about an hour from Arusha. We meet you at arrivals. Read arriving in Arusha.
Health: See a travel clinic about vaccines and malaria prevention at least a month before you go. The CDC Travelers’ Health: Tanzania page is a useful starting point.
Most days start between 5:30 and 6:30, because the first hours after sunrise are the best time for birds. We usually take a picnic lunch in the field and bird again in the late afternoon.
How fit do I need to be?
Much of the birding is from the vehicle or on easy walks, but the Eastern Arc forests (Usambara, Uluguru, Udzungwa and Ukaguru) involve steep, sometimes muddy trails. We set the pace with you.
What is the accommodation like?
Comfortable lodges and tented camps in the parks, a farm stay at Kisolanza and the rest house at Amani. Near the Ukaguru Mountains the only option is a simple local guesthouse in Gairo.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every trip is private, so we can add days, swap sites, change the accommodation level or split the trip into shorter sections. Tell us your target species and we’ll send a revised plan and price.
How do I book and pay?
Send an enquiry and we’ll reply within 24 hours with a detailed itinerary and a full quote.
The classic northern circuit for birders: around 300 species in ten days, from Beesley’s Lark and Fischer’s Lovebird to the Serengeti specials and the Maasai steppe at Mererani.
Northern Tanzania’s best birding in eight days: montane forest, Beesley’s Lark, Tarangire’s endemics, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Maasai steppe at Mererani. Around 250 species.
