Resident Charadrius pallidus
A small, pale plover with a fine chestnut breast band, found almost only on the shores of salt and soda lakes.
The Chestnut-banded Plover is a specialist of alkaline and saline lakes, and East Africa’s soda lakes hold much of its population. It is listed as Near Threatened because its habitat is so limited.
On the Rift Valley lakes it feeds on the open salt crust and mudflats, often well away from the flamingos and larger waders.
The salt flats of Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi, and the shoreline of Lake Manyara.
Guide’s tipScan the dry crust back from the water’s edge. They run in short bursts and freeze, which makes them easy to miss.
Sightings are never guaranteed: these are wild animals in wild places. What we can promise is a guide who knows where to look.
Destinations
The parks and reserves where our guides look for it, each with its own best season and safaris.
The Rift Valley soda lake where East Africa’s Lesser Flamingos breed.
Seasonal soda lake with flamingos, waterbirds and quiet dry bush.
Tree-climbing lions, groundwater forest and a soda lake full of waterbirds.
Keep exploring
Chersomanes beesleyi
Fewer than a hundred birds left, all on one patch of plain north of Arusha. Nowhere else on earth.
Tauraco hartlaubi
A flash of crimson wings in the forest canopy. Arusha National Park is the easiest place to see one.
Tauraco fischeri
The coastal and Usambara forests’ turaco, with a red crest tipped white. A target bird for every East Usambara trip.
Sagittarius serpentarius
A raptor that hunts on foot, stamping snakes to death in the grass. Unmistakable striding across the plains.
Balearica regulorum
The golden crown, the dance and the bugling call. Endangered, but still a daily sight on the crater floor.
Ardeotis kori
The heaviest flying bird in the world, pacing the plains with its neck puffed up in display.
Phoeniconaias minor
Pink crowds on the soda lakes. Numbers rise and fall with the water, so your guide checks before you go.
Lamprotornis unicolor
Tanzania’s own starling: long-tailed, dusty grey and common around the baobabs of Tarangire.
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.
