8 days, private, starts and ends at Kilimanjaro Airport
Arusha NP, Lark Plains, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Endoro & Mererani
Our eight-day birding tour gives you the best of northern Tanzania’s birding in a short time. With a professional, experienced bird guide and driver, you explore Arusha National Park, the Lark Plains, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Endoro Forest trails and the Maasai steppe at Mererani.
Expect around 250 bird species on a typical trip, along with excellent big-game viewing in Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Times and drives are approximate. Your guide adjusts each day to the weather, the wildlife and you.
Welcome to Tanzania. Your driver meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) with a sign showing Charles Tours and your name. After a short introduction it’s about an hour’s drive to your hotel in Arusha.
Arusha National Park is one of our top birding sites in northern Tanzania, with more than 450 species recorded. With your bird guide you search for the area’s specialities, including White-starred Robin, Kilimanjaro (Broad-ringed) White-eye, the range-restricted Taveta Golden Weaver, Narina and Bar-tailed Trogons and Moustached Tinkerbird, to name a few.
After breakfast we leave Arusha for the Lark Plains on the northern side of Mount Meru, birding the dry country. Our main targets are Beesley’s Lark, Red-capped Lark, Short-tailed Lark, Rufous-naped Lark, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Taita Fiscal and Capped Wheatear, plus migrants in season. Later we drive to Tarangire National Park for dinner and the night.
Tarangire is one of the best birding sites in northern Tanzania and famous for its elephants. A full day of birding and big game, with targets including the endemic Ashy Starling and Yellow-collared Lovebird and Rufous-tailed Weaver. There are also good chances of lion, cheetah and leopard among huge numbers of plains game.
We bird our way out of Tarangire and on to Lake Manyara National Park for a full day among its forest, woodland and lakeshore birds. The park is also home to tree-climbing lions, giraffe, zebra and monkeys. Later we drive up to Karatu.
A short drive brings us to the main gate of the Ngorongoro Crater, and we descend about 600 metres to the crater floor for a full day of birding and searching for the Big Five. Then it’s back to the lodge for a relaxed evening.
We start at the Endoro entry point for a leisurely guided walk of about three hours through the highland forest, escorted by an armed ranger. There are good chances of highland birds such as Golden-winged Sunbird, Schalow’s Turaco and Green-headed Sunbird. After lunch at the lodge we drive back to Arusha.
We drive to Mererani for the dry-country birds of the Maasai–Somali biome. Targets include Grey-headed Silverbill, Tsavo Sunbird, Hunter’s Sunbird, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Pink-breasted Lark, White-headed Mousebird, Golden-breasted Starling, Black-capped Social Weaver, Northern Crombec, Black-throated Barbet, Scaly Chatterer, Pygmy Batis, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit and Pringle’s Puffback. In the late afternoon you have a day room near the airport, and we transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your evening flight.
Depending on your flight, we can add an extra night in Arusha or near the airport.
We quote per person, based on your group size, season and accommodation level. Send an enquiry and you’ll have a full price within 24 hours.
Yes. Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater offer some of Tanzania’s best wildlife viewing, including the chance of the Big Five, alongside the birding.
Most days start between 5:30 and 6:30, because the first hours after sunrise are the best time for birds and animals. We take packed lunches on long park days and return to the lodge in the late afternoon.
Most of the birding is done from the vehicle or on short, easy walks. The Endoro Forest trail is a gentle guided walk of about three hours, escorted by an armed ranger.
Yes. Every trip is private, so we can add days, swap sites or change the accommodation level.
Send an enquiry and we’ll reply within 24 hours with a tailored itinerary and a full quote.
10daysThe 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.
39daysTanzania’s most complete birding trip: 39 days from Lake Victoria and the Serengeti to the Eastern Arc forests, the southern highlands, Ruaha, Nyerere and Pugu Hills.
19daysNineteen days combining the northern parks and their big game with the endemic birds of the Mbulu, South Pare and Usambara Mountains.
Tell us your dates and the birds or animals you most want to see. We’ll reply within 24 hours with a route and a full quote.
